Dead Don’t Lie by L.R. Nicolello

By Christina Ironstone

L.R. Nicolello packs a 1-2-3 punch with DEAD DON’T LIE, her debut novel featuring Detective Evelyn Davis, a profiler for the Seattle P.D. In this exciting debut, Evelyn is helping track down a serial killer who turns out to have an interest in Evelyn herself.

As for Nicolello, she’s wonderful! She has this vibrant, excitability to her that can only bring a smile to your face. She’s spirited and dedicated and I think it’s those two qualities that (along with her talent) have helped her over the years. Also, her love of all things suspense definitely adds to her craft.

Nicolello answered some questions for THE BIG THRILL.

When did you start writing? Why?

After an English assignment in fourth grade where we wrote and bound our own books (which I still have) I came home and told my parents I wanted to be an author. I dabbled with writing for a long time but didn’t get serious until 2010. I wrote my first novel, queried it and received requests for multiple fulls, but ultimately it never got picked up. Looking back now I know I basically did everything you’re not supposed to do. As heartbreaking as it was for me to get so close it really helped to solidify that, yes, in fact, I did want this dream. After regrouping, and getting over that royal flop, I sat down and wrote my second novel, DEAD DON’T LIE.

Tell us more about DEAD DON’T LIE.

DEAD DON’T LIE is a romantic suspense featuring Detective Evelyn Davis, the best psychological profiler in the Seattle P.D., whose talent comes from heartbreaking experience. After two local families are wiped out, Evelyn believes a serial killer is at work. With each new discovery, the case becomes more personal and Evelyn starts to suspect the families aren’t the killer’s ultimate target—she is.

Who was your favorite character to write?

Oh wow, that’s like asking a mom which child she loves the most! But if I were choosing it would have to be the protagonist, Evelyn Davis. She endured such heartbreaking circumstances at a young age and not only survived but built a great life for herself.

I love writing kickass women who can hold their own, yet know how to let people into their hearts and lives, even if it takes them awhile to get there. Evelyn is one such woman, and I hope my readers love her as much as I do.

What was the road to getting published like?

In all honesty it was a lot shorter than I anticipated it to be, but you’ll hear no complaint from me there! After doing extensive research I sent out my first set of queries and within two weeks received requests for two fulls and a partial. I sent them off and tried my best to put it out of my mind. A month later while at the airport, waiting in line to board my plane to Alaska for a family vacation, I got “The Call.”

How does it feel to have your first novel published?

Seeing your work in print is a rush and a bit surreal. There’s an army of people that made the dream of being a published author a reality for me and I’ve been blessed with an incredible group!

Where do you find inspiration? Do you sometimes add life experiences into your work?

I think like most authors, I’m either writing or thinking about some aspect of writing and I find inspiration in a lot of different places: a particular song that speaks to the tone of the book, a person’s character traits that embody a character, world events…even cities that feel like home. It seems like at least part of my mind is always locked onto how to best bring the world in my head to life on the paper and if something jumps out during my day I make note of it. For DEAD DON’T LIE, I was walking down the streets of Seattle with a friend when I thought, “What if”… It snowballed from there.

I didn’t think I added life experiences until DEAD DON’T LIE released and, after reading it, a few of my close friends called and joked about it. Can anyone say subconscious at play?

Would you like to tell us a bit about what’s next for you? (projects, book signings, etc )

I’m working on two untitled projects at the moment and counting down the days until my next book in my Dead series, DEAD NO MORE, releases on January 5, 2015. Here’s a sneak peak:

The next person you trust…may be the last…

Lily Andrews was once the most sought-after undercover operative at Unit 67, a Black Ops agency buried deep within the U.S. Intelligence Community. But then her partner―and fiancé―turned rogue, leaving her for dead after a mission gone horribly wrong. Disgusted with 67’s attempt to cover up Jackson’s traitorous actions, Lily walked away from everything she knew and loved…and swore she’d hunt her ex down on her own and bring him to justice.

When the handsome, undeniably alpha Derek Moretti needs her help to pursue a ruthless sociopath who is putting advanced weaponry into the hands of terrorists, Lily sees her chance to return to 67 with her pride intact. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed the adrenaline rush of being undercover—or maybe that’s the heat that races through her whenever Derek is near. But soon Lily will have to choose between the vengeance she craves and the country she’s sworn to protect. And with the clock ticking down on a nuclear catastrophe, she knows that this time, if she’s trusted the wrong man, she won’t live to regret it…

*****

L. R. Nicolello has had an obsession with all things suspense since she was old enough to pick out her own books. She decided to combine that passion with her love of action flicks and strong female protagonists in DEAD DON’T LIE, her debut romantic suspense novel. She, her amazing partner in crime and their ninety-pound “dog child” reside in Texas, where she is working on her next project.

To learn more, please visit her website and follow her on Twitter @LRNicolello.