Writing a book is far from a solitary pursuit, and I appreciate so many people who’ve helped on the journey to create this book. My amazing editor, Madeline Houpt, as well as the whole team at St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books who worked on the book: Kirsten Aldrich, Rowen Davis, Gabriel Guma, Sarah Haeckel, Sarah Melnyk, Mac Nicholas, and Ken Silver. Jill Marsal, the best agent a writer could ask for. My family, for being my biggest cheerleaders and always encouraging me, even when I know it’s not fun to be ignored for hours at a time when I enter my writing cave.
Thanks to critique readers Nancy Adams, James Scott Byrnside, Shelly Dickson Carr, Naomi Hirahara, Jeffrey Marks, Emberly Nesbitt, Sue Parman, and Brian Selfon; my brilliant weekly brainstorm writers group with Ellen Byron, Lisa Mathews, and Diane Vallere; writing-date meet-up pals Mysti Berry and Lynn Coddington; so many other friends whose support I’m grateful for, including Leslie Bacon, Juliet Blackwell, and Kellye Garrett; and the groups that give me so much support, especially Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America.
I need to thank the traditional mystery writers who came before me. The Secret Staircase mysteries were inspired by classic locked-room mysteries, from my favorite Golden Age of detective fiction author John Dickson Carr to the many classic Japanese mystery writers I’m only now discovering thanks to publishers translating their books into English. I’ve always loved this style of traditional mystery with puzzle plots and without much violence, and I wanted to put my own spin on the genre to bring it into the twenty-first century with Tempest Raj. The Raven Thief is the second book in the series, and I have many more mysteries in store for Tempest.
And a heartfelt thanks to my readers for being kindred spirits who love losing themselves in a twisty mystery. I always appreciate hearing from readers. You can get in touch and sign up for my email newsletter at www.gigipandian.com.