Actually, all of my characters are inspired by people I know, meet, or observe. Josie (The Witness Series), for instance, is modeled on a judge who sits in Los Angeles Superior Court who went to college on a volleyball scholarship.

Rebecca Forster – 19 December 2013

The Back Flap

Appearing before the Senate Select Committee on Eastern European crime, Josie Bates testifies passionately about the brutal Albanian blood feud that has sent Hannah into hiding with Billy Zuni and Archer on a quest to find them. While Senator Patriota, the man sure to be the next president of the United States, promises his patronage Josie isn’t convinced he was even listening – but someone was.

Charging through the crush of bodies, evading security, a frantic man launches himself at Josie. Toppling her to the ground, he pushes something into her hands, puts his lips against her ear and whispers five words that will send her from the icy winter of Washington, D.C. to the tropical warmth of Hawaii in search of Hannah. What Josie finds instead is a flamboyant ex-pat who deals in pineapple and hula dancers, and a Victorian compound on the infamous island of Molokai where she uncovers a horrific, long buried truth…a truth that will change her life forever if she stays alive long enough to live it.

About the book

What is the book about?

Forgotten Witness is about the power of memory. Real, false, or selective it can change the course of a person’s life.

When did you start writing the book?

I knew where I wanted to take this series two years ago but I started writing Forgotten Witness in September, 2013.

 How long did it take you to write it?

Four months. This was rather quick for me. I usually take nine months to a year. I worked seven days a week. To me the story was very compelling.

Where did you get the idea from?

That’s an interesting question because this series has evolved into one that is character driven rather than genre driven. Josie’s personal demons needed to be addressed so her ‘story’ of redemption was one that has been evolving since the beginning of the series. The plot that drives the story was inspired by a Ted Talks video on mind control. I am an inquisitive sort and that led me to more research on the subject. I didn’t want the book to be simple. Actually, I never like stories to be simple. I love twists and turns.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I struggled with this entire book because I wanted it to be exciting and filled with action but I had to balance that with Josie’s emotional story. There are so many choices to be made in a book like this. The end result can easily be melodramatic.  Walking that fine line made me nervous.

What came easily?

Writing the Stephen Kyle and Ian Francis characters was pure joy. They were inspired by two English gentlemen. Stephen I’ve known for a number of years and Ian I met through my writing. Ian would read my books while he sat up with his baby, Amelia, who never slept. That’s why the Amelia in Forgotten Witness is always exhausted – she has insomnia.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Actually, all of my characters are inspired by people I know, meet, or observe. Josie (The Witness Series), for instance, is modeled on a judge who sits in Los Angeles Superior Court who went to college on a volleyball scholarship. Hannah is a montage of the young women I observed at the large high school my sons went to. Archer – really every love interest in every book I write – is based on my husband. Tessa in Before Her Eyes is based on a California model I knew when I worked in advertising. Beyond Malice was inspired by the age difference between my sister and myself. I forewarn everyone who meets me that they might appear in a book.

Do you have a target reader for this book?

No, not really. I find my reader will often note characterization and realism as the reasons they like my books. My books are inspired by legal premise, political shenanigans, and changes in cultural or social behaviors so there is always a basic reality embedded in them. I believe truth is much stranger than fiction and I think my readers like that core realism.

How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?

I worried the entire time that those who are dedicated fans of The Witness Series would be disappointed in the twist in this book (I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t read it). I realize I write fiction, but I take my work very seriously. I truly want readers to be entertained in the best possible way.

What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?

I don’t know that I learned anything new but I was reminded about how much kindness there is in the world of books: readers who sent notes of encouragement, friends who were willing to read and re-read looking for inconsistencies, family who didn’t mind listening to me talk about people who lived only in my imagination. Sometimes I believe the adage that writing is a lonely profession, but then I look back at the process and I’m in awe of how many people were there for me. It’s too bad we’re all so spread out or I’d have a thank you party.

End of Interview:

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