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Suspense: Cassandra by Starlight @SusanMacNicol7 #rlfblog
Cassandra by Starlight. Susan Mac Nicol, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk
about your book, Cassandra by Starlight (The Starlight Trilogy).Genre: Contemporary Romance SuspensePublisher: Boroughs Publishing GroupBuy links: www.boroughspublishinggroup.comAmazon US
http://amzn.to/RQYa1dAmazon UK
http://amzn.to/T1lGJQCover artist: Renee YadaevLength: 100,000+ wordsHeat rating: SpicyTagline: A London
woman is swept off her feet into the glamorous yet surprisingly dangerous world
of an up-and-coming star of stage and screen.Blurb: Unconventional though she may be, Cassandra Wallace leads
the life of an average Londoner, from blind dates to rush hour traffic. Then, along
comes Bennett Saville. Charming, erudite, the up-and-coming actor is like the hero
of a romantic movie. He sets Cassie afire like he has the stage and screen, and
defies the tragedy that brought them together. From the tips of his Armani loafers
to their scorching hot first kiss, he’s perfect. Only, he’s ten years younger and
from the upper class, and those emerald eyes invite dangerous secrets. The world
is full of hungry leading ladies, and every show must have its villain. Yet a true
romance will always find its happy ending.What are your main characters’
names, ages, and occupations?Bennett Saville is the
main male character. He is a London
based actor, star of stage and screen, with his own TV series called ‘Gabriel.’
Bennett is 37 years old.Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Wallace
is a professional woman, who specializes in project managing process improvement
for companies. She is 47 years old.Interview
Tell us about your latest
book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?My latest books are a trilogy,
contemporary Romance crossing over into Romantic suspense. The Starlight Series
takes the story of Cassie Wallace and Bennett Saville from their first fateful meeting
after a tragic accident, right up to just after the three years they are together
and are finally tying the knot on an idyllic Fijian island. The incident bringing
the two together is the suicide of Bennett’s younger brother, Eric, who throws himself
off a motorway footbridge. Unfortunately, he lands on Cassie’s car, injuring her
badly. Bennett feels responsible and goes to see Cassie in hospital. He’s intrigued
by her looks, her compassion and her bravery in dealing with the incident. She in
turn is struck by his youth, film star persona, his obvious demons and the fact
that he seems to have no one he can really turn to. The couple strikes up a romance
that transcends the age barrier and they find in each other a way to both appreciate
each other and provide what the other needs.What is the single most
important part of writing for you?That would be bringing
the characters into a reader’s living room, writing scenes and dialogue that is
both believable and real and helps the reader to identify with the characters and
the situations they find themselves in. The greatest compliment for an author is
to be told that a reader could really get into the minds of the characters and that
the story line was well paced, i.e. they simply turn the pages as if it was a seamless
read that flowed well and made the reader feel comfortable.What do you enjoy most
about writing?Writing for me is not a
hobby, it’s a passion. I’ve been writing for a long time, for my own pleasure, and
it’s only since the Starlight Trilogy and getting my first book published that I’ve
truly come to appreciate the magic that exists in sitting down and creating something
that until then exists only in my imagination. The most incredible thing I can think
of to do is take a name of my own creation and build a character about that until
he or she seems almost real. I love to put them in situations that I’d either love
to be in myself, or create one where I can control it and make the decisions that
get them out of the predicament they find themselves in. It’s the most fun anyone
can have in playing the Creator in your own little universe and knowing that it’s
only fiction and you can make anyone do anything you want to.I also enjoy the variation
of writing different things and of being given the opportunity to showcase a different
style. As well as writing these three novels, I also wrote a short story for my
publisher’s ‘Lunchbox Romance’ line. These are short, fun stories designed to be
consumed in the lunch hour. This new story, called ‘The Magick of Christmas’, was
a little bit of whimsy created especially for the line and as I myself have a great
interest in Wicca and love Christmas, it made sense to combine the two in a feel
good contemporary Romance story about love and magick at Christmas time.Where do you start when
writing? Research, plotting, outline, or…?I am a fly by the seat
of your pants writer. I literally started out with Cassandra by Starlight using
an Excel spreadsheet with half a dozen names on it, about five lines per character,
defining age, look, what they did and a very brief description of their character.
