Colorado-based author Wendy M. Barnhart is moving from young adult fantasy to adult fiction with her debut thriller novel Scaled Vengeance. Releasing November 10, the story follows Cassidy Vickers– a true crime podcast host turned wife, journalist, and mom. The Girly Pop Register sat down with Barnhart to discuss her writing process, inspiration, and what we can expect from her upcoming novel. She also shared her top three current reads.
In a time when true crime podcasts are all the rage, Scaled Vengeance explores the complex themes of female rage through a series of murders happening to brutal abusers. Scales Killer Emerson Kemp is close to being executed in Austin, Texas, for her crimes when Vickers is thrust into the chaos of the case. Abusers are turning up murdered once again with the signature mark on their bodies— uneven scales. Vickers tries to unveil the truth in the midst of being accused of murder.
From YA to Adult Fiction
Moving from YA to adult fiction requires not only a shift in tone, but also a genre like your classic thriller requires significant planning to deliver the ultimate jaw-dropping twist readers know and love.
“I’ve always wanted to write a thriller, but I was intimidated, and I would think everyone would be a little intimidated, just because it’s hard,” said Barnhart.
Despite being intimidated, that didn’t stop her from moving forward. Barnhart found herself on a Zoom call with several other writers learning how to convert stories into screenplays. One woman’s shocking story became the catalyst for what came next. Barnhart started diving deep into the different aspects of the classic thriller. She took inspiration from real crimes for her novel, conducting extensive research to ensure the details lined up, right down to the setting.
The Plantser Process
However, every writer has their own process, and Barnhart is no exception. Before writing any novel, she’s sure she knows the ending, but it never turns out the way she imagines.
“Every book I’ve written, I think I know the ending. And then it’s not the ending when I get there. I’m kind of a hybrid between what we call the pantser or the plotter,” said Barnhart.
There are three different types of writers: the pantser, the plotter, and the plantser— a combination of both. A pantser prefers no outline, with little to no plan going in. They let ideas soar and “fly by the seat of their pants.” A plotter does exactly that— plots. They go in with a clear plan, having outlined the story before starting.
Barnhart finds herself in between these two, or a plantser. She gets her big points down and fills in the gaps, but like any story, sometimes things can take a turn she doesn’t expect.
“I’ll start it, and then some character does something or a new character comes in that I go, ooh, and then I just go from there. And it kind of creates itself. It’s very strange… It’s a very strange experience, because I am writing it, and my brain is certainly churning up the words to put down through the keyboard or with my pen, but by the time I get done, it’s a different story.”
Barnhart’s Top 3 Reads
Some say the key to good writing is to constantly be reading, and we don’t disagree. Barnhart shared her top three reads she’s currently loving.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
What Readers Can Expect Next
Barnhart isn’t finished with her YA fantasy series despite adding her name to the thriller genre. Readers of the bestselling series The Adventures of Jason Lex are getting another book in 2027. She also shared that she’d love to explore more characters in the Scaled Vengeance universe. These novels, if written, would act as standalone stories.
“I love the characters. One of them I took out because it was just getting too long, and I love her so much. She actually hosts the podcast that Cassidy goes on, Buried Signs, but she had a much bigger role earlier,” said Barnhart. “You don’t get to meet her as much in this version, but I might do a book with her in it.”
“I like some of the other characters [too],” she continued. “Phoebe is the detective; that’s Cassidy’s best friend. It might be fun to do an offshoot. I don’t think any of them are gonna be, ‘and here’s the next thing that happened.'”
Book lovers can expect Scaled Vengeance to hit shelves November 10. Visit Barnhart’s website for purchase options, news, and book events.
Want more author exclusives? Click here.
Discover more from The Girly Pop Register
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
