On Sale Date: March 9, 2021
Trade Paperback
$16.99 USD, $21.99 CAD
Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic
416 pages
Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking new novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive.
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
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Questions & Answers
1. Explain the difference between police procedurals, thrillers and psychological dramas.
Thrillers, on the other hand, are more “why” done it, or “we need to stop them” from doing it. The reader often knows the solution to the puzzle well before the hero, and the reader often knows the identity of the villain early on and the fun of the story is watching the hero (protagonist) and the villain (antagonist) match wits, with a few twists along the way. The challenge is physical.
Psychological dramas are usually more focused on a non-law enforcement main character. It’s an extraordinary event happening to an ordinary person, and the story is about their interaction with the plot, suspects, and victims. Often, they are the victim themselves. Storylines can pull from either mystery or thriller formulas. The challenge is emotional.
There’s also one more element that separates them––immortality versus mortality of the main characters. In my mind, a thriller has a hero that is invincible, and can’t be killed. In a psychological story, the main character is truly at risk, and might not survive.
Think of it this way – a series title is like making dinner with access to a full pantry. You can open the doors, pull out the ingredients you need, and get to work on making dinner.
A standalone is like making dinner without the ingredients at hand. You have to make a list, go to the store, shop, then unpack the groceries, put them away, then cook the meal.
I love a good series title, but the freedom that comes with a standalone is intoxicating. I am in control of every ounce of the story, and don’t have to worry about pulling threads from other books or leaving a trail for the next one.
3. We've read your series with Lt. Taylor Jackson and Dr. Samantha Owens. Who would you cast for TV or Film?
That is a moving target, because those books have matured past my original inspirations. I always thought of Charlize Theron when I wrote Taylor. Now, I’d love to see Blake Lively play her, and maybe even Florence Pugh in a few years.
Sam is different. She has morphed in my mind as she’s matured. Such a wide range of actresses would be perfect. If I were casting today, I’d like to see Teyonah Parris in the role. She’s so gorgeous and has such intensity!
4. What's it like to work with another writer, such as Catherine.
Two heads are sometimes better than one! It was great to build a story with another author. Novelists are rare in the creative storytelling world because we work alone. TV and movie writers are used to having a number of heads at the table. It was quite nice to have a partner to bounce ideas off of, and work with day to day. And of course, working with Catherine was a masterclass in writing. She knows exactly what her readers want and expect from her stories. It was illuminating.
5. So your new novel is another stand alone. Tell us why we want to read it. Elevator pitch?
Claire Hunter, an up-and-coming large format oils artist, is about to marry the man of her dreams, Jack Compton, son of the Compton computer family magnate. Their wedding is about to take place on his family’s private island, Isola, and things go wrong from the start. Claire and Jack are both hiding some hefty secrets from one another–and why won’t he talk about his first wife, and her suspicious death? It’s a will they, won’t they gothic thriller set in an isolated, creepy villa on a remote Italian island in the midst of a terrible storm…with a killer is on the loose.
6. Which one of Her Dark Lies characters was the hardest to write and why?
Honestly, my main character, Claire. She didn’t want to give up her secrets, and I had to force them out of her. Once she admitted her sins to me, the whole story fell into place. I understand why she didn’t tell me, and when she tells the story of her past in the book, that’s exactly when she let me know, too. Wow, she made it hard on me!
7. Which character in (Her Dark Lies) is dearest to you and why?
Katie, Claire’s best friend, is a total spitfire and
so dedicated to Claire’s happiness and well-being. They’ve been friends since
childhood and she’s seen Claire through every stage of her life. She’s a great
chick and a lot of fun to write. I have been blessed with several Katie’s in my
life. Everyone needs that friend who is loyal to you and loves you no matter
what.
