1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE STILL SMALL VOICE
2--What's the "elevator pitch" for your new book?
Madison Moore has been estranged from her family for years, but when her dying father summons her home, she reluctantly makes the trip back to the place that still evokes heartache. Her family's reception is lukewarm. But when her father tells her about a murder years before and that he has proof the woman in prison is not the killer, Madison finds herself in the center of a decades-old mystery. As she follows the trail of clues, Madison discovers the shocking reason her father asked her for help and how his confession relates to her own tragic past.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
My novel takes place where I lived in junior high and high school. Much of the story is also set in that time period.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I feel she would have been someone I was friends with for a very long time.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Madison is curious, strong-willed, and loyal.
6--What's something you learned while writing this book?
I was surprised to learn how many people are in prison even when they are innocent. I was surprised by how many people are exonerated each year.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do both. I edit as a go because my books always have twists, so I need to ensure my storylines come together in the end. That being said, I always have lots of work to do, even when I've finished the novel.
8--What's your favorite foodie indulgence?
I seriously can't pick just one! Chocolate, pastries, seafood, pasta. I also love to cook. I've written four cookbooks. My cookbook, "The Zucchini Houdini," is still a best-seller, and it was published in 2010!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I live on a ranch in eastern Idaho. My office looks out over my garden and a pasture with my horses and sheep. My dogs are always under my desk. It's heaven. My children are all grown and gone, so I spoil the animals.
10--Who is an author you admire?
I have read and loved just about anything from Kristin Hannah. And I admire any author. To put your writing out there for people to read is exhilarating but can also be the scariest thing in the world.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
The novel, Skindeep by Toeckey Jones. It’s a story about a South African teenager named Rhonda who is stunned by a secret from her boyfriend's past. It’s about living in a society where racial prejudice is actually part of the national law. I read it so long ago, but it still has an impact on my life and my writing.
12--Tell us about when you got "the call." (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
It was a dream come true. I wrote my first novel when I was seventeen. It was published almost thirty years later. I'm glad it hasn't taken that long with my other books!
13--What's your favorite genre to read?
I love mysteries and thrillers with flawed yet endearing characters.
14--What's your favorite movie?
Raising Arizona. It's funny, original, and so weird, but I can't stop watching it every time it's on.
15--What is your favorite season?
Spring. I love the anticipation of what's to come.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Family, friends, food, wine.
17--What's a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Promising Young Woman. It was so intriguing, and the ending blew me away.
18--What's your favorite type of cuisine?
Asian, Italian, Thai, Mexican or BBQ or just about anything.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I bake! My go-to at the moment is biscotti.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I'm currently working on a novel that has two boys telling the story. One is alive, and one is dead. It's a coming-of-age with a paranormal twist.
Madison Moore has been estranged from her family for years, but when her dying father summons her home, she reluctantly makes the trip back to the place that still evokes heartache.
Her family’s reception is lukewarm. They still hold the strict religious beliefs that cast her out. But when her father tells her about a murder years before and that he has proof the woman in prison is not the killer, Madison finds herself in the center of a decades-old mystery.
Painful reminders of why she left home haunt her as she attempts to accomplish her father’s dying wish to exonerate the woman who confessed. As she follows the trail of clues, Madison discovers the shocking reason her father asked her for help and how his confession relates to her own tragic past.
[Untreed Reads, On Sale: November 14, 2022, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781953601704 / ]
Brenda Stanley has been a television news anchor and investigative reporter for two decades for the NBC affiliate in Idaho. She has been recognized by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Hearst Journalism Awards, the Idaho Press Club, and the Society for Professional Journalists. Brenda is a graduate of the University of Utah and holds an MBA. She is the author of six novels and four cookbooks. Brenda is the mother of five children, including two sets of twins, and a grandmother of eight. She and her veterinarian husband, Dave, live on a small ranch in Blackfoot, Idaho, with their dogs, horses, chickens, sheep, and whatever else Brenda decides to add to her “petting zoo.”
© 2003-2026