We chat with author Lisa Kusel about The Widow on Dwyer Court, which is a sexy psychological thriller that will leave you breathless, perfect for fans of Kiersten Modglin’s The Arrangement.
Hi, Lisa! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello, Nerd Daily. Thanks for having me here. I was born in NJ, raised in CA, lived for a time in Indonesia, and now reside in Burlington, VT with my partner, daughter, and crazy cat, Dave. Before publishing my first book in 2002, I created a genetics software program, produced websites for Microsoft, sold cosmetics in Russia, and coordinated recycling for the EPA.
I’ve previously published a collection of linked short stories, a novel and a memoir. The Widow on Dwyer Court is my debut thriller.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was in the sixth grade I made up a story for a book I was supposed to have read for a book report. Instead of chastising me, my teacher secured me a spot in an exclusive summer creative writing program. I’ve been making up stories ever since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Color of Light by William Goldman
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley. It’s been a source of joy for these dark and stormy times.
Your latest novel, The Widow on Dwyer Court, is out July 16th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Romance writer makes dangerous choices
What can readers expect?
A unique read, that’s for sure. Maybe a bit unhinged. Totally twisty. Often funny. Mildly spicy.
Kate Burke is an asexual romance writer who uses her husband’s one-night stands as material for her books. Of course no one in Kate’s suburban social circles knows about her secret alt-life. When Annie Meyers moves to the hood from Colorado, Kate is thrilled to have a new cool friend she can finally be her true self around. As their friendship grows, Kate begins to suspect that Annie didn’t move to town just so she could enroll her daughter in the local Waldorf School. Annie might have far more nefarious plans in store.
Where did the inspiration for The Widow on Dwyer Court come from?
The dynamics surrounding infidelity have always intrigued me. I used to live in a small town in the Sierras, and when the husband of one couple was caught having an affair with the wife of another, I found myself captivated by the drama that ensued. I wondered what would have happened if the cuckolded wife had actually been okay with her husband cheating; like what if she didn’t like sex and wanted him to be with other women so that she wouldn’t have to sleep with him? And what if I make her a wanna-be writer? The seeds of those what-if’s slowly but surely grew into a sexy psychological thriller.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
1) I had a blast writing Annie’s dialogue. In order to make her the sarcastic, pithy and intelligent character that she is, I gave her the habit of quoting everything from the Bible to Cyrano de Bergerac. Finding the exact right words to put into her mouth was great fun.
2) Since the novel Kate is writing is embedded in the book I had to a) learn how to write decent erotica. It was no easy feat and I gained a whole lot of respect for romance writers; and b) since the main character in the romance book is a cheesemaker I had to research the art of cheesemaking. In depth. Naturally I felt obliged to taste all the Vermont cheeses Kate did while writing her book. Bliss.
What draws you to the thriller genre?
Whether I write fiction or nonfiction, I always begin by loosely plotting out my main characters’ trajectories using Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey template. I’m wildly distilling its essence here, but I know I will need my protagonist to leave what’s familiar; be subjected to some sort of adversity; and then return home a changed person. Utilizing this guide in the thriller genre, in particular, is highly complex. It’s these complexities—the gray areas where good versus evil are not so clearly delineated and endings are filled with surprising twists—which drew me to the genre. Writing thrillers is akin to riding a roller coaster in the dark. Very fun. Entirely scary. And you have no idea what’s about to happen.
What’s next for you?
I recently completed The Better Brother. It’s a much quieter, much darker story than The Widow on Dwyer Court. It features Deni Rydell, who believes her life is about to change once she marries Cal Cooper, Jr., heir to a mining fortune. When Cal and his parents perish in a plane crash, Cal’s brother Grant (a recovering addict) and his mysterious girlfriend Erika, become the beneficiaries of all that wealth. As if her world is not shattered enough, Deni’s best friend is found murdered on the land where she illegally grew marijuana. Local Detective Robyn Torres thinks the murder is a straightforward drug robbery gone wrong, but she couldn’t be further from the truth. As she works to solve the case, Torres uncovers a series of shocking secrets and family lies.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Some of my favorites from 2024 thus far include Homecoming by Kate Morton; The Choice by Gillian McAllister; Diane Chamberlain’s Big Lies in a Small Town; and Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby.
As to my “can’t wait to read” books, I’ve got over 600 titles listed on my goodreads page, but I’ll narrow it down to: All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker; Percival Everett’s James, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, and anything Lisa Jewell releases.
