An interview… with myself

If it's good enough for Tennessee Williams, it's good enough for me. * So, tell me — what was the very first spark that made you think, ‘I need to write this story’? I've always been fascinated by stories that happen to ordinary people with ordinary lives. And the scariest of crime writing really does … Continue reading An interview… with myself

Doubt and Mistrust: The Heart of Witness

From the earliest draft of Witness, I knew the story would circle around one of the most unsettling human experiences: doubt. Not just doubting yourself, but doubting the people you thought you could trust, the world you thought you understood. Doubt gnaws at certainty until you no longer know which way is up, and that’s exactly … Continue reading Doubt and Mistrust: The Heart of Witness

Plot Twists: The Secret Sauce of Thrillers

A thriller without a twist is like a joke without a punchline. The story might be engaging, the characters might be compelling, but what keeps readers talking long after they’ve turned the final page is that sharp intake of breath, the moment when everything shifts. And getting it right is a balancing act. It needs … Continue reading Plot Twists: The Secret Sauce of Thrillers

Meet the Characters of Witness: Sadie

For me, every story starts with someone's voice. Sometimes it’s loud, insistent, and fully formed from the start. Vida Henrikson was born fully formed into my imagination. Sometimes it’s quieter, a murmur in the background, waiting for me to notice it. Sadie was definitely the second kind. When Witness was just a seed of an idea, I … Continue reading Meet the Characters of Witness: Sadie

Five Things You Might Not Know About Writing a Thriller

People often imagine thriller writing as a glamorous pursuit — tapping away at a typewriter in a dimly lit room, sipping whisky, and staring dramatically into the rain until inspiration strikes. In reality? Not so much. Writing a thriller is as much about spreadsheets and coffee refills as it is about sudden flashes of genius. … Continue reading Five Things You Might Not Know About Writing a Thriller

The Spark Behind Witness

What if you saw something terrible, something life-changing, but when you spoke up, no one wanted to believe you? This was the first flicker of the idea that would eventually become Witness. Not a fully formed plot or character, just a question. A whisper. But it stayed with me and from that spark, a story … Continue reading The Spark Behind Witness