This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an author whose stories have captured thousands of readers of mysteries and thrillers—Dr. Randy Overbeck. With his newest book, ABIGAIL TRENCH, he has taken his readers on a thrilling journey of suspense and adventure to 1776. If you love historical suspense and would like to relive those thrilling years of the birth of our country, you’re in for a treat.

Randy Overbeck is known for transporting readers to his literary locations, whether the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay or the sandy Gulf Coast of Florida for his Haunted Shores Mysteries, or to 1776 New York in his newest offering. Readers rave about Overbeck’s ability to create credible, three-dimensional characters in his narratives. His latest release, ABIGAIL TRENCH is a vivid, propulsive Revolutionary-era thriller with the spy-craft verve of the streaming hit TURN: Washington’s Spies and the electricity of 1776’s New York that Hamilton lovers will recognize, this story is inspired by the lone female operative in Washington’s spy ring.

In this spotlight, Randy Overbeck shares what intrigued him to write this story of a very real, unknown hero of the American Revolution and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his process and how his newest thriller came to life.

Whether you write love historical thrillers or are simply interested in traveling back to the American Revolution, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it and give a warm welcome to Dr. Randy Overbeck. 💖

What drew you to write this particular story?

I’ve been a major fan of American Revolution history for quite a while; that flame of interest only fanned by the country’s 250th anniversary activities. I was especially fascinated by the Culper Ring, the secret spy ring Washington organized to help win the Revolutionary War. When I learned about the almost forgotten female member of the ring—her identity has been lost to history—I decided here was a story begging to be told, an unknown female hero of the American Revolution.

What’s your typical writing routine like?

I received some excellent advice from bestselling author and friend, William Kent Kreuger. (He’s published more than 20 bestselling books and has even won the Edgar.) He advised me to write every day, or as close to that as possible. Unlike many other authors, I’m not an early bird. I can’t get up with the sun, coffee—or in my case, tea—in hand. But I’ve found I’m more productive in the a.m. So almost every morning (later, around 8:30-9:30) I sit in my office with a beautiful view of a pond and woods beyond and write for two to three hours. During this time, I avoid SM or emails and just write. By the end of that time, my muse is usually tired, so I wait until the next day. So far, the process seems to be working. I seldom encounter any writer’s block and have published seven novels so far, with two bestsellers and fifteen awards to show for my work.

Are your characters based on real people, or entirely fictional?

My character roster includes portrayals of real people and fictional characters. For ABIGAIL TRENCH, I populated my story with individuals readers will recognize from history—George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Nathan Hale, Benedict Arnold—and surrounded them with fictional characters. For my hero, Abigail, I used the few details in the historical record of this elusive spy and created a character who could step into those shoes. Abigail, as well as all my fictional characters, are based on real people I knew and worked with, with a trait stolen from this person, looks from another, and temperament from a third. Abigail, like all my heroes, is a teacher, only in her case, an 18th-century teacher and tutor.

How has your writing evolved since your first book?

I’ve been a writer most of my adult life, though for the first four decades, that writing had been tied to my roles as a teacher, a college professor, and a school leader. So, when I retired, I used the skills of organizing thought, invention, and wordsmithing to my first love, fiction. My first book, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND, is an explosive thriller about an attack on a high school and the teacher who stands up to the terrorists. It sold well and won a national award, Thriller of the Year (Readers’ Favorite). When that publisher went out of business, I sought out another small press, and the Wild Rose Press offered to publish me. With them, I’ve published five more books, all paranormal and amateur sleuth mysteries. For each novel, I pushed myself, working to expand my skill as an author. I’m thrilled that each of these novels published by the WRP has been received with enthusiasm and recognition—Best Book Award, Mystery of the Year, Gold Award. I was very pleased with the small press and enjoyed working with them. But I wanted to try for a major publisher and was quite fortunate. For my latest, I was picked up by an agent, and she sold the novel. ABIGAIL TRENCH was published and distributed earlier this summer by Diversion Books and Simon & Schuster. To say I’m thrilled is an understatement.

How did you find your agent or publisher?

Again, I count myself lucky. June 2025, I attended Thrillerfest and pitched my historical thriller to agents there. Several expressed interest and requested manuscripts. I ended up receiving offers of representation from three agents, did my research on them, and selected the Stonesong Agency. My agent recommended some changes to the manuscript, which I completed; then she sent out proposals to several contacts, including the major houses. Diversion Book/S & S responded, and we had a contract offer within two months. Then, the race was on to make the editorial changes they requested and the book was published nine whirlwind months later.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

• Find a really good writer’s group who can give you some honest, critical feedback on your book. They will have insights and ideas you will never think of.
• Attend a writers’ conference. You’ll find a great many of “your kind” there and you won’t feel quite so odd. You will get some great advice from more experienced writers and experts, advice about craft, marketing, editing, and even the business of writing. You’ll also be able to network with fellow writers there, a talent that is proving more and more important.
• Find a good editor to work with. Never send your work “out there” until it’s the very best you can make it. Far too many writers fall short because they are not diligent about making sure their work is the best it can be. A great editor can make sure, not only the grammar and spelling is correct, but your writing makes sense and works for the reader.

What do you like to read in your free time?

I’m a very eclectic reader. I read in a wide range of genres—mystery and thrillers, of course, but also historicals, sci-fi, biographies, some political titles, some romantic suspense, a few YA, and even some women’s lit. Some titles I explore at the request of fellow writers—I try to support other authors as much as I can—but I have developed an interest in a good many areas and have found something to love and learn from in most genres.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

Unlike many authors, I’m not really an introvert. Well, actually I’m an introvert and an extrovert. Now, I do revel in the times I get to sit down in the shroud of my office and lose myself in the creation of my fiction. But I also love getting out and meeting readers and recruiting new readers. I do more than fifty in-person events each year and love talking to audiences and sharing programs about my novels. Weird, I know.

What are you working on next?

I’m actually in the final stages of completing the second entry in what the publisher has titled “The Washington Spy Ring” series. The second installment will tell the story of the most important agent in the ring, one known only as Culper, Jr., at the time, a man we later learned was Robert Towsend. I expect this to be edited and wrapped up within the month and submitted to my agent, then I’ll turn my attention to researching book three in the series.

Dr. Randy Overbeck’s Bio:

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, bestselling author, popular podcaster, and speaker in much demand. After serving children for almost four decades as teacher, college prof and school leader, he used those experiences and skills to craft captivating mysteries, thrillers and historical suspense. His novels have earned more than a dozen national awards including Thriller of the Year, Best Book Award, the Gold Award and Mystery of the Year and have garnered hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and BookBub.

His newest novel, ABIGAIL TRENCH, is a historical suspense about the Revolutionary War, released June, 2026 by Diversion Books and distributed by Simon and Schuster.

Dr. Overbeck is also the host of the popular podcast, Great Stories about Great Storytellers, which reveals the little known backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and ranks among the top 50% of all podcasts in the US. When he is not writing or podcasting, he is in much demand as a speaker, sharing informative and entertaining programs to more than 300 groups all over the country.

I hope you loved getting to know Dr. Randy Overbeck and his latest, ABIGAIL TRENCH. If you haven’t added his books to your TBR yet, now’s the time—trust me, you won’t want to miss them. 💖

You can connect with Dr. Overbeck here:

Facebook   |   Linkedin  |  Instagram   |   BookBub   |    Goodreads

🛒 Grab his books: Wherever you purchase books

Thank you for joining me in spotlighting a fellow author. Stay tuned for more author features, book talks, and behind-the-scenes romance goodness.

Until next time—keep reading, keep swooning! 💖