What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Swimmingly Dead (An Ella McBane Mystery)?
Swimmingly Dead grew out of a mix of intuition and emotion. I’ve always been intrigued by how an ordinary moment can tilt suddenly into something darker—and how the truth behind a loss is not always as straightforward as it seems. I’ve experienced that personally, losing someone close to me and realizing that the assumptions surrounding their death didn’t quite match what I knew in my heart. That feeling stayed with me, and it shaped the seed of this story. Ella, as always, stepped in from there. She’s the kind of character who nudges me when something doesn’t add up—intuitive, loyal, and just stubborn enough to chase down the pieces others overlook. The story really began with a simple “what if”: what if someone she cared about died under circumstances everyone else accepted, but her instincts told her something entirely different? From that moment, everything unfolded—her grief, her determination, and her courage to follow the truth where it led. That blend of personal resonance, Ella’s voice in my ear, and the tension between light and dark is what ultimately inspired Swimmingly Dead.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Swimmingly Dead (An Ella McBane Mystery), what would they be?
If I had to choose one theme song for Swimmingly Dead, it would be “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. Ella is really into music, and she’s nostalgic—give her anything from the ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s, and she’s instantly in her happy place. “Dreams” fits her perfectly: introspective, determined, and just mystical enough to match the way she stumbles into trouble while insisting she’s not investigating anything. If this book had a soundtrack, she’d be playing Fleetwood Mac while chasing down clues, all while still trying to get to a catering gig on time.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Mysteries and thrillers are my favorites to read. I love getting pulled into a good twist with interesting characters. I do read a lot of nonfiction too, including business, spiritual, and historical books, but when I’m reading for fun, it’s always going to be something suspenseful that keeps me guessing.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
My TBR pile is a little chaotic at the moment—I’m traveling, so I grabbed a mix of books that caught my eye. Right now, I’ve got the latest Finlay Donovan book, Doll Parts, What Have You Done, and End of Story queued up. It's my mystery writer's vacation stack.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I always love writing the more humorous moments, and Swimmingly Dead gave me a few that were especially fun. One of my favorites is the first chapter, where Ella’s ex-husband, Jay, shows up unexpectedly in the morning. He takes one look at the clothes draped over chairs, then Ella’s bestie Noelle walks in, and Chris (Ella’s very recent love interest) comes downstairs… and poor Jay immediately assumes the absolute worst. The awkwardness and timing of it all were fun to write, and some of my favorite dialogue between Jay and Noelle, who have no real love for one another, cracked me up. I also had a blast writing the scenes where Ella, Jay, and Noelle head to the tow yard and what happens there. There is also a scene where they go to see what they can find out at a gym where the victim had worked out… that was fun dialogue to write. Those moments of humor and chaos are some of my favorites to blend into a mystery. They make the characters feel so real to me. There were a few times writing those scenes, and some others when my husband would hear me cracking up in my office, and I’m sure he thought I was losing it.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I’m not sure if my writing habits qualify as quirky, but they’re my rituals, so to speak. I always bring the dog beds into my office from our bedroom (I take them back to the room at the end of the day). Before long, my two labs and my shepherd are stretched out, taking their job as “writing companions” very seriously. I also tend to eat lunch at my desk. Once I’m in my office for the day, I don’t go too far. While eating, I’ll read over what I’ve already written that morning. When I start a new book, I always begin with a notepad in my editing chair and put my feet on my grounding mat (yes, it’s a real thing—I promise I’m not making it up). To me, it tells me that I need to focus and go down the next rabbit hole.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
I do have a philosophy that I try to live by. I call it my Four P’s: Purpose, Passion, Persistence, and Patience. Live your purpose, lean into your passion, be persistent whether you’re facing adversity or simply chasing something you love, and have the patience to let everything unfold in its own timing. That wait time, which allows things to shape up and take place, is what I call “God’s time.” It’s the framework I come back to whenever life gets busy or overwhelming, and it’s guided me through both my writing career and my personal life.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
If there’s one thing I hope readers remember after finishing this book, it’s the feeling of joy—those small, comforting moments that come from being swept up in a story. Life can move so fast and feel so heavy, and even though I write about murder, my true intention is always to give readers a place to breathe and take time out from everyday stress. Fiction can be a pause button, a moment of escape from the day-to-day rush. If Swimmingly Dead offers even one reader the chance to slow down, step out of their stress, and simply enjoy being in another world for a while, then I’ve done exactly what I set out to do.
