‘The Liar’s Treasure’ Author Q&A with Connie Mann

Connie Mann loves taking readers on heart-pounding, suspense-filled adventures featuring strong, determined women who fight for what they believe—and for those they love. She is the author of The Liar’s Treasure, The Crown Conspiracy, the Florida Wildlife Warriors series, the Safe Harbor series, and several stand-alone titles. She is also a USCG-licensed boat captain and gets to introduce Florida visitors to dolphins and manatees which is as much fun as it sounds like. Visit her online at conniemann.com and sign up for her newsletter to stay abreast of what’s going on in her life.

FF: How did you come up with the idea for The Liar’s Treasure? Was there a particular moment or experience in your life that inspired you to write this book?
I have always been fascinated with the idea of treasure hunts and what items people deem valuable. From there, my curiosity about “priceless” treasures led to research into the legends surrounding them and the creative ways people have tried to hide and protect them. Which then got me thinking about the biblical story of Ananias and Sapphira, which has always fascinated me because they died for lying. I wondered, What if a legendary treasure could judge motives? From there, the external plot took off.

FF: What messages, themes, or symbols are included in The Liar’s Treasure? Why are they important to you and to the book’s overall story?
The Speranza team’s message of hope and its celebration of women helping women plays a big part in this story, just as it did in The Crown Conspiracy. Also, in this story, Gran shows up with her late husband’s old Vietnam combat boots, which Gramps kept because they reminded him that “we have to put feet to our faith.” For Camille and Cass—and the whole team—his other favorite saying, “Faith is easy when you’re standing on familiar ground,” helps them take risks and hold fast to faith when things get scary and uncertain. That’s a really good reminder for me, and hopefully for my readers as well.

FF: Do you have a favorite character in The Liar’s Treasure? If so, who is it and why is that person your favorite?
My favorite characters are always the ones I’m currently writing! In this story, Camille has to navigate the challenge all mothers face during their children’s teen years. Her daughter, Cass, insists she’s mature and fully self-sufficient, while Camille knows she’s not quite there yet. So when someone puts a target on her daughter’s back, Camille vows she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. But that forces her to make a tough choice. Should she stay home to protect Cass in the short term, or leave her daughter with Gran and head out with the team, which will protect Cass in the long term? Watching Camille navigate that tightrope was a fascinating journey for me to write and one I think moms, especially, will resonate with.

FF: Does a particular scene stand out in your mind as very memorable? If so, briefly explain what happens and why it resonates so much with you.
When Lucien, Camille’s high school crush, finally admits that he blames himself for his best friend J. T.’s death, Camille gently tells him, “You don’t have that much power.” In his head, Lucien has always known he didn’t cause his friend’s death, but he still feels an enormous sense of guilt and responsibility for it. I think many of us struggle with false guilt, in big and small ways, and it can wreak havoc on our peace and our relationships. Learning to let that go is huge for him. He also takes a big risk in telling Camille he couldn’t bear it if something happened to her, too, especially if he didn’t try to prevent it.

FF: Who do you think will most enjoy this book, and what do you hope readers will take away from it?
I think anyone who enjoys a globe-trotting treasure hunt, an intriguing cast of characters, and a bit of romance will enjoy The Liar’s Treasure. But far beyond the adventure, my hope is that this story encourages readers to take a leap of faith, like Camille and the team did, even when it’s scary. To step out of their comfort zone and take risks, both big and small ones, especially on behalf of others.

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