Bookwild - Christina Dotson's Love You to Death: Wedding Crashing, Toxic Friendships and Racial Tension

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

This week, I talk with Christina Dotson about her voice-y thriller loosely inspired by Thelma & Louise. She shares how she created Kayla and Zorie's friendship, why she set the story in the south, and what she loves about writing "unlikeable" characters.Love You to Death SynopsisWhen two best friends' hobby of crashing weddings takes a deadly turn, they’re forced to embark on a road trip of survival in this addictive thriller.How well do we really know our friends?As the only Black women at an antebellum-themed wedding, Kayla and Zorie should’ve known this heist was doomed from the start. They should never have come, but when their financial situation became dire, they agreed to hit one last wedding.Jaded and cynical Kayla has spent the last decade trying to fix her life since an angsty teen prank led to her arrest. Now, with her housekeeping job at a subpar hotel and her disappointing, Cinderella-esque relationship with her dad and obnoxious stepsister, she hates the life she’s built. Her only bright spots are her best friend, Zorie, and their favorite weekend pastime of crashing weddings to steal the money and pawn the gifts. But what started as a lark has evolved into a greedy obsession, making each wedding haul riskier than the last.While trying to avoid the angry bride and groom, Kayla and Zorie's getaway takes a gruesome turn and suddenly the “Wedding Crash Killers” are national news. The best friends are forced to hit the road to dodge the authorities, but their escape plan leaves behind a bloody trail of destruction from Georgia all the way to the bayou. As past grudges resurface, Kayla realizes that the best friend she thought she knew is more dangerous than she could ever have realized.Sharp, unpredictable, and madcap from start to finish, Love You to Death is the most fun—and deadly—road trip you’ll ever take. Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian 

This is we got to talk with Christina Dotson about her very, very fun debut thriller, Love You to Death. I loved this book. It has some snarky dialogue, so you know I was obsessed. And it has a really fun premise, too. So I just devoured this one, but here's what it's about. How well do we really know our friends? As the only black women at an antebellum-themed wedding, Kayla and Zori should have known the heist was doomed from the start. They should never have come, and when their financial situation became dire, they agreed to hit one last wedding. Jaded and cynical, Kayla, has spent the last decade trying to fix her life since an inxie teen prank led to her arrest. Now, with her housekeeping job at a subpar hotel and her disappointing Cinderella-esque relationship with her dad, an obnoxious step-sister, she hates the life that she's built.

Her only bright spots are her best friend Zori and their favorite weekend pastime of crashing weddings to steal the money and pawned gifts. But what started as a lark has evolved into a greedy obsession, making each wedding hall riskier than the last. While trying to avoid the angry bride and groom, Kayla and Zori's getaway takes a gruesome turn, and suddenly the wedding crash killers are national news. The best friends are forced to hit the road to dodge the authorities, but their escape plan leaves behind a bloody trail of destruction from Georgia all the way to the bayou. As past Grudge's resurfaced, Kayla realizes that the best friend she thought she knew is more dangerous than she could ever have realized. There's a lot going on in this one. We talk about how she was inspired by Thelma and

Louise, how that's one of her favorite movies, the fun of writing quote-unquote unlikable characters, and how she had fun writing characters that she could kind of vicariously live through. So that being said, let's hear from Christina. I am so excited to talk to with you about Love View to Death. I don't know why I felt like I was about to say the title wrong. But I did want to get to know a little bit about you before we dive into the book itself. So what was your moment where you were like, I think I want to write a book? I want to be a writer. What was like your journey to writing kind of? Well, I don't remember the exact age I was. I just know that from the time that I was little

and reading books, I just knew that I always wanted to be a writer. You probably hear that from every writer, but I just thought, oh, really? Yeah. Well, it's, it's interesting because I just think that it's, it's always fascinated me how you can create these people and these worlds, how someone can just do it from their imagination. I just, that's really powerful. And I want it to be able to do that myself. So, as a kid, that is what I always told my parents. I mean, there was a point that I wanted to be a ballerina briefly, but that, you know, went away. But the book, I actually dedicated it to my parents because I just felt like they've always known when I was, when I was little and Christmas time, I would always write letters to Santa that I wanted to Barbie Dreamhouse. I still kind of want one, low key, but that's weird.

