Local authors Crystal V. Rhodes and Lillie Barnett Evans are teaming up for a new project.
Typically known for their cozy mystery series “Grandmothers, Incorporated,” Rhodes and Evans are trying something new. Writing under the pen name Evan Rhodes, the pair of author friends sat down with the Recorder to talk about “Retribution” ahead of its March 29 release.
Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
What made you decide to team up for a new project?
Crystal Rhodes and Lillie Barnett Evans: We wanted to stretch our writing abilities and try something different. … To stretch ourselves further, we made a male the main protagonist in “Retribution,” with another male and a female as the secondary characters. We worked on the first version of the book for a year, took it through our Sisters in Crime Mystery Writers critique group and got their suggestions, but we weren’t satisfied. The story didn’t flow right. Something was missing from the writing, and we both felt it. The pandemic hit. We met on Zoom, revamped the storyline and characters in the second draft, but that wasn’t to our liking either. So, we worked on a third draft of “Retribution,” but this time making the female the major protagonist and the males the secondary characters, and that was it! The storyline flowed like a river. We took the last draft through our Sisters in Crime critique group, and they agreed that we hit the jackpot with the last draft.
It took us three drafts over a three-year period, but “Retribution” was born.
You usually share an author line. Why did you decide to write under a pen name for this book?
Rhodes and Evans: The “Grandmothers, Incorporated” cozy book series is our brand, and it has been successful for us, but it is a drastically different genre than a thriller novel. We didn’t want to confuse our cozy mystery fans, and we want to attract new fans with this new genre and felt that using a pseudonym — a variation of our last names — would be best.
Tell me a little bit about this book.
Rhodes and Evans: In “Retribution,” disgraced journalist Maggie Cabello accidentally records the shocking murder confession made by a powerful venture capitalist, and she finds herself running for her life. She’s smart and she’s tough and not an easy target by any means. Maggie turns for help to Alexander Jericho, the grieving fiancé of her late friend Alicia Berkley, and they both find themselves narrowly escaping the relentless henchmen sent to kill them. Then Maggie and Jericho join forces with Alicia’s uncle, the enigmatic Jamal Carter, and the unexpected alliance with Carter shifts the dynamics, turning Maggie and Jericho from hunted prey into cunning hunters. Retribution is a thrilling tale of survival and revenge where the stakes are life and death, and trust is a luxury.
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What inspired a story like this one? How did you come up with the idea and storyline?
Rhodes and Evans: Like we said, we wanted to stretch our talents and write something different. Both of us have creatively vivid imaginations, so coming up with storylines is no problem. We surprise ourselves with some of the outlandish things we come up with to write about, and we love writing about intelligent, clever, resilient women.
What is it like working together on a book like this one?
Rhodes and Evans: We have been writing partners for over twenty years, but we have been friends longer than that. We are very different people, but the differences work for us. Our writing process is to alternate writing book chapters. We send those chapters to each other for individual editing, and then the last step is for the two of us to edit all of the chapters together. It works for us.
How would you describe your experience working on a thriller versus cozy mystery?
Rhodes and Evans: Working on the “Grandmothers, Incorporated” cozy mysteries is fun. We laugh a lot as we come up with the zany antics of our characters. Working on “Retribution” was much more serious. It took carefully plotting out the storyline and logical actions. Also, writing in the thriller genre can be a learning experience when you research subject matter you’re not familiar with. It took longer to write “Retribution” than it did for any of our “Grandmothers, Incorporated” books.
You both have had long, successful writing careers. What does it mean to you to still be able to come up with something new and exciting?
Rhodes and Evans: Our creative imaginations never stop, so it’s not hard coming up with new and exciting ideas. That’s the advantage of having a writing partner. Ideas are always flowing. The truth is that it’s not hard to come up with new ideas because they’re all around us. Sometimes life really is stranger than fiction.
What are you most looking forward to with the release of “Retribution?
Rhodes and Evans: We’re looking forward to our new readers enjoying “Retribution,” wanting more of our work and discovering the “Grandmothers, Incorporated” series as something different. Meanwhile, we hope that our cozy mystery readers will trust us to provide them with the same level of pleasure in “Retribution” that they enjoy in our other books, and we want all of our readers to want more. A sequel to “Retribution” is already in the works, and our ladies from “Grandmothers, Incorporated” will take their hilarious misadventures to Canada soon in the fifth installment of our cozy mystery series. Plus, their characters will come to life this year in a short film titled “The Funeral.”
Rhodes and Evans are participating in a book signing to celebrate the debut of “Retribution” from 1-3 p.m. on March 29 at the Phillips Temple CME Church, 210 W. 34th St. For more information, visit grandmothersinc.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
