Riptide by Laura Toland
Rico Press, 2025
Author Laura Toland recently launched her debut novel Riptide, a mystery/crime thriller that at its heart, is about a woman and a town with a questionable past and an uncertain future. New police detective Jenna Murphy makes a series of bad decisions in solving her first murder case in Santa Cruz, a beach boardwalk town once known as the “serial murder capital of the world” (in the novel and in reality!).
Toland discusses her inspiration, process and how growing up in a crime-filled San Francisco can shape a young writer’s journey.
What inspired this novel? How long did it take you to write it?
I’m a San Francisco native, but as a kid I spent many summers 70 miles south of the City in Santa Cruz building beach sand castles, playing skeeball, and downing as much ice cream as I could. My grandfather, known as “The Muleskinner” due to his Missouri roots, served as a Sergeant with the San Francisco Police Department. San Francisco in the 1970s was a wide open town and included such events as the infamous, unsolved Zodiac murders. At the same time, Santa Cruz was dubbed the “serial murder capital of the world.” Beginning at about eight years old, I’d eavesdrop on all the adult discussions with Grandpa warning everyone to “stay safe during these wild times.” My mind was made up: I was gonna be a cop and get these bad guys.
But Grandpa said “not so fast.” His scary stories about chasing suspects down dark alleys, dodging blades and bullets (plus a ride-along in his stinky police van) inspired me to write murder mysteries instead. I earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism at San Francisco State, wrote features for the San Francisco Chronicle and other publications, and then built a career in corporate communications, writing educational websites for The New York Times and the Clinton White House Y2K program.
Through the years I wrote for various industries including finance, biotech, and healthcare, but never gave up on my dream to write novels. I always journaled and had little notebooks to scribble funny dialogue overheard during my downtown San Francisco lunch breaks.
A weekend visit to Santa Cruz a few years back sparked the idea for my novel Riptide. I watched a female cop kindly handle an unruly transient near the beach boardwalk. I wondered what challenges face policewomen in smaller towns, where families are trying to have fun but crime happens in the shadows (just like any city). That cop, and other strong women I’ve known, inspired my main character. I began building Murph further, adding in her dreams, disappointments, and challenges.
I started writing notes for this novel during my work breaks and weekends and then full-time while earning my MFA. I’ve always intended a mid-career break to get my master’s degree, and in 2023 I graduated from University of San Francisco’s Creative Writing program. The novel has taken nearly 10 years from start to finish.
What made you choose first-person POV?
I wanted the novel to feel very personal, so readers would feel like my character was speaking directly to them. I also aimed for readers to truly experience Murph’s emotions. A professor once told me that it’s crucial to “get inside a character’s body.” That’s the reason I included many graphic descriptions, like feeling the heat on her face and the anger in her throat. I believed using the first person was the best way to convey her feelings and emotions to readers.
Besides spending your childhood summers in Santa Cruz, was there any other reason to set your novel there?
When creating the classic thriller movie “The Birds,” Alfred Hitchcock chose the hamlet Bodega Bay to represent the elements of a small town plagued by scary events.
Santa Cruz is a beautiful place (Murph describes it as a sanctuary) with an aura of health and good vibes. I thought it would be interesting to explore the juxtaposition of this vibrant place with its dark history of serial killings. There is more to a place than what appears on a postcard. With all my vacations there and hearing about the many murders from my grandfather, I thought it would be a great place to set my novel.
There is this stream of consciousness you go into before every chapter. What was the reason behind this?
The stream of consciousness was a structure I used to depict my character’s journal, where she documented her feelings, as advised by her therapist. Murph is filled with frustration from her job and personal life, and rage from childhood trauma she has buried. Her journal serves as a way for her to become self-aware of her emotions. Murph had to suppress her feelings on the job, which eventually led to her displaying some aggression, causing her to get into trouble at work and ultimately be suspended. This situation prompted her to seek therapy. Following her therapist’s advice, she kept a record of her feelings.
You go back and forth in time, which is a non-linear narrative. Was this a conscious choice? Did you ever worry about affecting the pacing of your novel?
I did fear that. But I knew there had to be a background story to Murph. Everything you experience in life shapes who you are today. I believed that for readers to better understand Murph, they needed to know about her visits to the boardwalk and, for example, how she gets upset when her friend flirts with boys and Murph is ignored. Sharing a few memories that are both touching and funny would help readers relate to her. During revision, I had to cut some of those memories, but hopefully I left in the right ones!
