#AuthorInterviewTour ~ The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna @ElizaMcKenna @dollycas

About The Tarnished Son

The Tarnished Son
Domestic Suspense
Setting – Wisconsin
Independently Published (‎ July 23, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D4R8HM6S

“This is a nice, quiet town with good people. Things like that don’t happen around here.”

But they do.

In THE TARNISHED SON, a tourist’s death, an alluring young teacher, a father’s carnal desires, and a stepdaughter’s vendetta ultimately destroy a village dynasty.

The respected Clark family has governed Williams Bay since 1837. On a hot August day, seventeen-year-old Liam causes a tragic boating accident. What happens next—infidelity, drugs, theft, and more—deepens long-hidden cracks in the family’s façade, exposing their secrets and tarnishing their golden image.

Meet the family:
William Sr., the grandfather who rules the family and the village with an iron fist
Hank, the father who lets temptations lead him on a path of self-destruction
Liam, the shining son who gets away with everything
Rose, the stepdaughter who has had enough and pushes the whole house down

Grab some popcorn and watch the destruction unfold in Elizabeth McKenna’s unpredictable family drama!

Interview With Elizabeth

How do you develop your plot and characters?

Most of my plots and characters are inspired by things that have happened to me and people I know. For The Tarnished Son, I used the rumor mill of my small town as a starting point and then grew the story from there.

What characters in your book are most similar to you or to people you know?

There’s always some of me in the female main character of all my books. For example, Rose is an introverted, awkward teenager, which pretty much describes how I was. For the other teenagers in the book, I used my daughters’ and their friends’ personalities. Hank was inspired by a neighbor I knew long ago who blew up his life with alcohol and drug use.

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

I listen to creative megahertz music via YouTube. Years ago, my meditation teacher told me about how different frequencies can affect your body. I have favorites for writing, healing, sleeping, happiness, and love.

If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?

Hank: Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Parks and Recs)

Liam: Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty)

William Sr: Stellan Skarsgård (Dune, Chernobyl)

Rose: Sadie Sink (Stranger Things)

Madison: Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu)

What books did you grow up reading?

I read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys when I was in grade school. (I still have the books on my shelf.) I also remember reading historical biographies (e.g., Florence Nightingale). In my teens, Stephen King was a favorite. We had stacks of books throughout the house, and my dad took me to the public library every Saturday. I remember reading Shogun in junior high and getting bullied because I was carrying around such a thick book.

If you could be a character in one of your favorite books, who would you be?

Arwen in Lord of the Rings

Thank you for stopping by, Elizabeth. It was fun hearing your answers.

About Elizabeth McKenna

Elizabeth McKenna’s love of books reaches back to her childhood, where her tastes ranged from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to Stephen King’s horror stories.

Her novels reflect her mercurial temperament and include romances, mysteries, and suspense. Some are “clean,” and some are “naughty,” so she has a book for your every mood.

Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband and Sidney, the rescue dog from Tennessee. When she isn’t writing, reading, or walking the dog that never tires, she’s sleeping.