I had no idea when I started that Bennett’s mother was going to be schizophrenic,
that Cassie had an ex-husband, that Bennett had a crazy stalker who was an former
terrorist, or that he’d have a gay best friend called Dylan who’s quite an irreverent
character. It all simply flew from the tips of my fingers onto the screen as the
characters developed and I thought of the next line.Research wise – for Cassandra
there was a lot of research required, especially around the world of the theatre
and movie-making, the issues of schizophrenia and stalking and of course, one of
the most controversial topics in my book, the female on male rape scene. The latter
was researched using case histories of people who had actually been subject to rape
and in fact, after the book was published, the gentleman who wrote the original
article that I used as the basis for my scene in the book, James Landrith, got in
touch with me. It was a very moving moment to be able to communicate directly with
the man whose grim experience formed some of the basis for my book.What did you learn from
writing your first book?I learned that I knew nothing
about formatting or writing for publication and about the nightmare of point of
view and what not to do and how not to head hop. I’m still learning that one…I also learned how a good
editor was worth her weight in gold and one who worked with you and guided you,
worth a lot more.As for social networking
and how to self promote – when I started writing these books in February this year,
the only thing I had was a business LinkedIn account, gathering dust, and a very
meager Facebook page. The mere mention of Twitter and tweets was enough to make
me hiss like a vampire having a necklace of garlic thrust around her neck. But,
as well as writing and doing the editing to make my stories suitable for publication,
I had to get out there and learn everything I could about the art of social networking.
I’m pleased to say I’ve got the knack of it, and I am beavering away valiantly to
build my ‘community’ and draw readers into my books.How do you balance a life
outside of writing with deadlines and writing muses?I work full time in the
city of Cambridge
which is about an hour’s drive from my home. I leave the house at seven in the morning
and am back in around six p.m. I am very fortunate to have a very supportive family
and to be honest, (and bear with me on this train of thought!) my saving grace (in
my view, my mother and family would agree) is that I’m not really a domesticated
animal. I don’t like cooking, I don’t bake and I will run like hell if an iron ever
comes near me. I’ve always been a professional working woman, working long hours
and have gotten used to this way of life. So having a husband and kids who can cook,
and like to cook, to me, is an absolute boon and they are very happy to take up
this mantle, which gives me the time from seven p.m. to midnight and sometimes longer,
to write and retreat into the ‘bear cavern’ so called because my daughter has warned
the family ‘not to poke the bear when she’s writing. She growls.’What do you hope readers
take with them after reading your work?My biggest desire for a
reader is to simply enjoy the moment and live in the world I’ve created and feel
comfortable doing so. I want readers to almost feel bereft when they finish my book,
to feel as if they want more. If they think about the characters and the events
after they’ve put down the book, even if it’s just a day or two afterwards, and
I accomplish this, then I think I’ve done what I set out to do.If money were not an object,
where would you most like to live?I have always wanted to
live in a country manor where there is a lot of land and a lake and I can simply
spend my days writing in my huge, book-laden study. This could be either here in
England or in France. I’ve never
been to France but one of the
places I would truly love to go is Carcassonne in
the south of France.
I became entranced with this place when reading Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’ and ‘Sepulchre’
and I think a beautiful castle overlooking this area would suit me down to the ground.If you were a tool, what
would people use you to do?I would definitely be a
blunt instrument as that describes me so well. I suppose a hammer is the best fit.Picture yourself as a store.
Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold
there?Comfortable clothing that
made you feel warm and fuzzy, chocolate of any description, books, anything geeky
like smart phones, tablets, gadgets, time machines, holographic devices, Benedict
Cumberbatches, (an English actor I have a particular passion for), anything to do
with magic or witches, chunky costume jewellery that sparkled in a myriad of colours
and a selection of really sexy men to pander to my every need when the Cumberbatch
is having a well deserved rest.If you came with a warning
label, what would it say?This item is hard wearing
and tough, has a tendency to switch off when in writing zone mode and can prove
extremely fractious when disturbed.Please Fill in the Blanks
I love pizza with bacon.I’m always ready for bedtime.When I’m alone, I live in my own head.You’d never be able to tell, but I am actually listening to
you.If I had a halo it would be a little tarnished.If I could time travel I’d go back and catch Jack the
Ripper.I can never give up because I’m driven.
