Kristine Delano is the author of the new novel The Lies We Trade. She is a former Wall Street executive, and she hosts the podcast We Talk Careers.
Q: What inspired you to write The Lies We Trade, and how did you create your character Meredith?
A: After more than two decades on Wall Street, I realized I had become a collector of stories. I had the opportunity to mentor amazing talent and work alongside powerful personalities. I also witnessed the relentless pressures that shape careers behind closed doors. My curiosity grew. I set out to explore what happens when ambition, responsibility, and secrecy collide.
Meredith came from that exploration. I imagined a rising star on Wall Street having the best day of her career, celebrating the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, only to have everything unravel under the weight of fraud.
Meredith is capable, driven, and deeply human. She represents women I’ve known who do everything right, and yet still find themselves vulnerable when systems fail and trust is misplaced.
Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Meredith and Betsey?
A: Betsey is Meredith’s second-in-command. She was handpicked and instrumental in the company’s success. Their relationship is built on trust, which makes the fracture between them so unsettling.
As Meredith rises, she stops paying close attention. That distance becomes dangerous. When Betsey reappears with a warning disguised as a threat, the reader is left asking the central question: is Betsey trying to ruin Meredith or save her? That ambiguity drives the suspense.
Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The Lies We Trade was created by my amazing publisher, Tyndale House. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the perfect title. The Lies We Trade speaks to more than financial deception. It reflects the personal bargains we make every day—the truths we soften, the silences we accept, and the stories we tell ourselves to justify our bad behavior.
Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I’m a plotter. I need to know where I’m going, and I spend a lot of time living in the story before I write it. I love dreaming up twists and going grocery shopping with characters.
What I don’t initially know is who the villain is. I write every character with flaws and plausible motivations. As the story unfolds, the truth reveals itself. Then I go back and layer in red herrings and subtle clues, making the mystery challenging but fair for readers who are paying close attention.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m working on a novel about estranged sisters who haven’t spoken in nearly a decade. One is a journalist and the other a founder of a powerful Wall Street firm. When the journalist is assigned to investigate deceit within the company, the sisters are put on a collision course that forces long-buried secrets out into the open. You can expect to see it on shelves in about a year.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I love connecting with readers, especially those who enjoy stories about ambition, family, and lies we tell ourselves. You can find me on Instagram and at my website, www.kristinedelano.com, where I share updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and upcoming events. Thank you!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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