We chat with international best-selling author Wendy Walker about American Girl, a pulse-pounding novel about a small-town business owner found dead and the teenage girl caught in the crosshairs.
Hi, Wendy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I write psychological thrillers, including my latest – American Girl! I didn’t start out as a writer. When I was young, I trained for competitive figure skating. I went on to work in banking at Goldman Sachs, practice in different areas of the law, and raise three sons in southern Connecticut. I started writing when my first son was born, finally giving in to the urge to tell stories! Many years later, I found the right genre for my skills and interests and I’ve been writing thrillers ever since.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I always say that I discovered my love of storytelling after my children were born, but recently I was going through some old boxes in my basement and I found journals from when I was a very young girl! Some are diaries, but others are stories I had made up about the places where I was living, attending camp, or going to school. So I think it’s always been in me!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Pelican Brief
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: My Dark Vanessa
Your latest novel, American Girl, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Compelling, suspenseful, diverse, unique, heartfelt
What can readers expect?
American Girl is a small town murder mystery and thriller – so expect to turn pages and be surprised! Then be prepared to fall in love with Charlie Hudson, the autistic seventeen-year-old girl at the heart of the story. Her devotion to her friends, and complicated relationship with her mother, add depth and emotion as the plot unfolds.
Where did the inspiration for American Girl come from?
The inspiration for American Girl came from the song with the same title – American Girl by Tom Petty. A cover band was playing this song at a bar in a small Pennsylvania town a few years back, and I was instantly reminded of what it was like to be a young girl with dreams and obstacles. I wanted to capture that feeling, and also the bitter sweetness of life that unfolds as those dreams come true, or don’t, shift and change, and evolve into new dreams. I built the entire plot around Charlie Hudson and the people in the small town of Sawyer, Pennsylvania who get caught up in the murder of a ruthless business owner.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Writing Charlie Hudson was pure joy. She sees the world through a unique lens, and being in her voice allowed me to imagine life in a different way. She is smart and literal, analyzing the people around her so she can navigate relationships and help fulfil her dream of getting out of her small town. Her drive and ambition are matched only by her deep love for her friends and family. Through her eyes, I was able to explore and write about the complexities of the human experience.
This is your seventh published novel! What are some of the key lessons you have learned when it comes to writing and the publishing world?
I have to surround myself with a great team, and then just keep writing! Every other day it seems, I have doubts about my current project – from plot points to characters to points of view. And those doubts will change constantly as I put one foot in front of the other and get words onto the page. After seven published novels, and more on the way, I know this is part of the process. I lean on my team, and the amazing author community, to remind me that I know how to do this! Because after the doubts fade, and the work has been done, the story will be told!
What do you love about the thriller genre?
Writing dark subject matter with complex plots allows me to use different parts of myself that I find very satisfying. I love to plot! Building a thriller with one or more twists, and finding ways to make them work while keeping readers guessing, is very similar to building a case in the law – my former profession. But also, exploring darker aspects of life, including trauma and crime, provide an outlet for the fears that most of us have every day. Asking ‘what if’ about a fictional character is a way of exploring those fears without having them feel too close to home.
What’s next for you?
Look for a new Audible Original in 2024 called Mad Love! This is a fully scripted audio drama that has a Dirty John meets The Tinder Swindler feel, when a sociopathic young man infiltrates a suburban community by marrying a wealthy widow – only to wind up dead in the first scene. His backstory unfolds as two local detectives investigate suspects, including his two step children. It is sexy and fun with a killer twist!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes! Just out this summer and fall – try The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok, the story of a Chinese mother who comes to the US to find the daughter who’s been stolen from her, and Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie about an Indigenous woman who returns home to solve the disappearance and murder of local women.
