An Honest Look with Nancy Tayler Rosenberg

At times I am so thoroughly blown away by being able to blog about books and interview the authors.  There are some authors who just wow me with their ability to create a scene, share an emotion or reflect a thought. Nancy Taylor Rosenberg is at the top of that list for me in the mystery/thriller genre. I am thrilled to have her here today with us:

Judge Lily Forrester is truly a dynamic and wonderfully amazing character who has survived insurmountable odds to be where she is today.  Are there certain aspects of her personality and character that you feel a particular kinship or closeness to?

 I think Lily is the closest to me of all my characters. She is strong and fierce when it comes to protecting her loved ones, but sensitive and introspective.  Lily was molested as a child by her grandfather (which isn't explained in MY LOST DAUGHTER) and later raped alongside her daughter. I went through the similar  ordeals, but not as violent as what happened to Lily and my daughter wasn't involved. My grandfather was a pedophile and my sister was also molested. The rape was more or less a date rape. I never reported it because I thought it was my fault. I got in the car with the boy. Of course, I didn't give him consent to rape me. Back then, though, many women and children felt guilty. Maybe they wore seductive clothing or teased the boy. I think society thought we were partially to blame as well. Thank God, things have changed and these type of insidious crimes are not ignored or locked in a closet anymore.      

Was there a specific case or situation that became your inspiration for My Lost Daughter?  

In 1991, I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. They came to get me in an ambulance and took me out of the hospital with a blanket over my head. I later realized I had been kidnapped by an unscrupulous and corrupt private mental hospital who received kickbacks from various ER doctors for referring patients. The only requirement was that they had insurance. When I got to the hospital, they  administered dangerous, mind altering drugs.

 I was restricted from making phone calls to my family and friends, and they were in turn told that I refused to see them. Since I was a probation officer at the time,. I was horrified that something like this could happen and that a patient in a mental hospital had less rights than a prisoner. The hospital was later investigated by the attorney general's office for what they called "patient snatching." At the time, unknown to me when I was kidnapped, this was common practice throughout  Texas .  

Oh, and I did suffer a mild heart attack, even though neither the medical hospital or the mental hospital checked me, probably thinking I was too young and too thin.  Several years later, I once again went to the ER with chest pains (making sure I had plenty of muscle around to make certain they didn’t kidnap me) and the doctor told me one of the arteries in my heart was completely blocked. I'm convinced this is when it happened as I have never been so terrified as I was in that hospital.   

Now that Shana has become a young woman (and without giving away spoilers here) will we get to see more of a friendship develop between mother and daughter in future books? Will we be seeing more of Shana rather than Lily or still both? (As a die-hard fan I’m so anxious to know!) 

I personally love Lily, but plan to feature Shana in future books as well as other on-going characters such as FBI Agent Mary Stevens.

Recently, Lisa Unger shared a story on a guest post for me about reading different books & authors who re-charge her ‘writing batteries.’  Do you have any particular classics or recent books you’ve read that re-charge your ‘writing batteries?

Martin Amis is my favorite author. His novel London Fields is a masterpiece. The writing alone is beautiful, the story is intriguing, the characters are amazingly defined and fully realized. And you laugh. He's not only brilliant, he has the ability to delight. Now that is a true talent.   

 Can you share a brief teaser about the latest project you are working on?

I wanted to do something different this time. The book is called THE HEALING and is about a young girl who has terminal cancer and a mysterious young man who comes out of nowhere. I wrote an inspirational novel years ago called California Angel, which did fairly well. I think it would have done better if people hadn't been mad at me for not writing another thriller.

 I still have my copy of California Angel from many years ago, and I loved it! 


I was a huge fan of yours before Ms. Rosenberg, but now, I am simply awed and humbled. I want to sit with you for hours and soak up your wisdom, frankness and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.


My review of My Lost Daughter
Official Site for Nancy Taylor Rosenberg