Staci Andrea | Updates

Dakota County Tech College Alumni Spotlight Article on Staci Andrea

Staci Andrea — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 22:40:44 -0400

Thriller novelist career…

While attending NIACC, Staci took a few writing courses. Her professors took the time to encourage her to continue writing and go after what she really wanted to do with her life—become a successful, published novelist.

Staci’s first novel, Lake Laps, will be released by Pegasus Publishers in December of this year. Lake Laps is a 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist in the Suspense Category and 2023 Literary Titan Silver Award Winner. The novel also made the 2023 Hawthorne Award Shortlist and 2023 Page Turner Award Longlist for Screenplay Adaptation Needed.

Her second novel, Fraidy Hole, will be released by Black Rose Writing and Tantor Media (audio) in November of this year. Fraidy Hole is a 2023 Literary Titan Gold Award Winner and earned Honorable Mention at the 2023 Hollywood Book Festival.

Staci has written two other thriller/suspense novels slated for publication. Beneath Her Lies(previously named Buried Aces) won the 2023 Literary Titan Gold Award and will be released by Kingsley Publishers in spring 2024. Thrive: Ghosts in the Glades is a 2023 Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist for Best Southern Gothic and made the 2023 Page Turner Award Longlist for Screenplay Adaptation Needed. The novel’s release date hasn’t been established yet.

In May 2023, Staci reached out to DCTC Facebook with a heartfelt message: “I guess I just wanted to say thank you. Without the support of your professors and the guidance that I required to even determine a career path early on, I would have never even dreamt of tackling one of my greatest dreams. It is because it started with you, I can now proudly say that I am a suspense author.

“Who knows where this will lead? My daughter is a special education teacher, and I see the shortage in teachers that is happening in this country. Please know that you are seen, you are heard, and you are desperately needed.

“I almost didn’t go to college back then. It took a dedicated office staff putting up with a million questions from a 17-year-old kid whose parents never went to college and the loving and calm demeanor of my professors that took the time to show me the way to get me onto a stable career path and build my confidence. To you all, I humbly say thank you.”

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Staci's interview with Literary Titan Discussing Lake Laps

Staci Andrea — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 22:36:59 -0400

Lake Laps follows a woman trapped in a jail cell whose harrowing tale of familial bonds, mystery, and resilience unfolds as she confronts the shadowy figure known as ‘He’ that plunged her life into despair. What were some sources that informed this novels development?

I wrote this novel when I was at a very low point in my own life. Through commiserating with other families around the bonfire and helping to heal each other’s wounds, we bonded over our own issues that we all were trying to maneuver as our kids were growing up and leaving the nest, some more gracefully than others. A tight knit little family is never prepared for one of their own to fall pray to manipulation, and no matter how strong you may think your family bonds are, no matter how smothering your little blanket of love and protection is, any princess can be lured out of her fairytale if the dragon is cunning enough.

I basically built characters by using scraps of nightmares that were told from one family to another, all of us left standing at a breaking point trying to decide how to hang on and when to let go.

Maxine is an intriguing and well-developed character. What inspired the creation of the complex character Maxine, and how did you navigate her emotional depth throughout the book?

In truth, Maxine is all mothers if they are pushed far enough. All of us “mama bears” who consider our children to be the center of our worlds, and when we are poked, and their security is threatened… well, watch out.

In creating Maxine, I had to remember that at one point she had it all, the perfect job, perfect family, perfect house, perfect marriage. When she wasn’t paying close enough attention, a monster snuck his way into her world and she was pulled into a deep depression, with only the thought of saving her daughter slowly consuming her soul. Poor Max got very dark, and had to decide who and what she was willing to let go of in her own life in order to salvage the life of her daughter.

The story is filled with dark ambiance and only sporadic moments of levity. How did you balance this mood to keep readers engaged without overwhelming them?

