What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
For a while I’d wanted to write about either rhino or elephant poaching. After I finished my last book, I decided it was time to start. After all, not only is the survival of these massive animals that evolved over millions of years being threatened, but they are often killed cruelly. I wrote this book to depict the horrors of poaching and describe some of the failing attempts to stop it. I also wanted to focus on a different approach to eliminating poaching that I had envisioned.
After doing research (and I always do a lot of research for my books), I was surprised to learn that rhino horns are much more valuable than elephant tusks on the black market. That made the choice easy—I wrote about rhino poaching.
Rhino Horn Underground is my first eco-thriller. Before writing it, I had published six medical thrillers. I was less familiar with the subject of Rhino Horn Underground than with my other books, and I found it far more interesting than I expected. My research led me to places I never expected to go, and it was truly a fascinating journey!
Some questions I had when I began my research were: What are the horns made of? How long does it take for a rhino to grow a horn? What is driving the poaching? How do they do it? What ideas have others come up with to stop it? Where do the poachers come from? What is their motivation? Who is buying the horns? How are the horns smuggled out of the country of origin? I learned the answers to all these questions and sprinkled them throughout the book.
Despite all the information integral to the book, Rhino Horn Underground is a fast-paced thriller that I hope people will enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Although I enjoy books similar to mine—thrillers based on science or medicine—I lean more towards nonfiction when it comes to choosing something to read. Biographies, memoirs, and books about science or medicine are my favorites. Although a recommendation from someone I trust can lead me to just about anything, I avoid horror or overly gory books. Not that I can’t stomach it—I just don’t find it interesting.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I have the most fun writing scenes with a surprising revelation. In the case of Rhino Horn Underground, it’s difficult to choose my favorite, but one rises to the top of my list. I don’t want to write too much about it because I hate to spoil the surprise, but it takes place when Paige, the protagonist, learns a lot about what Spencer, the somewhat mysterious, roguish man who has taken her under his wing, is really doing regarding the rhino horn trade. My husband says he notices that I smile when I write certain passages, so I imagine I was smiling a lot when I wrote that one.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I wouldn’t say I have quirky writing habits, but I do have a bit of a routine when I’m writing my first draft of a novel. During that initial phase, I’m pretty strict about writing 1100 words a day, no matter what. I’ve learned that one can always find an excuse to put off doing something, so I make sure I write every day unless I absolutely can’t avoid missing a day. That rarely happens.
In general, I wake up, watch some news, have breakfast, and then mosey into the study where my computer is waiting for me. When my flowers are in bloom, I keep one, usually a rose, in a vase near my keyboard. I have a Post-it where I record the number of words I have written so far, and type until I’ve written 1100 more (it usually winds up being slightly more, as I don’t stop mid-sentence). If I have to be someplace in the morning, I do my writing later—but I do it.
As I progress, I keep a list of characters on my desktop near my manuscript because I forget minor characters' names and often can use a reminder. I also open other sources I need to refer to as I write. When I’m done for the day, I start thinking about what I’ll write the next day.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
I always hope readers will learn something from my books. In the case of Rhino Horn Underground, I would like people to appreciate the sad state of affairs in terms of rhino poaching and look favorably on the sort of solution described in the book. Technology can often help solve difficult problems.
