East Longmeadow-based author Julianne Feher with a copy of her debut novel, “Childless.”
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
EAST LONGMEADOW — When East Longmeadow-based author Julianne Feher considered which topic to write about for her master’s degree thesis is in creative writing, she turned to a short story she had penned in her first year at Western New England University.
Pulling on the strands of the crime story, Feher wove them into a tale of a cold case, a couple trying to conceive and a grieving mother who refuses to give up.
That thesis has now become Feher’s debut novel, “Childless,” slated to be released on Oct. 28.
“Childless” is the story of cold-case detective Ethan Dumas and his partner, Jason Verne, as they reopen a 36-year-old serial murder case. Dumas must solve the case while facing pressure from political forces, the insistent mother of one of the victims and his changing personal life. “He’s trying to balance working cases involving murdered little girls and trying to start his own family,” Feher explained.
“Childless” may be Feher’s first novel, but she has been writing her whole life. “I actually can’t remember when I started writing,” Feher said, although she did recall writing “my first book” in first grade and bringing it in for show-and-tell. “I guess my love for reading turned into a love for writing,” she said.
When asked why she writes about crime, Feher said, “I’ve always loved crime fiction and true crime. My favorite kind is one where women take matters into their own hands when the system has failed them.” It was an incident at East Longmeadow High School that first sparked Feher’s interest in the theme. In 2016, then-senior David Becker was charged with two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault after admitting to penetrating one teenage student and being accused of doing so to another while at a house party. Becker’s case was continued without a finding for two years and he was put on probation. Feher said it was the first time she realized people “aren’t always punished.”
Feher plans to expand the world she created in “Childless” into the Rothbury Major Crimes series. She has already written a draft of the second book, focusing on the character Jason Verne.
Becoming a professional author is not the most traditional career path, but Feher said it can be accomplished if the person is motivated.
“You have to be dedicated,” she said, noting that she began writing “Childless” in 2020, finished it in 2022 and is publishing it in 2025. “It was an investment in myself that I think was worthwhile. Anyone can do it if they invest in it, and I don’t just mean financially,” she clarified, “Making the time to write even when you’re exhausted” or “editing your manuscript when you think it’s fine, but you know it could be better.”
“Childless” can be pre-ordered at Barnes & Noble. It will be available for purchase after Oct. 28 at Rumspringa Books, 1341 Main St., Springfield, or online at Bookshop.org and Amazon.com.