Susan MacNicol Books Coming Soon
Books 2 and 3 in the Starlight
trilogy – tentatively titled ‘Together in Starlight’ and ‘Starlight and Promises.’‘Saving Alexandria’ – a novel about a flawed woman who finds an unexpected and sexy
saviour who helps her overcome both her fears and the demons from her past.Currently
working on another Lunchbox Romance short storyFind Me Here
Website: www.susanmacnicol.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanMacNicol7Other sites: http://pinterest.com/susiemax777/Cassandra by Starlight
Facebook page http://on.fb.me/RQYv3Z -
Suspense: Green Eyed Doll @jerriealexander
Green-Eyed Doll. Jerrie Alexander, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about your book, The Green-Eyed Doll.
Thank you, Kayelle, for having me over today. I’ve poured the coffee and brought blueberry muffins.Genre: Romantic SuspenseBuy links:The Wild Rose PressAmazon http://amzn.com/1612174442/
Cover artist: Rae MonetLength: 354 pagesHeat rating: RTagline: A woman running from her past. A Texas sheriff who ignites a flame she thought lost forever. A killer who paints his victims to look like porcelain dolls.Blurb:Catherine McCoy is running from her past. She’s been on the move for a year, hiding the secret and guilt in her heart. When she lands in small-town Texas and meets Sheriff Matt Ballard, he ignites a flame she thought lost forever.Matt has scars of his own. He left the big city after an undercover operation went bad and his partner was killed. Now, as Matt hunts for a serial killer who paints his victims like porcelain dolls, Catherine becomes a safe haven for him. Two tortured souls finding comfort in each other’s arms—until he uncovers her secret, and their bond of trust is broken.When Catherine disappears, Matt races to find her, fearing the murderer has found his next green-eyed doll. But the killer has a surprise coming. Catherine will fight to the death before she’ll be a victim. But will her determination be enough?What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Catherine McCoy, 30, part-time waitress and part-time file clerkMatt Ballard, 33 years old, Texas County SheriffInterview
What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?To write the best book possible and then write the next one. Social media and marketing are important, but I sincerely believe the best thing I can do to further my career is to keep writing. I plan to keep learning and honing my craft.What do you enjoy most about life?Waking up each morning? Just joking. I love everything about life. My family, friends, and fellow writers are the best in the world. I live in Texas, love the warm climate, blue skies, and friendly people. I can’t ask for more.
Jerrie Alexander If you could choose anyone to be your mentor who would it be?
Hands down, the awesome Linda Howard. Holy cow, when talent was passed out, she must’ve been first in line. She grabs the reader by the throat and pulls you into each story. Death Angel is my all time favorite book of hers. You don’t want to know what all I’d do for the chance to work with her.If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?I push hard, work hard, and expect a lot from myself. So I’d say to be patient with myself. It’s sad to admit, but let’s be honest. Patience is not one of my virtues. My husband tells me that no one will see these words on my tombstone. “Here Lies a Patient Person.”Do you have a muse? Describe this person, please.If I do…she AOL. She’d constantly feed me story ideas and chocolate. My shoulders would never be tired, because her rubdowns would be off the chart. And did I say she?? I meant he…and he would look like Gerard Butler and be at my beck and call.Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?Maybe a little of the hero’s personalities have my husband’s John Wayne attitude. But other than him, I’ve never patterned a character after a friend or family member. A few of my friends are quirky, but thankfully, none of them fit the profile of the killers in my stories.What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your own writing?I love to read romantic suspense authors, other than Linda Howard, Allison Brennan and Cindy Gerard are two of my favorites. My guilty pleasure is a good historical romance. When I really need a break from the murder and mayhem, I’ll grab a Elizabeth Hoyt or Jade Lee book and curl up with a cup of coffee. The only sound you’ll hear from me is an occasional sigh.What do you think is the future of epublishing?I think we’ve only scratched the surface. Epublishing will continue to grow and provide readers with great yet easy to purchase books. The fast pace of our lifestyles will only speed up, increasing the demand for more.What was the proudest moment of your life so far?I claim the prize of having the most beautiful daughter ever! She and her husband brought the most awesome granddaughter into this world. So I’d have to say, even as cheesy as it sounds, my proudest moment is anytime my family is together.Imagine you get to go on a dream vacation, but you have only one hour to pack and leave, and it starts as soon as you finish this interview. What will you take with you and where will you go?Sun block, two bathing suits, a beach towel, snorkel gear, sandals, shorts, T-shirts and one summer dress, all which fit in one carryon. I’d head to the clearest, warmest water in the Caribbean.If your life became a movie, who would you want to play you?A blonde Anne HathawayIf you were a color, what color would you be?RedWhich statement is more like you:“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because I do things as fast as possible.”Please Fill in the Blanks
I love pizza with football.I’m always ready for company.When I’m alone, I write.You’d never be able to tell, but I’m uncomfortable around strangers.If I had a halo it would be stolen.If I could scuba dive I’d give up snorkeling.I can never climb Mount Everest because I’m terrified of heights.Previous Books
The Green-Eyed Doll is my debut novel.
