Remember the ’90s? Pocahontas was the Disney blockbuster du jour, bell bottoms were back (only we called them “flared”), and the Y2k Apocalypse seemed a real possibility.
This is the world of my latest novel, When Death Comes For You: A New World Legal Thriller. In 1992, Haitian-American lawyer Renee François found herself called to defend those for whom the apocalypse had come early. After a coup toppled Haiti’s democratically elected president, Haitians took to the sea in a desperate attempt to save their lives. The novel explores Renée’s struggle with her own demons even as she works to uncover a murder mystery that might just save her own life . . .
When I finished writing the novel, there were plenty more questions I wanted to ask Renée. Why not ask her directly? This thought, coupled with my obsession with the ’90s, gave birth to the idea of interviewing Renée for a 1990s-style women’s magazine. Why? Because I loved ’90 women’s magazines! They brought intellect and wit (not to mention fashion tips) to their audience. I survived Y2k thanks in part to those magazines.
So, I created the fictional BREEZE magazine. You won’t find tips on wearing bell bottoms/flared pants, but you will find an interview with my character, Renée François. I also answer a few commonly asked questions about my work–all in the “breezy” and fun style of a ’90s magazine.
As an additional bonus, I can tell you that the magazine article plays a critical role in the plot of the second book in the series, The Legacy: A New World Legal Thriller, which is now undergoing top-to-bottom editorial revisions. Keep a lookout for its relaunch coming soon.
Law Rules: An Interview With Renée François
Renée François is running late. She rushes into our meeting with windswept hair, an off-white Armani suit, and an apologetic smile.
As a writer, I’ve had interview subjects arrive late before, but Renée’s excuse is a new one. “I was meeting with Aristide and lost track of time. Traffic from the National Palace is terrible.”
How does a lawyer from Brooklyn find herself keeping company with a head of state? This is an interesting question. We should probably start from the beginning more . . .
Thrillers . . . With A Past 