Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander

Deena Alexander grew up on the south shore of eastern Long Island. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. Crime Scene Connection is her debut novel in the romantic suspense genre.

Faith and forgiveness

“My family and my faith are the two most important things in my life,” Deena said. “I write books about Christian characters who must depend on their faith to see them through the most trying of situations, while they struggle to find courage and strength within themselves. Family is also important to my characters, and they often put themselves in danger to save those they love.”

Though Deena feels it’s not always easy to forgive those who’ve hurt us, it’s often easier than forgiving ourselves. “In Crime Scene Connection, Addison Keller is on the run. She doesn’t know who to rely on for help; a stranger who pretty much despises her for sins she didn’t commit, a sister who’s been estranged for years after interfering in Addison’s marriage, or herself. While forgiving herself may prove to be too difficult, Addison knows she’s got to find a way or the guilt may just cause her to make a deadly mistake.”

A change in plans

“My husband works for the railroad, and I was thinking of writing a book about a terrorist attack on a railroad. I figured he’d be the perfect source of any information I needed. Unfortunately, the idea of someone using information I provided to actually attack a railroad kept me from writing the story. So, I started thinking, what would happen if a killer recreated the scenes from a novel, then challenged the author to try to find him before he could kill her?”

Deena said she loved the idea for Crime Scene Connection, but had a hard time getting it just right. “Often when writing a book, I just sit down and write the story from beginning to end, then give it a good round of edits before sending it off to my agent or publisher. I rewrote Crime Scene Connection at least nine times before being offered a contract from Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. The record before that was a book I’d rewritten three times before it was picked up for publication.”

A cozy in the works?

“I think the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done for research was in preparation for a cozy mystery I haven’t written yet, based on a small antique village. I visited a place on Long Island with my kids called Barntique Village. At the time, my kids were twenty-eight, twenty, and eight, so it was difficult to find things all of them enjoyed, but we had a great time that day. My daughter and her husband loved looking at old antique bottles among other things, my younger two loved all the retro video game things, and I found a beautiful desk and several old typewriters—that sure brought back memories. Overall, it was a very enjoyable, fun day, and I’m looking forward to writing that story.”

Learn more about Deena Alexander at deenaalexander.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.