Q&A with Susan Moore

 

Photo by Cristina Massei

 

 

Susan Moore is the author of the new novel The Widow's Web. Her other books include the Nat Walker Trilogy.

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Widow’s Web, and how did you create your character Anna Jones?

 

A: The Widow’s Web  was inspired by my personal experiences of living and working in technology in Northern California for many years. I wanted to explore its unique culture in a fictional, dramatic way. Silicon Valley is such dynamic world, with its cutting-edge innovations and high-stakes competition.

 

I think Anna is in many ways a part of me - a UK-born woman who moved to California. Her exposure to the upper echelons of San Francisco society echoes where I existed for a while, and some elements of her dot com journey were mine too. The darker experiences she goes through, however, are purely fictional. 

Q: As you noted, the novel is set in the tech world--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: The tech world setting plays a vital role in The Widow’s Web; it fuels characters and plot, while allowing me to explore timely themes with authenticity from my industry experience.

 

Being married to a serial tech entrepreneur, I have a constant source of inspiration and insight into this dynamic, ever-changing landscape.

Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: Great question! I thought I did, but during the last third of the book the characters started taking on lives of their own, beyond how I’d originally outlined them. Navigating their inner worlds of action and reaction drove the book to a very different ending than I’d anticipated. 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

A: I hope readers gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the technology industry and how those at the top wield the power. There’s definitely a universal need for people to be able to recognize who steers the industry, especially in the age of AI.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: The sequel to The Widow’s Web. I’m already underway with it, and enjoying how it is unfolding. 

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: The tech world is never as dull as it seems. Enjoy reading!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb