Interview With Author Justine Sanders
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Gary, Indiana, and my mother later moved our family to rural Mississippi, where my brothers and I filled our days with outdoor adventures, mischief, and the kind of childhood that teaches you to be tough. When we later moved into the city, I had to learn a new kind of survival, and those moments, both the hard ones and the sweet ones, still live in me and show up in my stories.
I’ve always been curious and disciplined. I graduated as valedictorian, earned medals in Math and English, and studied biology (B.S., M.S., Jackson State University), medical laboratory technology (A.A.S., Hinds Junior College), nursing (B.S.N., Mississippi College), and nurse anesthesiology (M.S., Xavier University). That journey led me to my career as a CRNA, where I learned precision under pressure and how quickly life can change in a single moment.
Licensed as an APRN and RN in multiple states, I’m active in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Crystal Dove), the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN), and the Small Business Association (SBA).
Now retired from my CRNA career, I channel the high stakes and precision of my anesthesiology career and lifelong passion for unraveling murder mysteries directly into my writing. Years spent making split-second, life-or-death decisions infuses the authentic tension, psychological depth, and realism that pulse through my fiction.
I spend my time reading and researching as I write my next suspense novel, one designed to keep readers hooked to the last page. I’m drawn to the darkness beneath ordinary lives, where every truth has a price and every secret is a fuse waiting to ignite. I write layered, clue-rich plots that invite readers to connect the dots and test their instincts alongside my characters.
Living in Brandon, Mississippi, I carry those early childhood memories like a compass: equal parts warmth and hard-won strength. My son lives out of state, and I’m a proud grandmother of three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. Even across the miles, they keep me inspired.
So far, I’ve written two books—one is currently in publication, and another is ready for the next step.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is An Eternity to Burn in Hell—and the spark came from my obsession with true crime, documentaries, and the questions real cases leave behind.
When I watch a case unfold, I immediately wonder, What if one crucial piece is missing? I’ve binge-watched shows like Making a Serial Killer, Swamp Murders, and Deadly Affairs, and the aftermath of those real stories often sparks a fictional one. When I’m craving lean, page-turning suspense, films like Strange Harvest and The Exorcist remind me how dread can build quietly—until you’re hooked and reading faster than you planned.
Winning medals in Math and English shaped how I write. Math taught me structure: pacing, cause and effect, and twists that add up. English helped me find my voice, from scene-setting to dialogue to tension. I love where craft and creativity meet.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Absolutely. I treat ideas like they’re fleeting witnesses. If a line, a scene, or a twist shows up, I write it down immediately. I’ve even woken up in the middle of the night with an “aha” moment, reached for my laptop (yes, it’s in bed with me), and started writing before the thought disappears.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The authors who have shaped my writing journey continue to inspire me, even as I explore their other works. For classic suspense and supernatural tension, Stephen King's Misery delivers an unforgettable study in obsession and isolation. James Patterson's Kiss the Girls offers relentless pacing and gripping twists that keep you guessing. Truman Capote’s Other Voices, Other Rooms reveals his talent for atmospheric storytelling and complex characters, while Thomas Harris’s Red Dragon weaves psychological intrigue and chilling suspense into a story that lingers. Each of these books has taught me something new about crafting tension, developing memorable voices, and keeping readers turning pages late into the night.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on The Celestial Penitent: Angels Kill, a psychological thriller with a cosmic edge. The killer targets those who escaped justice, either through bribes, loopholes, or a lack of evidence. Each ritualized killing is a warning, and each sign is a sermon. For the villagers, these murders become messages, an omen that judgment is coming. The question on everyone’s mind: is the murderer dispensing justice—or transforming into something far more horrifying?
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best approach is a two-part system: promotional newsletters to spark discovery, and Amazon to convert that attention into long-term readers. On the newsletter side, I lean into genre-focused promo newsletters and newsletter swaps—because suspense readers are already there looking for their next binge. On the Amazon side, I keep my Amazon Author Central page updated, optimize my book pages (blurb, keywords/categories, and a strong opening sample), and I use Kindle Unlimited to lower the barrier for new readers to try my work. When those pieces work together, each promo becomes a door that leads readers straight into my catalog.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Perseverance beats talent when talent quits. Keep learning, keep working, keep submitting and keep trying, even on the days it feels like nothing is happening.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You may not become a sensation overnight but if you stop writing, you guarantee it. So, write anyway. Write until the right readers find you.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m in the mood for a fresh, page-turning thriller so I’d recommend The Storm by Rachel Hawkins. It’s got that perfect mix of atmosphere, buried secrets, and a true-crime thread that pulls you deeper the closer the hurricane gets. I love stories that tighten like a noose and I’m always sharing the kind of reads (and sneak peeks from my own work) that keep me inspired.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The next chapter is getting my last three books out into the world because those stories are ready for readers. And in between drafts and deadlines, I’m happily keeping my hands busy with the things I love, including home projects (right now, I’m painting my garage and kitchen).
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Four books, because if I’m stranded, I’m bringing stories that can survive the sun, the silence, and the long nights: The Shining (Stephen King) for classic, icy dread; Along Came a Spider (James Patterson) for relentless momentum; In Cold Blood (Truman Capote) for a true-crime masterclass; and Silence of the Lambs (Thomas Harris) for psychological cat-and-mouse tension that never gets old.
Author Websites and Profiles
Justine Sanders Amazon Profile
Justine Sanders’s Social Media Links
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