We chat with author Kaira Rouda about Jill Is Not Happy, which sees an ill-fated road trip resurrects a married couple’s darkest secrets in this new thriller.
Hi Kaira, can you tell our readers a little about yourself?
I’d love to – and I’ll try to make it brief. I’m a mom of four, a former business executive who is married to the love of her life and is living the life of her dreams: writing novels and living in a beach town. I feel truly blessed and trust me, I don’t take anything for granted. It’s been a journey getting here. I pinch myself every day.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I knew I wanted to write stories since third grade when our teacher asked us to write a letter to the person who had the job we wanted when we grew up. I wrote to Robert McCloskey, author of Make Way for Ducklings, my favorite book at the time. He wrote me back and explained I should pick better next time because he was an illustrator, not an author. I tell that story often because to me it’s indicative of the publishing journey. In a nutshell, I’ve dreamed of being an author and have loved writing for as long as I can remember.
Quick lightning round:
- What’s the first book you remember reading? Make Way for Ducklings
- What book made you want to become an author? The Great Gatsby
- What book can you not stop thinking about? Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery (short story, but it has haunted me since high school)
What can readers expect from JILL IS NOT HAPPY?
Hopefully, a quick, surprising marriage thriller that keeps you guessing – and laughing at the dark humor. That’s the goal. I enjoy delving beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives and Jack and Jill Tingley seem like the perfect couple. Much like in my other marriage thrillers BEST DAY EVERY, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER and THE NEXT WIFE, the perfect couple is the perfect illusion.
What inspired JILL IS NOT HAPPY?
My husband and I took a road trip to Utah’s gorgeous national parks during the pandemic. I was blown away by the beauty, and also thought, as a thriller writer, these places – Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches – would be great places to kill someone, fictionally speaking of course. And yes, my husband does sleep with one eye open.
What challenges did you face when writing JILL IS NOT HAPPY?
JILL IS NOT HAPPY was such a fun novel to write. Each book, I’ve discovered, is different like each child is unique. Some books flow easily, some are more of a struggle. Jill Tingley as a character popped into my head with a strong voice anxious to tell her story, or her version of it I should say. I love it when that happens!
What’s next for you?
My next book is WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS and it’s coming out February 2026. It features an ensemble cast much like my novels BENEATH THE SURFACE, UNDER THE PALMS and SOMEBODY’S HOME. This story is set in Palm Springs, and it’s about a sorority reunion where things go terribly wrong. I’m excited about this story, too.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands
Because of the Killer Author Club show I co-host with authors Kimberly Belle and Heather Gudenkauf – tune in if you love crime novels – I have a chance to read so many great thriller and suspense novels and interview the authors. And because of the show, my TBR is toppling. Some favorites so far this year include Gothictown by Emily Carpenter, Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass, and Trust Issues by Greg Wands and Elizabeth Keenan. But there are so many more, and more to come! I can’t wait to read Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter, Liv Constantine’s Don’t Open Your Eyes, and All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan.
