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The first 20 people to purchase JUSTICE FOR SARA on release day today will receive an Erica Spindler stylus!

Please send your receipt to [email protected] with the title "Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Giveaway" in the subject line.

*US only
*Only the winners will be notified

Guilt vs. Innocence
Author, Erica Spindler
By: Yohana de la Torre, Chief Editor


On August 6, in Justice for Sara, New York Times bestseller Erica Spindler will deliver a fast-paced whodunit, and ingeniously-plotted thriller, in which the entire cast of characters is suspect.

Kat McCall was seventeen when her sister Sara was murdered, brutally beaten to death with a baseball bat. And as her sister lay dying inside the home they shared, Kat claimed she was locked in her bedroom, unaware of the tragedy unfolding just outside her door.

Liberty Chief of Police Stephen Tanner was convinced it was Kat who carried out the crime, and so had her charged and tried. But in the case of the People of Louisiana vs. Katherine Ann McCall, Kat was found not guilty.

Kat picked up and left Louisiana for a fresh start on the west coast. Despite moving more than 2,500 miles from her childhood home, Kat still receives letters taunting her, threatening her, and demanding she seek justice for Sara’s death. Finally prompted to move home to catch the killer and seek justice for both her and her sister, Kat snoops around and gets hot for the police chief’s son, Sergeant Luke Tanner. Together the two reopen the decade-old case, reconvening with the leading players.

Spindler so expertly interjects Kat’s detective work with riveting flashbacks to that fatal day ten years ago. She’ll leave you clamoring for clues hidden between the lines, and second-guessing your own detective work. And even as the climax is revealed, there are a few more stones left to unturn.

We had a chance to catch up with Spindler and this is what she had to say:

YD: How did this book come to fruition? What inspired you?

ES: “I’ve always been fascinated by crime and punishment, guilt and innocence. Two recent murder trials � the Casey Anthony trial in Florida and Amanda Knox in Italy � caught my attention. In both, the women were charged on circumstantial evidence. Their behavior made them look guilty. And when they were acquitted, we were outraged. In Justice for Sara, I wanted to crawl inside the head of the accused. What if everything pointed to your guilt? What if you were innocent and no one believed you? What if, because of your actions and the public’s presumption of guilt, your sister’s killer went free? From those questions, the book was born.�

YD: What is it about thrillers that interest you so much?

ES: “The fascination with crime and punishment, guilt and innocence that I talked about a moment ago. But also the psychology of crime. The emotional ramifications of it. The twisted mind of the psychopath. And also, the power writing the mystery/thriller gives me, the author. I solve the crime, I see justice done. You’ve got to admit, that’s pretty cool stuff.�

YD: Do you consider your talent as a writer innate, or did you grow into it?

ES: “A little bit of both, I think. Being a storyteller is innate, but the technique of writing can be learned. One cannot exist � not successfully � without the other.�

YD: Can you tell us a little about your writing style?

ES: “My writing style has actually changed. Until about four books ago, I wrote very long, very detailed synopses. They’d be 60/65 pages long and I loved doing them. Also, the beauty of so much detail up front, I could write no matter what life threw at me. But with Watch Me Die that all changed. I just couldn’t bring myself to do all that pre-plotting. I felt as if my muse was simply insisting I start writing the actual book. So I did, and it’s been like that ever since.�

YD: How does a writer draw people into a work of fiction?

ES: “Wow, that’s tough. I wish I had the ‘legion� of fans formula. Books that explode in popularity � like Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, The Bridges of Madison County, Twilight —just happen. They hit at the right moment in time, striking some sort of universal chord in people. However, I do know that above all, good fiction must have compelling characters you can believe in and/or care about. Everything else takes a secondary role.�

YD: Do you have another novel on the cutting board so to speak, and can you tell us about it?

