There is nothing desperate about the team that breathes fresh air and tons of wit and nerve into our favorite no-nonsense widows. Now, they’re at it again in Desperate Deadly Widows. Just like the widows, creators Vanessa Lillie, Kimberly Belle, Cate Holahan, and Layne Fargo have a fair amount of pluck, grit, and glamour themselves. That they do what they do so well in a team of four is impressive. We recently asked them how four minds come together and become a sisters-in-crime relationship. Have fun!
Yvonne Durant: There are some great zingers in Desperate Deadly Widows. One of my favorites is a request for a favor: “Pretty please with rent on top.” (I’m a New Yorker and very rent-sensitive.) What lines cracked you up even though you were the writers?
Vanessa Lillie: There is an excellent rhyme with Tucker (pretty sure I don’t need to write it) that I’m so excited to hear the fantastic narrator for Krystle, Dina Pearlman, yell.
Kimberly Belle: “I swear, if I find her doing a horizontal deposition, I’m not responsible for what I do next.”
Cate Holahan: “Leave it to the Cannoli Queen to ruin a classy affair.” Or “The still-attached price tag on my Chanel suit is really itching my ass.”
Layne Fargo: The list of strip clubs Meredith and Krystle visit while investigating—which I won’t spoil, or take credit for! That was all Vanessa. Meredith narrator Helen Laser said those strip club names cracked her up during the recording session too.
There are four of you—that’s a lot of ideas flying around! What’s the best part for you in this kind of collaboration?
Vanessa: I love when we surprise each other with plot twists or character choices that come organically from writing instead of plotting, which we do extensively. It feels like the characters are taking the wheel from us, and sure, sometimes it’s a little off the road, but it keeps things spicy!
Kimberly: Our brainstorming Zooms are my favorite part of the process for exactly that reason, because we push each other’s creative boundaries in the best possible way. Even the craziest ideas often end up in the story.
Cate: I love how we work together to make the story action-packed but with real emotions and decisions that stem from the characters themselves. I think all of us know the women that we write so well that we’re able to jump in and say, this is what Justine, Krystle, Camille, or Meredith would do in that situation, and then build on that to take them to some crazy, interesting, suspenseful places.
Layne: We all have our strengths, and we balance out each other’s weaknesses. For example, I am hopeless at keeping all the intricacies of the mystery plot in my head, but Cate always has those details on lock.
Which character loves the “mob wife” fashion trend?
Vanessa: Krystle was born and raised in the “mob wife” life in the Italian neighborhood of Providence called The Hill. While she tries to seem more like a fancier “East Side” lady, you can take the mob wife outta the Hill, but...
Kimberly: I think they all love the look, but Camille has made it an essential part of her personality.
Cate: Camille.
Layne: I’m gonna say Krystle—who might just become a mob wife herself in a future Widows adventure, stay tuned!
Sisters-in-crime seems to be a growing trend in mystery & thrillers, and in a way, you’re sisters in crime. Is there one word to describe your sisterhood?
Vanessa: Invigorating.
Kimberly: Collaborative.
Cate: Creative.
Layne: Fabulous.
