How do I keep up to date on your latest releases?
My mailing list: newsletters go out monthly with news, releases, thoughts on the writing life, recipes, book recommendations, and more! You can sign up here, and unsubscribe at any time.
My blog, THE CREATIVE EDGE, has exclusives for paid subscribers, new fiction, essays, and other goodies.
Bookbub: If you’d rather skip the deep thoughts and just be informed when a new book releases, this is your best bet.
Amazon also sends updates when new books release.
Goodreads is a great community for fellow booklovers.
There’s a new kid in town, too. Welcome Joss Walker to the block. Joss is my fantasy pen name, and I’m currently working on the next book in the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian series.
What's your latest book?
My next standalone, A VERY BAD THING, will be out Fall 2024. You can pre-order from your favorite store!
IT’S ONE OF US trade paperback is out now. I also recently released the 9th book in the Taylor Jackson series, THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT.
I would love to review your next release. How can I request an Advanced Reader Copy?
Thank you for your interest in reviewing. Please contact my publisher for more details.
How can I join your newsletter?
You can join the newsletter here, and I won't ever sell your email or share it without your consent. Promise! And there's even a free ebook in it for you...
Do you have a printable book list?
Right here – print to your heart's content.
HOW can I get a signed book?
If you’re interested in a signed copy of one of my earlier titles, I’m thrilled to direct you to either the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, or Parnassus Books in Nashville, where you can find recent titles that are signed and ready for purchase.
I hear you've written some standalone novels. What is it about? and what does the term "standalone" mean?
"Standalone" is an industry term for a book that is not part of a series. In other words, you won't see these characters again. For example:
My late 2019 standalone novel, GOOD GIRLS LIE, traces the idea of a teenager girl going from revered to reviled. It is a fish out of water story as much as a deep dive into my own experiences at a boarding college.
TEAR ME APART came out in 2018. It's the story of a young downhill skiing phenom and Olympic hopeful named Mindy Wright. After horrifically breaking her leg, Mindy is rushed to surgery and doctors discover she has an aggressive form of leukemia. A stem cell transplant is her only hope. When Mindy's parents are tested to help their daughter's treatment, they make a terrifying discovery: Mindy is not their daughter.
BUM-Bum-BUMMM!
IT’S ONE OF US, LIE TO ME, HER DARK LIES, and NO ONE KNOWS are my other standalones. I think you’ll like them, too.
And now you're hosting A Television series called "A WORD ON WORDS." WHAT??
That's right! In 2015, I was honored to be asked to help continue John Seigenthaler's literary legacy by co-hosting A WORD ON WORDS, his long-running literary television series. It has been an incredible ride. You can see more here, and follow along online at #keepreading.
you co-wrOte with Catherine Coulter. What's up with that?
I am honored to have co-written a series with Catherine called "A Brit in the FBI." The first novel is called THE FINAL CUT; the second is THE LOST KEY; the third is THE END GAME; the fourth is THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE; the fifth is THE SIXTH DAY. The sixth and final book in the series, THE LAST SECOND, came out March 26, 2019. Collaboration is so much fun, especially with a writer of Catherine's caliber, and our main character, Nicholas Drummond, is to die for. Think Memphis Highsmythe meets Dr. John Baldwin meets James Bond. And if you haven't read Catherine's gritty FBI series or historicals, I very much recommend them both.
When is the next Samantha Owens book?
The Samantha Owen novels got a fresh new look in 2018, which I love. I do have plans for the next book in the series, but I don't currently have a release date for that. I will let you know as soon as I do.
When is the next Taylor Jackson book?
Taylor #9 released in 2023. It’s called THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT.
You can also read more Taylor adventures in short story form here.
Who the heck is Joss Walker?
Joss Walker is my alter-ego in the fantasy realm, where I explore my love of the fantasy genre and extraordinary women discovering their power in the world. Check out the books here.
But why fantasy? You’re a thriller writer.
