Lisa Gardner - Book Questions - THE OTHER DAUGHTER

	Q&A with Lisa Gardner
	Book Questions

THE OTHER DAUGHTER

	What was the inspiration for THE OTHER DAUGHTER?
	I got the idea from Ann Rule's book, THE STRANGER BESIDE ME about the life of Ted Bundy. Bundy married and fathered a child while on death row, in addition to having many "normal" relationships throughout the course of his life. I simply wondered what it would be like to grow up knowing your father was one of the most notorious serial killers in America. You have to wonder, are killers born or made? Plus, I'd been doing a lot of reading on healthcare fraud, which gave me the idea for the plot. My editor added the condition that lots of people must die. New York editors are a bloodthirsty lot.

	In the acknowledgments you mention that your brother has arthritis. Is that why you gave the hero, David Riggs, the disease?
	Yes, my brother was diagnosed with AS when he was 18 or so. Watching him come to terms with the disease inspired me to make it part of David's story. Actually, now my mother has also been diagnosed with AS, so the story continues.

	Do you include anything from your life in the book?
	I was living in Boston at the time, so I used that setting. Otherwise, having never been adopted into a life of wealth and privilege, I couldn't contribute much to the heroine's story. I'm thinking… No, I really can't think of anything in that novel that came from me. Apparently, my family's lives are much more interesting.

	What was the most fun you had writing that novel?
	Actually, I tried some "real-time" research with THE OTHER DAUGHTER. Halfway through the novel, Melanie runs away to Texas without any preparation or planning. To get the full experience, I decided to do the same. So I impulsively hopped on a plane and headed to Houston. It was really lots of fun. Between the dozen car rental agencies it's not difficult to get an automobile, and it was easy enough to buy maps at the airport and get directions from the information desk. Also, you don't exactly need advance reservations for most of the hotel chains. You know, just in case you ever need hit the road on a moment's notice…

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