Shadow Drive, the debut novel by Nolan Cubero
Author Interview + Book and Author Info
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Shadow Drive
Landlord Gabriel Angueira is trying to put his life back together. His teenage daughter, Megan, was seriously injured in a car accident caused by her own drunk driving, though Gabe blames himself. Since the accident he has spent every day taking care of her, reflecting on his failures as a father, and trying to rebuild his relationship with his ex-wife, Anya.So, when a woman wants to rent the house on Shadow Drive, Gabe hands her the keys without a second thought—or doing a background check. Once she moves in, he discovers everything she told him was a lie: her name, her story, her previous address. Gabe knows nothing about this mysterious woman, but she knows a lot about him—and quickly begins destroying the house from the inside out. Gabe soon realizes she’s specifically targeted him and the house on Shadow Drive but has no idea why.
Now Gabe must figure out who this woman is before she unearths his family’s secrets and takes down the house—along with his entire life as he knows it.
DETAILS
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Release Date: 7/11/2023
Genre: Suspense, Crime, Domestic, Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Southern, Thrillers
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To purchase Shadow Drive, click any of the following links:
Interview with Nolan Cubero, Author of Shadow Drive
Shadow Drive focuses on Gabriel Angueira, who is recovering from a personal tragedy. What drew you to creating a character who becomes a caretaker to his daughter?
When I was a kid, a member of my family suffered a brain injury, so I ended up spending a lot of time in hospitals for children with brain injuries.
I always was inspired by everything those parents did for their children. But I also was interested how taking care of a child with serious medical needs affects a marriage.
Shadow Drive also centers on a house on a street by that name. What should we know about the house and the role it plays in the novel:
The house on Shadow Drive is owned by Gabe’s ex-wife, Anya. She bought the house when she divorced Gabe. After their daughter Megan was in a drunk driving accident, they decided to get back together.
Because Gabe was a landlord, they decided to rent the house out. But unfortunately, he ends up renting it out to the wrong person.
As soon as he hands over the keys to his new tenant, she completely cuts off all contact with him, changes the locks on the doors, and covers all the windows in newspaper. And even though he knows nothing about the woman, he realizes she knows a lot about him.
Tell us about your publishing journey with Shadow Drive:
I wrote the book in 2020. I then queried agents and found my agent, Erin Clyburn, that way. She suggested changes, and we did some rewrites. She then sent it out, and it found a home at Blackstone Publishing.
It took about three years from when I finished the book to when it’s finally coming out. I’m excited for people to read it.
In addition to being a dad, a writer, and a filmmaker, you are in law school. How are you juggling all those different passions?
I am barely able to actually. Right now, my son is only 8 months old so I’m trying to prioritize being a dad over everything else. Law school is definitely demanding of time, but I try to make sure I write fiction everyday before I do any school work since writing is more important to me.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to make another film soon, but everything else in my life is taking priority over that at the moment.
After growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, you now live in LA. That’s a big change in environment, what do you love about LA and what do you miss about Kentucky?
I like the friends I’ve made in LA. I like having met other people who also wanted to pursue their dreams in the film industry and so they moved across the country to do it. I find that hunger and drive in other people exciting to be around sometimes.
I think what I miss about Kentucky is being close to my family. Now, that I have a kid, I wish my family could be around him more and get to see all the funny, cute stuff he does every day.
What are you working on now?
About ten different things. I need to do better about focusing my energies. I have been bouncing around between different novels a lot, and haven’t really settled on which one I’m going to finish first.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
I grew up playing punk music, and the idea was always make stuff you like and put it out there. If other people like it, great; if they don’t, who cares. I try to maintain that attitude when I’m writing even though it’s difficult.
I wrote Shadow Drive, and I enjoyed it as I writing it. It was the kind of book I wanted to read, and it captured emotions that mattered to me. And as a reader, I guess I want to read books that the people who wrote them enjoyed writing.
Great advice and best of luck with all your projects!
Nolan Cubero, Author of Shadow Drive
Nolan Cubero is a writer and director originally from Louisville, Kentucky.
He studied linguistics at Brooklyn College and is currently a law student at UCLA School of Law.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.
Shadow Drive is his first novel.
To learn more about Nolan, click on any of the following links: Instagram & Website
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