So I better not. So, and I'm still single. so I don't think I can get a man that had a Barbie dream house in my house. But anyway, with no kids. You never know. But, well, that's true. They might be interested. But when I remember when Christmas, there was a typewriter underneath the Christmas tree.

And it was kind of like the gift that I didn't know that I wanted. And they were just listening and nurturing and just what I wanted to do. And then from there, I was writing like it was my job at like, you know, 10 years old. And so, yeah, that's the bug hit early. Yeah. That's such a cool. Yeah, that's cool that you had that, like, so long ago. And you're, because you're right.

Like, not every, not all parents are like, oh, yay, you want to write. Right. Here's a coloring. Do that instead. Yeah. That's so cool. Do you outline? Do you just kind of write with the vibes that you're feeling?

How do you approach that? I don't outline, and I really, really, really wish that I could. But every time I do, it always feels like, I mean, I guess it is kind of homework. But it just, I don't know. And I never know what the story is actually going to be because it shifts and it changes. And I have the idea of the story. But I think the most fun part about writing is just kind of letting things happen and seeing what's going to happen because when I was writing Love You to Death, I thought it was going to go

one way with these characters, but then they flipped it on me and went completely opposite. And I mean, we were all having a good time, so in my head. But yeah, so no, I'm a pantser for sure. And I went to a lot of writers courses and when I go to like conferences and stuff and they talk about that stuff because I really want to learn how to outline, but it just, it never works for me. I feel like less people outline than, or yeah, less people outline than Pantsett, at least in my experience with who I've talked to. So I think there are a lot of people who are like, I'm going with the vibes. We'll figure out where we're headed. Exactly. It's fun that way. I guess if you have a

story that has a lot of different worlds, like if you're writing science fiction or something like that, you have to keep everything tied together. But otherwise, I mean, just go with, go with the feeling. Let them take you where they want to. So. Yeah. With Love You to Death, it's obviously a mystery thriller. Is there something about that genre that you gravitate towards writing wise? Or I know some people are like, I just write the story and then someone tells me what genre it is that I wrote. For me, I just. I've always liked reading dark, twisted, unhinged kind of stories. It's just, that's just my favorite thing to read. It's my favorite kind of movie to watch TV shows. I just like that.

And when I was younger, like me and my sister, we watched all the Lifetime movies on Friday nights. We were watching 2020 with Barbara Walters before True Crime was like a real trend. So I just, I like all of that kind of stuff. So that's what I like to write because it's like, it's what I like to read. Yeah. That's really cool. I'm the same, obviously. Lots of thrillers. Was there something that inspired you to write this one? Like what was your jumping off point for Love You to Death? It was actually a new story, Kate. So yeah, it's, it's based, well, not. not based. It's inspired by a new story that I saw when I lived in Tennessee. There was a story about this woman who was known as the Southeast Wedding Crasher, and she would show up at weddings in Nashville, in Mississippi, in Memphis, and Alabama, and just take from the gift table

and also from the rooms where people stored their purses and coats, and she would just help herself to whatever she could take and then she would leave. And I just thought that was hilarious. I mean, it was probably devastating to the people I stole from because, I mean, you know, as you do. But I thought it was incredibly kind of clever just to do that because it's really easy to do that if you think about it. Because, you know, like you can find so much information online, especially about people's weddings. They have those wedding websites that are dedicated to that. So you can get all the details and just, you know, it's not like they're carding you or

checking you off a list at the door. So you can just walk in, sit down. Nobody knows who's connected to the bride and groom or the bride and bride or the groom and groom. So you can just sit there and then follow them to the reception. And then while everybody's distracted and drunk, just take what you want. That's what was dawning on me as I was reading. I was like, wait a second.

This is actually somewhat easy to do if you can like act mostly normal when you're there. Right. Yeah. Because some of these places will, our websites will even tell you what to wear, like if it's a black tie or casual. You know, if it's outside or a lot of, you know, Tennessee weddings are in barns and stuff. So, you know. But yeah, just dress accordingly, act accordingly and just show up and take what you want. want, but this lady, she's passed away now, but she was eventually arrested. But yeah, it's, it's, it was a

crazy story and I thought that sounds interesting and I want to write that. And I think it would be more fun if it was two best friends doing it. And of course, because I like twisted and in, dark things and like something bad has to happen at this wedding. So yeah, that's where it came from. Yeah, it does, it starts off strong and you're like, oh, okay, all right. So that's how we got here. Right. You kind of mentioned already. I was wondering, so the, the friendship, the doing it as a duo, really, I think that probably added a lot because there could obviously be tension between them as they're kind of traveling through. But what made you want to kind of set these two friends together? and kind of like build this believable world where like we understand why they almost need to do it.

