We chat with author Maggie Thrash about Rainbow Black, which is part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.
Hi Maggie! Give us your elevator pitch for “Rainbow Black”.
Historical legal drama set during the 1980s Satanic Panic¾but also a murder mystery and a queer bildungsroman.
What does the title of the book refer to?
I think that’s a question that’s for the reader, not for me. What do you think it means?
What was the inspiration behind the novel?
I was too young to be aware the Satanic Panic while it was happening. By the time I was a teenager in the 2000s, society seemed to have collectively forgotten all about it. It was a lot like covid in that way––as soon as it was “over,” no one wanted to talk about it anymore. But there was never any closure.
Is any of the plot, or some of the characters, based on real life events and real people? Any of your own personal experiences?
Rainbow Black is inspired by the real-life McMartin trial which happened in the 1980s. Millions of dollars were spent investigating and prosecuting innocent day care providers who were falsely accused of Satanic ritual child abuse in a fit of nation-wide hysteria. How the system got so out of control is a source of fascination for me. Personally, I’ve had some very scary experiences with bureaucracy. It’s luck of the draw¾will your file land on the desk of a person who actually wants to help you? Or a person who wants to abuse their power position and watch you suffer?
“Rainbow Black” is set in New Hampshire. What made you decide to set the novel there?
I’ve loved New Hampshire ever since I learned about their state motto: Live Free or Die. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia, and while there’s a lot to love about Atlanta and its uniquely southern glamor, from a young age I was plotting my escape. The suburbs, the development, the traffic, the shopping centers¾it’s not what I wanted. New Hampshire represented everything I longed for. Rugged darkness, unmaintained roads, wildlife neighbors.
What were some of your favorite scenes to write? Any scenes that were particularly challenging? If yes, how did you handle them?
I adore writing courtroom scenes. My father is a federal judge, so I practically grew up in a courtroom. Paradoxically, I feel like I can express myself more freely when I’m constrained by the strict format of a legal proceeding.
Can you elaborate on any research or preparation you did while working on the legal aspects of the story?
Whether consciously or not, my parents raised me to be a lawyer. My mind works in a very analytical, lawyer-like way. But on a personality level I was never cut out to be a lawyer. I’m way too defiant and self-involved. In a way, Rainbow Black is my way of fantasizing about the life I might have had if I were a lawyer, a life where I didn’t have such an artistic temperament.
What do you hope readers will take away from “Rainbow Black”?
I hope they take away a great reading experience! I hope they tell all their friends, “You have to read Rainbow Black. It’s so good.” People are hungry for a great read. Reading should be a pleasure.
Are you working on any new projects or books that you can share with us?
I’m very experimental, which means I’m always trying new things. This also means I’m always failing. I’ll bust out an idea and write a hundred pages before I realize it’s not working. I try not to grieve too much for these aborted projects. You never know where ideas will lead in the long run.