Jerrie Alexander Books Coming Soon
The Last Execution from The Wild Rose PressHell or High Water, book one of the Lost and Found, Inc. series from Etopia-PressFind Me Here
Website: http://jerriealexander.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/jerriealexanderGoodreads: http://goodreads.com/jerriealexander.com -
Suspense: A Fist Full of Ashes @rannsiracusa
Fist Full of Ashes. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever, Ann. Tell us about your
book, All for a Fist Full of Ashes.Author: R Ann SiracusaGenre: Romantic SuspenseBuy links:BreathlessPress Buy LinkAmazon.comBuy LinkPublisher: Breathless PressCover artist: Staci PerkinsLength (words): 97KHeat rating: PG, sensuous with a few explicit sex scenes,Tagline: A young tour director and a handsome spy take a fast-paced
romantic romp through Italy
in pursuit of a lost grave, an assassin, and a once-in-a-lifetime love.Blurb:I’m Harriet Ruby: Tour Director Extraordinaire. At least, I thought
I was worthy of that title, until…My first mistake: Agreeing to conduct a private tour of Italy. Fourteen
Italian-Americans from New Jersey?
All family, for three weeks, with four teenagers? What was I thinking? Fate responds
to my engraved invitation by placing one of the family under surveillance as a suspect
in an assassination plot, and who is assigned to the case? None other than my favorite
drop-dead-gorgeous spy, Will Talbot.My second mistake: Allowing Will to coax an invitation from the
family matriarch to join the tour.And that was just the beginning. The matriarch, searching for
the unknown location of her mother’s grave so she can bury her brother’s cremated
ashes (which have been smuggled into Italy wrapped in Cuban cigars), and her quirky
family members sweep through Italy leaving chaos, hilarity, and danger in their
wake.What are your main characters’
names?Harriet Ruby and Will TalbotAges?Heroine, 25; Hero, 34Occupations?Harriet is a Tour Director for Adventure Seekers Travel in RomeWill is a Europol undercover spy and an ex-Special Forces contract
operative for the US
government.InterviewTell us about your latest
book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?All For A Fist Full Of Ashes is the second novel in a romantic
suspense series entitled Tour Director Extraordinaire. The lead characters are the
same in each book, but the romance moves to a new level in each, while the external
spy story is resolved.I’d say this is cross-genre because it is more than 50% suspense
and less than 50% romance. It’s also humor. I could never sell to conventional romance
publishers because my work is too action/story driven.Meet Harriet Ruby, Tour
Director Extraordinaire
Dead Man’s Leg She’s an intelligent, well-balanced but over-trusting young woman
whose biggest problem is that she doesn’t have any real problems. For twenty-four
years, her life has been good but predictable and ordinary. In book 1(All For A
Dead Man’s Leg), Harriet takes a position as a tour director in Europe, but instead
of being a trainee, she is responsible for a small group touring Spain and Morocco. All goes well until she and
her group get lost in the medina in Tangier…and one of her tourists dies.Will Talbot, a handsome stranger and Europol spy in disguise,
offers to help her smuggle the body out of Morocco. At that moment, Harriet’s once-predictable
life turns upside down and will never be the same again.Little does she know that getting out of Morocco is only
the beginning.Meet Will Talbot, Mysterious
SpyTall, dark and to-die-for gorgeous, this spy and ex-Special Forces
contract operative for the US
government has a troubled past, huge issues with trust and guilt, and a calling
to rescue innocent victims.He’s everything perfect on the outside that a principled spy
should be—intelligent, intense, self-diciplined, creative and intuitive, and with
a great sense of humor to boot—definitely larger than life. But vulnerable on the
inside and out of touch with his emotions.Nothing in his action-filled, dangerous existence could have
prepared him for Harriet Ruby.Water And FireHarriet and Will’s intense magnetic attraction to each other
creates a volatile combination. Together, they experience hilarious misadventures,
great sex, and life-threatening journeys in pursuit of murderers, smugglers, terrorists,
and a once-in-a-lifetime love.All For A Fist Full Of
AshesIn Book 2 Will and Harriet have been seeing each other for a
year and have agreed to a no-strings attached, sexual relationship, but there’s
no denying the feelings are far more than casual.They come together on the job in Italy. Harriet is conducting a private
tour of Italy
for an Italian-American family (fourteen relatives, for three weeks, with four teenagers).
