Inspiration

As I continue to shop my completed novel, let's talk about the ideas and the inspiration that brought me to novel-length work.

Two things. In August of 2004, one day after my son was born with a congenital heart defect, my maternal grandmother died. "Mama" was a huge part of my childhood. We lived at her house off and on in the early days and we spent countless hours at her small above-ground pool in the summers. She and my grandfather meant the world to me and I missed them both terribly.

Harlan Coben explained to me in a radio interview how he comes up with story ideas - particularly Promise Me. He asks questions. What would happen if...? How would you react if...?

I, in the spring of 2006, put the two together. How would you react if those most important to you were suddenly taken away?