When you're an author, the plot lines of your novels typically have no relation with the real world, and are simply a fantasy you've crafted in your head.

However, one romance novelist turned her fiction into a reality after she allegedly murdered her husband of 27 years.

In 2011, Nancy Crampton-Brophy, 68, wrote an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband," in which she offered insight on how to do away with your partner.

"As a romantic suspense writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about murder and, consequently, about police procedure," Crampton-Brophy wrote. "After all, if the murder is supposed to set me free, I certainly don't want to spend any time in jail."

"I find it is easier to wish people dead than to actually kill them. I don't want to worry about blood and brains splattered on my walls. And really, I'm not good at remembering lies."

"But the thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough."

"While I appreciate all of your loving responses, I am overwhelmed."

Daniel Brophy, an instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute and husband of the author, was found dead with a bullet wound in their home on June 2.

Police originally had no suspects, and Crampton-Brophy immediately shared a Facebook post the following day.

"For my facebook friends and family, I have sad news to relate. My husband and best friend, Chef Dan Brophy was killed yesterday morning," it read.

"For those of you who are close to me and feel this deserved a phone call, you are right, but I'm struggling to make sense of everything right now. There is a candle-light vigil at Oregon Culinary Institute tomorrow, Monday, June 4th at 7 pm."

"While I appreciate all of your loving responses, I am overwhelmed. Please save phone calls for a few days until I can function."

"The memory of him was upsetting her."

Although she played the part of a mourning widow, Crampton-Brophy was arrested on September 5, and charged with his murder.

In a short statement, Portland police said, "detectives believe Nancy L. Crampton-Brophy is the suspect in Daniel C. Brophy's murder," but wouldn't elaborate any further.

While locals were shocked at the romance novelist's arrest, neighbor Heidi Hutchinson told PEOPLE The Wrong Cop author had been talking about relocating this past summer.

"She said that his side of the bedroom was haunting her," Hutchinson shared.

"The memory of him was upsetting her, and she wanted to move pretty quickly," she continued. "She wanted to get out of the house."

Don McConnell, Crampton-Brophy's neighbor for the past six years, told the Oregonian said something had felt off when he questioned her on the killer's motive for the murder.

"I said, are [the police] keeping in touch with you?" McConnell recalled asking her.

"She said, 'No, I'm a suspect,'" he continued. "I thought she must have been one tough woman to handle that the way she did."

In a 2012 interview with the blog Romancing the Genres, Crampton-Brophy admitted that suspense was her favorite theme to integrate in her novels.

"Murder, mayhem and gore seem to come naturally to me, which means my husband has learned to sleep with one eye open."

[H/T: PEOPLE, Oregon Live]

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