Hopefully, any thriller reader will enjoy this book but I think fans of romance or women’s fiction will also find it intriguing.

Rebecca Forster –  10 April 2014

The Back Flap

New Mexico attorney Tara Linley has always believed in the power and fairness of the law. All that changes when she takes on her best friend’s lover as a client. It is only after she reluctantly agrees to represent Bill Hamilton that Tara discovers the real reason he has sought her out and the shocking crime he has committed. Attorney/client privilege prevents Tara from warning her friend that her life is in danger and the District Attorney’s political agenda blocks the only legal solution to her problem. Caught up in a web of escalating circumstances that threaten not only her professional reputation but her life Tara finds herself at the mercy of her dangerously unstable client…a man who is growing more psychotic by the day.

About the book

What is the book about?

This book is a story about self-preservation, loyalty, honor and above all honesty.

When did you start writing the book?

This is one of my first legal thrillers. I wrote this book in 1996 and reissued it in 2010.

 How long did it take you to write it?

Almost all my books take 9 months to finish between research and writing. There was a lot of research to do about the laws governing commitment by the state to a mental institution, etc.

 Where did you get the idea from?

I read an article about an attorney whose client confessed to murdering two people and showed him where the bodies were. The attorney was bound to keep his client’s counsel and the man remained free. I thought that was frightening and wondered how such a scenario would play out if the attorney’s friends or family were at risk. It also brought up the question of how an attorney could compartmentalize that knowledge and not be haunted by it.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The challenge was make sure the reader understood the rules surrounding the client privilege. I had to be clear in this ever- escalating situation why Tara didn’t break her oath and how cleverly Bill stayed on his side of the line.

What came easily?

Bill Hamilton came into my brain fully formed and that is a little worrisome.

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

‘Ben’ was borrowed from real life. He taught my children Kung Fu from a wheelchair. He was as adept at using that chair as any man standing on two legs. He was handsome, powerful, kind. I knew he would make a great hero. I think he was a perfect example of strength of body and character. I often wonder where he is now.

Do you have a target reader for this book?

Hopefully, any thriller reader will enjoy this book but I think fans of romance or women’s fiction will also find it intriguing. The questions of  ‘is it better to be alone than with someone flawed or can an older woman with money ever trust the feelings of a younger man with none?’ can definitely start some conversations.

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

This was the first book where I really let out all the character stops. Bill Hamilton was a risk but he turned out to be a good one. I love it when people say that he gave them nightmares. I stepped out of the box with him.

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

While writing, I learned that I become a crazy person as a huge deadline approaches. My poor family!  What I learned about publishing came after the book was in stores. I learned the absolute power of proper placement and cover art. My editor (without my knowledge) had ordered the book printed with the same cover but two different colors – one light green and one dark. She then made sure that the books were displayed on a front wall of the bookstores. It was an incredible sight with the alternating covers stacked floor to ceiling. People couldn’t help but pick up the book. I like to think it was the writing that earned it a place on the USA Today bestseller list.

End of Interview:

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