Abigail Henley, A Southern Tragedy, follows a corporate attorney who receives an old journal drawing her into the investigation of the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The prologue was the inspiration for the setup. It was originally a short story that I wrote in 1998 in my English Literature class. Our final writing assignment was to write a short story without the usual prompt that our instructor provided for every writing assignment in the class. He selected mine to read aloud to the class. We all used pseudonyms instead of our names on all of our assignments, and when he started reading, I remember clearly that I was looking down in my notebook. I slowly looked up, my heart racing and he glanced in my direction. At the end, he asked if he could share the name of the author with the class whose comments were this person should write a book. Of course, at the time, I simply wanted to graduate from college. So, as I was looking back through my writings, I came upon the prologue entitled A Desperate Decision. At first, I struggled with how to proceed with the story, but after I began to type my thoughts onto the screen, it took on a life of its own. As with all of my books, there was no outline, or reflection on how to proceed once I started writing. Now, the inspiration for the prologue was from one of my sociology classes at the time when we were discussing the death penalty.

What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?

Well, I presume this is in reference to emotions, experiences, and challenges we all face as human beings regardless of our culture, race, ethnicity, etc. I think great fiction often connects us in a way that elicits common shared feelings about a particular subject. In other words, our challenges and experiences shape and influence our identity, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. When we relate to a story, it’s often because we see pieces of ourselves reflected in the characters’ struggles, triumphs, or emotions. Visualizing ourselves in their shoes allows us to connect deeply with the plot and even gain insights into our own lives. It’s one of the reasons storytelling is such a powerful tool for empathy and self-discovery. A book is not just a story, it’s life.

What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?

This particular novel was a bit difficult because Abigail’s death was presented in the prologue. When I started writing the story, I had no idea who killed Abigail, where, or why she was murdered. But I knew that whoever murdered her would need to present it in their own words so that the emotional aspect of her death wasn’t lost in translation. Also, I didn’t want it to be the same generic idea of a murder. When the plot was presented with the journal, I knew the missing pages would tell the story. I wanted readers to be able to empathize with the murder, although we knew that, ultimately, they deserved to be vilified.

What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?

My next book was actually released on the 16th of February. The Tydareus Kingdom, Alliance of Nations is set in an ancient world where rivalries and political intrigue collide, an unlikely alliance of nations must unite to thwart a dark prophecy threatening The Tydareus Kingdom’s very existence. Alliance of Nations explores the lives of six Kings as they set course on a journey to unite their kingdoms and prepare for war while maneuvering through the trials and tribulations of negotiation. Eventually, each King must confront his own demons to clear the trail of conflicts and chaos, which threaten to derail their strategies for a successful union.

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