What was she thinking? Will has one of the family members under surveillance as
a suspect in an assassination plot. He convinces the family matriarch to let him
travel with the tour.The family matriarch, searching for the unknown location of her
mother’s grave so she can bury her brother’s cremated ashes (which have been smuggled
into Italy wrapped in Cuban cigars), and her quirky family members sweep through
Italy leaving chaos, hilarity, and danger in their wake.How do you come up with
ideas?My inspiration is world travel. My initial interest in traveling
came about because, being an architect, I was interested in how earlier cultures
expressed their values, ideas, religion, and social customs in the buildings they
built. I never expected travel and writing to come together, but they did. Now,
when I travel, I look for unique things about the location or culture and try to
imagine what might happen under those circumstances that wouldn’t happen elsewhere.When I read a book, I want to go places I haven’t been and do
things I’ve never done. I want to be someone else. When I write, I want to share
with readers the incredible wealth of culture and tradition, of architecture and
scenery, from other countries that I’ve been fortunate enough experience. So most
of my stories take place in other parts of the world where I’ve traveled.Where do you start when
writing? Research, plotting, outline, or…?Usually something I see, hear, or read sparks an idea. For example,
when I took a hot air balloon flight over northern San Diego County,
we were drifting silently over huge and expensive residential estates. Very remote.
Suddenly we came over the tops of some trees and startled several people on the
ground below us who never heard us coming. They were so close I could read the expressions
of surprise on their faces. And I thought, what would happen if a person was taking
their first solo hot-air-balloon flight and came upon someone burying a body? (That’s
one I’m going to write someday.)Once I have an idea how the novel begins and a general idea of
the ending, I think about what kinds of characters would be engaged by these circumstances,
and come up with my lead characters.I write four or five pages of back story, delving into the circumstances
which lead up to the inciting incident. This is when I might do some initial research
regarding real incidents I want to use. Some of the back story it is the characters’
background, but not like the character profiles some writers use. Sometime pieces
of the back story show up in the actual novel, most of it doesn’t. It is information
I need to write the story, but the reader doesn’t.After that, I prepare a one page outline that looks like a calendar
– one box for each chapter, one sentence about what happens in each of the scenes
in the chapter. Like a Story Board. Only the essential actions needed to move the
story forward. “Joe kills Marcia.” I identify the plot points in the chapter
boxes. Many authors use 3×5 cards instead, so the chapters/scenes can be rearranged
at will to try out other ways to play out the story.Then, I actually start writing. Things change along the way,
and sometimes they change enough that I have to change the story board. Most of
the time, it’s figuring out how Joe is going to kill Marcia and what happens when
he does.If you could give the
younger version of yourself advice what would it be?You mean, besides telling myself, “You’re nuts!”? Well, it would
be very hard to limit my advice to one or two things, since I have a long list.
