In Run, a woman must protect her son after he witnesses a crime and the gang responsible sets out to silence them both. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

My inspiration for this story is loosely based on a real-life experience. When my son was a teenager, he was jumped by two gang members who put him in the hospital for two weeks with a serious injury. During the investigation, and before his subsequent arrest, one of the gang members involved moved into the same condominium complex we lived in, constantly harassing us, and eventually necessitating our relocation. After his arrest, he continued to contact us via a cell phone smuggled into jail, threatening my son if he testified against him. Needless to say, I was frightened for my son’s life and was very close to moving him out of the area until the trial started.

That experience made me think about what I would do to protect my son if the situation escalated and the police couldn’t protect us. What would I do? Where would I take him? And how would we ever be able to resume our normal lives after that? Of course, my book is fiction, and very loosely based on our experience, as thank goodness, things turned out well for my son and his perpetrators are still in prison today.

Are you a fan of the crime thriller genre? What books do you think most influenced your work?

I have always been a fan of the thriller, suspense, and adventure genre. I am a huge fan of David Baldacci, Harlen Coben, and Lee Child, to name a few of the all-time greats.

Do you find that you relate to any of your characters? If so, which one(s)?

I can definitely relate to my protagonist, Kendra Thompson. She had to make some tough choices, but it was all done in the name of protecting her son. I believe most mothers can understand going to unimaginable lengths to save your child. Even when they are a typical snarky teenager with attitude, as Kendra’s son is!

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

I am just wrapping up my next thriller, which will be released on December 5, 2024. This next book is centered around a young woman named Megan Hamilton, who has just been dumped by her fiancé. After her mother guilt-trips her into going on a cruise to Mexico with her to heal from the heartbreak of her failed relationship, Megan meets a charming man onboard. However, no one is who they appear to be and when Megan goes missing, she soon realizes the truth is much worse than anything she could have imagined. Her perfect vacation is about to turn into a total nightmare. You’ll think twice before booking your next getaway.

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