The following is an interview with writer Mark Stevens regarding the upcoming release of the thriller novel, No Lie Lasts Forever, through Thomas & Mercer. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Stevens about his creative process in bringing the story and its characters to life on the page, the themes that he hopes will resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of No Lie Lasts Forever through Thomas & Mercer! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the story’s premise?
Mark Stevens: Well, speaking of Thomas & Mercer (and all the incredible editors there), I have to give credit where credit is due to whoever wrote the summary that accompanies the book’s listing online. While I hope I know the novel as well as anyone, I could not have crafted this high-level recap in a million years. It’s a beauty. And anything I would write would only be a rehash of this.
“Zodiac with a terrifying twist, in a taut thriller from author Mark Stevens about a reformed serial killer and the disgraced journalist he coaxes into finding the imposter trading on his name.
When a reporter dies in a shockingly familiar way, the media rushes to announce the return of the PDQ Killer. The city of Denver reels, but no one more than Harry Kugel. After all, he is the PDQ Killer―or was fifteen years ago. And he didn’t do this.
Still working to reform his ways, Harry won’t let some amateur murderer ride his twisted coattails and risk drawing the police back his way. To protect his legacy and quiet new life, he’ll have to expose the copycat. Without exposing himself.
Disgraced TV journalist Flynn Martin holds the key. After a botched hostage situation, she’ll do anything to revive her dying career―even hunt down a monster who executed one of her own.
Harry must convince Flynn to follow him into the heady world of a killer. But with the law closing in and a rival at large, he starts to feel the familiar pull of old urges…”
Yes, a book description that ends with an ellipsis. Love it.
BD: How would you describe your creative process in crafting a psychological thriller? It’s always thrilling to follow a great crime story as the reader, but I would imagine that crafting the narrative and staying 3 steps ahead of your reader is quite the challenge!
MS: That is the challenge. Exactly. I wish I knew a dynamite “how” answer. Having read hundreds and hundreds of crime fiction novels, of all varieties, I think part of the natural process of writing is imagining the reader experience. In some ways, a writer is like a dealer with a deck of cards, deciding when and how to deal them out. Readers know this going in. That’s the fun, of seeing how the game is played with each new book. As a reader, I like watching how other authors set the hook, pull you in, and start leaving the trail of breadcrumbs. The good ones, of course, play fair. And in No Lie Lasts Forever, my main protagonist is a television reporter. She’s used to the state of not-knowing (no different than any other detective or amateur sleuth), and so it was a matter of giving her a detail here or a detail there that she would feel compelled to chase down.
BD: What makes Thomas & Mercer the perfect publishing home for this story?
MS: One word: enthusiasm. Jessica Tribble Wells, the editor who bought No Lie Lasts Forever, read it one sitting and immediately contacted my agent. On top of that, the small army of editors who have helped me improve on the original draft have brought extraordinary and thoughtful insights to every aspect of the way the story is shaped and told. Thomas & Mercer’s team is aces.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Harry’s story may connect with and impact readers?
MS: I think at the heart of No Lie Lasts Forever are questions about redemption and about the ability of a truly evil human being to reform himself. The novel also touches on the role of journalism in today’s world. Well, I would say “vital role.” If all goes well, the second book in the series will go into more depth about the quality of journalism today.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
MS: I consider myself a crime fiction writer. At least, primarily. I started with publishing the five novels in my Allison Coil Mystery Series, about a female hunting guide from the Flat Tops Wilderness in Colorado. And kind of out of nowhere I came up with an idea for a novel set in the world of big-league baseball and that turned into The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023). I was as surprised as anyone that I could write something out of the basic crime fiction format, but it’s done pretty well and won some awards. Yes, it’s set in the world of baseball, but it’s also very much about mental health and living with tragedy.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about No Lie Lasts Forever and your other work?
MS: Well, my website is www.writermarkstevens.com, my BlueSky is @writerstevens.bsky.social, Instagram is @mark54stevens, X/Twitter is @writerstevens, and TikTok is @mark54stevens. I am fully aware of all the pros and cons of all the social media channels, but I have so many friends online and it’s great to touch base with them every day and see what’s going on. I am in the process of winding down my 10-year run of hosting a podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, but you can find interviews on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@writerstevens) under the Rocky Mountain Writer.
Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions!
