Serial Killers – JULIA MCDERMOTT

They may sound unrelated, yet on Saturday February 28, I’ll be speaking about both at this year’s Amelia Island Book Festival, held at Fernandina Beach Middle School in Fernandia Beach, Florida — and I’ll connect the dots.

That morning at 10:00, I will participate in a panel titled “Demystifying Today’s Publishing Options” moderated by Linda R. Sexton, author of The Branches We Cherish: An Open Adoption Memoir. Then, that afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30, I’ll appear along with other members of writers’ organization Amelia Island Writers, a chapter of Florida Writers Association, to talk about my upcoming thriller The Barbie Killer and sign copies of my other novels.

Here’s a short description of my new novel, which will be released on March 31 and is currently available (and “sale-priced”) on Preorder in Kindle format on Amazon:

“A job transfer uproots Dolly Garner’s family from Atlanta to the sleepy, small town of Huntington, Kansas, where safety seems like a given. But weeks after their arrival, a violent crime shocks the community, and the town’s dark secret is out: A serial killer lives in their midst and has been preying on the women of Huntington for decades. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can’t trust anyone in this town. Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.”

If Kindle isn’t your thing (or even if it is), please attend my Book Launch at Story & Song Bookstore and Center for Arts and Culture on Tuesday March 31 at 4:00, where I will discuss the novel and answer questions about it. The event is complimentary, and wine and snacks will be served.

Back to the festival, where I will appear on the panel along with authors Linda R. Sexton, Jane Buyers, Ralph DeFalco, and Tom Hitchcock to give you the skinny on the publishing industry and describe our own paths to publication. We will talk frankly about the pros and cons of today’s publishing options, offer clarity and insights, and share the lessons we have learned along the way. Don’t miss it!

The official book launch of my new thriller The Barbie Killer will be on its release date, Tuesday March 31, 2026, at Story & Song Bookstore and Center for Arts and Culture in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Please join me there that day at 4 pm for a discussion about the novel and to pick up a signed copy. The event is complimentary, and wine and snacks will be served.

When Dolly Garner’s husband is transferred to the small town of Huntington, Kansas, she hates the thought of uprooting their young family and starting over a thousand miles away. But after a year of living on savings and credit cards after Tim’s previous lay-off, refusing to move is out of the question. So they sell their home, pack their bags, and focus on the positives: wholesome Midwestern values, a lower cost of living, and less crime.

But Dolly’s first impressions are not good. The people seem standoffish, unfriendly, and tight-lipped. The women she meets are materialistic and obsessed with status. More unsettling, Dolly learns that years ago, a brutal murder took place on the property where her family’s home now stands, and the case was never solved.

When a violent crime shocks the community, the town secret is out: A serial killer is on the loose and preying on the women of Huntington. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can’t trust anyone in this town.

Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.

What happens when a family moves to a Midwestern town where no one breathes a word about a serial murderer on the loose? THE BARBIE KILLER

My next thriller will be published by Red Adept Publishing early next year. Inspired by true events—much more so than any of my previous novels—this book took longer to write than they did. As its release date approaches, I couldn’t be more excited or prouder of it. Here’s an update about what’s been happening and where things stand:

Several weeks ago, I finished working with my Content Editor to revise and polish the novel. This collaborative process involved focusing on elements like pacing and plot twists, and reimagining key scenes, characters and their relationships. Because of my editor’s spot on suggestions and expert direction, the finished story is much stronger and more compelling.

Then I was contacted by a talented cover artist at Red Adept, who sought specific input from me about the cover design. She explained the entire process, asked for my ideas and preferences, and soon shared a draft cover design for my review. The final cover hasn’t been decided yet, but I look forward to seeing it and sharing it with you.

The next step is the Line Edit, a detailed process to polish the prose and eliminate any errors. That process will be followed by proofreading, the last editorial step before publication. I’ll share more updates as the release date draws closer, including cover reveals, sneak previews, and all the details about launch events. Stay tuned!

Category: Serial Killers

A small town’s dark secret, and the truth about publishing

Book Launch of The Barbie Killer

My Upcoming Novel Moves Closer to Publication