What inspired you to choose the circus as a backdrop for your fifth novel?

I love the circus. I grew up near where the Ringling Bros. Circus originated and wintered in small-town Baraboo, WI. Today, it’s still a place filled with circus memorabilia, a museum complete with an active Big Top, elephants, and a merry-go-round. The calliope strains echo in the valley in summertime, and as a child I loved sitting on the riverbank, watching the elephants enjoy a summer afternoon bath.

Are any of the historic buildings and locations mentioned in your novel real places?

Yes! In fact, the layout of the circus city in the novel is based on the original grounds of the Ringling Bros. The train depot remains today as an abandoned building with bricked-in windows. The circus grounds stretched over acre upon acre and encapsulated the train and its tracks.

Your present-day heroine, Chandler Faulk, struggles with an autoimmune disease diagnosis. Why did you include this aspect?

It’s something I’m extremely familiar with. I received a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease a couple of years ago after a long struggle with non-epileptic seizures, bouts of complete loss of awareness, and chronic weakness. I poured many of my own personal struggles, both emotionally and physically, into Chandler’s journey.