Jennifer Vido: How did your real-life experiences inspire your new release, THE WIDOW? Kaira Rouda: My husband, who had never run for political office before, was elected to congress in 2018 when he upset a 30-year incumbent. The two years we spent serving the country and learning about Washington, DC, inspired the story for The Widow. I also learned about the tradition of The Widow’s Mandate, where spouses step in and fill out the remainder of their husband’s term if they die in office. Statistically speaking, for women who aspire to serve in congress, the best husband has been a dead husband. That’s a great premise for a suspense writer.   Jen: What impact do Jody and Martin Asher have on the political landscape in DC? Kaira: They are senior members of the house, although Martin’s power has been slipping of late. Jody is still the queen of the spouses, and she knows it. She is very concerned that Martin’s behavior is going to ruin everything.   Jen: What happens with Martin that might threaten the couple’s future in politics? Kaira: Well, Martin is most likely having an affair with a young staffer. Jody doesn’t care about the affair, per…

Jennifer Vido: What inspired your new release, SOMEBODY’S HOME? Kaira Rouda: Actually, although it doesn’t mention the pandemic, the idea was inspired by those lockdown times early in the pandemic where home felt like the only safe place to be. And then I thought, but what if it isn’t. Let’s talk about Julie Jones. What’s happening in her life that sparks a new beginning? Julie realizes her daughter, Jess, is about to leave home for college and she is running out of time to find a real connection between them. Her marriage is a sham, and she is longing for a more genuine life. It’s time for a fresh start: A new home for herself and her daughter. Who is Tom Dean, and what’s his connection to the house Julie and her daughter desire to call home? Tom Dean is a lost twenty-something. He and his father, Doug, are estranged, his father’s wife, his stepmom Sandi, has tried to reach him without success. When Sandi and Doug sell the family home, Tom feels the last connection to his real mom slip away. Tom decides he won’t move from the carriage house in the back, despite the fact the new owners…