Jennifer Graeser Dornbush: No One Remains Anonymous in Small Towns

Jennifer Graeser Dornbush works as a screenwriter, author, speaker, and forensic specialist. She has developed film and TV projects, is the author of numerous books, and frequently speaks around the world on crime fiction and forensics. She and her family divide their time between Upper Michigan and Arizona. Learn more at jenniferdornbush.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

In this interview, Jennifer discusses the personal connection she has in writing her new mystery novel, Frozen Lives, her advice for other writers, and more.

Name: Jennifer Graeser Dornbush
Literary agent: Julie Gwinn, Seymour Agency
Book title: Frozen Lives
Publisher: Blackstone
Release date: October 29, 2024
Genre/category: Mystery/thriller
Previous titles: The Coroner; Secret Remains; Last One Alive; Hole in the Woods; Hotel California; Thriller; Forensic Speak
Elevator pitch: The Coroner’s Daughter is a mystery/thriller series inspired by the author’s forensic experiences growing up as the daughter of a medical examiner in a small Michigan community. The series centers around Dr. Emily Hartford, an estranged daughter of a coroner who returns home to care for her dying father, and is thrust back into the forensic world. As Emily is reunited with the people and past she left behind, comes to realize that home is where the bodies are. Think: Bones meets Sweet Home Alabama.

In book 4 of the series, Frozen Lives, Emily solidifies her role as coroner when she puzzles out a madman’s chilling machinations, risking everything dear to her to end his icy chilling spree.

Bookshop | Amazon
[WD uses affiliate links.]

Short, practical answer: I was under contract to expand a two-book series to five books. This is book four in the series.

Longer answer: I’ve been working on this story since 2002 when I first penned it as a feature-length film script. This idea came to me, like many, as a “Why if....?”

What if the daughter of a small-town coroner had to reluctantly come back to her small hometown to take over her father’s medical examiner post?

The seed of this idea sprouted from my own experiences growing up as a coroner’s daughter in a small north Michigan community. Later, I moved to Chicago and pursued not-forensics. But I got to thinking, What if I had followed in dad’s footsteps? And what if I was forced to return home to a place where I left behind a heap of secrets and pain and broken relationships? To be clear, in real life, I did not have these things. But they made for an interesting premise and from there, The Coroner’s Daughter was born, starting with book one, The Coroner, based on that first script I wrote.

I started sketching out the idea for Frozen Lives in May 2023 when I was living in France for a couple months. Publication is now 18 months later. The core idea never changed because I do a lot of pre-planning. But these initial ideas, like a bottle of fine Bordeaux red, deepened and blended with new ideas as I went through many drafts on my own and with my amazing team at Blackstone.

I think this title was greatly improved by the fine and exacting story eyes of my editor, Dana. I always learn from his wise notes. He helped shaped parts that became made it more thrilling and page turning. He helped me give it that, “I had to stay up util 3:00am to finish this book!” element.

There are always moments during the writing process when the plot or character does something I didn’t plan for. And usually, it’s much better than my original plan for them. I can’t explain how that happens. I think it’s part muse, part miracle. I love it when that happens. It’s these moments that make a drab writing day suddenly become mystical.

There are some great themes throughout the series…

Forgiveness.
Justice.
Resolving your past.
Reuniting with Family.
Coming home.
Finding true love.

Also, one of the things I love about this series that I get to show how death investigation and forensics works in a rural area. In reality, as in Emily’s world, resources in rural areas are often limited and different than they are in big cities. I’m not saying they are not professional. They are. But limited staffing, equipment, education, experience, and budget are all factors into how effectively or efficiently an investigation can be done.

My other favorite thing about this series has to do with exploring how smaller communities react when one they face murder, and other crimes. No one remains anonymous in small towns. Everyone plays a role. Everyone is affected. Everyone has an opinion and a stake. Character actions and reactions are often driven largely because of the small town setting they find themselves in.

Oh dear. I couldn’t keep it to just one.

There are three things I wish I knew when I first started writing:

1. How long things take!!! I wish I had started out with more patience. I still get impatient and anxious at time. I want things to happen sooner, faster, better!

2. Not to be so hard on myself, but I guess that's human nature and my stubborn work ethic. It’s OK to push, but you also have to play. Trust in the process and the journey.

3. Focus on Being Thankful! Have daily gratefulness sessions with yourself. It keeps you sane and it helps you to see how blessed you really are.

There are three best practices that keep me writing.

1. I remind myself just how far I’ve come in this journey. I take stock in my successes and celebrate the big and small ones. A day well written … or a contract well earned.

2. I reward myself often. Trips to France are the biggies. Most of the time, it’s just with a good coffee, yoga session, or wine time!

3. I try to always remember to thank and celebrate the people who champion me. And I try to pay it forward whenever I can champion someone else.