Hey there, this is Erica Kelly, and you're listening to Southern Fried True Crime.

Today we have a special treat, best-selling novelist and crime writer Laura Litman is on the show.

Since the publication of her first novel in 1997, Laura has won virtually every major

accolade awarded to American crime writers, including the Edgar Award, the Agatha Award,

the Nero Wolf Award, and the Quill Award.

But first she was a reporter for 20 years, including 12 at the Baltimore Sun.

Laura began writing novels while working full-time and published seven books about accidental

PI, Tess Monahan, before leaving to write novels full-time in 2001.

That series now has 12 books and is still going strong.

Lately she has earned much acclaim for her standalone novels.

After I'm gone, I'd know you anywhere, what the dead know, and now sunburned, which

has gotten rave reviews for turning the Noir genre on its head.

The paperback comes out today, and I'm telling you, if you're looking for a page turner

to get a sunburn with at the beach, you cannot go wrong with Laura Litman's sunburn.

Sunburn is Laura's take on the modern Noir novel, and a small beach town near the Maryland

Shore, two lovers begin a passionate summer affair, and also a cad mouse game that will lead

to betrayal and murder.

Sun is playing a long game, but which one?

Laura was born in Atlanta but grew up in Baltimore.

After college, she returned in 1989 and has lived their sense with her family.

She also keeps a home in New Orleans.

We had a fun chat about her southern roots, her literary inspirations, the feminist

...