CHRISTOPHER NULL

With a title like Blood in the Cradle, you can probably guess that Cobie LaJeanne’s latest book isn’t a feel-good romp. Her latest psychological thriller promises plenty of nasty (good) surprises — so let’s take a few minutes to get to know her before we turn to page one.

Who are you, and what do you write about?

My name is Cobie LaJeanne and I write psychological thrillers with a strong emphasis on family drama with romance and horror elements. I travel in an RV full-time with my husband and two young daughters.

What is your favorite word?

Kaleidoscope!

What is your least favorite word?

Delve. I think it’s terribly overused.

What is the trait you most like about yourself?

My passion for writing truly multi-faceted characters.

What is the trait you least like about yourself?

My anger. I have PTSD so while I’m passionate about a lot of things, my anger is rather passionate, too. Learning how to repurpose it into journalling and writing is something that I’m still working on.

What is your greatest fear?

Oh gosh! I have quite a few. But I think my biggest fear is something happening to my kids. More random fears are alligators, tsunamis, falling off a ship, and really sharp knives.

How do other people describe you?

Perceptive, discerning, dedicated, witty, passionate, and entertaining are the words some of my friends use!

What talent would you most like to have?

I wish I could draw and do digital art! I would love to be able to draw my characters. I’ve taken some classes, but I’m nowhere near where I’d like to be with it. It’s a lot of work and natural talent I don’ t necessarily have.

If you weren’t working as a writer, what would you be doing?

I think I would be a 911 operator. I really would love to do that sometime in my life. Perhaps someday when we settle down in a state. I also want my own tiny house where I can put collectables and books because right now, my RV is too small to have shelves of books and trinkets.

How would you like to die?

Peaceful. Even if it’s because of a medical emergency I don’t want to feel scared or angry before I die.

If you were to die and then come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I love this question. I think I’d want another go as a human where I focus even more on art and writing, physical health would be more important earlier on, and I’d know I was autistic from childhood.

When and where were you happiest?

A couple years ago my family and I were in Pigeon Forge and we got hit by a bad stomach bug. Once we’d recovered, we went on a random drive to the mountains without really a plan and we had so much fun. More recently, my husband and I went on our very first cruise (and vacation without the kids!) and it was nice to have that time together.

What is your greatest regret?

I think my greatest regret is how I treated people when I was in a strict, authoritative religion. I’m glad that I have grown since then.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Other than my anger, probably my need to micromanage things. I’ve gotten better over the years letting events play out but it’s still hard for me to be spontaneous.

Who is your fictional hero?

There are so many. Art has saved my life over and over and over again. I guess if I had to choose, I would say Loreth Anne White’s character, Angie Pallorino. It was the first time I truly saw myself in a fictional character. Reading those books really changed the trajectory of my life and made me want to pursue writing more seriously. If anything comes from my books, I hope people see themselves in the characters and realize they aren’t alone.

Who are your favorite writers?

Loreth Anne White, Tana French, Gillian Flynn, Liz Tomforde, Michelle Naomi Mosley, and Hannah Bird.

What have you been working on lately?

I am currently working on my outline for book 3 of The Halpin River Homicides! I’m halfway through the outline and starting to draft slowly!

You can find Cobie on her website or on Instagram. And please check out Amazon to get your copy of Blood in the Cradle!

Want to be the next thriller writer profiled on the blog? Email me here!