And, truth be known, I probably wouldn’t have listened. I’m sure I heard these words
of wisdom from others along the way.First, I’d convince myself that my calling was to be a writer
and not to put it off but start writing right away, which would include learning
the craft, writing every day, and networking with other writers.Second, my advice would be “Run away from home!” Advice which
wouldn’t have been practical or possible but might have prepared me for the difficult
task of juggling even more plates in the air than I already had. The important thing
is to set aside the time to write and stick with it, in spite of your family and
your job. Don’t allow interruptions, even if it’s only fifteen minutes a day.Third, learn to write anywhere. Always have something with you
and use whatever time is available to write.Fourth, learn to “write by the rules” first. When you master
them, then you can break the rules by making conscious choices. Bottom line: Most
of us have to pay our dues.Fifth, learn to take and use criticism, don’t get discouraged,
and be persistent.Sixth, prepare a career plan.Are your stories driven
by plot or character?My novels are about 60% plot and 40% character driven. I find
it hard to separate plot and character. To me, fiction is all about people reacting
to circumstances and each affecting the other. If I put one set of characters into
a given situation or story idea, it becomes this novel. But if I put different characters
into the same situation, it will end up a different novel because they react differently.
The characters’ reactions, in turn, affect the action/plot. Chicken and egg.
Family Secrets What do you hope readers
take with them after reading your work?In my romantic suspense series, I want the reader to be transported
to an interesting place in the world with exciting characters doing things and having
experiences the readers wouldn’t have in their own real lives. In that process,
I hope they’ll have fun and a good laugh or two and, at the same time, learn something
about other countries and cultures. I want them to feel like they’ve been there.
Nothing deep or profound, just fun, fast-paced, and sexy. An escape from the real
world.I can do deep, profound,
and emotion-wrenching novels, but those aren’t romances.List two authors we would
find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.Dick Francis and Katie MacAlister. I aspire to write like a combination
of those two authors. LOLA biography has been written
about you. What do you think the title would be in six words or less?It’s The Journey That CountsIf money were not an object,
where would you most like to live?Half the time where I live now (in San Diego)
and half the time in Rome.
Rome is still my
favorite city. I know that’s, in part, because I fell in love and got married there,
but it’s also a great place to live.What song would best describe
your life?I’m not sure the whole song describes my life, but the title
does.I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World.As a child, what was your
favorite thing about school?Chasing the boys at recess (that was in grammar school).Tell us an embarrassing
story that has to do with a pet. If you have no pets, a story about a significant
other will do.This is a story about someone else’s pet and my husband. Jerry,
a friend of my two sons who lived about a block away, had a dog named Lady. Lady
defied every effort to keep her locked in the back yard, and she really loved chasing
things. She followed Jerry everywhere.One Sunday morning my husband was out watering the front lawn
and along came a neighbor riding her bicycle. And in her wake, nipping at her ankles
and barking, came Lady.My husband squirted water at the dog (and of course hit the woman,
too) and yells, “Hey, Lady. Why don’t you go home?”Of course, the woman thought he meant her, not the dog. For years
afterward, until we moved away, every time she and her husband drove past our house,
she would point at it. You could tell by the way her mouth moved and her expression
that she was saying unkind things about my husband’s rude behavior.If you came with a warning
label, what would it say?Caution: Hazardous to your health.If I was a first time
reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?You could start either with Family Secrets: A Vengeance of Tears,
which is a stand-alone historical (WWII) Mafia thriller. Or, if someone wants to
read the Tour Director Extraordinaire series (romantic suspense) it’s better to
start with Book 1 – All For A Dead Man’s Leg.Please Fill in the BlanksI love pizza with pepperoni.I’m always ready for bed. It used to be because of the sex,
now it’s because I’m old and tired. How life changes!When I’m alone, I write, quilt, or read…well, sometimes I
try to catch up on housework.You’d never be able to tell, but I enjoy opera and classical
music as much as I enjoy today’s rock music and riding a quad in the desert.If I had a halo, it would be pretty lopsided.If I could make the best
seller list, I’d drop dead of shock (and delight).I can never know if there are planets in other galaxies with
intelligent life because I’m not likely to live that long.My BooklistAll For A Dead Man’s Leg – Book 1 in the romantic suspense series
Tour Director ExtraordinaireFirst Date – Short Story 1 in the romantic suspense series Tour
Director ExtraordinaireAll For A Fist Full Of Ashes – Book 2 in the romantic suspense
series Tour Director ExtraordinaireFamily Secrets: A Vengeance of TearsBooks Coming SoonHalloween in the Catacombs – Short Story 2 in the Tour Director
Extraordinaire SeriesA free read coming in OctoberDestruction of the Great Wall – Book 3 in the Tour Director Extraordinaire
SeriesComing in NovemberAll In The GameSci Fi Romance – Coming in November
R Ann Siracusa First Christmas Follies – Short Story 3 in the Tour Director
Extraordinaire SeriesA free read coming in DecemberAll For Spilled Blood – Book 4 in the Tour Director Extraordinaire
SeriesComing in February 2013Contests:I’ll be having a contest in relation to my two releases in November.
