I never set out to be a writer. From a young age, I always enjoyed reading but the thought of writing a full-length novel seemed daunting. When I published my first novel a few years ago, I kept telling myself that I wasn’t writing a novel, that I was just putting some ideas down on the page. Four hundred pages later, I had a novel.
Having published a novel, I now read other novels differently. Before, I either liked a book or I didn’t. I never gave much thought as to why. Now I read books and I analyze what the writer is doing; how are they telling the story? How do they introduce the character, what plot devices do they use? I think it’s made me a better writer but maybe it’s reduced the pure enjoyment factor of reading.
Having said that, here are some books that influenced my soon to be released new novel, What We Say in the Dark.

Night Soldiers, Alan Furst – A sweeping espionage epic that follows a young Bulgarian, Khristo, as he is recruited by the KGB. We follow him from Moscow to Spain, France, and eventually America. I read this a few years ago and found it liberating because the author wrote about things that I wanted to write about. Go beyond all the cloak and dagger stuff and remind the reader that these spies are flawed people. Try and give the story a little humanity, something we can relate to.

A Small Death in Lisbon, Robert Wilson – A mesmerizing dual timeline story set in Lisbon in the 1990’s and 1940’s. The murder of the teenage daughter of high-ranking Justice department official leads back to WW II and Portugal’s role as a neutral haven in a continent embroiled in conflict. This book put the hook in me regarding Portugal. I’ve never been to Lisbon, but after reading this, I became fascinated by the place and went down a rabbit hole of research about the City of Light. Sounds like a fascinating place.

My second novel, What We Say in the Dark will be released April 28th. Available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/What-Say-Dark-...