When I started thinking about my next series, I knew two things: I wanted to stay in the world of crime fiction, and I wanted to create another strong female lead.
The challenge was finding a role that felt fresh.
Detectives, homicide investigators, and FBI agents have long been staples of crime fiction. I wanted to explore a more specialized corner of law enforcement—one that readers don’t often see take center stage. That’s when I discovered the fascinating world of FBI crisis negotiation.
The more I learned, the more I was captivated. Crisis negotiators rely on communication instead of force. They must build trust in impossible situations, read emotions under extreme pressure, and make life-or-death decisions with nothing more than their training, instincts, and words.
I knew I’d found my protagonist.
Creating Sandra Vos meant diving into extensive research on negotiation techniques, psychology, and real-world hostage situations. As with every book I write, authenticity mattered. But there was a balancing act.
One of the biggest challenges wasn’t learning the material—it was deciding what not to include.
When you’re fascinated by a subject, it’s tempting to share everything you’ve discovered. But readers pick up a thriller for the story, not a textbook. My job was to weave that knowledge naturally into the action so the techniques felt authentic without slowing the pace or pulling readers out of the suspense.
I created a character who feels both believable and compelling—a negotiator whose greatest weapon isn’t a firearm, but her ability to listen, understand, and persuade when every second counts.
Save Her Life introduced me to a whole new side of law enforcement, and writing Sandra Vos reminded me that sometimes the most gripping battles aren’t fought with bullets—they’re fought with words.