ES: “I do. It’s tentatively titled Finding True and is another story of a woman’s search for the truth, in this case, about her new husband’s shadowed past and what really happened to his first wife, True. I hope for it to be available in August 2014.�

- For more on Justice for Sara or Erica Spindler visit .

The Truth Is . . .

The other day I was straightening my horrendously cluttered desktop, when I ran across an index card upon which I’d scribbled three words:
The Truth Is
I stared at the card, at those three words, no recollection of having written them, let alone why. It was definitely my handwriting. And I do such things, typically on post-its, which I stick on the edge of my desk. For some reason, however, this unremembered note carried more significance. Perhaps it was the index card? The weighty promise of those words?
I wondered at my reason for them. Had I been thinking of a plot point for my novel in progress? Or had I been working on a blog, interview or essay, such as the one I’m writing now? Perhaps I’d jotted them in a sudden moment of clarity? I’d come to an important truth about myself or my work, but was called away before I completed the thought.
The Truth Is
As I studied the words, I realized how utterly appropriate they were in light of my upcoming novel, JUSTICE FOR SARA (UK: DON’T LOOK BACK).
JUSTICE FOR SARA was inspired by two recent, high profile murder trials: the Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony cases. In both, the defendants acted bizarrely in the wake of the crime: Amanda Knox giggled and sat on her boyfriend’s lap while waiting to be interviewed by police; Casey Anthony went out dancing and got a celebratory tattoo while her daughter was missing. Does either prove murder? Of course not.
But they sure looked guilty.
The Truth Is
What is truth? What we believe we know? What we feel in our gut is true? What ‘looks� true? In the absence of solid physical evidence, how much circumstantial evidence is necessary to prove guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt?
JUSTICE FOR SARA was born out of those questions. And another: what happens if you’re innocent but no one believes you? Not when you’re charged. And not when you’re acquitted.
In JUSTICE FOR SARA my protagonist, Katherine McCall, lived that scenario. At seventeen, she awakened to find her sister in a pool of blood, brutally murdered. Kat looked guilty and was quickly charged, tried and . . . acquitted.
As the book opens, Kat is no longer a shell-shocked and vulnerable teenager, but a woman determined to emerge from the cloud of suspicion that’s hung over her for ten, long years. Years spent in hiding, falsely accused while her sister’s killer roamed free. Knowing her allies will be few, she returns to Liberty Louisiana on a mission: To uncover the truth and no matter the cost, to finally get Justice for Sara.
I may never know why I jotted those three words. But the truth is, not remembering inspired me to write this and that’s good enough for me.
Happy reading, y’all!

Musings From the Coffeehouse #7

Since today is Writer Wednesday and I’m currently immersed in JUSTICE FOR SARA pre-publication interviews, I thought I’d share with you some of the WW questions readers have asked--and the answers I posted--on Facebook. Enjoy!

Kathy Mason Kirby asked: When did you first "know" you'd made it?

Kathy, three really exciting moments jump out at me. The first, when I got that call from an editor saying they wanted to buy that first book. Second, the first time I saw that book "in the wild"--on a bookstore shelf, with my name on it. (BTW, it was a Waldenbooks store at the Clearview Mall in Metarie, LA.) Third, my first appearance on the USA Today bestseller list, top 50. The book was BONE COLD, the number was 36, and it was Thursday morning around 6:00 a.m. I was on tour and alone in my hotel room. I pretty much freaked out.

Anonymous asked: Have you ever thought about turning one of your books into a movie or have you ever been offered that chance?? (I don't know if this question has been asked yet, but I would like to know)

A. I would LOVE to have one of my books picked up for movie or TV production. Unfortunately, it hasn't happened yet. Being optioned, then actually having something made, is incredibly difficult and pretty rare--unless you're King or Creighton--but I keep hoping. Currently, a dramatic rights agent is looking at JUSTICE FOR SARA. Maybe if we all keep our fingers crossed and send up positive thoughts we can make it happen?

