A Hamburger Christmas follows two charismatic detectives who are investigating a series of burglaries happening around Christmas time. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

This novella is a prequel to my detective series. Since it’s a Christmas story, I wanted it to have a heart-warming and touching message behind it. I thought it would be perfect to tell the story of one of the detective’s journey through grief. As he experiences his first Christmas without a loved one, his friendship with his partner will help him through it. They have a close relationship and this story allowed me to reveal more about their tight bond.

While Christmas is a special time for most it’s also a hard time for others, and this novella shows how the people you love can be your lifeline.

Some of the characters experience a change of heart during the story. What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?

Two other characters in the story are struggling teenage brothers who are being manipulated by an unscrupulous gangster who is using them for his own gain. The brothers’ relationship closely mirrors the relationship between the detectives because the teenagers are also struggling with grief. I wanted to explore the bonds between them from both sides of the law.

When the detectives come to terms with their situation with the teenage burglars, they have to decide how far they’re willing to go to capture the boys and at what point does compassion affect their decision when there’s a chance to help them?

When someone breaks the law and threatens your life, do they deserve a second chance?

How did you decide on the title of this novella?

There’s a story from one of the detectives about a lousy Christmas from his past. His father lets him down, and trying to cheer her son up, his mom makes hamburgers, and they call it their Hamburger Christmas. What happens during that Christmas and the gifts they exchange play a role in the unfolding of the novella and it makes for a perfect title.

Can you tell us a little about where the story goes in the next book and when the novel will be available?

This prequal novella leads into the Detectives Daniels and Remalla series. This is a six-book series that starts with Haunted River. I like throwing a little supernatural into my books, so they are all mystery-thrillers with a dash of the unexpected.  The detectives face a ghost or two and a murderer in Haunted River and will confront an evil, charismatic cult leader whose fascination with living forever and the paranormal will kick off a five-book storyline that will threaten Daniels’ and Remalla’s friendship and lives.

There is also a four-book series called The Family or Foe Saga with Detectives Daniels and Remalla. This precedes the detective series and can also be read after A Hamburger Christmas. It focuses on three unique siblings with strange backgrounds whose connections lead them to work with Daniels and Remalla. They’ll discover the truth about a revenge-seeking killer with dangerous abilities who plans to destroy them all.

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