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A C ONV ERSATI O N WIT H LORI ROY ON HER NOVEL

LET ME DIE IN HIS FOOTSTEPS

While you have done historical research for your previous
two novels, Let Me Die in His Footsteps is very much based
on an actual historical event. What was that story, how
did you come across it, and what made you center the book
around it?
I had decided to set my third novel in Kentucky, and while
doing some general research on the state, I came across a
historic event that initially caught my eye.
In 1936, in the small Kentucky town of Owensboro, the last
person was publicly and lawfully hanged in the United States. The facts of the case were troubling. An elderly woman was robbed, raped, and murdered in her home. A few days later, a
young black man named Rainey Bethea was arrested on suspicion of having committed these
crimes. Bethea was indicted, tried, convicted, and after numerous appeals, he was hanged.
This entire process, from arrest to hanging, took approximately ten weeks. But the single fact
that most intrigued and disturbed me was the decision made by the Commonwealths Attorney to ask for an indictment only on the rape charge. At the time, a murder conviction carried
with it a death sentence that would have been administered privately. Alternatively, the sentence for a rape conviction was a public hanging in the county in which the crime occurred.
The attorney, seemingly, wanted to ensure a public execution.
The case drew national attention. Newspaper reporters came from across the country, not
only to report on the public execution (because as history would tell us this would be the last
such execution), but because a female sheriff was to preside over the event. As many as twenty
thousand people descended on the small Kentucky town to witness the hanging. There were
reports of hanging parties, hotdog and popcorn sales, and a carnival-like atmosphere. Some
newspapers reported, though witnesses to the event have denied this, that spectators tore bits
of clothing from Betheas body to be kept as souvenirs.
It was this hunger for a public hanging that drew me back to the story of Rainey Bethea again
and again. It didnt feel like a hunger for justice but instead like a hunger for something else.
I began to wonder why society chooses to cast out certain people. I began to wonder how that
choice is made and what yearning it satisfies. And lastly, the event reminded me why I am so

Author photo Kathleen Hall Photography

often drawn to writing about the past. Many years have passed since that last lawful, public
execution, and yet in our daily headlines, we continue to read about those who are singled out,
cast aside, and deemed dispensable.

What other type of research did you do for this book? And which parts are strictly from
your imagination?
In addition to having visited Kentucky, I visited a lavender farm and did a great deal of research on lavender and its various uses. I baked with lavender, cooked with lavender, and
made homemade lavender ice cream. (Adults tend to like it. Children do not.) I also interviewed a number of people who grew up in Kentucky during the fifties and who worked the
tobacco fields. Lastly, I studied the folklore, traditions, and superstitions that have come out
of Kentucky. I used various combinations of these traditions and altered some to suit the
world I had created in the novel. The characters in the book are entirely from my imagination, and I fictionalized the town and county. And the central crime, while inspired by actual
events, involves a significantly different set of circumstances.

Your writing has been compared to some of the Southern literary greats like William
Faulkner and Flannery OConnor. Is this something that you were aware of when you
chose to write a story based in the South?
As I remember, I had already begun writing this novel when I first saw those comparisons.
Had I given them serious or extended thought, I believe they would have intimidated me. Ive
long lived in the South, almost twenty years, and I was happy to feel inspired to write something that let me sink into this rich and varied world.

Let Me Die in His Footsteps oscillates between 1936 and 1952. Was it difficult to write the
book in two different time periods?
I did initially find this difficult. It always takes me some time to get to know my characters and
to get comfortable with my setting. For parts of the novel, I wrote long stretches of the 1936
story line and then long stretches of the 1952 story line. This allowed me to sink into the setting and also into the tone. I found the 1952 story line, which is largely set on a lavender farm,
particularly difficult. Conjuring suspense amid the beauty of a lavender field was a challenge.

Tell us about the title.

The title was inspired by the Bob Dylan song Let Me Die In My Footsteps, which he wrote
in the early sixties. While searching for a title for this novel, Dutton editor Denise Roy came
across this song and forwarded it to me. Like Denise, I thought the title embodied an important element of the novel. Though I will shy away from discussing theories on Mr. Dylans
intended message when he wrote the song, to me it is about living life without allowing the
weight of fear or judgment or prejudice to put us in a figurative grave long before we are put in
a literal grave. We made a slight change to Mr. Dylans titlechoosing to use his instead of
mybecause one character in the novel demonstrates the courage to live without fear and to
seek a better life for himself. Although this character doesnt appear often in the novel, he is
one of the most significant. Alternatively, when many of the novels other characters succumb
to fear and a judgmental nature, the consequences are disastrous and deadly.

Let Me Die in His Footsteps opens on the eve of Annie Hollerans fifteen and a half
birthday, and there is a belief held widely in her town that if she looks into a well at midnight on that night she will see the face of her future husband. Was this an actual ritual
or are these superstitions that you created for this story?
This is a great example of actual folklore that I adapted to suit the circumstances of the novel.
Various parts of Kentucky have reported versions of this superstition. Some versions specify
the woman must look in the well at midnight on the first day of May. Other versions do not
specify a particular day. And yet others warn of seeing a coffin in the well. I altered the tradition and created the day of ascension that occurs on a young womans fifteen and a half
birthday. It is on this day that each young woman in my fictional county can look into a well
in hopes of seeing her intended.

