In this episode of
Meet the Thriller Author, I chat with
Traci Hunter Abramson, a former CIA officer, longtime high school swimming coach, and the award-winning author of more than forty-five bestselling novels. Drawing on her background in intelligence and international travel, Traci crafts thrillers rich in authenticity, heart, and high-stakes suspense.
Her latest release,
Victim #8—out October 7—follows military aide Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner as they go undercover to stop a conspiracy that could lead to a nuclear strike on the United States. Set partly in Istanbul, the story was inspired in part by Abramson’s own travels; in fact, the haunting cover image was taken by Traci herself at the city’s Basilica Cistern.
During the conversation, Traci reflects on her path from the CIA to fiction writing, revealing that while her real-life experiences inform her stories, truth is often stranger than fiction. She discusses balancing realism with entertainment, portraying characters with emotional depth, and bringing an insider’s credibility to her thrillers.
Listeners will also enjoy hearing about her writing process—drafting on a treadmill or an old AlphaSmart word processor, writing 2,000 words a day, and relying more on instinct than outlines. Traci also shares how her years coaching swimming and her study-abroad experience in Venezuela have shaped her discipline, perspective, and storytelling.
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Show Notes & Transcript
Summary
* Guest: Traci Hunter Abramson—former CIA officer, longtime high school swim coach, and award-winning author of 45+ novels
* Discusses her career path from the Agency to bestselling thrillers.
* New release: Victim Number 8 (Luke Steele #2) launches October 7; Luke is a Marine Corps captain serving as the President’s military aide, paired with FBI behavioral analyst Amberlyn Reiner.
* Series genesis: Inspired by a friend who served as a real military aide at the White House; Abramson also consulted FBI behavioral experts met at ThrillerFest.
* Setting and cover: The book features Istanbul; the cover image is Abramson’s own photo from the Basilica Cistern, adapted by her publisher’s design team.
* Research/travel: She mixes firsthand travel (breathing the air, riding local transit, tasting the food) with Google Earth and expert conversations, aiming for authenticity beyond tourist sights.
