Frequently Asked Questions
"I'm writing a book report on your book, and I need to know where you were born, where you live now, and when your birthday is?"
I'm including this question first because I get messages asking me this several times a week! I have to say, when I wrote book reports in school, I was never required to give the author's birthday! But then again, those were the pre-internet days, when information wasn't readily available, and we had to write our reports using a quill and parchment.
Anyway, in answer to the questions: I was born in New York City, which is why so many of my books are set there. I now live in Boston. My birthday is May 1, 1980.
“What are your favorite books by other authors?”
My favorite 20 thrillers of the last 15 or so years in no particular order:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Until I Met Her by Natalie Barelli
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
The Ex by Alifair Burke
Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle
Friends Like These by Sarah Alderson
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland
Look Closer by David Ellis
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Falling by TJ Newman
No Exit by Taylor Adams
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Honorable mention to the entire Rizzoli and Isles series, which was amazing from beginning to end. I would also stick a few Liane Moriarty books on there, but I'm not sure if I'd quite consider them thrillers.
“Which of your books should I read next?”
Absolutely any book you want! Almost all of them are standalone unless they are specifically marked as a series, and even those can be read in any order. I’m proud of every single one of my books. You’re not going to get an answer from me like, “Don’t read Book X. It sucks!”
“Which is your favorite of your own books?”
I don’t have a favorite. I always feel closest to the one I’m currently working on, but there are reasons I like every single one of my books. It’s like asking me to choose a favorite child!
“Will Book X be available in paperback/audiobook/kindle unlimited?”
Yes.
“Okay. Will Book Y be available in paperback/audiobook/kindle unlimited?”
It doesn’t matter which book you are referring to, ALL of my books are going to be available in paperback, audiobook, and kindle unlimited!
“Can you appear at my book club?”
I genuinely wish I could appear at every bookclub I got invited to, but these days I am getting invites every single day. So I have to say no. You don’t want my life to devolve into one giant book club appearance, right??? (Say no.)
“Where can I buy your books?”
All my books are available on Amazon. The e-book versions are exclusive to Amazon. Paperbacks should now be available at all major retailers.
“Why can’t I find your books in the library?”
My e-books are exclusive to Amazon, so they are never going to be available in the e-book library. Many of the paperbacks should be available! Because some of my books are independently published, those books may not automatically get distributed to libraries, but you can always request them! Audiobooks can also be requested if they're not available.
"How can I buy a signed copy of one of your books?"
Sadly, I don't have an efficient way to sell signed copies myself without it completely taking over my life. If you are looking for signed copies, your best bet is to check in with Belmont Books. I also have a merchandise site that has signature stickers and other cool stuff.
“Do you have any advice for writers?”
First, I recommend Save the Cat Writes a Novel, which is an amazing book for plotting. Also, I always say write that novel because you can’t edit a blank page! Stop procrastinating and just DO it already, for God’s sake. I have also created an FAQ specifically for writers.
“How do you come up with your twists?”
Um, my brain? I get asked this question a lot, and seriously, I’m not sure how to answer!
“Are you really a physician?”
I really am.
“How do you have time to write and also do physician stuff and I heard you’ve got kids too?”
Over the years, I have learned to be fast and efficient with lots of practice. I’m also an incredibly good multitasker. Also, my physician job is technically part time and now I have cut back even further. Also, my kids have reached that stage of adolescence where they basically just come out of their room for food and drink. Sort of like the cat. Sometimes I think I see the cat more than I see them.
Do you have a book tour schedule?"
I do not have any live tours booked or plans to tour in the near future, as my current schedule doesn't allow time to travel. However, I try to do interactive virtual events when I can! Check in on my Facebook page for announcements about future virtual events.
“Have you done any interviews online?”
Yes! I have YouTube interviews here:
https://youtu.be/M1YZGwlJ15o
https://youtu.be/dIdtEaGwrAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZrzPoQUPXc&t=1606s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHlZ3TFBK_g
I also did some podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-book/id1575632980?i=1000577641076
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-thriller-author-author-interviews/id1011293020?i=1000600885437
“What’s up with the twist in Suicide Med? You know what I mean, Freida.”
That was my first thriller. And my husband was a bad influence. That's why I took it down and re-released it as Dead Med.
