Serial Killer Support Group: Debut Thriller

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Serial Killer Support Group: Debut Thriller

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.Serial Killer Support Group

Serial Killer Support Group

After her sister is murdered, a woman infiltrates a support group for serial killers in this biting queer feminist debut thriller, perfect for fans of The Final Girl Support Group and My Sister, the Serial Killer.When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect justice from the hands of the police department. With the investigation already dying its own slow death, Cyra follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward.Using insider information (don’t ask), Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life.Proving herself to them comes at a cost, but it’s one Cyra is willing to pay in the name of revenge.But the dangerous men in the group aren’t the only obstacle in Cyra’s path for vengeance, and the further Cyra descends into the deadly world of serial killers, the harder it becomes to hold on to her own humanity. This dark, witty debut novel is a cunning homage to women’s wrongs that will have you wondering exactly how many monsters walk unseen among us.To purchase your copy, click here.Interview with Serial Killer Support Group Author Saratoga Schaefer

Serial Killer Support Group centers on Cyra Griffin. What would you like readers to know about her?

Cyra was a fascinating character to write because she’s pretty emotionally closed off and guarded, and from the beginning, I had absolutely no control over her. Getting into her head, understanding who she was and what she wanted, was exciting.

Cyra and I are very different, but we do share several commonalities; we are both the eldest sibling, we are both sober, and we both suffer from panic attacks. It was important for me to portray those three things as realistically as possible because I think it’s important for readers to see versions of themselves represented in genre fiction. I think people will have strong feelings about Cyra as she acts a little bit like a litmus test for the reader about where they stand on topics like justice and revenge.

Serial Killer Support Group is about more than one serial killer. What kind of research did you do to create those characters?

I wanted to create characters—and killers—who felt realistic and also varied. I didn’t want the men in the support group to feel like the same character cut and pasted six different times. A specific type of serial killer tends to get the most attention in the media, and I wanted to show alternate versions while at the same time, creating characters who still felt human.

Because that’s the thing—it would be easy to frame these men as cartoonishly evil, but in real life, they rarely appear like that, especially if they aren’t caught. I did a lot of research on the different types of serial killers (visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic, power/control), and I also did a lot of research on female serial killers, since Cyra pretends to be one in order to integrate herself into the group.

Seeing the difference between male serial killers and female serial killers—and how the media treats them—was very fascinating and made it into the book.

Serial Killer Support Group investigates the theme of revenge. How do you feel about revenge? Are you someone who wants to even the score?

The idea of revenge and vigilantism is the impetus of this whole book: What happens when we take matters into our own hands? What happens when our idea of justice doesn’t line up with the kind of justice outlined by the law?

I don’t think there’s a clear-cut solution, and that’s the point. Some may say violence is never the answer; there is always another path. And others might say that’s not true. I think there are lots of arguments to be made for whether or not things like vigilantism are useful or problematic. There’s something to be said for it being situational as well. It’s hard to put a blanket statement on something that has the potential for complexity and evolution based on personal experiences or societal impact.

Tell us about your road to publication for Serial Killer Support Group:

Serial Killer Support Group is nowhere near close to the first novel I’ve written, but it’s the one that got me traditionally published.

I wrote it during a tumultuous time in my life; I was back in the querying trenches, I was planning a cross-state move, and I was healing from some traumatic personal stuff. This story became an outlet. It led to me signing with my now-agent, and it’s been amazing to see how my life has changed in the year since I’ve been able to announce its upcoming publication.

In addition to writing twisty thriller novels, you also write poetry. Tell us about that aspect of your writing:

I started writing poetry as a child because my public elementary school had a yearly poetry “magazine” the whole school would participate in. I am dyslexic, so I always struggled with words and spelling. Poetry taught me how to embrace writing and love reading, which translated to a love of books and stories.

I had a few poems published when I was a teenager, and then returned to poetry after I got sober in 2019, self-publishing a chapbook about recovery called Beautiful After Breaking. I don’t write much poetry these days as I’m focused on bigger ideas and novels, but it’s a big part of my writing history, and I’m grateful for my mother and our family friend Connie, who is no longer with us, for instilling in me a love of poems.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently in what I call the “pre-production phase” of a new thriller that I’m really excited to write, but in the meantime, I’ve got several secrets I hope to reveal soon! I’ve migrated into the horror genre, a natural progression due to my love for all things twisted and dark. I have one horror novel in particular about motherhood and social media that I think people are going to want to sink their teeth into.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

There are so many things I could say to aspiring writers and so many tips that have helped me along the way, but I think the most important thing is to find a writing path that works for you.

Just like in sobriety, there is never one exact journey you must follow to achieve success. There are options available to you: indie, trad, self-publishing, etc. Figure out your values, goals, and techniques. Read a ton. Try different things. Don’t get too attached; if something doesn’t work, start over. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and move forward. Find a community or a friend you trust to read your work. Make sure to leave time for rest and mental health maintenance.

But most of all, write what you want, when you want. You don’t need to write every day or write to market if that’s not what works for you. It’s your path—do what makes sense for your life.

Great advice!Author Pet Corner!

Cricket, female calico cat (11) – loves cheese and making herself extremely comfortable

Sloopy, female mixed breed dog (5) – neurotic shelter rescue who thinks she’s a lap dog despite weighing 40 lbs.

Serial Killer Support Group Author Saratoga Schaefer

Serial Killer Support Group Saratoga Schaefer has a background in marketing, content creation, film, and art and has been writing stories about murder for as long as they can remember.