One tenacious local detective can only get the help he needs from a former forensic photographer with a serial killer on the loose in the new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.
We chat with author Laura Griffin about her latest release Flight, book recommendations, writing, and much more! You can find out more on Laura’s website and find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Hi, Laura! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Good to talk to you! I got my start in journalism. I always liked covering the hard news stories, so when I began writing fiction I was drawn to crime and suspense. I love writing stories where the suspense comes from relationship tension and also an external mystery that two people are trying to solve.
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
My goal is to enjoy the little things. Over the last year I’ve learned to treasure small things I used to take for granted, like visiting family, spending an afternoon in a crowded coffee shop, going to hear live music. As we emerge from the pandemic, I plan to appreciate all those experiences like never before!
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
First book I remember reading, Little House in the Big Woods. I think I loved Laura Ingalls because we shared the same name. First book that made me want to become an author, Postmortem, by Patricia Cornwell. A book I think of all the time, The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, about life in occupied France during World War II.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I have enjoyed writing stories since elementary school. As a child I kept journals and wrote poems. My real passion started in college when I began writing for the student newspaper and discovered my love of journalism.
Flight is the second instalment in your The Texas Murder Files series and it releases on March 30th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Photographer pulled into bizarre investigation.
Now, what can readers expect?
I love, love, love to write suspenseful stories with passionate heroines who are on a journey. The next book is Last Seen Alone, about an Austin lawyer and victims’ rights advocate who gets involved in a murder investigation when her client goes missing.
Did you always have in mind that the second book would follow Bailey’s sister (who was the lead in Hidden for those who haven’t read it)?
That was a surprise! I was writing about Bailey Rhoads, and then Miranda Rhoads, and I decided to make their stories loosely connected. Both sisters share a dedication to uncovering the truth—Bailey as a determined investigative reporter and Miranda as a talented forensic photographer and CSI.
Were there any challenges you faced while writing? If so, how did you overcome them?
This last year has been especially challenging for everyone. For me, it’s been important to focus on balance. Take care of your family, take care of your health, take care of your work, and in that order. So, I changed my writing routine to prioritize exercise and family obligations (which ramped up when everyone started doing work and school from home) and then shift into writing. It works. I may never go back!
If it’s not too spoilery, do you have any favorite moments that you loved bringing to the page?
I like the love scenes and the action scenes for different reasons. The love scenes, you are peeling back the layers of two people and their personalities, why they have a connection. The action scenes are when all the suspense comes to a head and you have these big moments of clarity.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The worst writing advice: Write what you know. How boring! The fun part is learning about something new. I love to go out, interview people, talk to people who have a passion for something that I don’t know about. It’s fun to weave that into a new story. And the best advice: Develop a thick skin and never give up!
What’s next for you?
Right now I’m writing the next book in the Texas Murder Files. I love this series because it’s set in Texas, and I get to put all these favorite settings and characters together. The new book takes place in a coastal town called Lost Beach. The heroine is a bit lost, finding her way after an emotional trauma, when she becomes involved in a murder investigation and meets a cop who will change her life.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I just finished binging the Bridgerton series of historical romances by Julia Quinn (lots of fun!) and am about to start the Ruth Ware thriller, One by One.