Well, I mean, I like I've always liked a friendship story anyway. And it's also kind of inspired. It has strong Thelman Louise vibes because that's one of my favorite movies. Every time I watch it, I'm always thinking about ways that they could have gotten away with it and why they didn't go this way. But yeah, I wanted it to be an exploration, too, of friendship, of toxic friendships, because I just feel like with a lot of our friends, we sometimes we hold on to them longer than we need to. Because my best friend and I, just like Kail and Zori, have been best friends since we were six years old. We're not like Kailen Zori, but, you know, like, thank God. Yeah, this isn't a confession.

No, not a... Well, I mean, it could turn into one. I'm just kidding. But I just feel like, you know, you grow up and you, sometimes you grow apart and your interest are different and you become different people. And but sometimes because we've had those friendships for so long, we want to hold on to them because they're comfortable, because we have so much history. And they do sometimes sour and turn toxic. And sometimes we don't always realize that. So I wanted it to be connected, rooted in that.

in that strong history with Kayla and Zori. And then I also wanted to emphasize the desperation that because of where they, their history too, which kind of creates this barrier of them being able to move forward and be financially successful and, you know, those types of things. So, yeah, that's kind of why I wanted it to be kind of a buddy, buddy, but twisted. kind of friendship examination. Yeah, there are layers going on. Yeah.

That's for sure. And I think part of what was like, what kind of like made it feel like believable and grounded to is like with Kayla, like her, her family situation is so tense and painful too. I don't think it's totally spoilery to say like she she's working as like a maid at a hotel. and then her dad has remarried and her step sister is just mean. I'm trying to try not to say too much. But she's really tough.

And so it's like even in her family, she just kind of doesn't even feel like accepted there and kind of feels the need to prove herself a little bit as well. So how did you go about making her family dynamics? Well, a lot of that with the family dynamics, and I mean, just in case like my ex-stepmom and ex-step-sister listen to this, it's not about you guys, because I have had a stepmom and a step-sister. So, but no, they were not like these people. But yeah, thank God. So, but a lot of a lot of that, the relationship dynamics, honestly, I've taken from just my experience as a so sure.

and being in in those homes with with kids kind of are young people trying to deal with the dynamics of their parents remarrying and introducing new people into their lives. And but it is kind of a wink to to Cinderella a little bit, you know. So that was intentional to like the wicked stepmom. I know that's very cliched, but, but Gloria and Kansas are. People live with it, though. Yeah, it's true. And there's actually an ID show called Wicked Stepmoms.

But they, like, actually kill people. So, but yeah, but Gloria and Candace are, I don't know if I'm allowed to cuss on this, so I won't. You can. But they have all their bitches. So. Yes. And I hate them. But, yeah, and I wanted to emphasize, too, because that happens in a lot of families where the dad, because he wants.

to kind of keep everything copacetic and and he sides with the with a new woman in his life over his daughter and and her mom was kind of her even though she um Kayla lost her mom in an early age but she was kind of the anchor of the family and she she's always kind of been searching for that connection and that love and that's why I think she holds on so hard to Zori and Zori to you because they both are kind of trauma bonded a lot. little bit so yeah yeah that's i yeah i've had a bit of a similar experience with fathers and stepmothers not to this extreme obviously same thing good but it is it's such a like it can be so disorienting when you're like why are you talking to me like this like you just came into my life

you barely know me like what's happening right now so yes just the unfairness of it all had me so angry at the beginning. Oh, I bet. And it's worse when if you if your mom like with Kayla, if you lose your mom and they try to step into that role. But even if you're if your mom is still living and they still try to kind of take over it, it's like stay in your lane. You're, you know, like stop. We're not there. So it's not that kind of relationship. But yeah, it's, it's, it's tough. But yeah. It is. Families are obviously like, uh, just rife. for weird dynamics, so then like shaking it up like that. It makes sense that those dynamics are difficult for people. What made you want to set it in the Antebellum South that they were

wedding crashing through there, basically? Well, I mean, I'm from the South, so I live in Kentucky. I lived in Tennessee for over 20 years, but my mom and my mom's family is from Tennessee. my dad's family's from Kentucky. So I, I am Southern, but I just, and I've said this before, I just think that the South is just the best place for thrillers. It's just, it's just a dark and disturbing place. I mean, it's a beautiful place to live. I mean, it is, it is gorgeous in the South hot, but, but there's just so much history and in the traditions that it's just, I mean, there's just so much sinister things that have happened here. And I just, it makes for a good, a good story, like a good thriller.