I adore fantasy, and have longed to create a world of my own since I was a child. And I think of myself as a storyteller, first and foremost, who writes thrilling stories across a number of genres. And really, why limit yourself. You wouldn’t want to eat pizza every day, would you? (OK, bad example, but you get what I’m saying.)
Where are you from?
I grew up in Colorado, then moved to Northern Virginia in my early teens. I attended high school, college and graduate school in the D.C. area, then moved to Tennessee in 1998 with my husband.
How did you get into writing?
I've always written, though not always creatively. I received my first rejection at the tender age of ten, when my grandmother submitted a school poem to True Confessions Magazine. Multiple short stories and poems ensued. I studied creative writing in college, and was planning to go on to get an MFA. My thesis advisor discouraged me from that path; she felt I wasn't a good enough writer to see publication. Sadly, I listened, and went into politics instead. I returned to writing full-time in 2003, got an agent in 2005, my first deal in 2006, and I haven't looked back since.
What's your typical writing day?
I try to write 1,000 words a day, about five pages. I start by rereading what I wrote the day before to get myself in the flow, then I charge ahead. I don't worry about getting it perfect, I worry about getting the story down. I tend to do several drafts before I turn the book in to my editor.
How long does it take you to write a book?
That depends. I’ve written 30 novels in 17 years, so I average just shy of two 100k novels a year.
Where did you get the idea for Taylor Jackson?
She was born because of John Sandford’s PREY series. I was driving down Interstate 40, thinking about Lucas Davenport’s icy smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and that scar, and his depression, and realized I wanted to write about a woman in his shoes. A woman in control, who’s strong without being strident, who commands the respect of her peers and her enemies. One who’s worked hard and paid her dues. Taylor literally leapt fully formed into my mind, talking in that low, smoky drawl, and I was hooked. I knew I had to tell her story. She’s half cop, half rock star to Nashville. She’s a wonderful character to write – difficult, sometimes, but a lot of fun. My Athena. Nashville’s Athena.
And what about Samantha Owens? Where did she come from?
Long ago, when I was first starting out as a writer, I did a tour of our local morgue in conjunction to interviewing a forensic odontologist. I was struck by the place, and knew I wanted to have a medical examiner in my stories. Samantha became that character in the Taylor Jackson series – she was Taylor’s foil, her conscience, her best friend from childhood to adulthood, and her moral guide. She's the lodestone of the Taylor books. So creating a series around Sam was a natural extension of her character.
Where Taylor is the embodiment of my hero complex, Sam is the embodiment of my nightmares, of what could happen if everything in my life was stripped away. She's a very powerful force in the books, an example of the strength we all carry inside us.
What is the chronological order of the Taylor Jackson books?
1. FIELD OF GRAVES: Prequel to the Series (2016)
2. ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS (2007)
3. 14 (2008)
4. JUDAS KISS (2009)
5. THE COLD ROOM (2010)
6. THE IMMORTALS (2010)
7. SO CLOSE TO THE HAND OF DEATH (2011)
8. WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE (2011)
8.5 WHITEOUT (Novella, 2015)
9. THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT (2023)
What is the chronological order of the Samantha Owens books?
1. A DEEPER DARKNESS (2012)
2. EDGE OF BLACK (2012)
3. WHEN SHADOWS FALL (2014)
4. WHAT LIES BEHIND (2015)
AND THE STANDLONES?
NO ONE KNOWS (2015)
LIE TO ME (2017)
TEAR ME APART (2018)
GOOD GIRLS LIE (2019)
HER DARK LIES (2021)
IT’S ONE OF US (2023)
Do I need to read your SERIES books in order?
That's a hard question to answer. The truth is yes, you'll probably enjoy them more if you read in order, simply because the characters and storylines have a certain interconnectedness that's necessary to sustain a series. But each book has enough information so you can pick it up and read them out of order. So it's really your choice. For the Taylor series, I would recommend reading 14 before SO CLOSE THE HAND OF DEATH, but it's not a necessity.
