Toni Anderson - Bestselling FBI Romantic Thrillers

Toni Anderson writes award-winning, bestselling, FBI Romantic Thrillers. She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, RITA® finalist, science nerd, professional tourist, dog lover, gardener, mom. Anderson's books have won the Readers' Choice Award, Aspen Gold, National Excellence in Romance Fiction, Book Buyers' Best. As our Author of the Day, she tells us about her book, Her Sanctuary.

Please give us a short introduction to what Her Sanctuary is about.

An FBI agent suffers terribly during an undercover assignment and knows the only way she can get out of the situation is to run.

What inspired you to write this book?

This was actually the first book I ever wrote and it took me five years to complete. I loved Romantic Suspense and wanted to try writing it myself.

Why did you pick a Montana ranch as the backdrop for this story?

I adore the dramatic scenery of Montana and the “end of the road” mentality of the people who live there. I wanted to set the story on a ranch because I also love horses. It seemed like the right combination of setting and story.

Tell us more about Elizabeth Ward. What makes her so special?

Elizabeth Ward is a tough cookie who has been completely broken and damaged. I was interested in how she reacted to the beauty of the place and love of a good man.

Why do you write FBI Romantic Thrillers? What drew you to the genre?

Like many people, I’m fascinated by tales of serial killers and wanted to write some fictionalized stories. The FBI was a good fit for this kind of setup. And I also chose the FBI because they aren’t limited to serial killers so there was a lot of opportunity for different types of stories. One thing I would note, at the time of writing HER SANCTUARY my research consisted of reading a couple of biographies by former agents. The internet had barely been invented. Nowadays, I’m able to conduct much better research for all my stories.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I enjoy taking photographs and gardening. There was a time when I did a lot of art but it’s been a while.

Do any of your characters ever take off on their own tangent, refusing to do what you had planned for them?

Yes, all the time. I’m a big plotter but things often go off in an unexpected direction.

This is the first book in a series. Can it be read as a standalone? How do the other books in the series tie in with this one?

This can be read as a standalone. Secondary characters in this book are the future heroes of the subsequent books.

What are you working on right now?

I am waiting for edits back on my latest project called COLD WICKED LIES. It’s part of a series about FBI negotiators but can be read as a standalone.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

My website has all my books and links on it: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com with links to my newsletter. I’m also often on Facebook