So that's why I wanted to set it in, in Georgia, because when I think of this out, I always think of Georgia. But the antebellum, that wasn't something that came right away. I just, I don't really remember where it came from, like the whole antebellum vibe. But I just, because I had written the wedding scene first, but it wasn't necessarily an antebellum-themed wedding. And then later, I added that because I thought that that would be a good twist because there are these two black women showing up at this racist wedding where people are pretending it's like a civil war, which is so stupid that I don't know why people romanticize that period of time. It's so weird. It's very weird. Yes.

And the fact that people are still doing it in 2020. It was so long ago. I just want to dress up. I'm like, guys. Right. No. Yes. Like, do you know what you're doing?

Yeah. I know. I think I, I think when I was reading the book, I mean, there was something coming back up about Blake lively. And so then I was seeing like, all of their like plantation wedding stuff. Yes. Oh, it's like this. Like stop having plantation weddings and stop wearing those outfits and pretending to be scarlet hair. It's just weird.

I know. So, yeah, but that's kind of, I just thought it would be kind of a good satire and look at the way that our society is with romanticizing that. But also there's a, it makes it more riskier for them because they're, you know, black. And I don't know about you, Kate, but I've been to some weddings where I've been the only black person. And it's just, first of all, I think people should have more diverse friends. If you only have one person of color in your friend group, that's, I don't know. Anyway.

Yeah. So, so, yeah. Like, I, for them, so they know right away that they need to, they need to leave because it's going to be very obvious. Because you know if you have. people of color and your friend group and if there's nobody else but you two then it's like what are you doing so but anyway yeah the although it's just making me think of something and it just like completely flew out of my mind like just completely left um i don't know i don't know where it went um oh it was when i read what you were what you were talking about the way that like sometimes

using that like obviously i don't know that white white writers need to be using it as a way to raise the stakes but when that stuff is kind of included it reminds me when i read the other black girl like the epigraph at the beginning is black history is horror or black history is horror i think that's what it or black horror um so it's like it is so grounded in like making things even scarier for your protagonists that's what that's what was making me think of for sure um but you do the book has this really fun balance of like satire there's social commentary going on and then there's obviously this like dark thriller thriller like the plot part of it is there as well um so how did you balance kind of having all those elements in there like the dark comedy the

commentary or is it just kind of like that's that's your voice that's your tone it's weird because I didn't mean to make it funny. Like, it wasn't supposed to be humorous. And I didn't feel like when I was writing it, that it was just the way that they, that's how they talk, you know. Yeah, that's what it is. Their friendship. Yeah. And then just that's her personality, how she sees things.

She has that kind of cynical voice. But then the feedback that I was getting when I was querying it and even during a submission, when it was out on submission was that it was. dark comedy or funny. I'm like and then the feedback from readers I'm like I didn't it's funny I didn't mean for it to be funny because I meant for it just to be like dark and twisted but then when I was you know when I read it now or when I was reading it through edits and stuff I'm like I guess it is kind of fun because there were parts of it and when I was writing it too I was cracking myself up but I was just cracking myself up just because of the way that Kayla her outlook on things but I wasn't trying to make it funny.

But yeah, but it's, but I think it does give a good balance because it is kind of dark humor. But then there's a lot of like, um, tenderness and vulnerability and, and heart to the story too, especially with their relationship and with Kayla's relationship with her dad. And just her, her wanting to be a better person. You kind of feel for her in that. And then you also kind of want to just shake her and like, What hell are you doing? But, but yeah.

So I, yeah, it just, it kind of just evolved that way. It would, none of it was intentional. But yeah, I did feel like I needed to, um, to balance everything out so that it wasn't too, too dark or too sad or are angry or all of those kinds of things. So yeah. Well, I'm like constantly talking about how I like ragey and, uh, but snarky, like snarky tones and like revenge plots. Oh, I love revenge plots. Definitely what I love.

