“The Shady Oaks Division” follows a 45-year-old retired assassin whose quest for tranquility in early retirement is hindered by her dark past, idiosyncratic habits, and an unexpected romance. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

One of my favorite genres of movies/books is action and suspense. Especially centered around assassins, whether going rogue (ahem, Bourne) or not. I just thought ‘what would retirement look like for a woman stepping down from a fast-paced life as an “asset” aka “assassin” to a sleepy suburb?’ and took it from there.

Jill is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

Jill was such a fun character to write. It was so exciting to see how she developed over the pages. She had this sort of elegance about her, with her fancy clothing, etc., yet there was that edgy, lethal quality to her, simmering just below the surface that was difficult to suppress. Clearly residual from her past. You could tell she was trying to assimilate, but that proved to be more challenging than any of her previous “assignments”.

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

One theme that emerged as I was writing this book was that no matter what profession you may be retiring from (whether chasing down undesirables in remote locations or drafting legal documents for an M&A deal), there’s that transition period you go through as you settle into your new life. Once the dust settles and there’s no more commuting, no more stitching yourself up in the field, no more decisions to make aside from which tea you’ll be having that day or whether or not to do laundry on a Tuesday afternoon, it can be challenging to find purpose for some without the structure of work, since work, for so many of us, is what we do for the majority of our lives. That and birding really is the perfect hobby for retired assassins.

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

I am currently working on a suspense novel that centers around a woman waking up in a hospital setting, unable to move, speak or even remember who she is. Those around her keep trying to give her glimpses of her life, yet what they’re telling her is not matching up to what her dreams are indicating. I’m 21 chapters in and I still don’t know where the story is taking me! Can’t wait to see where it ends up. Most likely early 2024.

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