Karen worked in the community supervision field for 20 years. During her career, she spent countless hours with criminal offenders, delving into the details that make them tick and gaining insight about human behavior. Her passion and drive for helping people and promoting best practices in criminal justice earned her numerous awards during her tenure. She has always valued those who serve, and those who are served, in the criminal justice system. Now, she lets her imagination run wild, writing about the other side of the law. Karen lives in Northern Arizona with her husband, dog and cat. Her two children have flown the coop.
Meet this Talented Crime Thriller Writer, Karen Crawford, who talks about her book “ Underbelly ”, her writing passion and her upcoming novels in this candid interview..
Q : How would you describe yourself in one word?
Complex.
Q : Do you have a specific reason or reasons for writing " Underbelly " , Can you please tell us a bit about the book?
The idea came to me when I was visiting Las Vegas with a group of friends. We used to go there frequently, and there are so many things to see and do. It is a place of excess, and people definitely behave differently there. Also, there is constant renovation and rejuvenation because so many people come and go.
Underbelly is about a serial killer operating in the construction zone of a hotel and casino renovation. A wealthy woman is murdered, and Las Vegas Metro PD detective Daniel Brady calls in his former partner to consult. Taryn Winter has recently retired, but she isn’t finished seeking justice for women. She joins the investigation, together with their friend, FBI Special Agent Jenae Shannon. The killer soon becomes obsessed with Taryn, and the hunt is on . . . but who is the one being hunted?
Q : Can you please share with us your experience to writing this book?
I worked in the criminal justice system for over 20 years. During that time, I saw and experienced many things that contributed to writing this dark story. I also have a wild imagination, and I can take a small detail and turn it into a dark scene. Underbelly was my first book, and it was an exciting adventure to write it. I wrote and published it in under a year.
Q : Who’s the most important character of this book?
The main character is Taryn Winter. She is our badass, but I also think Daniel Brady and Jenae Shannon, along with Taryn’s husband, Craig, are all important characters. They are her glue. The friends and spouse who hold her together sometimes - because she is a broken hero.
Q : Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your novel?
Underbelly is meant to be a fast-paced, easy read. Hopefully it elicits some feelings of suspense and shock as the reader works through the maze to arrive at whodunnit.
Q : Any upcoming book?
I am in the editing stages of a stand-alone book I recently finished. It’s called Housewife. In one sentence, it’s about a woman who walks out on her family on a rainy day in New York City and becomes a high-ranking member of a drug cartel.
I am also working on the third Taryn Winter book: Callbox. The team will consult for the FBI on a curious case in which the killer allows victims to call for help from callboxes along California highways.
Q : What do you do when not working?
I also create Mystery Supper Club boxes. It’s an interactive experience for families, friends, coworkers or any group of people. Participants become a team of detectives who must work together to figure out whodunnit. I also host a book club that features (primarily) books written by indie authors. We purchase and read their books, then the author meets with us via Zoom for the discussion. For fun, I like to hike with my husband, watch movies and television series related to crime, read books, and drink prosecco.
Q : Where do you see yourself in three years from now, or where would you like to be?
As long as the ideas keep flowing, I’ll still be writing. I’ll still be working hard at supporting other authors and promoting their work. And, as long as there is adventure to be had, prosecco to sip, and great books to read, I’ll still be happy!
Q : What is your favourite quote?
It’s probably a tragedy that I don’t have one, but I mostly fly by the seat of my pants rather than sticking to a motto.
Q : Finally, if you could pass on a single piece of advice to authors out there reading this interview, what would it be?
This is always a difficult question. I think writing is such a personal endeavor. There is a lot of “how to” material out there, but ultimately, I think it’s important for writers to let go of some of that and write whatever flows from them.
Follow Karen Crawford on Instagram
@karencrawfordmysteries
Underbelly by Karen Crawford
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