Bestselling author Ginna Leatherbury chatted about her book “Vengeance Squared.”
Book description
Imagine getting a phone call from the chief of police telling you to postpone your vacation, that the son of a prominent businessman has been gruesomely killed on his wedding day, literally falling from the chapel bell tower while his bride is standing just below, waiting to walk down the aisle.
Detective Xaver King (known as X) doesn’t have to imagine it; he is living it. Within hours, he finds himself leading the investigation while having to deal with a cop with a real attitude problem (and that’s his best feature).
When mistaken trust and loyalty lead to tragic consequences, X is left to pick up the pieces of the shattered investigation. Fresh clues lead him to the person who fastidiously planned the groom’s murder. But instead of solving the case, it gets exponentially more complicated.
Because there is another killer involved. Same victim, same time, same place.
Different motives, different means. And equally depraved. When X learns that both belong to a secret organization founded on the perversion of centuries of religious history, where murder is an art form and members participate in games of one-upmanship in order to gain power, he follows the trail to Europe. What he finds could not have been predicted, but can it be survived?
Background on the author
Ginna Leatherbury worked as a corporate attorney while pursuing other interests, leading her to become a nationally-ranked Ironman triathlete. Leatherbury then changed course and spent her time volunteering for local charities.
Leatherbury began her writing career a little over a decade ago and has two published thrillers, ‘Vengeance Squared’ and ‘Always the Blood’. ‘Always the Blood’ won fourth place in the 2018 Key West Mystery Fest Writers Competition. Leatherbury’s third thriller, ‘Sparky.’ is scheduled to be released this fall. She has also authored an inspirational family saga, ‘The Flying Papers,’ set to release in early 2023.
Leatherbury lives with her husband and toy poodle, Jazz, and divides her time between the Florida Keys and Montana.
Q&A interview
Every book has a story about its creation. What is the story behind ‘Vengeance Squared?’
It was the Friday before a long 4th of July holiday weekend and I was driving to our mountain cabin to meet up with my husband. I had recently joined a book club and we were reading “The Artists Way,” by Julia Cameron. The book is about inspiring creativity and has weekly exercises designed to stoke your imagination.
That week’s assignment was to refrain from reading. Period! No newspapers, no magazines, and certainly no books. At the time, I was halfway through “Prince of Tides,” and had been looking forward to some quality “R&R”—reading and relaxing—over the weekend.
I was not happy about giving up reading and considered cheating. After all, no one in my group would know that I had fallen off the wagon after four days of honoring the challenge.
My good friend guilt prevented me from cheating. But to show the universe that I could take a punch, I decided that if I could not read over the long weekend then I would write instead.
I proceeded to turn on the radio and happened to catch a commentator telling a story that was over-the-top scary. I thought to myself, “That is awful—I love it!”
That scene is the inspiration for the opening of my book, “Vengeance Squared.”
Detective Xavier King is a very compelling character. Who or what inspired you to create this epic character? Did you add any of yourself to his creation?
I created Detective Xavier King as a tall, strong, good-looking guy. I wanted his physicality to convey the innate power and authority of his office.
King’s quest for justice is fueled by his own father’s murder, which remains unsolved. This gives King the dogged determination to work every angle of a case, even if it might seem unorthodox. King stands up for what is right, stands by his friends, and stands aside to give credit where credit is due.
Oddly enough, a little old lady named Alice King was the model for King’s softer side. Detective King has the integrity and kind heart of my dear friend Alice.
I have an unusual sense of humor. To the extent King (or any of the other characters for that matter,) comes out with something borderline witty, that would be my personal contribution to the character.
While writing this book did you learn anything new about yourself?
Yes! By the time I finished writing the very first page of “Vengeance Squared,” I discovered that I love writing! When I am in front of my computer, fingers hovering over the keyboard, I get the same endorphin rush I used to get running marathons. Letting my mind go free and having a story unfold spontaneously is the most fun I’ve had since I was a kid.
You are a very popular author and I am sure you have a lot of fans. What was the most interesting feedback or question you have received from a reader?
Without a doubt, the most interesting comment I get about my writing is about genre. I write what I love to read—thrillers. I’m addicted to suspense and oftentimes the thread that ties a story together is dark, dangerous, and scary. It involves blood and guts and death and sometimes even “s-e-x!” I guess people don’t see that coming from someone like me—a small, doe-eyed, innocent-looking woman.
The other thing of note is that I write without an outline so when readers say they did not see a certain twist or turn coming, I can honestly say that I didn’t see it coming either. I write stream of consciousness and, although that sometimes requires editing at the end of a manuscript, it makes for the most unexpected of storylines.
I’m sure your fans are dying to know if you are working on another book. Do you have one in the works that you can tell us about?
I’m excited to share that my third thriller, “Sparky,” is being released on November 15, 2022. Sparky is a fun read set in the Washington D.C. area and involves the rich and prominent Thomas Avant, an expert in fine arts and antiquities. He also happens to be a psychopath.
Avant earns his money the old fashion way—he steals it. Sparky is a modern-day David and Goliath story. If you like dogs you will love that a canine plays a role in bringing down the illustrious Avant, along with a few of his scorned friends.
When you finish writing a new book, what is your favorite drink to celebrate with?
I’m a Miller Lite girl, through and through.
“Vengeance Squared” by Ginna Leatherbury is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