Yes. I mean, I love that too. And I love unhinged, unlikable characters. I mean, unlikable characters are my absolute favorite. I don't, I think that if you're reading a book about someone that does the right things is nice and gushy and squishy and like a chocolate chip cookie, like that's boring. I want to read something about someone that's effed up and like has all these things happening to them and and maybe they do the right thing or maybe there, you know, maybe there's no redemption. Maybe they're just not a good person.

But I think that's interesting. So, yeah, but I know some people don't like that. I know. I know. There is some line in American fiction that came out last year that was something about how like authors, like, especially character driven. authors are like have the biggest empathy because they they they create a character that has even like deep flaws but they still care about them essentially and I feel like it does I remember when we saw that movie I was like that is such a good point because like kind of what I was

saying even at the beginning where it's like they are crashing weddings they're stealing stuff from people, but because we know, especially for Kayla, like what she's up against, you understand why they're making the choices they're making. And it's fun to kind of think, like, there is the part of fiction that is still fantasy when it's not literally like the genre fantasy. They're still a fun of like living through a crazy. Right. Yes. Like not taking it too seriously or understanding that you're just there for the ride. But yeah, yeah, I hope that people can, like you were saying, connect and understand that what her motives are for the things that she does. I mean, I know that eventually the motives are like, okay, you know. Right. Like we need to pivot.

But they're also, honestly, I was telling someone this, the other day or last week, that I purposely made them this age because I watch a lot of reality TV and the shows that I watch, like Love Island, Summer House, Vanderpump Rules, they're all in their mid to late 20s. And I feel like that that age, I mean, I don't want to shade anyone that, and I don't know how old you are, but like. I'm 32. Okay. Well, you're still in that same spot. But, okay.

But I feel like that's the time period where people. They don't always make the best mistakes. And then Kayla and Zori have been through some things in their past that kind of stunted, I think, that they're cognitive or whatever decision making. But they're not the brightest young women, you know, or else they wouldn't be stealing from weddings. So, yeah, so they don't make the best decisions. And I just hope that people understand that.

Like, you know, they're making dumb decisions because they're kind of dumb. But I love them. Oh, yeah. Like, I, you're not, like, I love that quote that talks about, like, when you're, like, 20 years old, you're kind, you're like a two-year-old adult, essentially. It's like, you're so barely coming into yourself in most cases. Obviously, there are people who have to, like, grow up really fast and whatever. But if that's not what's happening to you, like, you don't even, like, have a full grasp on

who you are, like, outside of how you grew up and, like, what happened to you yet. That's so true. I think it's way too easy to like for some people, for some reviewers, I think that's kind of what we're talking about, to read characters in that age range. And I've had it happen before too where sometimes I'm like, just just get out of this situation. Yeah. It doesn't make me hate them, but it's like sometimes it is harder or it's a good reminder to be like, no, being in your 20s is actually like really tumultuous and confusing. And you don't know like what you're, you don't even know your values are. necessarily yet. Right. And you probably think that you're making the best decision for yourself at the time. But then when you, even for me, when I look back, especially at some of the men that I dated, gross. Like, you realize that it was just, it, it wasn't, it wasn't smart. So, you know, you have time to grow up and mature and reflect. So, you know. Yeah. Yep. You just, you just don't know yet. That's why we, I'm trying to keep it vague. But, uh, I added a lot of like podcasts and content for, uh, entrepreneurs, I guess is what I'll say.

A lot of realtors, but it's so interesting. My husband and I were just talking about 20 year olds who's like approach to the internet is giving like life advice and you're like, I love you and maybe you're going to have good life advice in the future, but you're too young to give life advice right now. Yeah. No. What is that saying that people always say you still have like simulac or formula on your breath or Like, like, yeah, move along.

Yeah. So, and then like the other, the other theme that's kind of going on or like the question, like one of the questions is how well do you know your friends is like a big thing as well. So without getting into spoilers, obviously, did you always know that there's going to be some stuff about Zori that would be difficult for their relationship? actually no like I said before like the story when I started writing it was going a different way and then it just kind of evolved in something else like they were actually going to be like in step with each other like they were both going to be Zorries but so it it switched somewhere

And I just kind of shifted and focused on on her being the kind of one that Kayla starts to side-eye a little bit. So, yeah. And I don't know. I think that in every friendship, like in my friendship with my best friend, I'm more of a Kayla just, I'm more quiet and reserved. I've always been like that. And then my best friend, I mean, she's not on Zori's level. But she's always been more outgoing and, you know, someone that I wish that I could be more like as far as socially, because I'm just very introverted and she's very extroverted. But I think that when you have friends like that, you balance each other out a little bit.