Are your books available on my e-reader?
Yes! All of the books are in all digital formats.
Are your books available in audio?
Yes! All of my books are currently available. The Taylor and Sam books are read by the incomparable Joyce Bean. NO ONE KNOWS is skillfully voiced by Teri Schnaubelt and Nick Podehl. The performers for LIE TO ME—Matthew Waterson, Saskia Maarleveld, Sarah Naughton, and Julia Whelan—hit it out of the park. TEAR ME APART is also incredible!
Have your books been made into a movie or television show yet?
Not yet, she says with a smile... 😉 Feel free to contact my dramatic rights agent Holly Frederick, of Curtis Brown, with inquiries.
Will you donate books to my foundation/school fundraiser/charity event?
Due to the volume of requests, I have to ask that you direct all donation requests to my publishers. Thank you!
How do you do your research?
Very carefully. I love research, and try to do as much hands-on as I can. I think the more important question is how do YOU do research? My advice is don't be afraid – just pick up the phone and ask. It's been my experience that all aspects of law enforcement, from the police to the military to the FBI, want you to get it right, and are willing to help you do so.
Can I get the name of your contacts?
Now where's the fun in that? There are no shortcuts in publishing, especially in research. I had to work hard to cultivate my contacts, and you'll be much happier working with your own.
How can I get published?
The very best advice I can give is to do your research, and learn everything there is to know about the publishing industry. Publishers Marketplace, Publishers Weekly and Writer's Digest are all must-reads. Once you've polished your work through multiple revisions and outside critiques, then you need to look for an agent. Agents take a lot of the pressure off you, handling everything from securing your publishing deal to the money to advice and friendship. Look for agents who are reputable, who adhere to the AAR (Association of Authors Representatives) guidelines. Agents typically charge a 15% commission on all monies you make. A note of warning - in legitimate publishing, the money always flows to the author. Any agent who wants money up front is a scam, and should be passed on. Read Preditors and Editors for warnings about shady agents.
What books do you recommend writers read to help learn the craft and stay focused?
ON WRITING – Stephen King
WRITE AWAY – Elizabeth George
THE WRITER'S JOURNEY – Christopher Vogler
BIRD BY BIRD – Anne Lamott
FOREST FOR THE TREES – Betsy Lerner
THE WAR OF ART – Steven Pressfield
THE CREATIVE HABIT – Twyla Tharp
RAPT: ATTENTION AND THE FOCUSED LIFE – Winifred Gallagher
FLOW: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
HAMLET'S BLACKBERRY – William Powers
THE ARTIST'S WAY – Julia Cameron
DEEP WORK – Cal Newport
And here are some more . . .
Will you endorse my book?
Because I am very focused on writing at the moment, I am not currently open to blurbs. Please direct all endorsement requests to my agent, Laura Blake Peterson at Curtis Brown Ltd.
Will you help me spread the word about my new digital release?
This counts as an endorsement, so please direct your request to my agent.
Will you read my unpublished manuscript?
I wish I could, but the liability issues are tremendous. Get a good independent editor, a critique group, and beta readers. Join the national organizations and make contact with other writers who are coming up. Support one another through honest, gentle critique.
If I have a great story idea, can I send it to you and we can write the book together?
No. Again, liability issues are at play, but I have too many ideas of my own to process. If it's that great an idea, I suggest you write the book yourself!
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
You become a great writer through reading other great writers. If you don't read, I truly believe that your writing will suffer tremendously. So read, everything you can get your hands on. Also, read Stephen King's ON WRITING, Twyla Tharp's THE CREATIVE HABIT, and Steven Pressfield's THE WAR OF ART, and Elizabeth George's WRITE AWAY. If those books speak to you, you have the soul of a writer and you should push on. Create good writing habits. Join the organizations like Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and the Authors Guild. All these groups have arms for unpublished writers and are a font of great information. You can also read my Top Ten List for Unpublished Authors for more tips.
