We chat with author Kara Thomas about her latest release Out of the Ashes, which follows a woman’s investigation into her family’s murders uncovers lies, secrets, and dangerous truths.
Hi Kara, thanks for joining us on The Nerd Daily, can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
I am the author of 7 novels for young adults, including The Cheerleaders. I was born and raised on Long Island, where I still live with my husband, young son, and rescue cat, Felix. When I’m not writing or working as a part-time librarian, I am probably playing board games or making soap.
We know you’ve written books for young adults in the past. This is your first thriller for adults—why did you want to write for an older audience?
At the time I started Out of the Ashes, I had just finished my 7th YA novel and was about to start my 8th. I was feeling a bit like I needed a break from the YA point of view— I was worried I was getting burned out and phoning it in, and that was a sign I needed to try something different. I’m happy to report I’m back to writing YA with a fresh perspective, as well as writing another book for adults. I think the only way to ensure career longevity in a fickle business like publishing is to diversify what you’re writing, and never push through with a project that doesn’t feel right for that moment.
What was the inspiration for Out of the Ashes?
A long time ago in one of my deep dives into unsolved crimes, I read about the Sodder children. The idea that several siblings in one family were never recovered after a devastating house fire was just so mystifying— did the kids really perish in the fire, or were they kidnapped? The most logical explanation was that they did die in the fire and their remains were never found, but I couldn’t imagine how devastating it was for the surviving family members to never get an answer either way. Sam was inspired by that— what does life look like for an adult that has had to carry that uncertainty on top of their trauma for over two decades?
What challenges did you face while writing the book?
I wrote this book during a period of serious personal and professional change— I was finishing up my Master’s degree and internship, trying to manage parenting a small child during a pandemic, and I had made some changes in my publishing representation. It was challenging not just to write a draft, but to put myself out there with a new book in a new genre.
How did you decide or know that you wanted to be a writer? Did you always know, or was there a pivotal moment for you?
I always knew I wanted to write, but a creative career path didn’t seem viable when I was choosing what to study in college. I wound up getting a degree to teach English, and I actually started out majoring in history and pre-law. It wasn’t until I finished writing my first book and looked into pursuing publication that I really entertained the idea of becoming an author.
What books are on your TBR pile?
Throwback by Maurene Goo, All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham, and Exiles by Jane Harper.
What’s one book that you will always recommend to readers without question?
Gone Baby Gone by Dennis Lehane for fiction, and for non-fiction, Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse.
What are your must-haves when sitting down for a writing session?
Complete silence and a cup of Nespresso!