So it kind of works. And sometimes it doesn't. That's true. But most of the time introverts need their little, what does it say, like you need an extrovert to come adopt you? taking places. Yes. It does work out pretty well if you can do that most of the time. Are you an introvert or you're probably an introvert? I'm very introverted. Yeah. Oh yeah. So I love doing I love I love I love bookstagram. Bookstagram like changed everything. It really did though. I was like wait is that hyperbole where like in some ways it's like so introverts

recharge or it's about like where you get. your recharge versus like extroverts need to be with people. So it's like I I spend a lot of time reading. So it's like that part I really love. But this part has helped me like understand because I've been doing for like four years now. I still get nervous because you never know like if you're going to be able to talk easily with someone or not. But it has been like, oh, there's like that introverted part where like if you're talking about something you both really love, which is like books and reading and stories, it's easy to. be extroverted for a better term.

That makes sense. And I would never think that you're introverted at all. You give extrovert vibes all over the place. So, yeah, you're doing great. It has been a whole thing for me. Like, there has been more transformation in the last four years. So I'm not surprised because, like, sometimes I even think about that, too. When we first got married, it was like, oh, my husband is very much an extrovert.

I'm very much an introvert. And now he's like, you like go to more events than I do now. And I'm like, it's because I found the bookish people. There you go. Yeah, I will be extroverted for books. It's kind of what I was saying, I think. Yeah. So there's obviously like the fun road trip element too.

Because they're, I mean, they're just kind of like traveling from wedding to wedding. I'm assuming since you don't plot, did you necessarily know that basically? basically that the road trip was going to help, like, structure the story? Or did that just kind of happen as you were writing it? I, well, because, again, like, it's kind of like a, um, gives those strong film and Louise vibe. So the road trip was going to be like an important, important part of their, their journey and transformation. So as, as it evolves and as they keep running into, you know, situation after situation, then there's more. more pieces of Zory and Kayla that are peeled off and kind of makes for a crazier dynamic.

So yeah, that was definitely in my thought process with the road trip. I didn't know where they were going to, I knew that they were going to end up at a certain place, but I didn't know that they were going to end up further than that. So anyway. Yeah, that makes sense. did you was the one of them that you enjoyed writing i mean you're not we're not like in their both of their heads but was the one that you had more fun like writing their like dialogue or was it just fun i'm assuming it was also just fun writing them both together i honestly

and this is probably true for most writers i like writing the the villain so to speak more so not that But not that Zori's a villain, but I liked writing her, I liked writing her the best. So she was just so, she's just so fun. And again, because I identify more with Kayla, I could live out my extrovert itself, the three, Zori. And I pictured the whole time I was writing Kiki Palmer's face and voice as Zory. Oh my gosh, that was who came to mind for me for her. It might have been because, or no.

I don't know. I listened to her memoir a couple months, one of her books, a couple, or like a month before. And I was like, she's writing me of Kiki Bar. I swear I wrote Zory as her the whole time I told my agent that that's just who that's just who the voice everything and I was just writing as King King Paulmer. Oh, no it was. And it was like one of those days that she did was Cizza. Like I think that's why, because I was like thinking of that movie too. That's what it was. Yes. And my that came.

My agent had sent a clip of that trailer. I think it was at the end of last year to me. in my editor. And because I think it came out in January and I was like, oh, no. Like, that sounds like my t-shirt part and everything. I'm like, how does that happen? Did they steal? I'm just kidding. But anyway, but then I was like, well, crap, now everybody's going to think that I wrote that book based on that. But even though. It's still very different. But like, I think it was like the like road trip and like kind of toxic besties vibes. Yes. And I was like, well, if I ever get lucky enough to have this made into something and she's not going to want to do it because she already did that.

So like, man. So anyway. Maybe she will. We'll just put out the good vibes for it. That's so funny. I forgot that I even like I wouldn't have even remembered that if you hadn't brought it up. Do you, it sounds like you also read a lot as well. So I typically do ask at the end if there's anything you've read recently that you've loved.

