Her Eyes Underwater follows a university student who starts a relationship with a stranger with a dark and dangerous secret. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling story?
The inspiration for this story came from true-crime murder stories, especially those featuring serial killers like Ted Bundy. I wanted to write a fictionalized version of a big, scandalous serial killer case with different perspectives of the events included. I also wanted to start the story off in an unexpected place, so I chose Julia’s infatuation with a mysterious man as this gateway to a larger, fictionalized crime universe.
Julia is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character development?
She was designed to be someone who is realistically frustrating. She does some unadvisable things in the novel, but some people do act pretty strangely when they’re infatuated with another person. This is especially true for people that are used to getting what they want. She was also designed to work in perfection disharmony with Alex if that makes any sense. All of the refusals and mysteries he uses to keep her away only spur her on.
Alex and Julia have a provocative and enthralling relationship. Was their relationship planned or did it develop organically as you wrote?
Both. I had a basic idea in my head, but as I started making myself put the words on a page, it was an organic progression.
This is book one in your Bowman Case Files series. What can readers expect in book two?
In book two, the scope of the events will be expanded. As I mentioned above, Julia’s infatuation with Alex was a gateway (or one perspective) to the larger story revolving around Alex’s deeds. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Alex’s lifestyle has its drawbacks and he will start encountering some difficulties. While there will still be a focus on the intense relationship between Julia and Alex, the crime fiction aspect of the books will start to come out as new characters are introduced.
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During a chance encounter at a café, university student Julia Strauss meets a captivating man. She is instantly attracted to the handsome stranger and pursues him obsessively.
What she doesn’t know is that behind all the charm, he has a secret agenda of his own. Can Julia see beyond the haze of her infatuation before it’s too late?
