‘Dark Design’ Author Q&A with Nancy Mehl

Nancy Mehl is the author of more than fifty books, a Parable and ECPA bestseller, and the winner of an ACFW Book of the Year Award, a Carol Award, and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award. Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband. To learn more, visit NancyMehl.com

FF: Can you provide a brief summary of Dark Design?
Ex-cop Erin Delaney is now a bestselling author. A serial killer has decided to murder women based on the methods mentioned in some of the most popular mystery novels in the country. Unfortunately, he’s chosen Erin’s book as one of his roadmaps to murder. Erin’s friend, Kaely Quinn-Hunter, asks her to come to Virginia, where the killer has struck three times. Kaely wants Erin to stay with her and her husband, Noah. Not only do they want to make certain she’s safe, but the Virginia State Police also want to question her in case she knows something that might lead them to their suspect. Erin works with investigators to find the killer, nicknamed the Novel Killer, but there’s a secret none of them know—until it’s too late.

FF: Erin Delaney has already faced significant trauma in her past. How does her character evolve in this second installment of the series?
Her friend, Kaely Quinn-Hunter, is a Christian. Although Kaely never pushes her beliefs on Erin, she begins to see something in Kaely’s life that she wants. Since a deadly incident in St. Louis when she was still on the police force, Erin has been battling fear and depression. But now she’s beginning to believe that God can deliver her and finally provide her with the peace she desperately craves.

FF: You’ve created a fascinating partnership between Erin and former FBI profiler Kaely Quinn-Hunter. What makes their dynamic particularly compelling for readers?
Kaely was an analyst for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). Being an analyst has always been Erin’s dream, but after leaving the police department in St. Louis, she believes that dream is dead. Being able to work with Kaely while writing her book has given her an exciting peek into a world she thought she’d never experience. Erin’s natural instincts and curiosity impress Kaely. Together, their love of trying to understand the minds of those who are almost impossible to comprehend makes them perfect partners. And Kaely’s relationship with God draws Erin even closer as she seeks the kind of peace that Kaely has.

FF: Setting often plays a crucial role in suspense novels. How does the location in Dark Design contribute to the atmosphere of the story?
Well, in Dark Design, my main character, Erin Delaney, leaves her cabin in the Smoky Mountains to travel to Virginia, where her friend Kaely Quinn lives. Although I loved setting the first book in this series, Shattered Sanctuary, in the woods, this time the plot worked better in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Fredericksburg houses many of the people who work for the FBI, and specifically, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) in Quantico. I think setting the story there was perfect for this particular book.

FF: The accusations that Erin stole her plot from a source add another layer of complexity to the story. How did you develop this subplot, and what does it reveal about Erin’s character?
I needed a plot element that would add some depth to my story. I’d recently read about a nonfiction writer who claimed that a very well-known speaker and author stole parts of her book. The publisher ended up paying the writer claiming plagiarism a sum of money. It made me think: Did this well-known writer really steal from someone who isn’t as popular? Or did the publisher just pay her to go away? I thought the concept would fit this novel, and in retrospect, I think it worked out very well.

FF: Psychological suspense requires a delicate balance between action, character development, and maintaining tension. How do you approach pacing in your writing process?
To be honest, I just follow my instincts. I studied character development and plotting when I first started writing. After more than fifty books, it’s become somewhat automatic. I may not always get it just right—no writer does—but I try to keep readers turning the pages. I do have to work at keeping the suspense element active. I really love creating characters, letting them grow and evolve. It’s easy for me to spend too much time doing that. I try not to get bogged down in it.

FF: What research was necessary to authentically portray both the world of mystery writers and the investigative aspects of the novel?
Well, the world of writing shouldn’t be too difficult for me, since I’ve been at this for over twenty-five years. As far as the law enforcement element, I wouldn’t have been able to write these novels without the help of my sources, Dru Wells, a retired behavioral analyst with the FBI, along with retired police officer Darin Hickey. Both of them, along with several other people, have been instrumental in guiding me through this series as well as others.

FF: Faith elements are woven into your novels. How do you integrate these themes naturally while maintaining the suspense and tension readers expect?
That’s not really difficult for me. Those who work in law enforcement face pressures and situations that can cause great pain and confusion. Turning to God for help is not only understandable, but also an easy element to add into a suspenseful plot.

FF: What message or themes do you hope readers will take away from this story?
I want readers to connect with Erin and realize, as she finally does, that there’s nothing God can’t do. That His love is immense, and no matter what’s happened in your life or what you’ve done, forgiveness and redemption are yours for the asking. I pray they will take away faith that God can handle any
situation they’re facing.

FF: Can you share what you’re working on next?
I’m writing book three in my Erin Delaney Mysteries Series. A movie is being made of Erin’s book, Dark Matters, and Erin and Kaely are flying to California to visit the set, meet the actors and the director, and watch some of the movie being filmed. But Kaely, who flies to Tennessee so she and Erin can take a plane together to Los Angeles, disappears. A strange series of phone calls gives Erin clues as to where she is—along with a warning that Erin only has six days to save her friend’s life.