88. Where did the inspiration Her Dark Lies come from?
I was in Italy on a family trip for a big birthday. We were on Lake Como, in a beautiful room with a terrace, and a yacht pulled up to Comacina Island, across the water from where we were staying. A wedding party got out and proceeded to have a huge party. At dark, fireworks went off. I knew immediately I wanted to write it as a story – with a dark side, of course. Imagine being stuck on an island, in a storm, with a killer on the loose. Yep. Boom. Story.
I actually had a pretty rough time writing HER DARK
LIES. I had two knee surgeries back-to-back while I was drafting, and it messed
with my head and with my storytelling. I felt completely blocked, and the story
just wouldn’t cooperate. When I emerged from that fog, the work got much
easier. So assuming there isn’t something organic behind a block, or a life
event that gets in the way (cough pandemic cough), I generally treat it
as my story trying to tell me it’s going in the wrong direction. Almost every
time I’ve been blocked, when my word counts start to dwindle and I find myself
doing non-fiction instead of writing, that’s a sign I need to step back and see
where I’ve gone off the rails.
10. Favorite Season (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)?
Oh, I love Spring, especially after the winter storm we’ve just had, but my heart is all Fall. I love the colors, the crispness in the air, the leaves drifting to the ground (though that first one always makes me melancholy), the scent of burning leaves, the sense that things are wrapping up for the year and preparing for renewal. It’s a moment of inevitability that I cherish.
11. What has been the hardest thing about publishing? What has been the most fun?
Honestly, the hardest thing are the business
expectations. There’s so much that goes into writing a novel that has nothing
to do with writing. But the most fun –
that’s almost impossible to narrow down. Getting fan letters from people who
genuinely loved a story, seeing the cover for the first time, finishing that
first draft when you’ve been at it for months, meeting someone you’ve inspired
to start writing themselves, or have returned to reading and chose your book to
start… all amazing moments!
12. What advice would you give budding authors?
For the inspiration answer: Read everything you can
get your hands on and write what you love to read. Don’t worry about the
market, don’t worry about your friends or family and their reaction to what you
write. All good books find a home, so write with passion and excitement. On the
practical side, respect your time. Find the time that’s best for you to write,
carve it out of your day, and protect it like your life depends on it. A daily
writing habit creates a long-term career.
13. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Ashley Audrain’s THE PUSH which was
delicious and creepy and touching, and am about to dive into Lisa Jewell’s THE
INVISIBLE GIRL, Allison Brennan’s TELL NO LIES, and Adele Park’s JUST MY LUCK.
14. If you could have your books adapted would you want them to be adapted into Movies, a Short Series on HBO/Netflix, a Stage Play, or a Melody?
A series, I think, so there’s time to get to know each
character and reveal their true motivations. Though I’m not going to say no to
a movie…
15. Are you a morning bird or a night owl?
I am a night owl forever in training to be an early bird. At some point, though, I think it’s important to celebrate what sleep schedule works for you! I try and try and try to get up early and write, and it simply doesn’t happen. But from 2-5 in the afternoon? Watch out!
16. What does the act of
writing mean to you?
It is a sacred
contract with myself while I’m drafting, to honor the muse, honor the spirit of
the story, and give life to the voices in my head. To show up for my work, to
allow the words to flow through me to the page. Storytelling is in my blood,
and I get very cranky when I’m not writing. It’s something I love, and I
respect the work and the process of creation tremendously.
17. Did you have a hand in designing the book’s cover?
18. How did the book’s title come to you?
19. How could you describe this book in five words?
20. Did COVID-19 hinder the release of this book?
Actually, I was the hindrance on this one. I had to have two knee surgeries a few months apart and that pushed back my deadline by a few months. I did almost half the book and all of the revising during the early months of the pandemic when we were in complete lockdown, and the final revisions over the summer and fall of 2020. I got very, very lucky, I think. GOOD GIRLS LIE came out December 31, 2021 and I was just finishing up my tour when we went into lockdown. That freed me up to write like the wind.
About the Author:
J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary show A WORD ON WORDS. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 28 countries. She lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens.
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