Crafting a piece of gripping, narrative true crime that engages the world is not that different from crafting a piece of crime fiction.

I read a lot of true crime growing up - 'The Stranger Beside Me' by Ann Rule about Ted Bundy.

I've always been drawn to historical fiction.

Good writers know that crime is an entre into telling a greater story about character. Good crime writing holds up a mirror to the readers and reflects in a darker light the world in which they live.

I think crime fiction is a great way to talk about social issues, whether 'To Kill A Mockingbird' or 'The Lovely Bones;' violence is a way to open up that information you want to get out to the reader.

With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.