We chat with author Rob Phillips about Stakeouts and Strollers, which follows amateur private investigator and new dad Charlie Shaw who gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to track down a young girl’s missing father.
Hi, Rob! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Absolutely! I grew up in Dallas where football is king, and I worked in sports media for sixteen years covering the Dallas Cowboys. Mysteries and detective stories have always been a passion of mine, so it’s a dream come true to jump from journalism to fiction. My debut, Stakeouts and Strollers, was fortunate enough to win the Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Award. My wife and I are raising our daughter in the DFW area.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Almost forty years ago, Louis Sachar visited my elementary school and read us a secret passage from his next Wayside School book. Eight-year-old me thought that was the coolest thing on the planet. In fourth grade, my principal was kind enough to read my short story aloud to the entire school during morning announcements. I can’t quite recall the subject (something about the bird bath in my backyard—hardly Emily Dickinson) but it gave me an early boost of writing confidence. And my mom was a huge influence; she’s a former English professor who introduced me to mysteries.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (finished just in time for the movie!)
Your debut novel, Stakeouts and Strollers, is out March 17th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A friend once described the book to me as “Rockford Files meets Finlay Donovan.” I’m a big fan of both series, so that works for me!
What can readers expect?
A fast-paced beach read packed with humor and heart. I think of Stakeouts and Strollers as a cozy with an edge. It’s part mystery, part thriller, part comedy, and part family saga. There’s a little bit of everything for the reader, and it will resonate with parents (especially new ones) who remember the joys/stresses of balancing baby time with life’s other responsibilities. Throw in some serious bad guys, and you’ve got the makings of a fun story.
Where did the inspiration for Stakeouts and Strollers come from?
My love of mysteries infused with my own experiences as a new parent. My daughter was born at the start of the pandemic in 2020, and I felt this odd blend of joy to be a girl dad and anxiety about the world she just entered. I needed an outlet for my stress, so I turned to writing during quiet moments while stuck in quarantine. My protagonist, Charlie Shaw, is a rookie PI and a rookie dad. He doesn’t really know how to do either, and that’s where much of the book’s humor comes from.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Two stand out! 1) I really enjoy the interplay between Charlie and his wife Ryan. They’re both smart, stubborn and sarcastic, and they both tend to yawn in sync during arguments. Ryan doesn’t understand why Charlie has chosen this new line of work, but at the end of the day they’re very much in love and a solid team. 2) Inspector Dwayne Powell, Charlie’s boss and ally, is just a cool character. He’s a man’s man—a decorated veteran and detective and a proud family man. He also acts as Charlie’s conscience, especially when a routine case gets quite dangerous.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Probably the same challenges many writers face in terms of balancing their career with their dream of getting published. It takes a lot of discipline, especially as a new parent with a day job. There were a lot of early mornings and late nights, but with a baby at home, I wasn’t sleeping much anyway!
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Learning to accept the words, “No thanks.” I’ve been pitching to agents for almost ten years, and I imagine it’s a lot like auditioning in Hollywood—you’ve got to grow a thick skin quick. My time as a sports reporter actually helped prepare me for rejection, though. Football fans aren’t shy about telling you that they don’t like your work or your opinions! Jokes aside, I’m grateful that Minotaur believed in this story, and my editor, Hannah Pierdolla, did a wonderful job challenging me to make it even better.
What’s next for you?
I’m always working on new ideas—mysteries that are fun and easy for readers to digest. And perhaps Charlie and the Shaw family will go on new adventures in the future!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I love supporting my colleagues at Minotaur and writers throughout the industry. I try to get my hands on as many new mysteries as possible. Outside the genre, I’m excited to read The Midnight Train by Matt Haig.
