What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write To Keep Her from Harm?
A friend’s daughter fled to Canada with her young daughter because she believed the child’s father was abusing her. My friend passed away before her daughter was found by the FBI, so I only know what was reported in the local news. I never actually met my friend’s daughter and grandchild, so the novel is entirely fiction.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of To Keep Her from Harm, what would they be?
For the main male character, R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” and for the main female character, Sinéad O’Connor’s “Very Far From Home.”
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Literary fiction to read and to aspire to write!
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, and Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
My favorite scenes give too much away (the book has been described as a domestic thriller). All I’ll say is that they are heartrending. But one scene I enjoyed writing takes place between the male character and his psychologist. His tough outer shell starts to show cracks that reveal his more human side. I also liked writing the novel’s opening scene, where Laura and her young daughter have to part from Laura’s parents to board a train for a destination she can reveal to no one.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I usually decide to get all my routine tasks out of the way before I sit down to write, so I’ll have a clear head with no nagging “need to do” thoughts. The big disadvantage of this approach is that by the time I get everything done, I’m often too tired to write! I obviously need a better system!
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
Keep my body and brain active (writing is very sedentary). Be present for friends and family. And give generous support to my many causes.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
Remember little Amanda – she’s the glue that holds the novel together.
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