escape

Whenever I start writing a new character or series, an origin story starts to grow in my mind as the character starts to flesh out, to explain aspects of their personality, skill set, reactions to particular situations, etc. When I decided to start writing this self-made, reluctant problem-solver for hire, Kira Brightwell, in her first novel, Split Decision, I knew I had a couple of big questions to answer.

Why would anyone think to hire Kira–a young woman with no formal training or police connections–to help with an abduction case? Why would Kira be motivated to take a lead role in that kind of situation?

Yes, by the start of Split Decision, Kira has spent three years training in MMA. So that makes her a badass, but hardly a crime expert.

…But what if she had a personal experience involving abduction? What if that event revealed skills and tenacity Kira never fully realized she had, and shaped her life going forward in ways she could never imagine? Continue reading →