Wendy Roberts has created mysteries and thriller stories that have attracted readers worldwide for over twenty years. The little things in life inspire her, and claims that Vancouver’s grey, rainy days are the perfect backdrop for murder.
In her thirteenth published novel, After the Fall, Roberts takes readers into the wilderness, where grief, isolation and the struggle to rebuild a shattered life come together for a hermit in an emotionally charged story. Inspired by her own time spent in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the novel reflects Roberts’ ability to blend atmospheric settings with tragic human experiences. Reviewers claim that in this latest novel, the wilderness feels like its own character.
When asked, Roberts explains, “I wrote much of After the Fall in my camper van, situated deep inside forests where the environment holds personal significance for me. Ultimately, my own deep love of nature helped me write the environment as a living presence that shaped Amber.”
Roberts is known as a “pantser” meaning she writes by the seat of her pants rather than plotting her stories. She begins with a question: what happens if . . .? Then allows the characters to tell their story. That organic uncertainty provides her work with an energy which readers have characterized as irresistible and twisted.
The thriller genre has a huge following, and Roberts believes that our fascination with dark genres reveals that humans have a deep, instinctual need to confront our fears in a safe environment.
“Life is unpredictable and unfair, but dark stories allow us to walk right up to the edge of darkness, experience the adrenaline of the threat, and ultimately see order restored or truth revealed.”
Though Wendy Roberts has been crafting stories for over two decades, her creative fire burns as bright as ever. A glance around her office reveals a landscape cluttered with sticky notes and ideas for future novels. The release of After the Fall is just the current beat in a relentless creative march: she has two more books waiting in the wings and a third underway. Ultimately, writing remains what it has always been for Roberts—a rhythm, a habit, and a fundamental necessity.
Wendy Roberts’ books are available wherever good books are sold. For more information, go to her website at: www.wendyroberts.com
