Laura: Hi Victoria, welcome to the What to Read Next Podcast.

Victoria: Hello, how are you?

Laura: I'm doing good, how are you doing?

Victoria: Good, I'm doing really well.

Laura: Awesome! So tell us a little bit about what you've been up to. You were a guest on the show about a year or two ago.

Victoria: Since then, I've been living the indie author life, trying my best to get ahead while also promoting my current books. Since we last chatted, I finished my small-town romance series, which ended with four books. I also started a new series, which is still small-town but has a romantic suspense element. This new series will be three books long, and I just released the first one in mid-June. Right now, I’m working on writing book two and promoting Bourbon and Lies as much as I can.

Laura: I've been promoting your previous series in several listicles on my blog, recommending them to readers who enjoyed similar books.

Victoria: That’s awesome, thank you! I really appreciate that.

Laura: Let’s talk about Bourbon and Lies. It's a bit of a departure from your previous small-town series, though it still has that small-town vibe. This one has elements of suspense, and the setting is deeply rooted in the bourbon industry. Can you tell us more about it?

Victoria: Sure! Bourbon and Lies is a romantic suspense set in the fictional town of Fiasco, Kentucky, right in the heart of bourbon country. The story revolves around the Fox family and the one rule in town: never fall for a Fox brother. Any woman who did has ended up dead, and that’s how the story kicks off. The protagonist, a brave woman in witness protection, ends up staying on the Fox property. The youngest Fox brother, Grant, is a bit of a recluse. He runs the bourbon cooperage, which makes the barrels for the distillery. This is his second career after being a cop, and he’s still healing from a tragic past. The female lead is a spitfire redhead who turns his world upside down, and their relationship develops with plenty of suspenseful twists and turns.

Laura: The pacing of the book was fantastic. You did an amazing job revealing the characters' backstories and building tension. Let’s talk about the bourbon aspect. As someone who knew little about bourbon, I learned so much from your book. What was your research process like? Were you a bourbon drinker before writing this?

Victoria: I wasn’t much of a bourbon drinker before, but I did have some friends and family who were. Knowing I was going to write a series based on a bourbon distillery, I had to do my research. I took a trip to Kentucky with my best friend, visiting several distilleries on and off the bourbon trail. I wanted to understand what goes into running a distillery, what the Kentucky landscape is like, and even how the humidity feels in the summertime. I tasted a lot of bourbon during the trip and came back much more of a bourbon drinker than when I left. It was fascinating to learn about the intricacies of bourbon making, and I wanted to do the culture justice in my book.

Laura: You definitely did! I loved the detail, especially the scenes involving bourbon tasting and the culture surrounding it. The characters’ knowledge and passion for bourbon added a rich layer to the story. Another fascinating element was the witness protection angle. How did you research that aspect?

Victoria: I was intrigued by the idea of witness protection because there’s so much mystery surrounding it. I did a lot of online research and checked out some books from the library to get a better understanding of how it works. Witness protection, known as WITSEC in the U.S., often involves people who aren’t exactly upstanding citizens themselves. I liked the idea of incorporating that complexity into the story, where characters have morally gray backgrounds. It added a lot of depth to the suspenseful elements of the plot.

Laura: Are we expecting the rest of the series to continue with the romantic suspense elements, or will they be more focused on the small-town aspect?

Victoria: The series will definitely maintain the romantic suspense elements. Each book will have its own unique suspenseful plot while still being set in Fiasco, Kentucky, and centered around the Fox family distillery. While book one involved a serial killer, not all of the books will have the same type of suspense. There will be different twists in each story.

Laura: That sounds exciting! Where do you draw inspiration for these suspenseful elements? Do you listen to true crime podcasts or read thrillers?

Victoria: I’ve been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark for years, so I’ve always had an interest in suspense and thrillers. I also listen to true crime podcasts and watch a lot of documentaries. A lot of my ideas come from simply imagining scenarios and seeing how they play out in my head. It’s a mix of inspiration from real life and good old-fashioned creativity.

Laura: I love it! Now, let’s talk book recommendations. Do you have any suggestions for our listeners who are eager to read more after finishing Bourbon and Lies and your previous series?

Victoria: Absolutely! For romantic suspense, I highly recommend Catherine Cowles and Devney Perry. They’re masters of the genre. If you’re looking for more small-town romance, Elsie Silver’s Gold Rush Ranch and Chestnut Springs series are fantastic. I recently enjoyed Chasing Wild by Elliot Rose, which has a great ex-boyfriend’s dad trope. Maggie Gates’ Dust Storm and Downpour series are also excellent, especially if you like cowboys. For something different, I loved Bride by Allie Hazelwood, which has a fantasy/paranormal element. And if you’re into sports romance, check out Fake Shot by Teagan Hunter—it's part of her new Hockey Rebels series.

Laura: Those all sound amazing! Thank you so much for the recommendations. Finally, where can our listeners find you online?

Victoria: You can find me on Instagram at @authorVictoriaWilder, where I’m most active. I’m also on TikTok and Facebook. I love chatting with readers, so feel free to slide into my DMs anytime!

Laura: Thank you, Victoria, for joining us today!

Victoria: Thank you for having me!