J.C. Paulk asked Brenda Marie Smith:

How much of yourself did you see in Bea Crenshaw as you crafted "If Darkness Takes Us"?

Brenda Marie Smith Wow. Good question. A lot of her thoughts are my own, especially about the environment, but also her general internal dialogue. The way she thinks, and some of her physical ailments are a lot like me as well. And being old, but not quite as old as Bea, I have her fear of losing my faculties and my ability to take care of my family. Also, I'm kind of fierce like her, but I cuss a lot more than she does, lol. And I have two grown sons, three grown stepsons (no daughters), and only two grandkids.

But there are a lot of things different, too. I'm not very secretive; I'm pretty much an open book. I'm not angry with my husband, because he's more like Jack Jeffers than Hank Crenshaw, lol. I like to think I'm less controlling, but then I would, wouldn't I? My family would never let me get away with being too controlling. I don't have two million dollars or a secret stash of goods to survive an apocalypse. I'd be lucky if I have enough candles to survive a two-day power outage. But if I did have that kind of money, I would take care of all my family first, then I might buy an extra house and who knows what would happen? I've always had my eye on the house behind my own.

And I do live frighteningly close to the train tracks in South Austin, Texas.

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