A.M. Holloway - Danger, Loyalty, and Second Chances

A.M. Holloway is an author of clean murder mysteries where crime and suspense take hold. Her catalog spans five series. A.M., who is married, relies on her husband's expertise in the CSI field to ensure accuracy in her books. She was born and raised in Georgia but now lives in Central Florida. When not writing, you will find her with her family, enjoying the outdoors, or sitting in her favorite chair, daydreaming about her next book.  As our Author of the Day, she tells us about her book, Hideout.Hideout drops readers straight into danger. What was the spark that kicked off this particular plot?Ray needed a shot at finding his ‘second-chance’ and Mary Beth was it.Mary Beth trusted the Witness Protection system, only to have it fail her. What real-world issues with WITSEC or law enforcement inspired this angle?My husband spent decades in law enforcement, and the stories I’ve heard over the years led me to this idea.Ray Smithson’s history with Mary Beth adds emotional weight. How did you balance romance and high-stakes suspense without letting either take over?That is a hard one, and some scenes were rewritten to ensure neither took the lead.Secrets drive the story. Did you know all the key twists before writing, or did some reveal themselves as you drafted?I never know all the secrets before I write. I’m the world’s worst at writing outlines and sticking to them. Something always presents itself as I write.Tampa isn’t the first city that comes to mind for an FBI thriller. Why set the series there, and what does Florida’s landscape give you that other settings wouldn’t?Florida is my favorite place. There are waterways everywhere in the state, and with Tampa’s location near the water, it was perfect.Fear, trust, and second chances are core themes. Which of those resonates most with you personally, and why?Trust. If you can’t trust people, then you have nothing.This is book two of the FBI Tampa Mystery series. What lessons from Book One shaped how you approached Hideout?I let the book flow as I wrote. My outline got me started, but then things took a turn, and I went with it.Clean murder mysteries can still be dark. Where do you draw the line between gritty realism and the “clean” promise to your readers?There are some dark areas in my books, but there is no alcohol use, foul language, or sex scenes.Your husband’s CSI background helps with accuracy. Can you share one detail in Hideout that came directly from his expertise?The restaurant receipt was found in Andy’s hand, and Valerie’s fingerprint collection.Without spoiling anything, what can fans expect from book three?It is turning out to be more intense than initially planned, and it’s not a second-chance love.If the FBI Tampa team ever hit the big screen, who would you cast as Ray, Mary Beth, and Micah?I’ll have to think about that.You write across five different series. How do you keep each world and character set distinct - and keep yourself excited to return to them?I have folders set up on my computer, one for each series. Each book features a list of characters, along with a chapter breakdown. I know where each book starts and ends with a quick peek.What are you working on right now?Of course, it’s Book 3 of the FBI Tampa Series. Silent Intruder is scheduled for early November publishing.