Featured Interview With Rebecca Forster
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Even though I grew up in Southern California, I’m still a Missouri girl at heart. I was born in St. Louis, moved to Alaska when my dad was in the service (I was jut a few years old) and finally my family (my parents, me and five siblings) settled in Long Beach, California. I now live on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, a beautiful suburb of Los Angeles where you can still see horses being ridden down the eucalyptus shaded paths. No pets at the moment, but I have a granddog, Tucker. I adore him. I’m also trying to train my thumb to be a little green in the garden. I love to sew and quilt and play tennis. I love traveling, the more exotic the better. I often use travel in my books.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved reading from the minute I learned how, but I didn’t always want to be a writer. I was a student so I went to college and then to graduate school and earned my MBA. I worked in advertising for fourteen years. During that time I was introduced to my client’s wife and learned that she was an author. I made the mistake of saying that I thought I could write a book, too. My secretary dared me and the challenge was on. I loved both the writing of my first novel and the excitement of contacting editors and agents. I have now been writing for over thirty years and have published thirty-five books. I write thrillers but I love reading many different genres. Oh, and my client’s wife? Her name was Danielle Steel.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like so many authors but if I had to list favorites I would say Stephen King, Wilkie Collins (he wrote Woman in White, this book is considered the first legal thriller), Erik Larsen for nonfiction, Neil Gaiman magical realism, and Frederik Backman who wrote a wonderful book, A Man called Ove. I also like indie authors like David Weishart (Devli’s Lair) and Eric Czuleger (Eternal L.A. and Immortal L.A.). Both write fantasy and Eric also writes science fiction. All writers who put their heart and soul into their work inspire me but the ones I admire most are those who are masters of characterization. That takes such a fine hand. Regarding my own writing, I am inspired by my family. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who have encouraged my writing from the minute I announced I was going to try my hand.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
I just started a new series featuring detectives Finn O’Brien and Cori Anderson. The debut novel is Severed Relations. This series is a bit grittier than the Witness Series (7 books featuring attorney Josie Bates) but I think equally as intriguing because of the complex relationships between the protagonists. I think there are many reasons people love and respect one another, when you throw in the added conflict of being a partnership and reponsible for another person’s life, well that’s when things get really interesting. Characters are incredibly important to me and I’m always thillered when readers comment on the depth of my characters. Each of my thrillers takes about nine months to write but Severed Relations was ten years in the making. It was an idea I had long ago but it wasn’t until I hit on the character of Finn O’Brien – an irish immigrant tortured by both the murder of his kid brother and Finn’s own killing of a fellow police officer – that the story gained not just heart but soul. Cori, Finn’s partner, is a Texas gal who has had her share of troubles but meets them head on. She’s a single mom and now her eighteen year old unmarried daughter and two year old grandson live with her. Cori is torn between her desires as a woman, her obligations as a cop, and her responsibilities as a mom. What I love about Finn and Cori is that they are so honorable – human but honorable.
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