Two of your characters, Annie and Juna, have what they call the know-how, an uncanny
sense of knowing that something will happen before it does. Where did this idea originate?
The idea of the know-how developed in a very organic way as I wrote the novel and got to
know my characters. I first imagined, after having spent a lot of time researching the many
traditions and superstitions of Kentucky, that someone would have to be the keeper of all that
history. One generation would have to pass it along to the next or it would eventually be lost.
It will be up to the reader to decide if the know-how is truly a gift, or if its simply the keeping
of history.

What did you enjoy most about writing Let Me Die in His Footsteps?
It took me about twenty months to write the first three-quarters of the novel, and about a
month to write the last quarter. Those final chapters, when I finally knew my characters and
setting and tone, were thrilling to write. The other three-quarters were excruciating.

The Baines are the other central (and conflicting) family in the story, a family made up
of brothers who are very different from one another. Walk us through writing this family
dynamic. Did you base this family or the brothers on anyone?
There is a long and well-known history of family feuds in and around the Kentucky hills.
Much of what is known about these feuds has been handed down by word-of-mouth, which
means the details have been largely dependent upon which side was doing the recounting.
While these feuds were often romanticized, they generally involved average people trying to
protect their families. This is what I envisioned springing up between the Baines and the
Hollerans. In the novel, the facts of this feud depend entirely on who is remembering them,
and both families are simply trying to protect their own.
As to the Baine Family, Joseph Carl Baine was the first brother to walk onto the page. I knew
he would be the weakest among the many Baine brothers, at least physically, and that he
would be important to the plot, although I didnt know how important until the book was
complete. Ellis Baine is the strongest among the brothers. Both of these characters were constantly surprising me as I wrote this book. I was never entirely certain if they were good guys
or bad guys until the very end.

RECIPES
Lavender Dark Chocolate Truffles
Yield: Makes about 36 truffles
Ingredients for Truffles
2 cups (500ml) heavy cream

1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla

1 pinch lavender

1 tablespoon (15ml) butter

2 cups (500ml) chopped dark chocolate

2 cups (500ml) tempered chocolate

Method
1. In a small pot, heat the cream with the lavender. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and
wrap the pot with plastic; allow the cream to infuse for 20 minutes.
2. Place the dark chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring the lavender cream back to a boil and
strain the cream into the chocolate.
3. Allow the chocolate to melt for a few minutes, then mix the chocolate and cream
together to create an emulsion.
4. Add the butter and vanilla and mix, creating a ganache.
5. Transfer ganache into a large pan or casserole dish and spread until the ganache is
about an inch (2.5cm) thick. Allow the ganache to set for two hours.
6. Roll the ganache into balls (use a melon baller to scoop out the ganache, so that you
have similar sized truffles). Refrigerate chocolate balls until fully set.
7. Dip each truffle into the tempered chocolate and roll in lavender sugar (recipe below).

Ingredients for Lavender Sugar

1 cup (250ml) sugar

1 teaspoon (5ml) dried lavender

Method
1. Finely chop the lavender then add it to the sugar.
2. Using your fingers, rub the lavender into the sugar.

Hone y L avender Ice Cream

Yield: Makes approximately 1 quart
Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Ingredients
1/2 cup honey (I used a local honey)
1/4 cup dried or fresh lavender leaves (I used fresh)
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of sea salt
1 1/2 cups heavy cream (I used organic)
5 large egg yolks (preferably organic and free-range)
Directions
1. In a small saucepan, heat the honey and 2 tablespoons of the lavender. When its warm,
remove from heat and let steep for at least 1 hour.
2. Warm the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Pour the cream into a large bowl
and place a mesh strainer on top. Pour the lavender-infused honey into the cream through
the strainer, pressing down on the lavender flowers to extract as much flavor as possible.
Discard the lavender flowers and place the strainer back over the cream.
3. Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks,
whisking constantly, then scrape the whole mixture back into the saucepan.
4. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until the mixture is
thick enough to coat the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the
cream. Stir in the remaining lavender flowers and stir until cool over an ice bath.
5. Chill overnight in the refrigerator. The next day, before churning, strain the mixture,
again pressing the lavender flowers to extract their flavor. Discard the flowers and freeze
in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturers instructions.