I think that the main goal of Maxine’s story was to really throw a gut punch, a dire warning as to what can happen to even the most seemingly perfect families. By balancing all of the darkness and levity with happy memories of the past, the reader is given a taste of all that Maxine stood to lose and why she was spiraling so far and fighting so hard to keep the family together.

When and where will your book be available?

Lake Laps releases in paperback on January 25, 2024 on Amazon, Amazon UK and Waterstones, initially in paperback, with E-Book and audio versions to come.

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Staci's interview with Literary Titan For the thriller, Fraidy Hole

Staci Andrea — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 22:32:53 -0400

Fraidy Hole follows a grandfather and his granddaughter who must navigate their shared grief and the uncertainties of life while unraveling a series of mysterious clues in a world that challenges their preconceived notions. What was one goal you set for yourself as a writer with this book?

My goal was to make the reader feel like they were right there, in the middle of the nightmare. Too many times, I read a book and just don’t feel connected in any way to the main characters. These are very relatable, yet twisted characters that I needed the readers to feel their confusion and pain. The whole premise of my writing is to show the vulnerability that the human experience weighs down on us.

How did you balance the elements of suspense and the more intimate, emotional aspects of the narrative throughout the novel?

It’s simple really. I just went back to my happiest memories, of being a kid at my grandparents’ house, of warm summer days and bare toes. In order for my readers to understand the pain and heartache, first they have to experience the love and sheer simplicity of being a kid. Once that is accomplished, the suspense just kind of tags along for the ride, almost as an afterthought. Just like in real life, it’s the happiest of memories that your heart clings too, they, for the most part, overshadow the horrors.

The character of Bobo is quite intriguing. How did you come up with his character, and what challenges did you face in effectively portraying his emotions and memories?

Bobo was heavily based on my grandpa, his mannerisms, his working life. I took all of what I loved in that man and then twisted him, giving him a new past and new narrative. Writing from a male point of view was a new venture for me, and at first it was a little daunting. I found that when I just allowed myself to view the story as a movie, Bobo’s voice was easily coming to me, actually in the form of Sam Elliott! (Ha! Did you hear that, Sam Elliott?)

How do you hope readers will feel after finishing Fraidy Hole and what do you want them to take away from it?

I hope my readers are shaken, yet satisfied when they get to the end, the way you feel when you are walking out of an awesome movie that made you cry, got you angry, and left you stunned. I want the reader to reevaluate their own human connections within their own family and friend circles, because our days are numbered and you just never know when you will be saying your last goodbyes.

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Staci's Interview with Literary Titan Discussing the new suspense, Beneath Her Lies

Staci Andrea — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 22:29:21 -0400

Beneath Her Lies follows the gripping journey of Ruby who embarks on a journey through her family’s history, unveiling buried secrets that threaten to rewrite their shared future. What were some sources that informed this novels development?

Life is a very short journey when you really sit back and look at the big picture. It’s so tough to lose the ones we love, and sometimes when we do, we spend time going through their belongings and clinging to memories of the past. After losing both of my grandparents during the Covid pandemic and seeing my aunt begin the daunting task of sorting through their life’s worth of treasures, the idea spawned somewhere in my mind of the possibility of unmasking a whole other past buried somewhere within their things. I knew them as my loving grandparents, but what if they had something buried in their pasts that no one knew about, and how would that rock the family after they were gone? That is where the idea of this story really began to pick up momentum.

The cryptic letter plays a significant role in the plot. How did you decide on this element as the catalyst for Ruby’s journey?

Ruby trusted her grandmother her whole life and regarded her with so much respect. I knew that Ruby would find the value in the letter, and that it wouldn’t be something that her character would be able to turn a blind eye towards. I liked the intimacy of an old-fashioned letter, there is just something poetically nostalgic about that, and nostalgia is what is keeping Ruby grounded when, in reality, she is fighting to just cling to a life in the present that she has so carefully began to rebuild after becoming sober and stepping out on her own.

The exploration of Ruby’s family history forms the core of this book. How did you approach the task of creating this intricate backstory?

