PHOTO: Danielle Singleton, author of thrillers, romance, and children’s books, pictured in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where she lives with her family and golden retriever.
Thrillers Romance And Real World Depth
Author Danielle Singleton discusses her journey from corporate law to full-time writing, her genre-spanning books, and how deep research and storytelling combine in her gripping and heartfelt fiction.
Danielle Singleton knew from the very beginning that stories were her calling. A born storyteller with an instinct for narrative even as a child, she has since carved out a richly varied literary career—one that spans chilling thrillers, tender romances, and delightfully warm children’s tales. There’s a rare versatility to her voice, as comfortable exploring the shadowy recesses of a killer’s mind as she is capturing the gentle wonder of childhood or the nuanced hope of a love story.
Her thrillers are taut, gripping works marked by moral tension and complex characters—none more unforgettable than Joseph, a serial killer whose presence lingers long after the last page is turned. But Danielle brings more than suspense to her work; she brings heart, depth, and purpose. In Price of Life, she shines a light on the harrowing reality of human trafficking, blending rigorous research with empathetic storytelling to create fiction that informs as much as it entertains.
Then, just as deftly, she pivots—to romance, to children’s fiction—without ever losing the emotional resonance that defines her writing. Every Star in the Sky pulses with the sincerity of first love, while her Adventures of Gus series offers warmth and charm to young readers. Whether she’s exploring the grit of Wyoming crime scenes or the magic of a child’s first day at school, Danielle writes with conviction and clarity.
There’s an unshakeable belief at the heart of her work: that stories matter. And in Danielle Singleton’s hands, they most certainly do.
What inspired you to shift from writing thrillers to exploring the romance genre with Every Star in the Sky?
It’s funny that you ask that question, because Every Star in the Sky is the first book I wrote after meeting my husband. He likes to tell people that he inspired me to switch from serial killers to love stories. Which might be partly true. But in all seriousness, I think of myself as a storyteller. I write the best story available in my mind. And when it came time to write my seventh novel, the best story I had was a romance. So that’s what I went with!
You’ve created a chilling character in Joseph across two books—what was it like getting into the mind of a serial killer?
It was difficult at times. I had to do a lot of research on serial killers and their psychology and methods, and at times it put me in a bad mood because I was spending so much time in a dark place of mind. But it was also intriguing in a way because Joseph is such a fascinating, complex character. It was a fun challenge as an author to build such a unique person from scratch and see where he took me.
As someone who doesn’t read scary stories, how do you manage to write them so effectively?
I don’t read scary stories or watch scary movies because I don’t like it when I don’t know what will happen. I have nightmares! But if I’m writing the story then it’s okay because I know how it ends. The thriller genre is fun for me because of all the twists and turns I can weave into a story . . . as a writer, the genre gives me a lot of freedom to craft a book that will keep readers on their toes the whole time.
Your books tackle intense real-world issues, such as human trafficking in Price of Life—what kind of research do you undertake for such themes?
I do a lot of research. A surprisingly large amount to be a fiction writer. My background as a corporate attorney definitely helps me in that regard, because I spent much of my career researching issues and making sure all the details were correct in contracts and other business documents.
I write made-up stories that are set in the real world, so I do my best to make sure all the real world details are correct. For instance, in Every Star in the Sky, I looked up what music was popular in the 1980s so I could have the characters listening to songs that were on the radio during that time period. For Price of Life, I watched documentaries and interviewed people who work in human trafficking rescue organizations to get real, on the ground stories and data to include in the book. Luisa, the main character, is not a real person, but I wanted to make her life be as real as possible. Part of my motivation for writing Price of Life was to help spread the word about human trafficking and hopefully end it. Most people don’t want to read news reports or watch actual documentaries about something so awful, but if it’s presented in an entertaining way, as part of a compelling character’s story, then more people can learn the truth about what is going on.
What challenges and joys come with writing children’s books compared to adult fiction?
Children’s books are a completely differently world from adult fiction. They’re much lighter in topic, which is a nice break from writing murder mysteries. They’re also a lot shorter so they don’t take nearly as much time. One element that surprised me the most was the collaboration with the artist. I hired an illustrator to make the drawings in the book (I’m no artist!), and it was fascinating to me to work with him and get all the story details correct. To make sure the pictures truly matched the meaning and message of the words, since most young children “read” what the pictures tell them. I’ve really enjoyed the process of writing both of my children’s books. I hope to keep adding more to the ‘Adventures of Gus’ series.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors trying to write across multiple genres?
I would probably advise them not to do it. Especially when starting out as a new author, it’s important to build a brand and create a dedicated fan base. Those things are hard to do if you keep bouncing around to different genres. Once you’ve been around a little while, I think it’s easier to explore genres a little bit because your readers know that you’ll produce a good story regardless of the topic.
What are you currently writing?
I’m in the final stages of my eighth full-length novel, a murder mystery called Revenge. It will be released on September 9th of this year. Revenge is set in a small town in Wyoming. A man is murdered while a guest at a luxury ranch, and the local police chief has to investigate and find out who murdered the man and why. I was inspired to write the book by my own trips to the American West, so this has been a really fun project for me. I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
