By Becky Holland
Tina Whittle, a fifty-something native of Cochran and a proud graduate of Bleckley County High School’s Class of 1985, is a writer who has turned curiosity, intellect, and a love of stories into a thriving career. A former college instructor, she now channels her passion entirely into her writing, captivating readers with her Tai Randolph & Trey Seaver mystery series.
Seven novels make up the series—The Dangerous Edge of Things, Darker Than Any Shadow, Blood, Ash & Bone, Deeper Than the Grave, Reckoning and Ruin, Necessary Ends, and Crooked Ways—each following the partnership of a hard-boiled female private investigator and a uniquely gifted detective. Her work explores crime, justice, and human relationships with wit, depth, and Southern charm. Tina shares her work online at www.tinawhittle.com.
For Tina, writing was both innate and intentional. “I was born with a lot of qualities that serve a writer well—curiosity, a love of stories, a fascination with words, and an introverted personality. But I still have to choose it every day,” she says. “Especially as an independent author, there’s no publisher to set deadlines. It’s a joy and a privilege to do this work on my own terms.”
The spark for her first book came from an article in Scientific American about aphasia and its curious link to detecting deception. “I thought, I would love to write a detective character dealing with such a complex injury,” Tina recalls. That idea became Trey Seaver, a detective whose brain doesn’t work conventionally, requiring a partner to tell the story. Enter Tai Randolph, a smart, assertive, and thoroughly Southern female PI whose journey from amateur sleuth to licensed investigator drives the series. Tina delights in exploring their partnership, which blends romance and crime-solving seamlessly, offering readers both suspense and heart.
Mysteries, Tina says, have always drawn her. “I like the puzzle-solving aspect, but I also enjoy letting the story unfold as a work of art. Crime fiction examines the cracks in the foundation of society and lets us imagine what a just world might look like.” Her work reflects her belief in fairness, instilled by her parents and sharpened through years of careful reading, study, and discipline in writing.
Growing up in Cochran, Tina says, shaped her profoundly. “Being small-town Southern is foundational for me. I grew up a mile from the cemetery where I will eventually be buried. Small towns teach you the value of connections—knowing people, being known, showing up for each other. That’s something I carry with me everywhere.” Even in Savannah, where her “neighborhood” is as small as Bleckley County, that small-town ethos persists—neighbors helped her navigate a fallen tree during a storm, proving community transcends geography.
Her books are available in print on Amazon and at libraries, and in digital form on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple Books. Tina is also building her own online bookshop, tinawhittlebooks.lemonsqueezy.com, where readers can access her full catalog and even a free short story. A free story is also offered through her monthly newsletter.
Reflecting on advice for her younger self, Tina smiles. “Travel more, trust your heart, and keep writing. Learn discipline sooner and trust your voice—but otherwise, you’re doing fine.”
Looking ahead, Tina plans to continue doing exactly what she loves: writing, engaging with readers, and expanding her literary universe. Perhaps a North Carolina mountain view will join her small-town heart in inspiring her next tales—but whatever the scenery, her dedication to craft and story remains steadfast.
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