Dangerous Shadows follows a private investigator with a simple surveillance job who is pulled into a web of deadly secrets and high-stakes danger. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I had been toying with the idea of a romantic thriller set against the backdrop of New Orleans for some time, but the story hadn’t fully come together yet. I also knew I wanted to create a narrative featuring a woman as the protagonist (like a female Alex Cross or a story that could develop along those lines). When I was a kid, there was a TV show called Heart to Heart (I’m aging myself), and I was a big fan of it. I loved how each episode was its own little romantic thriller, showcasing this rich and glamorous couple who were taking names, kicking ass, and solving crimes. She was pretty, sexy, and independent, while he was masculine, alpha, and protective; together, they were just unstoppable and fiercely loyal to each other. I think subconsciously, that’s what I wanted to recreate on some level.

Tessa is a woman with strength and personality. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?

In a word, her bravery. She feels the fear and jumps in anyway. I admire that.

I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the story, or did the twists develop organically?

Yes and no. I had an outline, but it was skeletal, and there were places where the story took on a life of its own, and I couldn’t type fast enough, so at some point, I just went along for the ride.

What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?

I refer to this series of books set against the backdrop of New Orleans’ underbelly as a collection because each book is a stand-alone novel featuring new and different characters, each leading their own unique and distinctive lives—the gritty side of New Orleans is the common thread. The book is titled A Girl’s Best Friend and involves a tormented retired detective and a diamond heist. It’s available for pre-order now and will be released on July 13, 2025.

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