The Witness Affair follows a young woman in New York who inadvertently gets caught up in a crime ring and becomes a target, along with the detective trying to protect her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Having an extensive background in law enforcement and the judicial system, I had always wanted to write a suspenseful romance novel with a criminal element. But what inspired me in this instance was to look at the crime from the viewpoint of the perpetrator instead of the police officer. It was a unique experience to plan and execute the “perfect crime” and then try to solve it. Adding the threats to Susan’s character, as well as her dependence upon Sean, the NYPD detective trying to save her, helped to round out the story.

What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters?

I wanted the plot to explore what the romantic effect would be of having your life dependent upon someone you had just met. While I wanted Susan to be a strong, independent woman, I needed her to be vulnerable and needing help in an unfamiliar and intimidating environment. Yet, on her own turf, she would need to be courageous, and a formidable force to be reckoned with by any adversary. It was also important for Susan and Sean to be from dissimilar backgrounds. I felt that her being a farmer from the Midwest would contrast well with Sean’s big-city police officer demeanor. 

When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?

In all of my novels, I always have a beginning and an end before I start writing the first chapter. In this regard, The Witness Affair was no exception. But my initial outline of the plot already had several of the main plot twists from the very beginning. Still, as I wrote each chapter and developed the characters, I found opportunities to add additional turns and twists to keep the reader off-guard and hopefully surprised. 

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

My fifth novel, If Tomorow Could Be Today, is already underway, and I hope to have it ready for publication by this summer. Its genre will definitely fall into the suspense romance category. The story involves a young widower trying to recover from the loss of his wife. When he finally accepts that it’s time to stop grieving and move on with his life, he begins to fall in love with an attractive, yet puzzlingly young woman. But despite their mutual attraction, things are not what they seem and soon he finds himself caught up in a mystery that could have serious consequences for both of them.

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