There were a few times where I struggled with using a real person in such a completely fictional way as I did Lizzie. Remember, she was actually exonerated in her trial.
T.J. Brown – 21 March 2026
The Back Flap
What if the best Lizzie Borden story isn’t about Lizzie at all?
In the summer of 1878, Clara Lodge, a 15-year-old orphan, is sent to live with her cousin, Lizzie Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts. What begins as an uneasy stay inside the oppressive Borden household soon spirals into a season of dread that leaves Clara marked with secrets and scars that she will carry for the rest of her life.
Now married and far from Fall River, Clara has achieved a fragile peace of mind, but when Lizzie is accused of murdering her parents, Clara is drawn back to the city she fled. To heal, she must confront the cousin she fears, the memories she buried, and the truth she tried so hard to forget.
Told across three timelines in one woman’s life, Fall River is a chilling blend of history, psychological suspense, and gothic horror—a reimagining of the Borden legend that asks: how long can the past stay buried before it comes for you?
Perfect for fans of Simone St. James, Kate Morton, and Jennifer McMahon, Fall River is a frightening and unforgettable reimagining of the Borden story.
About the book
What is the book about?
Like thematically? Or content? 😊 Fall River is a haunting gothic novel about a young woman, Clara Lodge, who is sent to live with her cousin, Lizzie Borden, after a devastating family tragedy—only to find herself trapped in a house thick with secrets, suspicion, and simmering violence. Told across dual timelines, it follows her desperate bid for survival and truth as she returns years later to confront the legacy of murder that shaped her life. I think thematically, the story is about female rage and resilience. Clara overcomes, but the journey isn’t smooth or linear.
When did you start writing the book?
I had the seed for the book years ago and worked on it intermittently for well over a decade. I think I wrote two other books during that time.
How long did it take you to write it?
See above! Far longer, I think, than most of my books.
Where did you get the idea from?
I have always been fascinated by the Borden story and I love using real life historical characters to round out the plot, I’ve never had one be as pivotal to the story as Lizzie is to Fall River.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
There were a few times where I struggled with using a real person in such a completely fictional way as I did Lizzie. Remember, she was actually exonerated in her trial. I read everything I could get my hands on about her and watched countless movies and read countless books, both fictional and nonfictional. It was fascinating stuff. And one thing I always came back to was there was something off about the whole family and trial.
What came easily?
Clara’s character seemed to jump completely into my head fully formed. Usually, I have to write my way into a character, but not this time. She was very open and honest about who she was from the start!
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Because I write history the real people that populate my fictional world are all dead. (Which makes it so much easier!)
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
So, so many! I am a writer because of Louisa May Alcott. I loved her books and her life story as a child. The Transcendentalist movement that Bronson and Abbey Alcott were a part of impacted my main character’s parents as well as her early upbringing.
I also fell in love with Lois Duncan. Her books were so scary and so fun. I remember thinking, I want to write like that some day!
Do you have a target reader?
I know I am supposed to think about it for marketing purposes, but I read so widely myself that it’s hard to narrow down just one type of person who would like my stories.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Yes, I wait until the last minute and then write like the wind, while eating and crying and panicking. Ha! Seriously, though, I really hate writing first drafts. Revisions are where I start to have fun.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Oh no, I’m not falling for that again! I have tried almost every method under the sun, and the story always changes as I get into it. So I simplified. First, I will write a concept sentence. Then I expand into a paragraph. Once that’s done, I expand it into a back cover blurb. Then I write the story. The synopsis comes after. If I get stuck along the way, (usually in the third act), I make a bullet point list of what has to happen to bring it to a close, Then I write that.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I usually edit a few pages at a time to get back into the flow of the story, but not too extensively.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I was traditionally published for many years and I wanted my indie books to have that same polish, so yes, I hire an editor.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Oddly enough, I listen to jazz while I write, though I don’t listen at any other time. Maybe because I write historicals?
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I am currently agented by the amazing Laura Bradford from the Bradford Literary Agency.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was a gradual process. I have had amazing agents and editors at traditional publishers, but I wanted to reach out directly to readers in a more organic way. I felt that doing some of my work myself would help me do that. I still write for my agent and am on submission, but there is no reason why I can’t do both.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Oh, no way was I going to try my hand at that. I have so many programs and platforms to learn and track for my day job and my writing work that I couldn’t handle learning to do that. I was not at all sure I could put out a polished product and like I said before, that was very important to me.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Um, both? I hired a book publicist— Story Flow Solutions—which also has a community of authors that support one another’s efforts. The publicist gives so much information away in the community that it’s almost like a personalized marketing plan. I don’t know what I would do without it because I have no idea what I am doing!
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Find mentors, hire experts when you can, ask questions. This has been such a learning curve for me, but I love being a hybrid author. So worth it.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on a farm in a place called Alfalfa, Oregon! I really want to write a story about it called surviving Alfalfa, but we shall see!
Where do you live now?
After a long stint in Portland Oregon, my husband and I returned to our rural roots and now live in a tiny town in Eastern Oregon.
What would you like readers to know about you?
That I care about them. I really do.
What are you working on now?
I am republishing Dali Summer, a book I got the rights back to in the spring. I am adding bonus content and expanding some of the scenes. I am also working on another strange historical about a haunted toy store in 1890’s Venice. I can’t wait for them both to come out!
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