Shiloh Nicole Moreno asked: Do you get to interview real people to help you with books? Example: Interviewing cops and detectives, reporters, and so on... to see how they do their jobs to help your books be more "real"?

A. Yes, Shiloh, I do interview real people about their lives and jobs. I've interviewed shrinks and cops, DAs and pathologists, reporters and realtors, teenage BFFs, firemen and arson investigators, wine makers and vineyard owners. (And more, I'm sure) For my current work-in-progress I'm interviewing horse people--breeders, trainers, riders and vets. It's not only necessary to create authentic background for my novels--it's fascinating. Oh, did I mention the dominatrix I interviewed? LOL

Kristen Howe asked: do you come up with for the plot, storyline, or title for your novels separately? Or all of the above at the same time? Have you ever dreamed a plot?

A: Kristen, I usually get the germ of an idea and build the story around that. For example, JUSTICE FOR SARA evolved out of my fascination with details of the Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony trials. Several times I've come up with the title first, and created around it--KILLER TAKES ALL, for example. Sometimes I dream about the book I'm writing, but I've never "dreamed" the idea. That would be very cool!

Until next time, happy reading!

Free Gift from Erica

Just popping in from self-imposed, 100 page writing challenge (68 pages and climbing!) to make sure you know about a couple cool things going on with me and my upcoming novel, JUSTICE FOR SARA.

The first: I’m offer a free gift when you pre-order JUSTICE FOR SARA before it’s publication date of August 6th. You’ll have three gifts to choose from: a stainless steel travel mug, an embroidered ball cap or a touch pad pen/stylus. Go to to register for your free gift.

The second: Would you like to read the first chapter of JUSTICE FOR SARA? And maybe the second and third? Go to and click on the Justice For Sara tab. There you can Read and Share chapter One. Once a hundred folks have shared it, Chapter Two will be unlocked!

Please share both of these opportunities with your friends. More to come soon!

Cheers!

Celebrating Thirty

I’m delighted to announce that on August 6th I’m celebrating thirty. Not my thirtieth birthday; I’m afraid I passed that one some time ago. No, this is a celebration of the publication of my 30th novel: JUSTICE FOR SARA.

It’s a momentous occasion for me, a mid-western girl who had grand plans for being an artist and art teacher. Momentous, as I look back at the years that have passed, the incredible people I’ve met, the experiences this surprise profession has blessed me with. And as I recall the stories. The characters that have come to life in my head, the what-if moments, twists and turns, and the happily-ever-afters.

And I’m momentously grateful to you, my readers. Thank you for for embracing my novels, sharing your love of reading with me, and for allowing me to take this wondrous journey with you.

To show you my appreciation, I’m offering you a free gift when you pre-order JUSTICE FOR SARA. You’ll have your choice of a Stay Up All Night With Erica Spindler stainless steel travel mug, a My Partner In Crime/Erica Spindler embroidered ball cap, or an Erica Spindler Thrills touchpad stylus/pen. For more information or to choose your gift, visit ericaspindler.com

Here’s to thirty more! Cheers!

Going In Circles

This morning, with only twenty minutes to spare for exercise, I decided to set the timer on my phone and simply bicycle around my block until the timer went off. My block, a quarter mile circle, is also my entire neighborhood.

As I made the loop again and again, a thought occurred to me: going in circles is much more difficult than going somehwere. Boring. Pointless. Body and spirit rebels against it.

Which brought me to a greater realization. I’ve been struggling with my work in progress. Going in circles. Reading, revising, questioning, agonizing. Then repeating said cycle. No wonder I’m tired and dispirited. No wonder.

And what of the bigger cycle? Of my life? Of all ours? Of history? Making the same mistakes over and over; falling into the same pattern of behavior, always with the same disastrous results.

The same pattern of behavior. The same disastrous results.

Yesterday, in an act of terror, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Going in circles. A ridiculous loop of bickering, hatred and violence.

Move forward. Go somewhere different.

Break the circle.

