The Billionaire’s List follows a reclusive author who is entangled in a murder mystery after the death of her uncle. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

During the 2020 pandemic lock-down, my family played a lot of MONOPOLY. And as anyone who has ever played that game knows, you can’t finish in just one sitting! When we rested between rounds, the board sat on a table in the corner of our family room. I kept looking at the board—the street names, the railroads, the jail, and Mr. Monopoly in the center—and I thought, “There’s a story here!” 

Unlike most writers, I wrote the ending first. Well, some of the ending. I knew one of the plot twists right off the bat. Since I new the ending, I worked backward (but forward on the board) to get to that fantastic ending and ensure each location was mentioned. I had a blast creatively incorporating some of the spots, such as the Chance and Community Chest cards and the railroads. 

I had no idea I had written a mystery until my first beta reader said, “I loved this mystery!”

“What?”

“Well, you have dead bodies, and we don’t know who or why, so you have a mystery!” Since my primary initial objective was moving through the board game, I went back to add the mystery components—the red herrings and more suspense and surprise. I’ve never had more fun writing!

Greta Goldman is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?

I have a lot of people in my life who live with neurodiversities, from autism to ADHD and more. Greta is a little bit of me and a lot of them. As with all good protagonists, there needs to be growth (or at least change). That was my goal. And those around her helped her along the way, even if some didn’t realize it. 

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The overarching themes are not your typical themes for mysteries. I spent a lot of my life living inside boxes. As I’ve gotten older, I realize the importance of stepping outside the lines and breaking a few rules. So the themes are goodness and redemption. We’re all given gifts—talents, wealth, time, and more—and it’s important we learn how to use them for the greater good. That’s what gives our lives purpose. But we also all make mistakes. That’s part of our humanity. It takes a good support system of family, friends, and even a little faith to right our wrongs and unleash that purpose.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I’m busy writing the PREquel to The Billionaire’s List. Most people who have read The Billionaire’s List are expecting a sequel. But I really need to dig into the past to help set the stage for the future. And, of course, I’m drumming up another jaw-dropping plot twist! I hope this next manuscript doesn’t take two-plus years.  My goal is to release it in late Winter 2024.

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