My favorite chapter to write was the very first interaction between Ben and Nikki. I tried very hard to make the dialogue realistic and communicate a lot of information about both of them in a fast-paced way. It resulted in a lot of re-writing but in the end I was really happy with it. And when I got some positive feedback from fans on that interaction, it felt pretty good to hear that they liked it.
You tell the story from various characters' perspectives. Did you write the chapters in the order in which they appear, or did you move things around as you wrote?
I force myself to outline the entire book before I begin writing Chapter One. And to be honest, that’s out of necessity. I wish I had the ability to start with a blank page, but that always seems to result in a lot of re-work and backtracking. Having the outline upfront helps me map out the twists, red herrings and character development at a high level. That said, once the pages are written, I definitely switch their order around as part of the editing process.
What inspired The Hubley Case?
I was actually sitting in a Sao Paulo airport when the central concept for the book first struck me. What if a seemingly normal guy was shot and the killers died on the scene, preventing any further investigation? What if he was posthumously framed to cover something up? Perhaps someone orchestrated the whole thing, pulling the strings from a distance to serve a completely unrelated purpose. From there, I tried to frame a story that revolved around solving that mystery and incorporated a series of other subplots.
What is your process for researching different countries, locations, etc.? And why did you choose the locations that you did for The Hubley Case?
Great question. I’ll take it in two parts.
In general, the value of visiting a book’s setting(s) was something I underestimated early in my writing career. And my first two (unpublished) novels show it. There’s something about being there that makes the writing more authentic and therefore convincing. When I write now, I make every effort I can to see places for myself. I spend a bit of time, take in the surroundings and jot down specific things that that are both unique and interesting. You just can’t get that sort of stuff from Google Maps. I run through all five senses individually, and I always get more material than I end up using in the book.
Specific to The Hubley Case, the locations weren’t chosen as creatively as one might think or perhaps as I would like. Instead, it was pretty straightforward and logical. I knew I wanted the primary setting to be the Chicago area because that’s where I live. And I knew I wanted Peter Hubley’s murder to occur on foreign soil, because it added to the mystique, RE: the FBI’s involvement. As it happened, my job as an International Program Manager brought me to Brazil several times during the time I was thinking through ideas for the book, so it seemed like a great location to use. Seeing all the cities firsthand and interacting with the wonderful people who live there allowed me to get a solid grasp of the environments and communities.
Fun fact: I was actually sitting in GRU international airport when the idea for the massacre of a seemingly innocent businessman first entered my mind.
How did you become interested in the thriller genre?
It started with writing what I loved to read. I gobbled up all the Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton and John Grisham books I could find at an early age, and was intrigued by the way those authors told a compelling story. The urgency and significance behind the storylines kept the stakes high, and my interest in the genre never faded.
Why did you not tell us you were writing a book earlier?
(still the most-popular question from friends and family)
I honestly didn't think there wasn't anything to tell. Writing was my hobby, like painting or golfing for others. When things started to move forward – getting an agent, finding a publisher, etc. – I figured I’d share my hobby-turned-published-book once a publication date was set.
