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Author News & Interviews

Interview: Averil Dean, author of Alice Close Your Eyes

Jan 9, 2014

In 2012, after spending 20 years working in an office, Averil Dean decided to pursue her dream of writing full-time. Her efforts, it seems, have paid off with her buzzworthy debut novel, ALICE CLOSE YOUR EYES. It’s an erotic psychological thriller about Alice Croft, whose lust for revenge becomes complicated the night she breaks into Jack Calabrese’s house --- and starts lusting for darker and more dangerous things. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Norah Piehl, Dean talks about her obsession with all things noir, as well as how her fascination with “the interplay between deviant minds” led her to write the book. She also explains how she was able to successfully give life to an unlikable protagonist, why her personal blog is like a “lifeline,” and the reason that more women --- especially after the success of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY --- are jumping on the erotic fiction bandwagon.

Interview: Kristina Riggle, author of The Whole Golden World

Nov 7, 2013

Kristina Riggle, the acclaimed author of REAL LIFE & LIARS, returns with a thought-provoking novel inspired by real-life events. THE WHOLE GOLDEN WORLD is about 17-year-old Morgan Monetti, who shocks her parents and her community when she chooses to stand by the man everyone else believes has exploited her --- popular high school teacher TJ Hill. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Terry Miller Shannon, Riggle talks about how she kept this story --- which deals with some heavy issues --- upbeat, as well as why she feels most comfortable writing her novels from multiple perspectives. She also opens up about channeling her inner teenager, why poetry should always be written longhand in a notebook, and why sometimes it’s easier to ask strangers strange questions.  

Interview: Antoinette van Heugten, author of The Tulip Eaters

Nov 1, 2013

Former international trial lawyer Antoinette van Heugten retired to pursue a full-time career as a novelist and penned her debut novel, SAVING MAX. Now she returns with her second book, THE TULIP EATERS, in which readers are introduced to Nora de Jong, who is determined to discover the identity of her mother's killer and the whereabouts of her missing infant daughter. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Terry Miller Shannon, van Heugten opens up about how her parents’ participation in the Dutch resistance during World War II inspired her to set parts of her novel during that time --- and how it didn’t hurt that she had spent time in her 20s at the Netherlands War Institute, researching that topic. She also talks about how she treasures the humanity in even the most seemingly despicable character in THE TULIP EATERS and how writing the story affected her own emotional landscape.

Interview: John Lutz, author of Twist: A Frank Quinn Novel

Nov 1, 2013

John Lutz is a multiple Edgar and Shamus Award winner, including the recipient of the Shamus Lifetime Achievement Award, and the author of over 40 books. His latest novel, TWIST, is the eighth installment in his series featuring decorated ex-cop and former homicide detective Frank Quinn. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub, Lutz talks about getting into his serial killer’s head --- including what drives the murderer to that level of madness --- as well as how he knows so much about police investigative procedures. He also discusses how he crafted the shocking ending of TWIST, where readers can find SWITCH (a Quinn novella released in 2012 as an eBook exclusive) and what he’s working on next.

Interview: Sandra Dallas, author of Fallen Women

Oct 24, 2013

Sandra Dallas is the author of 13 novels, including TRUE SISTERS, THE BRIDE'S HOUSE, PRAYERS FOR SALE and TALLGRASS. Her latest, FALLEN WOMEN, is about New York socialite Beret Osmundsen, who gets word that her estranged sister Lillie has died suddenly in Denver. When Beret discovers the sordid truth of Lillie’s death, she makes her way to Denver, determined to locate the killer. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Alexis Burling, Dallas talks about her lifelong fascination with Colorado history, as well as how she went about researching the living conditions and culture of 19th-century prostitutes. She also discusses why it took her more than two decades to write FALLEN WOMEN --- her first mystery --- why she prefers to write fiction over nonfiction, and why we are more prone to deny fault when it comes to the people we love.