Novelist Kaira Rouda Talks New Book Amid The Dangers Congressional Spouses, Families Face

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Living seaside in Laguna Beach is the perfect place to write a novel or seven. Novelist, wife and mother Kaira Rouda was also a congressional spouse. She loved her time on Capitol Hill with her husband, former congressman Harley Rouda (D-Laguna Beach) during his time in office from 2018 to 2020. Loved it so much that she translated an idea onto the written page with her upcoming novel, "The Widow."

She has a knack for creating completely believable unreliable narrators in her stories. If you're reading for the first time, you may feel a bit off-balanced without knowing why. If you're a fan, you'll find yourself dissecting each word and turn of phrase to figure out if and where they're steering you wrong.

Still, her recent statement about this week's attack on Paul Pelosi rings true.

"It's scary to be in public service," she wrote on Twitter. "I wasn't understating the threat. Paul Pelosi is a wonderful dad, husband and patriot. Get well soon."

Rouda and her husband are back in Laguna Beach. They have been happily married for 32 years, she says, two of which were spent in Washington D.C. when she learned the ins and outs of political life.

"I made lifelong friends, who, like me, were first-time political spouses," she wrote. "We'd get together and share our worries, our frustration at the crazy schedules, and we bonded as you do when you're the only people who understand what each other are going through. I dedicated my new book, The Widow, to the spouses and families of politicians. Few know of their service and sacrifice to our country."

She also saw boos and jeers turn into terrifying threats.

"We were rushed by a man who yelled horrible things and threw firecrackers at us during a 4th of July parade in Huntington Beach," she wrote. "This was terrifying. We didn't have security."

Later, police intervened after a town hall event when right-wing protestors surrounded them on the way to their car.

"The scariest part—in addition to the trackers with cameras shoved in your face wherever you go, and the dark web death threats—is that you don't know who, or what, awaits at the next event, especially when the environment is this polarized and rage-filled."

Read more about her congressional spouse's experiences in her Newsweek Op-Ed.

Her newest book, "The Widow," scheduled for December release by publisher Thomas & Mercer, is about a cheating congressman's wife who takes over his seat when he dies amid suspicious circumstances.

It's not a true crime novel, she promises.

Though her story takes place on Capitol Hill, she and her husband Harley Rouda have returned to life as usual in Laguna Beach.

"Harley bowed out for the good of the party," she wrote in a Newsweek Op-Ed. They suffered some scary moments while Harley was in office, and out on the campaign trail.

"The bullet-proof vest now hangs in the back of the closet," she wrote. "Death threats against Harley, me and our kids have dissipated."

Harley Rouda dropped off the campaign trail and has deferred that goal to Katie Porter, who remains in that race. He also loves the book his wife penned, according to a report from the New York Post.

Harley Rouda told the Post that "Kaira is vibrant, outgoing and the last person you would ever think to figure out ways to kill people."

Find more information about Kaira Rouda on Amazon.