Thank you to Madeline for letting me interview you!

Interview

What was your inspiration for Death Before Dishonor?

The cliff notes version and I’m sure this is cliché, but it started with a crazy dream. In my dream, I was an administrative assistant in the Navy. My peer and I were moving paper files into a storage area. One file was crammed in the back of the cabinet. Most of the file had been redacted but one name and the title “Operation Cobalt” stood out.

I recognized the name and knew the family had wanted answers about their father’s disappearance. The file had been in that cabinet for a long time so I felt it was fine to share it with the family, who were also in the Navy, to maybe provide some closure.

One thing led to another and I was running for my life. There was the sound of a gun firing at me that made me jump up and wake myself and my husband up out of a dead sleep. He asked what was wrong so I told him. He told me that it didn’t sound like a dream but more like a miniseries or book. He suggested that I write it down and see what happens and Death Before Dishonor was born.

What drew you to writing?

I’ve always loved writing. From an early age, I started journaling or writing down dreams that I would have. From there, I would turn them into short stories. I never shared them with anyone though.

What was your process for writing Death Before Dishonor?

After I told my dream to my husband, I started typing it out on a notepad app on my phone. The story kept evolving throughout the day with more items that I remembered so I switched to pen and paper. I had 10k words within a few hours. In this first book, I was more of a pantser when it came to writing. By the end though, I had to create an excel doc with all the timelines and easter eggs that I placed in book one so I could link them in book two and three.

What is your approach to world and character building?

World building was easy. We visit the Outer Banks, NC every year. We were even married there. I wanted a place that I knew really well so I could describe it as if it were my own town. Part of the story does take place in Norfolk, VA, because that’s where Emily and her family are stationed in the Navy. That took a bit of research and help from a friend who was in the Navy.

As far as the characters are concerned, they really wrote themselves. Emily is a strong female character making her way in a male-dominated field. I needed her to be a badass but also a bit sassy. Her love for her family/ friends – that’s all me. You don’t mess with my people…ever! I fiercely love my people and Emily is the same.

Her banter with Xander (her best friend) is like conversations that you would hear my husband and I have.

Everyone else really wrote themselves.

How did you choose the character to focus the book around?

I knew that if I was going to write this story it was going to be a female main character. There are so many books with strong male main characters but not too many female ones. Then add that she’s in the Navy and is skilled in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai – she’s a force to be reckoned with for sure!

How would you describe Death Before Dishonor in five words?

Honor and family above all.

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

There are a few interrogation torture scenes. For me, those were fun to write. Yes, I’m aware of how twisted that sounds, but I was a nursing/criminology major in college. I’ve seen many things and read lots of case files. You write what you know.

What was your favourite book growing up?

When I was little my favorite book was Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. I also loved anything by R.L. Stine.

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

I prefer crime/suspense/thriller first, but I do love a good rom-com or romantasy as well.