As a writer who spends so much time swept away in fictional worlds, the characters I create often start out feeling like coworkers and eventually become something closer to friends. When you’re with someone day after day, hour after hour, that attachment grows naturally. Before long, they feel real enough that returning to a story feels like visiting an old friend.

It’s especially true for the recurring characters who show up across multiple books—like the squad at the Berryville PD.

Detective Web‑Bower began her journey as a nurse, only switching careers after helping solve a case that changed her life.

 Captain Joe Bower worked his way up the ranks, all while building a life with his childhood sweetheart.

 Detective Jerry Brewer chose law enforcement after losing his wife and daughter in a drive‑by shooting.

Together, the three of them form a team that feels solid, lived‑in, and deeply human. 

They challenge each other, support each other, and carry their own scars into every case they face

And that’s why writing them never feels like writing alone.