I had to look past just the character of Ruby and take a hard look at where she was in her life now. I knew that for her to overcome the things that she had to in the story, she had to have come from a close-knit family and that somewhere in her upbringing, loyalty would have had to have played a heavy hand in order for the story to move forward in the direction that I needed it to go. Ruby was raised with the values of respect, loyalty, and kindness, while witnessing a deep family bond towards her grandparents. She was also a girl who considered her younger sister, Banks, not only her best friend, but also felt a responsibility to protect her growing up, which lent nicely to the story.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I just finished up with the final editing process of my newest thriller, Ghosts in the Glades, which will also be published by Kingsley Publishers later in 2024. That one really holds a space in my heart, as the story focuses on a young boy, Jett, with disabilities that grows up in the south, trying to find his way in the world among bullies.

He befriends a small crew of self-described misfits his own age, as well as a curious older gentleman by the name of Mr. Scroggs, who has a notorious, yet questionable past in town. The story follows the boy out of high school and college, and catches him in quiet a predicament, as he is now a successful businessman with his own family, dealing with questionable investors within his lucrative foundation.

As always, loyalty will rear its head once again, and the story of Jett will leave the readers breathless and in shock, which has become my calling card. A reminder that perfection is just an illusion, and that we are all hiding something.

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We won at the 2024 Killer Nashville Awards!

Staci Andrea — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What an update I have to share! My latest psychological thriller, Ghosts in the Glades, won for the Best Southern Gothic in August at the Killer Nashville Awards that took place in Franklin, Tennessee.

Also excited to tell you, that this little soul squeezing tale of mine, also took home the award for Best Thriller at this years Maxy Awards as well.

I am so proud of this one and cannot wait for you to get your hands on it!

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WHAT!?!?! Lake Laps won too?

Staci Andrea — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

My heartbreaking suspense, Lake Laps, also secured another award, third place in Thriller/Suspense and The BookFest conference this weekend. To say I am excited and stunned is an understatement. Who knew having a midlife crisis would be so much fun? Stay well, friends.

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The BookFest Winners were announced!

Staci Andrea — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi happy readers!

I just wanted to pop on here and announce that my twisted thriller, Fraidy Hole, was bestowed another award this weekend at the virtual writers and readers The BookFest conference and took home the second place award in Psychological Thriller! I'm pretty excited about it! Have you read it? Tell me what you thought!

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Coming soon.. Beneath Her Lies!

Staci Andrea — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for the support in this crazy journey! I am so excited to announce the launch of my next twisted suspense, that, as always, centers in on the human experience. Currently, the preorder link is available on Amazon for Kindle for just 99 cents! (The paperback preorder will be available soon, and the launch date is April 26th, 2024. I have had people asking, and I am yet unsure as to an audio launch yet, so keep your eye out!)

“An unparalleled mystery genre masterpiece!” - Thomas Anderson, Editor in Chief of Literary Titan.

2023 Literary Titan 5 Star Gold Award Winner

2023 Literary Global Finalist for Best Suspense

Beneath Her Lies is a beautifully twisted thriller that weaves together the dark past of a 32-year-old recovered drug addict, Ruby, with the delicate new life that she is trying to obtain.

It has been said that you can’t go home again. You can’t go home to the past, to where your favorite childhood memories lie. You can’t go back to where you once felt the most content and safe.

Ruby has run away from safety for her entire adult life, while running right towards danger. A true wild child, she found a false comfort in the arms of a man who drug her into his own personal hell. It would take years for Ruby to claw her way back out and be strong enough to crawl back home.

But what was home? Was it truly the place that her contorted heart remembered it to be? After the death of her Granddad, she was lulled back under the pretense of sorting out his affairs, only to be blindsided when she arrived, finding herself in a web of lies and deceit, while still trying to cling to her newly found, and carefully rebuilt sober life.

The twisted web becomes all-consuming, as Ruby is still struggling to find solid footing with her own past.

She may be able to outrun her own shadows, but can she keep her family secrets buried?

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