See my full bio here.
I'm including this question first because I get messages asking me this several times a week! I have to say, when I wrote book reports in school, I was never required to give the author's birthday! But then again, those were the pre-internet days, when information wasn't readily available, and we had to write our reports using a quill and parchment.
Anyway, in answer to the questions: I was born in New York City, which is why so many of my books are set there. I now live in Boston. My birthday is May 1, 1980.
“What are your favorite books by other authors?”
My favorite 20 thrillers of the last 15 or so years in no particular order:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Until I Met Her by Natalie Barelli
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
The Ex by Alifair Burke
Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle
Friends Like These by Sarah Alderson
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland
Look Closer by David Ellis
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Falling by TJ Newman
No Exit by Taylor Adams
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Honorable mention to the entire Rizzoli and Isles series, which was amazing from beginning to end. I would also stick a few Liane Moriarty books on there, but I'm not sure if I'd quite consider them thrillers.
“Which of your books should I read next?”
Absolutely any book you want! Almost all of them are standalone unless they are specifically marked as a series, and even those can be read in any order. I’m proud of every single one of my books. You’re not going to get an answer from me like, “Don’t read Book X. It sucks!”
“Which is your favorite of your own books?”
I don’t have a favorite. I always feel closest to the one I’m currently working on, but there are reasons I like every single one of my books. It’s like asking me to choose a favorite child!
“Will Book X be available in paperback/audiobook/kindle unlimited?”
Yes.
“Okay. Will Book Y be available in paperback/audiobook/kindle unlimited?”
It doesn’t matter which book you are referring to, ALL of my books are going to be available in paperback, audiobook, and kindle unlimited!
“Can you appear at my book club?”
I genuinely wish I could appear at every bookclub I got invited to, but these days I am getting invites every single day. So I have to say no. You don’t want my life to devolve into one giant book club appearance, right??? (Say no.)
“Where can I buy your books?”
All my books are available on Amazon. The e-book versions are exclusive to Amazon. Paperbacks should now be available at all major retailers.
“Why can’t I find your books in the library?”
My e-books are exclusive to Amazon, so they are never going to be available in the e-book library. Many of the paperbacks should be available! Because some of my books are independently published, those books may not automatically get distributed to libraries, but you can always request them! Audiobooks can also be requested if they're not available.
"How can I buy a signed copy of one of your books?"
Sadly, I don't have an efficient way to sell signed copies myself without it completely taking over my life. If you are looking for signed copies, your best bet is to check in with Belmont Books. I also have a merchandise site that has signature stickers and other cool stuff.
“Do you have any advice for writers?”
First, I recommend Save the Cat Writes a Novel, which is an amazing book for plotting. Also, I always say write that novel because you can’t edit a blank page! Stop procrastinating and just DO it already, for God’s sake. I have also created an FAQ specifically for writers.
“How do you come up with your twists?”
Um, my brain? I get asked this question a lot, and seriously, I’m not sure how to answer!
“Are you really a physician?”
I really am.
“How do you have time to write and also do physician stuff and I heard you’ve got kids too?”
Over the years, I have learned to be fast and efficient with lots of practice. I’m also an incredibly good multitasker. Also, my physician job is technically part time and now I have cut back even further. Also, my kids have reached that stage of adolescence where they basically just come out of their room for food and drink. Sort of like the cat. Sometimes I think I see the cat more than I see them.
Do you have a book tour schedule?"
I do not have any live tours booked or plans to tour in the near future, as my current schedule doesn't allow time to travel. However, I try to do interactive virtual events when I can! Check in on my Facebook page for announcements about future virtual events.
“Have you done any interviews online?”
Yes! I have YouTube interviews here:
https://youtu.be/M1YZGwlJ15o
https://youtu.be/dIdtEaGwrAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZrzPoQUPXc&t=1606s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHlZ3TFBK_g
I also did some podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-book/id1575632980?i=1000577641076
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-thriller-author-author-interviews/id1011293020?i=1000600885437
“What’s up with the twist in Suicide Med? You know what I mean, Freida.”
That was my first thriller. And my husband was a bad influence. That's why I took it down and re-released it as Dead Med.
See my full bio here.