I recently read Julie Chan is not dead or is dead what's yes I messed that up is dead yes yeah yeah I just yeah I read that and um again I love an unhinged character and story so I liked that book a lot I loved that book it was so yeah another snarky one for all of my snarky fans like yeah voice can like carry me through a whole book just kind of like the street of it. It's true. I like somebody that's that's sarcastic and cynical and just makes that whole plot was was wild. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. So yeah. So that's what I just been. And then I just, I don't know if you've read if you read love letters to a serial killer, but I read that last year. Oh yeah, last year. But her new book, matchmaking for psychopaths came out and I just got that on Tuesday. So, so I'm going to finish.

I'm going to start S.A. Cosby's King of Ash's, because everybody's reading that, of course. And then I'm going to start the matchmaking for psychopaths. So those are the two that I'm really excited about. My friend Gare really loved matchmaking. I'm seeing like all good reviews about matchmaking for psychopaths. I haven't read it yet. But that's wild that you said King of Ashes because when you were talking about how the South is such a good place for thrillers. I was, I think I listened to King of Ashes right before I read yours. And obviously all, for you who doesn't know, all of S.A. Cosby's books pretty much are kind of like southern noirs. Some of them are more noir than others. But King of Ashes is so good. I think, I think it's, it is my favorite of his so far. I just finished all the sinners bleed like three

days ago and that one was so good too but i think king of asht is my favorite so you're excited to start it like every i mean it's got it has good reviews all over the place and every time i hear him in a in an interview he just always sounds so so sweet and humble and he's like this big time author when i went to voucher con last year is that how you say it or is it butcher con i think so I've always wondered. Yeah, I never, I feel like I never pronounce it correctly. Anyway, that was my first time going because it was, it was in Nashville and that's just like right down the road. So I went and I and I passed him in the hallway, but I didn't recognize him because he kind of reminds me in my, he looks like my cousin.

Oh, really? My cousin Robert. But I was like, oh. And then I didn't, I didn't know who he was really. And then I was like, oh my gosh. I passed him in the hallway. And he was talking to the guy that wrote Mystic River, you know, just two big time famous authors just walking around. Right.

That's what a lot of people say about him, too, because I was interviewing someone named Rob Hart, who just had the Medusa Protocol come out. And he's friends with him or like they've, I think they're both in New York. I don't know if I say how he lives in New York. Anyway. I think he lives in Virginia, maybe. I thought he might still be there. But Rob was saying it's like it's so cool that he's still just like so humble and he's just so easy to talk to. So like everyone feels that way.

I love writers. Well, I love anybody that's like that. You reach a point of success, but you're not so stuck up your ass that you think and pretentious. Because there are some writers I've been to like conferences and stuff. And I like to go to the panels and listen because it gives me energy and inspirations to hear from other writers. And there are writers that are like, I want all of my books to give people a message. And I'm like, well, that sounds boring. I don't want to read a book and try to find.

I just want to be entertained. So, you know, it's just, I don't know. But I hope I never like that. I know. Well, and what you were saying about the pretentious part, that's kind of what I think sometimes I enjoy so much more. like i i've been reading more genres this year than i used to but like i'm at 80 percent of it is still at least some mystery thriller element um but i feel like the both the readers and the writers don't seem to be pretentious which is nice because there's like this whole other version of being

like a bookish person that's about being like smart and knowing bigger words and all of that and i'm like that was what i was probably around more growing up and it's like now i'm like, oh, like, we can all just have fun. Like, we don't have to turn this into, like, an intelligence thing. Right. Yes. Not that there aren't smart thrillers. There are.

It's just like, I feel like the vibe is nice in this. Yeah, I do too. I like those kind of stories that just don't take themselves too seriously and writers that don't take them too seriously. They get the plot, you know. It's just about, you know, enjoying yourself and entertaining. And, you know, if you can teach something in your writing, that's great. But maybe that's not necessarily the intention.

It's just kind of to entertain. Yeah. Yep. I agree. Where can people follow you to stay up to date? I am on Instagram and threads. I don't really post that much on threads. I kind of just go on threads to look at all the drama because it's always a juicy on there.

I'm just like retweeting on there or whatever, reposting all the time. I guess that took Twitter's place. or whatever, but it's pretty interesting. But it's at Christina Dotson writes. Nice. That's easy to remember. I'll put that in the show notes, but otherwise, thanks for talking with me about it. Thank you for having me, Kate. It was really fun.

I appreciate this so much.