Easter Bunny Blues

That’s the chocolate Easter bunny blues. The party’s over. The bacchanal of over-indulgence has finally come to an end.

New Orleans is a party town. One holiday flows into another with hardly a pause. The twelfth night after Christmas becomes the Mardi Gras season. Which, after weeks of king cakes and revelry, leads to Lent. Finally, reason prevails. A time for personal sacrifice and self-reflection.

Somehow, I missed Lent. Well, I didn’t really miss it, I just sort of . . . skipped it. Segued right into Easter entertaining and treats. I’m not sure how; it’s all a wine and chocolate blur. Dinners out with friends, America Idol parties, family celebrations.

The end came yesterday with the last of the bunny and its eggs. Gone, all gone. I thought of having a funeral service, but in New Orleans that’s an excuse for yet another party. So instead, I say: Farewell, Bunny and your chocolatey friends. I knew and loved you well.

Until next time, happy reading!

Erica

Near Death and The Big Apple

Last week I traveled to New York to meet with my editor and marketing team about my upcoming novel JUSTICE FOR SARA. My family loves the city, so I arranged the meeting around Mardi Gras, so we could all go. (Our travel just happened to coincide with a blizzard named Nemo, but that’s a story for another time.)

This trip brought to mind our last similarly scheduled trip and what I fondly call the Near Death in The Big Apple incident. Although a repost from several years ago, I decided I needed to share it with you here.

About midnight, we were walking down 42nd street, heading back to our hotel. It was snowing. Cold but magically lovely. A squad car flew by, lights flashing, siren screaming. It was followed by another. Every few moments another squad car raced by. We started counting them. 5 . . . 6 . . . 7 . . .

We reached the corner of 42nd and 5th and stopped, waiting for the light. Here came number 8, really flying.

But coming from the other direction was a cab.

With a sense of horror, I realized neither vehicle was going to stop. Sure enough, they collided. As if in super-slow-mo, both vehicles began sliding right at us, standing on the corner.

As if on a director’s cue and without a word, we all turned and ran. I felt like I was living a scene from one of my novels. Or a Bruce Willis movie. Only, this hadn't been product of my imagination. Or of Hollywood.

I was stopped by the double glass doors of a building. The end of the road, so to speak. In my mind’s eye, I saw the vehicles still sliding, crashing through me and the glass doors I was pressed against.

When I wasn't flattened, I looked over my shoulder. The two cars had stopped, settling directly over where my family and I had been standing. Car parts littered the sidewalk.

It could have been a tragedy. One of those horrendous stories you read about--Entire family killed in freak sidewalk two-car-collision. But it wasn't, thank God. We walked away, all chattering at once about the Big Apple moment we would never forget.

More like Angst from the Coffeehouse. This week I hit a wall. The words wouldn’t come. No matter how much head-banging I did. No matter how much wailing and gnashing of teeth. And the worst part? I was certain this was it. That I was done, I’d written my last novel.

But how could this be it, when I have a story? One I’m totally jazzed about writing? I can see said story. Not clearly, but the big picture, what it could be. If only I could write my way out of a paper bag.

But the words won’t come. I rage and fret. I listen to the world’s smallest violin. I eat chocolate. My neck and shoulders ache. My head and back. It’s over. My career, finished. Kaput.

My sweet husband reminds me that I get like this with every new book. That he’s heard each of these wails before. It will be okay, he assures me. He should know, my 30th novel, JUSTICE FOR SARA, will be on the stands in August and he’s survived the birth of each one. But he’s my husband, so naturally I don’t listen.

Then low and behold--like every time before--the clouds part and the wall crumbles. And the words come. I know what I’m doing and what to write next. I have a story to tell. I am a writer.

And as write blissfully into the night, I promise myself that from now on I will trust the process. That for me, part of the process involves a wall and a lot of head banging. That doesn't mean I can’t write or that my career is over. It just means, angst happens.

Even in the coffeehouse.