Celebrating Tikiri Herath
With her newest release hitting shelves this month, we’re thrilled to celebrate Tikiri Herath! Her latest installment in The Tanya Stone FBI K9 series, Her Grisly Grave, follows Ukrainian-born, battle-hardened FBI recruit Tanya Stone and her loyal German Shepherd, K9 Max.
In this gripping thriller, a serial predator stalks an affluent seaside town in Washington state, leaving a chilling signature — a yellow sunflower and a cryptic riddle on each victim. Now, Tanya and Max must race against time to stop the cold-blooded killer before they become the next targets.
But Tikiri’s story doesn’t end with her page-turning thrillers. Her journey is one of resilience, dedication to her craft, and a few sweet surprises along the way.
From her pulse-pounding novels to her own life experiences, Tikiri takes readers on a cross-continental adventure — no passport (or jet leg) required.
A Guest Post By Tikiri Herath
I was a spy agency bureaucrat for more than a decade. I am a fifth-culture kid who grew up around the world. And I am a dark chocolate addict.
One more thing. I’m also a thriller author from Canada.
The world of stories opened up to me during a work stint in continental Europe. Maybe it was the splendour of their architecture, their mouth-watering cuisine, or their effervescent celebration of art and culture. Whatever it was, it awoke a creativity that had been sleeping deep inside of me.
I went indie from the start. My goal was to maintain control over my art, my intellectual property, and my revenue streams, but it took twelve books to get traction. The turning point came when I went non-exclusive on WIDE platforms.
Going direct with Barnes & Noble was one of the best business decisions I made.
The process is straightforward, the Nook team is wonderfully helpful and educational, and the readership is savvy and loyal. I have gained thousands of Nook readers who consistently show the highest open rates for my newsletters.
The Barnes & Noble team’s strength comes from their insatiable curiosity to learn and innovate, and their continuous improvement of processes, partnerships, and promotions. This makes Barnes & Noble an integral partner of my author journey and it is now the third largest platform for my book sales. And it’s growing.
So, I keep writing.
Today, I live in a small seaside suburb in British Columbia, Canada. To the south, I gaze at the mighty Pacific Ocean and to the east I catch sunrises over the snow-tipped peaks of Washington State.
But most days, I huddle in my writer’s den and plot spine-tingling, twisty tales. When I need a break, I make pots of Ceylon tea, devour dark Belgian chocolate, and read my favourite books on my couch.
I write what I read.
My novels feature strong and smart female detectives who hunt the killers that prowl small west coast towns. Readers ask how I can muster up dark tales when I live in a beautiful, peaceful region. The answer lies in my past.
I’m a proud Canadian now, but I was born on a tropical island and traveled the world since I was a toddler.
My parents were expatriates at international mining companies and my Quebecois husband was a diplomat in Europe. I have moved to a new country or a new continent every three to four years, ever since I remember.
But I didn’t travel just because of family. Until recently, I held a Top Secret clearance and was a risk manager for the Government of Canada and at NATO, in the world of defence and intelligence.
A lifetime of voyaging for school and work has taken me to Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. This means I’ve seen a few things not many get to see.
Sometimes, the very things that made me weep in despair, albeit from a safe distance, now drive my stories. I must be doing something right, as a few of my novels have won awards, even one from the Eric Hoffer foundation.
So, I keep writing.
My latest series has a German Shepherd hero who assists the investigations. No dog is ever harmed in my books, but the villains pay dearly for their dirty deeds. My team of detectives hunts them down like prey, and despite all odds, always finds justice.
Max, the K9 dog, gets a treat for his hard work at the end of every book. In my newest thriller, he even receives an FBI K9 medal of valour. Now, that’s the kind of justice I like to write about!
In a world where justice is never guaranteed and uncertainty is the only certainty, I create an escape hatch for my readers. It’s an escape to a world of fast-paced adventure, twisty plots, devious villains, and a sassy group of women (and a dog) who fight the bad guys and gals, and make them pay.
When I write, I have one aim in mind. My job is to keep my readers at the edge of their seats, biting their nails, adrenaline surging through their veins, as they curse me for their loss of sleep.
Wicked, I know. But it’s so much fun.
So, I keep writing…
About Tikiri Herath
Tikiri Herath is an award-winning author of international crime thrillers and murder mysteries. And, with degrees from the University of Victoria and Solvay Business School, she’s worked in risk management for Canada’s top intelligence agency and NATO.
An adrenaline junkie, Tikiri has rock climbed, bungee jumped, flown upside down in an acrobatic plane, and parachuted solo. When not writing or chasing adventure, she enjoys baking with a glass of Shiraz and vintage jazz playing in the background.
Connect with Tikiri Herath:
www.facebook.com/TikiriHerathAuthor
www.instagram.com/tikiri.herath
