A dark forest under a low, heavy sky

Tonya's Writing

Stories Behind the Stories

A shadowed doorway, the kind of threshold a mystery begins with
Writing

Why Haunted Houses Make the Perfect Setting for Mystery

There's a reason haunted houses have captivated storytellers for centuries. They carry the weight of history, memory, and all the things we leave behind. A house isn't just a setting — it's a character.

Read More →
A farmhouse in the fog, the inspiration for Taylor House
Behind the Scenes

Behind the Story: The Inspiration for Taylor House

Every haunted house has a history. This is the story of how a real Kentucky farmhouse became the foundation for Emily Taylor's inheritance — and what I discovered while writing it.

Read More →
A worn leather book with gold tooling
Books

Why Family Secrets Make the Best Stories

The most compelling mysteries aren't always about crimes. Sometimes the most haunting secrets are the ones kept by the people we love most — and the ones we inherit without asking.

Read More →
Night falling over the Kentucky countryside
Author Life

From Central Kentucky to Southern Gothic: Finding My Setting

The rolling hills, old farmhouses, and deep-rooted communities of Central Kentucky gave me more than a childhood. They gave me a landscape for stories.

Read More →
Bare trees fading into blue fog
Paranormal

The Difference Between Horror and Paranormal Suspense

My books are not horror. They're paranormal mystery with emotional depth. Here's how I think about the distinction — and why it matters to the kind of stories I want to tell.

Read More →
A quiet dusk over open fields
Writing

Writing Characters Who Carry Their Past With Them

My background in psychology shapes every character I write. The most interesting people — in fiction and in life — are always carrying something.

Read More →

No posts in this category yet.