Crafting Suspenseful Mysteries With Real-Life Inspiration
Travis Tougaw shares insights into his thriller series, the challenges of writing, and how his military background shapes his stories.
Travis Tougaw’s journey as a storyteller has been shaped by a life of constant change. Growing up in a military family, he learned early on the power of stories to bridge the gap between new environments and unfamiliar faces. His experiences, both in the Air Force and beyond, have given him a unique perspective on life, which he channels into his writing. In this interview, Travis opens up about the inspiration behind his Marcotte/Collins Investigative Thrillers series, his approach to balancing real-life investigative techniques with fictional storytelling, and the personal stakes that drive the suspense in his novels. With his debut thriller Foxholes already captivating readers, Travis continues to craft narratives that are as gripping as they are thought-provoking.
A captivating author whose thrillers blend intricate plots with compelling characters and high-stakes suspense.
What inspired you to create the Marcotte/Collins Investigative Thrillers series, and how did you develop the characters of Vince and Hadley?
In 2021, when the U.S. was withdrawing from Afghanistan, I reflected on my own deployment there from when I was in the military. I realized I had been in a situation and place that relatively few people would experience. I thought a deployment to Afghanistan would make an intriguing backdrop for a murder mystery. I didn’t want to write a typical military thriller with a highly skilled soldier as the protagonist; I wanted to tell the story through the eyes of an “ordinary guy.” I had used my protagonist, Vince Marcotte, in another novel that was never published, and his character fit what I wanted for Foxholes. With Vince in place, I needed someone a bit more experienced at sleuthing to help him; I wanted his counterpart to have a sharp contrast, so I created Hadley Collins, a young, female amateur sleuth, to help my middle-aged, male, paralegal find his way through his first case. Their chemistry worked so well I decided to keep them together, which resulted in the thriller series.
How do you approach balancing real-life investigative techniques with fictional storytelling in your novels?
I like to keep in mind that everything I do as a writer is in service to the story. Every scene should either advance the plot or reveal something about a main character. The stories that I’m telling are about a quest for truth — who’s the killer, what happened to the kidnapped child, did the guy in jail really do it? When I introduce investigative techniques into the books, it’s to help propel that quest forward. My goal is to use enough detail to make the investigation believable without slowing down the pace or turning it into a how-to book on detective skills.
Each of your books involves complex mysteries and high-stakes conflicts—how do you plan and structure your plots to maintain suspense?
I have a few rules for my thrillers. First, the case has to matter; at least one of my detectives needs to have a personal stake in the investigation’s outcome. Next, there must be obstacles to solving the case; if a solution comes too easily, the story is boring. So, I make evidence hard to uncover and eyewitnesses difficult to find or believe. Finally, the solution must be something that an ordinary person (like Vince or Hadley) can figure out with enough time and effort. My characters aren’t superheroes; they are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
Your stories often feature themes of justice and uncovering the truth. What draws you to these themes, and how do they shape your writing?
I think we all have an innate desire to see justice done and truth win out. (I’m thinking about C.S. Lewis and “Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe” as I write this.) While I like to see good guys prevail, I don’t want my writing to be sappy; that means I have to craft a dark situation and find ways to have flickers of light in it. Essentially, my writing uses a character on his or her worst day to provide catharsis and hope for a better tomorrow for my readers.
How has your background in English and editing influenced your approach to crafting compelling narratives?
I’ve been fortunate to study under some great writing instructors. When I sit down to write, I feel like Professors Dalrymple, Ellery, McKenna, and Price are in the room with me. Lessons from each of them show up in all of my writing. I’ve done a good bit of editing for a profession, as well, and that has given me confidence to not worry about perfection while I’m writing and just get the words on the page. I can reshape and refine the work in later drafts, but it’s critical to have freedom at an early stage to explore ideas and angles.
What challenges have you faced in the publishing process, and how have they shaped your journey as an author?
The biggest thing is being a new author and trying to convince people to buy my books. There are a ton of great books out there, and people have limited time and money, so I understand when they’re hesitant to try out someone new. Fortunately, I’m part of some incredibly supportive writing communities that have helped give me platforms to showcase my work. Publication is a team effort, and I’m very thankful for the many talented writers who are willing to be part of my team.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to write and publish their own thriller novels?
Foremost is to put aside any notion of becoming rich and famous through your writing. You’re probably not going to be a best seller, and almost certainly not right away. You need to be in it because you love writing and you have a story worth telling. Dedicate yourself to learning the craft of writing and bringing your story to life. It’s hard work; if it was easy, everyone who says they’d like to write a novel would actually do it. Your discipline and your love for writing is what will propel you to the finish line.
