Episode 185:  Laura Thomas Interview: The Final Word, Christian Romantic Suspense & Writing Journey  

About This Episide

A Writer’s Journey

Laura’s story is one that many aspiring authors will find inspiring. She dreamed of becoming a writer as a small child—specifically, she wanted to be the next Beatrix Potter, writing charming picture books. But like many of us, she buried that dream for 25 years, not telling a single soul, not even her husband!

It wasn’t until her mid-thirties that her husband unearthed this hidden passion. What happened next is a testament to following where your writing takes you, even when it’s not the path you initially envisioned.

The Path to Publication

Laura took a methodical approach to her writing education, studying through the Institute of Children’s Literature, which she highly recommends. Her first published works were short stories in children’s magazines—a step toward that picture book dream. But then came a teen short story that publishers loved, which evolved into her first full-length novel.

That first book became a trilogy of Christian teen fiction. Then came a middle grade novel, a nonfiction marriage book, and eventually—after years of reading romantic suspense as her favorite genre—she decided to try her hand at it. The result? “Many, many, many books” in the genre, as Laura puts it with a laugh.

“I love that mix of the romance with the sort of page turning suspense and the element of faith running throughout it. It’s kind of a challenge to keep all three. And I really, really enjoy that.”

The Bite of Betrayal Series

Laura’s current series, published by Mountain Brook Inc., is called the Bite of Betrayal series, and it’s set in the English countryside—a wonderful opportunity for Laura to return to her roots. The series follows three sisters from Vancouver who’ve all emigrated to the UK, each with very different personalities and stories.

Book one, Captured in Frame, tells the story of eldest sister Georgia. Book two, The Final Word (recently released), features Sophie, one of the identical twins who, despite sharing DNA with her sister Harriet, couldn’t be more different in personality.

About The Final Word

Sophie is a writer who’s spent nearly a decade in Paris, pursuing the romantic notion of being a Parisian author while also learning to bake at a patisserie. As the story opens, she’s preparing to move to England to pursue her writing career. But on one of her final days in Paris, she witnesses an attack she can’t unsee—an experience that both frightens her and spurs her move.

On her very last night in Paris, despite not believing in love at first sight, Sophie encounters an opera singer who reminds her strikingly of a character in her novel. It’s an instant, head-over-heels connection—complicated by the fact that she’s leaving the country.

What follows is a suspenseful tale where both the attacker and her love interest follow Sophie to England. Add in baggage from an ex-boyfriend, sisterly dynamics, Cinderella vibes in her manuscript, feelings of betrayal from both her ex and God, and you have a page-turner filled with action, romance, and spiritual depth.

Research Adventures

One of the most delightful parts of our conversation was hearing about Laura’s research trips. With all her family still in England, she had the perfect excuse to drag her husband across the pond for some hands-on research.

For The Final Word, they spent a day in Bath—Laura’s favorite English city and a dream destination for book lovers with its cobblestone streets and incredible bookstores. Her writer character simply had to visit these bookstores, so of course Laura needed to refresh her memory!

But the most charming research moment? Laura convinced her husband to help her reenact her characters’ first date at an ancient countryside pub complete with low beams, roaring fire, old pictures, and tapestries. They sat there having the conversation exactly as her characters would. “We must’ve looked a little crazy,” Laura admits, “but that was so much fun.”

Though Laura confesses her husband does have his limits—he drew the line at locking her in the trunk of their car so she could authentically experience that scene for another book!

A Baker at Heart

Like her character Sophie, Laura is passionate about baking. She loves making cupcakes, decorating them with extra sparkles and frosting, but she bakes “anything and everything.” In The Final Word, she mentions an opera cake—a dessert she’d never heard of before but seemed perfect for a story featuring an opera singer hero.

True to her word to readers, Laura made the intricate, multi-layered opera cake after the book’s summer release. She describes it as “probably the most tricky” thing she’s ever made—similar to tiramisu with layers of coffee, chocolate, and French buttercream. You can see the results on her Instagram!

Laura shares baking recipes in her monthly newsletter, along with book giveaways (she gives away a paperback of a favorite read every month) and reading recommendations.

Reading Recommendations

When it comes to reading, Laura particularly enjoys World War II fiction—partly because it’s far removed from what she writes, allowing her brain to turn off the “plot, character” analysis and just enjoy the story. She also connects personally with the genre, imagining her own grandparents who were in London during the war.

Some of her favorite authors include:

• Sarah Sundin – World War II fiction
• Colleen Coble – Romantic suspense
• Natalie Walters – Romantic suspense
• Kate Morton – Historical fiction
• Kristin Hannah – “Anything she writes, I love”

Laura reads most genres except fantasy and horror, keeping her reading life varied and interesting.

Her all-time favorite book? Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, which she’s loved since childhood and rereads often, especially at Christmas. As one of four daughters and a writer herself, the story resonates on multiple levels. She even named her French bulldog Louisa May—Lulu for short!

Standalone Stories in a Series

One of the most reader-friendly aspects of Laura’s writing is her commitment to making each book work as a standalone. She knows the frustration of picking up a book that looks interesting only to feel lost because you haven’t read previous installments.

“I intentionally write so that you could literally pick up any one from any series and it’s a standalone,” Laura explains. While she recommends starting with book one for the full experience, readers can genuinely jump into any book that appeals to them—whether it’s The Lighthouse Baby for Oregon coast lighthouse lovers or any other title that catches their eye.

Beyond Writing: Coaching Others

Laura is also a writing coach, helping aspiring authors navigate their own journeys. All the details about her coaching services, along with her books and social media links, can be found on her website.

What’s Next

Book three of the Bite of Betrayal series will release next year, featuring the third sister, Harriet. And Laura has just signed a contract for book four—a Christmas novella to round out the series.

Her previous romantic suspense series, the Flight to Freedom series, includes five books (three novels and two Christmas novellas) and offers a completely different setting and tone from the English countryside stories.

And that picture book dream? It’s still alive! Laura has a literary agent currently shopping her picture book manuscript. After all these successful novels, she might just circle back to where it all began.

Connect with Laura

You can find Laura Thomas on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to sign up for her monthly newsletter at laurathomasauthor.com for book giveaways, baking recipes, and reading recommendations.

The LiteraryScape podcast features conversations with authors about their books, writing journeys, and the stories behind the stories. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to catch new episodes every week!