The Daughter Between Them was the winner in the Mystery/Suspense Thriller category of the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Alretha Thomas.
I am overwhelmed with joy that my book, The Daughter Between Them, has won the Mystery/Suspense Thriller category for the IndieReader Discovery Awards. I want to thank IndieReader and all of the readers who took the time to purchase, read, and review The Daughter Between Them. As a writer, it’s amazing and gratifying to be validated and appreciated. God Bless You all!
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Daughter Between Them, May 1, 2024.
What’s the book’s first line?
Gazing down, my eyes fix on words that chill me.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
In 2009, Barbara falls under suspicion when her seven-year-old daughter goes missing in New York. Ten years later, while on the cusp of her dream career, Leslie must face a devastating secret from her past. The lives of two women collide in this “deeply satisfying suspense tale” (Kirkus Reviews).
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
In 2022, I fell in love with the idea of writing a novel from alternating points of view in the past and present, wherein the narrators are mysteriously connected. I used this structure for my novel, The Girl in the Blue Blazer and it was well received. With that in mind, I decided to use the same structure for The Daughter Between Them. While thinking about the characters and the storyline, the idea of two mothers came to me. I think that the relationship between a mother and a daughter is special. There would be a mother in the past and a mother in the present and the two women would be mysteriously connected. The connection would eventually be revealed.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
There are two main characters in the book, Leslie Graham and Barbara Morris. Leslie Graham reminds me of my mother who raised six children by herself, well grappling with illness and financial difficulties. Leslie’s determination and protectiveness of her daughters is the most distinctive thing about her. I’ve never met anyone like Barbara. Her most distinctive characteristic is her mental instability and her love for her daughter.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The book is inspirational and is a great example of how love and forgiveness conquers all.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Tika Sumpter as Leslie Graham. Jurnee Smolett as Barbara Morris. Sterling Brown as Edward Morris. Tony Winters as Jeff Waverly. Phylicia Rashad as Lorraine Shaw. Reese Witherspoon as Jocelyn Ayers. Anne Hathaway as Carol O’Sullivan and Justin Hartley as Larry O’Sullivan.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I wrote my first story in the fifth grade. My teacher gave the class a short story assignment. I got an idea to write a story about a bag boy in a supermarket who falls in love with a young customer. I guess you could say that was my first romance story. The following day our teacher congratulated the entire class on our work. However, she said there was one story that stood out. And that story was mine. I nearly fell out of my chair. I could not believe it. She read it aloud and the class was riveted. While I was watching the expressions on the faces of my peers, I knew in that moment I wanted to be a writer for life.
Is this the first book that you’ve written?
No. I have written fourteen other novels.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am an actress and series regular on Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living that airs on BET Wednesdays at 9:30 pm pst.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
When writing a novel, I spent six to eight hours a day writing.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is having full autonomy. The hardest part is not having a publishing house behind you with money and resources to help not only validate your work but help promote your work.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling?
If so, why? Yes, because I believe it would give me a better chance at reaching a wider audience.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I love storytelling and get a joy out of readers reading and reviewing my work.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I most admire Terry McMillan. I fell in love with her writing style after reading her first novel Waiting to Exhale.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming! Lol, for obvious reasons. I would have been the first African-American FLOTUS and married to the amazing Mr. Barack Obama. It’s one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read.