W H AT S I N A N A M E ?
BY LORI ROY
ITS AUGUST 12 TH , 2014, MIDMORNING ON A TUESDAY.
Here in Florida, I have my most recent novel up on my computer screen. Denise Roy,
Dutton senior editor, has the same pulled up in her New York office. Looking for
phrases that might inspire a title, were paging through the text together. Some
of our ideas are too familiar. Others, too forgettable. Yet others have been used
too recently or too frequently. Today is the day we must, absolutely must, decide
on a title for my third novel. Our deadline is noon.
Titles are a tricky business. Many theories exist as to what makes a good title.
Theres even a website that will quantify a titles chances of becoming a bestseller. As to my own theory, Im searching for those perfect few words that will
intrigue a reader as her eyes scan the bookshelves of her favorite bookstore, and
that will offer further insight once she has read the book.
By late morning, I have filled a page in my spiral notebook with ideas.
Denise and I decide to hang up and work separately to see what
new possibilities we might shake loose. I stare down at my list and
let out a sigh. A few of the titles are intriguing but not necessarily
insightful. I would call them trite. Others are insightful but not intriguing.
These, I would call befuddling. I continue scanning the manuscript for the one
perfect phrase that will capture the heart of my 95,000-word novel, and approximately forty-five minutes before our deadline, I receive an e-mail from Denise.
While googling a phrase from the book, she stumbled upon a Bob Dylan song
entitled Let Me Die In My Footsteps. What do you think of this direction,
she asks.
I click on the link Denise has included in her e-mail and listen to the song. I
google the lyrics and read along as I listen yet again. I go so far as to sing along.

The noon deadline is nearly upon us. I e-mail Denise back to tell her I like this
direction. I like it a lot. And as I wait to hear if the new title has been accepted,
I do some research.
The song was written during the Vietnam War era, and there are various theories as to its intended meaning. While I wont speculate as to Mr. Dylans intentions, I hear a song that cautions against allowing the weight of fear or judgment
to put us in a figurative grave
Im searching for those perfect few
long before we are put in a
literal grave. At the heart of
words that will intrigue a reader
my third novel, which we are
as her eyes scan the bookshelves
trying desperately to title, is
of her favorite bookstore, and that
a community that allows itself
will offer further insight once she
to be guided by such fear. The
has read the book.
people of the small, fictional
town choose to sacrifice another in order to ease their own fears and recapture
hope for better times. The consequences of their actions are disastrous and
deadly. Alternatively, there is one character in the novel who doesnt succumb
to fear and demonstrates the courage to seek a better life. While this character
does not appear often in the novel, he is among the most significant. Given his
important role, Denise and I decide to make a slight change to Mr. Dylans titlechoosing to use his footsteps instead of my footsteps. Intriguing and
insightful. It meets both of my tests.

Critical acclaim for

LET ME DIE IN HIS FOOTSTEPS
WINNER OF THE 2016 EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL

Rich and evocative, Lori Roys voice is a welcome addition to American fiction.

DENNIS LEHANE
Open Let Me Die in His Footsteps anywhere and Lori Roys melodious voice will float off the
page. . . . This Depression-era story is a sad one, written in every shade of Gothic black. But
its true colors emerge in the rich textures of the narrative, and in the music of that voice, as
hypnotic as the scent coming off a field of lavender.

THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Let Me Die in His Footsteps is a hybrid of mystery, coming-of-age, and Southern Gothic
literature. . . . Its taut and evocativethings simmer and tickle and sizzle underfoot, and
the book practically smells like a lavender field.LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK REVIEW
The richness of [the] characters makes their decisions crackle. . . . While intense and at times
a little ruthless, Roys novel has elements of both what we love about the Southern Gothic
mixed with the other perennial American classic: the coming-of-age tale. This is a dark
story of adolescence in all of its awkward, terrible, exhilarating glory. And thats what
makes it sing.
BUSTLE
It teems with family feuds, forbidden love, second sight and wronged innocents, all held
together by Roys taut style and gift for suspense.
TAMPA BAY TIMES
A richly detailed, highly suspenseful Gothic novel filled with indelible imagery. 

HUFFINGTON POST
An atmospheric, vividly drawn tale that twists her trademark theme of family secrets with
the crackling spark of the know-how for a suspenseful, ghost-story feel. 

BOOKLIST (starred review)

This powerful storyshould transfix readers right up to its stunning final twist.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
A Faulkner-ian tale of sex and violence from the Kentucky hills. 

KIRKUS REVIEWS

Edgar Award winner Lori Royserves up a mystery with a thick, rich blend of Southern
Gothic mainstaysThis coming-of-age story dropped into a world of hardscrabble existence
has an almost painful poignancy. 
FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM
There are echoes of Flannery OConnor here: poverty, violence, malevolence, and grace. Roys
writing is spell-like, using a simplicity of language, deft characterization, an understanding
of the dark side of human nature, and relentless plotting in order to pull together every
aspect of the conjuring necessary to create a masterpiece of Southern Noir. 

HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
Reading Lori Roy is a sinuous, near-physical experience, her stories so rich and
well-told they twine into the reader in a manner both gentle and profoundly deep. I
consider her writing a love-sonnet to American letters. Simply lovely.
JOHN HART,
EDGAR-AWARD WINNING AND NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLING AUTHOR OF

THE KING OF LIES
This is a beautifully observed story whose
details of time, place, and character are
stunning little jewels sure to dazzle the eye on
every page. . . . Quite simply put, I loved this
book. WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER,
EDGAR-AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF

WINDINGO ISLAND
Young love, Southern folklore, family feuds,
and crimes of passion . . . Roy describes life
on a lavender farm in rural Kentucky in vivid
detail, and the mystery of what happened
years ago will keep readers engaged until
the end. 
LIBRARY JOURNAL