Interview with Romona Simon, Author of Her Eyes Underwater

What can you tell us about your new release, Her Eyes Under Water?

Her Eyes Underwater is the introduction to a genre-bending series that blends dark romance, suspense/thriller elements, and horror. It was inspired by my guilty pleasure of watching true-crime documentaries. I’ve always been fascinated by the dual nature of serial killers and other criminals. People can live seemingly normal lives with families/jobs and then in their private moments, they’re monstrous. It’s horrible, but also difficult to look away from. Her Eyes Underwater highlights an extreme example of this morbid duality.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

No one person aside from myself inspired me to do this. I was looking for a change in life and decided to see if I could do this. I still don’t know if I have what it takes to truly be an author.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

1984
Lord of the Flies
Sharp Objects
Disco Bloodbath
The Silence of the Lambs

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask

I would love the opportunity to ask any successful author this question: When did you look at your life and think you might have “made it” as an author? How did you feel?

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

When a reader “gets” me. Not many people have read my book yet, but a couple of the compliments my book has received have been so on-point. They’ve noticed details or themes that I hoped would be conveyed and it’s always nice to hear when these things come across.

What is a typical day like for you?

I work full-time in the healthcare field, so most of my days are spent in a hospital. On weekends, I catch up on sleep.

What scene from Her Eyes Under Water was your favorite to write?

The entire chapter titled “Blood Ice River.” That chapter just flowed straight out of my ominous brain and onto the page with ease. It’s like a little short story within the novel that highlights classic suspense building tactics.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”
― Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code.

I try to avoid this pitfall. Unfortunately, I don’t always succeed.

Romona Simon is the author of the new book Her Eyes Under Water.

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