The Stepfamly by Bonnie Traymore
What's It About?
Laura is living the life she's always wanted, but when someone makes an attempt on her life and her husband Peter starts to keep secrets, she realizes she needs to get to the bottom of it before it's too late.Building on the success of tense mysteries like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, author Bonnie Traymore’s latest psychological thriller, The Stepfamily, hits unsettling close to home.
After marrying handsome widower Peter over a decade ago and settling down in Silicon Valley, Laura’s living the life she always wanted. But when a series of freak accidents turns the fairytale into a nightmare, it becomes clear that someone is out to get her. Is it someone jealous of her success? Or is it perhaps someone more dangerous and even closer to home?
When she senses that her husband is keeping secrets from her, she starts digging into the family’s past and ends up with more questions than answers. She needs to find out why someone would want to harm her … and what really happened to Peter’s first wife.
We spoke with Traymore about her writing process, the ins and outs of the thriller genre and her next psychological thriller.
Q: What first drew you to the thriller genre?
A: I’ve always loved mystery and thriller books and films, even as a little girl. As a reader, I want to be transported, so that I’m so engrossed in the book, it takes me out of my own head. I wanted to do that for my readers. Also, like many thriller writers, I’ve got a vivid imagination and most everything terrifies me. Somehow, putting my characters into impossible situations actually relaxes me. It’s as if I put all my worries and anxieties into the characters, and then I feel calm!
Q: What made you decide to write The Stepfamily with alternating viewpoints between the main character and her husband?
A: As a reader, I like books with multiple points of view. I find it a bit dull if there is only one viewpoint. As a writer, I enjoy the freedom it gives me. For example, I can let the reader in on something that the protagonist doesn’t know, and that can increase the tension. It’s also interesting to do this with a couple. We all have secrets, and it’s fun to get into both the husband’s and wife’s heads and see what they are thinking about each other.
Q: What’s your writing process like?
A: I’m more of a pantser than a plotter, but I generally have the main thread of the plot worked out before I start. I often write the climax scene early and then write my way back to it. All of the subplots tend to develop organically, though, as the characters develop. It’s quite magical when they start to assert themselves on the page, so I usually go with the flow.
Q: You’ve been complimented for your twisting narratives and strong character development. Is there a key to crafting such complex plots without overloading the story?
A: I feel like the best way to be a good writer is to read widely in and out of your genre, and I’ve done that. I know what’s been done before, and I try to up the ante. But there need to be scenes that take the pace down a bit. I tend to do that with romance or humor, to break up the action, so I don’t overload it or give people whiplash.
Q: Is there something about your writing that you think differentiates you from other domestic thrillers?
A: I like to create realistic scenarios that could potentially happen to anyone. I also aim to deliver a read that’s a page-turner and action-packed, but not something that’s so disturbing it would give you nightmares. Although my books are on the lighter side for a thriller, they aren’t exactly cozy either. I enjoy writing vivid settings, and as a historian, I do my research and try to be accurate as far as tech, forensics, etc.
Q: What’s next on your list?
A: My newest novel is called Head Case, and it’s a psychological thriller set at a boarding school where a head-of-school rivalry turns deadly. It should be out in late September or early October. Soon!
About Bonnie Traymore:
Bonnie Traymore writes suspenseful, page-turning psychological thrillers that are on the lighter side of the genre. She likes to include touches of romance and humor in the mix once in a while. While her books aren’t the most over-the-top thrillers out there, they do touch on difficult subjects such as sexual assault, revenge, murder, psychological disorders, and the complexities of human behavior, so they aren’t exactly cozy either. As an avid traveler, she also likes to include vivid settings in her novels.
Originally from the New York City area, she lives in Honolulu with her family but frequents Hudson Valley, New York City, and the Bay Area. She has been reading mystery and thriller novels her entire life, and she’s been writing short stories and non-fiction for decades. She is also an accomplished non-fiction writer, historian, and educator. She’s taught at top independent schools in Honolulu, Silicon Valley, and New York City, and she’s taught history courses at Columbia University and the University of Hawaii. Look for her next book sometime in the second half of 2023, a mystery/thriller set at a desolate boarding school in the dead of winter.
