Complex and thorny questions about marriage, fidelity and domestic security are at the crux of Every Last Secret, a mesmerising new thriller by A.R. Torre, a pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Alessandra Torre, who has captivated readers all over world with more than twenty novels of romance and suspense.
Would you please give us a short intro to who you are and what you write?
My name is Alessandra (AR) Torre, I am a wife, mother, author, and tech startup exec. When I’m not writing romance novels or psychological suspense, I teach others about writing and marketing.
Can you tell readers about the plot in Every Last Secret?
The story is about a golden couple who has everything: love, happiness, and exorbitant wealth. Their idyllic perfection is marred when a new couple moves in next door and a toxic friendship begins to form between the two wives. As the two couples lives become intertwined, secrets build, and things take a deadly turn.
You’ve written this book under a pseudonym—why did you choose to do that? How do you decide that you’ll write one book under A.R. Torre and another under as Alessandra Torre? And is there another secret-secret pseudonym out there? 😉
Well, Alessandra Torre is a pseudonym also. So, I’m used to multiple identities. I use A.R. Torre for my suspense novels, and Alessandra for my romance novels (some of which contain suspense). The different pen names help to differentiate the genres in reader minds.
Did you always plan to be a writer?
No. While I had embraced and enjoyed writing assignments in school, I never had any confidence in my ability and was never encouraged by my teachers. I fell into writing on a bit of a whim – I wrote a book one summer when I was in between jobs, right after I learned the possibilities that were available through self-publishing. If it weren’t for those possibilities, I would never have had the confidence to go through the traditional query process and submit that novel to publishers and agents. Self-publishing is the only reason I now have 24 books under my belt, three traditional publishing contracts, a movie, and books in over thirty countries.
What were your career goals as a kid/young adult?
I wanted to be a vet or an attorney. Dreams that died quickly, and by high school I decided I wanted to work in resorts. I went to school for hospitality, graduated and ended up in banking, got married young, and ended up working as an assistant at a development company.
We read that a friend’s relationship inspired Every Last Secret. Did you feel you had to share your story idea with her before writing it? Is she still a friend? Can you share what happened?
She happily contributed and chimed into the development of this novel. She was the first to receive a signed copy.
Her story is simple – a married woman became obsessed with her and her husband, and grew very competitive and crafty, all while growing closer to her as a friend. The woman attempted to seduce her husband, called him obsessively, and began to stalk both my friend and her husband the more the husband pushed her away. She spread lies about the couple and lashed out viciously, all while portraying her own ‘perfect’ life on social media. It finally ended, but only after she found a new focus/victim to direct her attention to.
What was the first piece of writing you ever had published?
It was a sexy romance called Blindfolded Innocence. I self-published it in the summer of 2012.
Was there a moment in your writing career where you thought, “Okay, now I am officially a REAL writer?” Can you tell us about that time in your life?
That moment came when I got my first publishing deal, with Harlequin. The contract came with a large advance, one that would cover my living expenses for several years. That was the first moment that I realized that I could stop my job search and write full-time. It gave me some confidence and validation that I had skill and a future in this industry.
If you weren’t a writer, what other job would you want to have and why?
I would be a dog walker. That sounds heavenly right now. Nothing but fresh air, puppy kisses, and quiet.
Do you have a set writing schedule? What do you need to have near you (or NOT need) in order to write?
I don’t have a set writing schedule. I hunker down and spend six to eight hours a day writing for six weeks straight, then come up for air. It’s not the best for my creativity, but it’s how I’m currently fitting in book creation, while still juggling the other balls in my life. I need a heating pad, cold Dr Pepper, my leather chair, and a pair of headphones (or quiet).
Can you tell us what’s next for you in your writing world?
I just put the final touches on my next novel One Good Lie, which will release in summer 2021. While I wait for that release, I’m busy working with a team of authors and data scientists who are using artificial intelligence to improve the book editing process. We have an A.I. called Marlowe who is revolutionizing the way that authors look at and improve their books. In addition, we just launched BingeBooks.com – a website for readers that helps them discover their next great book and easily read samples, create books lists, and more. It’s a busy world at the moment!
Advice for writers – what was the easiest thing about getting published; what was the hardest thing about getting published?
Easiest thing about getting published – there’s no barrier to entry any more. You don’t need a publisher, you can do everything yourself and for very little cost.
Hardest thing about getting published – The self-doubt. Writers constantly fight the feeling that their book isn’t good enough, and their career is on the brink of disaster.
What is one thing you wish readers knew about you?
I write in multiple genres. If you enjoy Every Last Secret, read The Ghostwriter next. If you like both of those, and aren’t afraid of sexual references, read The Girl in 6E trilogy. Then, I urge you to dip your toe into my romance novels. They range from sweet (The F List) to super sexy (Undertow) but are highly entertaining and will keep you guessing.