There is a line where your MC says, “Of course, I wanted them to think I was awesome.” As a writer, how much do you care for external validation?
I’m a recovering approval junky. Over the last few years, I’ve learned life is not about pleasing everyone because it’s just not possible. This concept was fresh in my mind, and I thought this line was a great way to express the character’s need for validation. For example, Murph grapples with the idea of her high school reunion. The main thing about a 20th reunion is whether you have a great story to share about yourself. Women especially often feel they are not “enough,” and part of Murph’s character arc is realizing she is indeed enough just as she is. As I was writing, I knew that this story may not be for everyone (even though I of course wanted validation!). My MFA program workshops helped me see that. The women for the most part loved my character, but one guy was blunt enough to say he disliked Murph. I said, “Well, she is flawed after all, but it takes a strong man to appreciate a strong female character in a story.” It’s all subjective.
Murph’s father warns her to stay away from “shady places” and watch out for riptides. As a writer, how do you avoid being dragged into a riptide? And what do you consider to be your riptide?
As a writer, it’s easy to feel down when things aren’t going your way, especially when you face rejection, criticism, writer’s block. I try to keep an old song in mind: “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.” I always try to look on the brighter side: I’m healthy, I have wonderful people in my life, and I get to write almost every day. The rest of it is just frosting on the cake.
Your character has distractions and thoughts in her mind during her investigation and needs to clear them to regain her focus. How do you, as a writer, overcome these distractions and eliminate them?
Feeling unfocused and distracted is part of the human experience. The most important thing is to keep moving forward. No one is focused and “driven” 100 percent of the time. I’ve learned to be easier on myself over the years. I bring my “A game” every day, and sometimes it results in just a C+. I believe that feeling distracted while writing is a natural part of the journey. When my mind starts wandering, it means I need a break. Rest is equally as important as the work.
Your character discovered cooking as a means of healing. Does writing heal you?
Yes, the most healing thing for me is writing, especially journaling, but also doodling, drawing, or making lists. There’s something therapeutic about putting a pen to paper. The idea of journaling and confronting whatever is inside you, whether it’s sadness or joy, helps you get through it. It definitely helps me.
There are mentions of many television series. Do you envision this book as part of a series?
My dream: Riptide is a streaming series. Many people have asked me if there’s a part two, and I’m working on it. Murph is assigned to a joint case in San Francisco where she confronts more killers and hidden tunnels in Golden Gate Park.
How has your journalism training affected your creative writing?
I majored in journalism and for more than 20 years I wrote speeches and digital content for a range of industries. I also taught corporate writing seminars. My 40-50-hour work weeks provided little time to be creative, but early morning journal entries and writing during breaks helped me get the novel started. My journalism training gave me the discipline to write quickly, clearly, and concisely. So instead of setting aside certain styles, I blended my creative and newswriting style to tell Murph’s story.
What books or authors have inspired your writing?
Michael Connelly, because his character Ballard, a female detective, is one of my favorites. Elmore Leonard, who wrote crime series, is precise and action packed. He said that any time his writing “sounded like writing,” he would edit it. Excellent advice. He’s also known for his snappy dialogue, and he inspired many of Murph’s snarky exchanges. Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, in first-person POV, moved me. Then there’s Rod Serling, Alfred Hitchcock, Amy Tan, and Alice Walker who have all inspired me.
Lastly, are there any more books in the pipeline? What’s next?
I’m working on a sequel tentatively titled Darker Waters. It picks right up where Riptide left off, with Murph assigned to a joint task force, tracking a murderer in San Francisco. Murph fights distraction once again, but finds herself in much more danger this time. I’m also excited to be teaching an introductory writing course at College of Marin.
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Laura Toland has been writing stories since first holding a pencil. She became a prolific freelance writer with clients including The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Clinton White House. She later delved into her mystery-writing dream, earning an MFA in Creative Writing from University of San Francisco. Riptide is her first novel. Laura lives in San Francisco with her husband, also a writer.
Swetha Amit is an MFA graduate from the University of San Francisco. The author of a memoir and three chapbooks, her words appear in HAD, Bending Genres, Ghost Parachute, Gone Lawn, and others. A member of the Writers Grotto, her stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfiction.