GONE continues the exciting story of two characters deeply loved by my readers, Rainie Conner and Pierce Quincy. Readers have followed Rainie and Quincy as they’ve outwitted serial killers, saved Quincy’s daughter, and most dangerously of all, taken a shot at love. In this latest installment, Rainie has been abducted and Quincy must race against the clock to rescue her. The book counts down the minutes on a terrifying struggle between a kidnapped cop, a brilliant predator, and a former FBI profiler who feels as if he’s always one second too late.

Like most of my characters, Rainie is an imperfect person with a troubled past. I started with the concept of a small town deputy who, according to the local gossips, may have murdered her own mother. About halfway through the novel, I started wondering, why should it merely be a rumor? What if it was actually true? What would that say about this person? And my God, what kind of legacy would that be to overcome? Needless to say, suddenly Rainie, and the novel, became much more interesting.

As Rainie’s character evolved, it became clear to me that she had much more to say than could be covered in just one novel. So I wrote a sequel, THE NEXT ACCIDENT, where the tables are turned and this time, Quincy is the one in need and Rainie is the one who saves the day. Rainie is such a wise-ass, it was fun to spend time with her again. I think Rainie and Quincy are one of the great love stories in suspense. They drive each other crazy, but you couldn’t imagine one without the other. They are a perfect fit.

Kimberly grew on me over the course of THE NEXT ACCIDENT, and I decided she needed a story of her own. Plus, she provided a new way to explore Quincy’s character—as he is viewed through his daughter’s eyes.

As someone who lost her mother and her sister to a psychopath, Kimberly is haunted by death. Violence in her world isn’t an abstract concept, but something that can happen to her at any time. She is more aware of her surroundings than an ordinary person, more obsessed with personal security, body language, the stranger in a crowd. She is training to be an FBI agent—someone who hunts predators—and yet she inherently feels hunted. By taking on the case of the Eco-Killer, Kimberly gets to rise to the challenge. She gets to prove to her peers, but mostly to herself, that she is strong, capable and powerful. Once and for all, she sheds the mantle of victim, for the badge of law enforcement. I think her mother would be very proud.

I think the whole point of having continuing characters is to show them growing and changing with age. When we first met Rainie, she was a thirty-year old survivor of sexual abuse, a woman who grew up with an alcoholic mother and struggles with alcoholism herself. At that stage of her life, she didn’t feel qualified for two-point-two children and a white picket fence. Ironically, as she met Quincy, fell in love, and came to terms with her past, she became less a product of her childhood and more her own person. Now, she can see new and interesting things—marriage, motherhood, tea cozies. Naturally, this scares the crap out of Quincy, who feels his one failing in life was fatherhood.

That’s what love will do for you. They’re married off camera, which upsets readers, who I guess wished I had shown it. My bad. Now I know for next time.

Not at all. Which makes you wonder, for all of Rainie and Quincy’s desire to ride off into the proverbial sunset, are they really happily-ever-after kind of people? I mean, here are two strong-willing individuals who thrive doing a job that would break lesser mortals and on top of that, enjoy a good argument. Really, I can’t see them ever being too settled.

Absolutely! And it’s all my fault. When I was writing THE THIRD VICTIM, readers took me to task for a line where Rainie states, “I was an alcoholic.” As my savvy readers pointed out, there is no past tense in that sentence. Someone truly in treatment, would say, “I am an alcoholic.” So obviously, Rainie has been in denial for four novels. I couldn’t keep letting her get away with that.

I’m cruel. It’s what I do best, which begs the question why do readers want more Rainie and Quincy stories. You know that means something bad must happen to them. Actually, I think GONE is necessary for Quincy. Did he marry Rainie at the end of THE KILLING HOUR because he hoped for a happy marriage, or because he feared losing her? Marriage is all about for better or for worse. GONE gives Quincy the chance to prove he’s up to the challenge of for worse.

Of course! Like Kimberly is going to sit back and let her father have all the fun.

For the moment. But I have more ideas for them, too. Look for SAY GOODBYE in July 2008 when Kimberly and Mac get to face their greatest challenge, while Quincy and Rainie play the supporting roles.

Totally! Come on, what kind of child would really earn Rainie’s admiration and respect? She’s not exactly the type to fall in love with the Opies of the world. Dougie is a great fit for her. Secretive, bullheaded, clever, and a true survivor. I adored him.

Hey, I love herbal tea! Actually, my grandmother inspired Shelly Watkins. I don’t think strong woman are a product of woman’s lib, but have been around all along. I was blessed with two grandmothers who grew up farming in Tillamook County—the location for GONE—I can I tell you, there aren’t any tougher women around. I love Shelly, particularly her heroic acts at the end of the novel…but oops, can’t tell you more!