What is the title of your latest release?
A LONG DARK NIGHT
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A young woman returns home to her rural Alaskan town and is pulled into dangerous events at her brother’s workplace.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Because I wanted to include dogsledding, I knew it had to be somewhere with cold, snowy winters. The oil drilling was another element that required a specific location, and I settled on Alaska. I’m fascinated by Alaska – how large, remote, and wild so much of the land is. I love to research when I write my stories, and I knew Alaska was somewhere I would have fun learning about. The town of Whitespur is fictional, but I was inspired by real places close to the arctic circle, like Coldfoot.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Yes, I think we’d have fun talking about food and trying new recipes!
What are three words that describe your hero?
Nina: Brave, determined, nosy.
Grant: Kind, anxious, loyal.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned a lot about dog sledding terminology and how sled dogs are trained.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do my best to wait until I’m done. If there’s a major change to the story as I’m writing, sometimes I’ll go back and edit that detail into preceding chapters, but I usually like to finish a first draft and set it aside for a period of time before I start editing.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Lately, anything salted caramel. I’m also a huge fan of woodfired pizza or a big plate of vegetarian nachos.
Describe your writing space/office!
I have a small office with two desks, one that I use for “laptop work” (i.e., my day job and some writing) and another desk with my PC. I like to draft on my PC and edit on my laptop. Something about the different screens is a good mental reset. I also have a bookshelf in my office, a reading chair, and a cabinet where I keep my scrapbooking/needle felting/other hobby supplies.
Who is an author you admire?
Charlotte McConaghy, for her breathtaking settings and beautifully layered, nuanced characters.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Last time I mentioned The River by Peter Heller, which inspired me to try writing my own novel. Another book that changed how I think about writing is Writers & Lovers by Lily King. The way she writes emotions is so compelling, and she never lingers in a scene for too long. Writers & Lovers represents my love for pure contemporary fiction – with, yes, a side of romance – and I’d love to try my hand at a book in that vein one day. It’s a book I find myself rereading every couple of years.
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.
I received an offer for my first novel, RUNNING OUT OF AIR, in October 2023, but I didn’t know it would become a two-book deal until a week or so later. I have my agent to thank for negotiating that, and I was so excited to know that A LONG DARK NIGHT would also get to find a home on bookstore shelves. At the time, I was only 20k words into the first draft! I was able to finish the book and do a lot of editing while RUNNING OUT OF AIR was in its prepublication cycle, and then it was time to do it all over again with my second book.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Contemporary fiction. I love learning about the world through stories, so I try to read novels from all over the world and I’m always looking for new authors to discover.
What’s your favorite movie?
Last time I wrote about The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, so I’ll switch it up this time. Brokeback Mountain is a movie I’ve seen several times that never fails to sweep me along on its emotional journey and show me something new every time. Beyond the heart-wrenching story, the Wyoming scenery is stunningly beautiful, and Jake Gyllenhaal is my favorite actor, so even though I know how sad it’ll make me, it’s still a movie I’ll always return to. A local theater did a screening of it this year, and it was even more moving on the big screen.
What is your favorite season?
Spring! I love how the days get longer, the air gets warmer, everything is green, and there’s the promise of more warmth and light ahead as spring turns to summer.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
A good meal and a fun new experience. That, or spending a day outdoors. My birthday falls on a weekend this year, so I’m hoping to plan a fun weekend away.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Heart the Lover by Lily King is a standout 2025 release for me. I know, this book is everywhere, but it really is that good! I’ve been a fan of Lily King for years, which made the existence of Heart the Lover all the more special for me. If you’re looking for loveable characters, beautiful interiority, and a story that will make you cry, it’s the perfect book to pick up. I always tell people to read Writers & Lovers first, though!
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
It changes all the time, but lately I’ve been loving Japanese food. I’m always in the mood for ramen or sushi.
What do you do when you have free time?
I cherish my free time and rarely get bored. I like to read, ride my horse, take walks, hike, scrapbook, needle felt, cook or bake, go thrifting, play a video game, catch up on current events for inspiration, visit a bookstore, go out for a meal…the list goes on!
What can readers expect from you next?
I’m working on another novel. This one is set in Colorado and centers on a young woman investigating her mother’s disappearance and unraveling her family history. Readers can follow my Instagram for updates.
A Novel
A young chef returns home to find her small town caught in the snare of an oil company. Her brother witnesses a chilling crime at the drilling site, and their attempts to bring justice are met with fierce opposition in this engrossing thriller.
After her restaurant closes and she returns to her childhood home, deep in the Alaskan wilderness, Nina has one goal: finding a way back out. Her family’s sled—dog business is struggling, and she is alarmed that her brother Grant is working at the nearby oil field. Grant comes home one day extremely unsettled by his involvement in disturbing events at work. The supervisor on duty orchestrated a suspiciously seamless coverup of a deadly accident, leading both siblings to wonder if the past disappearances of field workers are more than a coincidence.
Grant wants to forget the whole thing ever happened—the oil rig is the only source of employment that pays enough to keep their family afloat, and he doesn’t want to risk any jail time. But Nina can’t let this lie. The opportunity to uncover the truth about the disappearances and protect her family from increasing threats is too important. What starts as an attempt to unravel the mystery leads Nina, Grant, and their loved ones directly into the path of those determined to keep them silent no matter the cost.
Lilli Sutton returns with another atmospheric and captivating thriller in A Long Dark Night. Her debut novel, Running Out of Air, was called “an adventure worth taking,” “packed full of tension [and] heart.” Prepare to be left breathless again.
Science Fiction | Mystery | Small Town [ Park Row Books, On Sale: February 24, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780778305767 / eISBN: 9780369774750 ]
Lilli Sutton writes contemporary adult fiction. She holds a BA in English from Shepherd University. From Maryland, she now lives in Colorado. She draws inspiration for her writing from the natural world and the intricacies of human relationships.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually cooking, hiking, or trying to keep up with her ever-growing TBR list.
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