It will be a drawing for a B&N or Amazon gift certificate and some other prizes
including ebooks. Details to be announced.Find Me HereWebsite: http://rannsiracusa.com/blogTwitter: https://twitter.com/AnnSiracusaGoogle Circles: https://plus.google.com/105467292422978603982/posts -
Character Interview: Quinn Wells
In Hot Pursuit. Karen, welcome to Romance Lives Forever! Let’s talk about your new book, In Hot Pursuit.
Genre: Romantic SuspenseBuy links:Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/92eqmmaBarnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/9ksmmflPublisher: Crimson Romance/Adams MediaLength: a tad over 72,000 wordsHeat rating: PG13Tagline:When $25 million is stolen from her employer, a relationship-phobic
accountant hunts for the thief alongside a handsome bachelor who falls for her.Blurb:Quinn Wells believes her life is just as it should
be — calm, relaxed, and free of relationship entanglements. The theft of a $25
million dollar gift to her employer, Houston
Cullen University,
changes all that.
Quinn, knowing her own innocence is in question, takes
matters into her own hands by setting off in pursuit of the coworker she believes
is responsible for the theft. But Logan Rice, the donor of the gift, isn’t going
to let her out of his sight.
As they race from city to city, Logan is determined to win over Quinn and convince
her they have a chance as a couple. But Logan’s
wealth and social position are the opposite of Quinn’s middle-class life, and he
devastates her by withholding information about his past. Will she discover what
is most important to her before he walks away?What are your main characters’
names? Ages? Occupations?Quinn Wells — 44 years old — Controller of Houston Cullen UniversityLogan
Rice — 42 years old — Executive Director of the BridgeInterview with author Karen Sue Burns
Tell us about the main
character in your current book. What is she like?Quinn Wells is a divorced woman in her early-forties who is content
with her life having a good job and happy daughters. After being divorced for ten
years, she has convinced herself that she isn’t relationship material, i.e. she’d
damaged goods. She’s looking forward to becoming a grandmother, continuing to work
until retirement age, and cooking. She would love to publish her own cookbook. Her
life turns chaotic with the theft of a $25 million gift to her employer, Houston Cullen University.
As university controller, she’s appointed to deal with the police and proceeds to
use her analytical skills and gut instincts to solve the theft. The search for the thief provides the
perfect opportunity for the reader to view the many sides of Quinn — analytical
and organized over achiever, general smartass, doting mother, loyal friend, reluctant
lover, and brave citizen in the face of danger.If your main character
was here today, what would she say is her strongest point?Quinn has excellent logic in dealing with problems, along with
plain old smarts that guide her search for the thief of the $25 million. Plus, she
is tenacious and thinks outside the box in most instances.Does she think she has a weakness? (If so, what does she think
it is? What does her lover think it is? What does her enemy think it is?)Quinn would say her weakness is that she’s too smart for her
own good — yes, she’s a smartass and thinks she is right about most everything.Logan Rice would say her weakness is that she has given up on
love and her thinking that she can’t make a relationship work for the long term
is plain wrong.Rebecca Holland would say that Quinn’s weakness is an over inflated
sense of importance at Houston Cullen University as everyone knows that accounting
is a necessary evil and boring as hell, just like Quinn.What drives your heroine
to do the things she does? What makes her want to be the “good guy?”Quinn believes in “truth, justice, and the American way.”
She has a conservative nature and believes that hard work, dedication, and a strong
will lead to success. She believes that by using her smarts she is the good guy
who works are being fair to all. On the other hand, she does have a bit of a quirk
or spark that generates her smartass trait. Her tenacity in going after the thief
stems from her belief in justice and righting a wrong.What’s your main character’s favorite guilty pleasure?For women, a guilty pleasure usually relates to chocolate, jewelry,
or clothes. Quinn’s guilty pleasure is kitchen gadgets. She has a ten year old car
and a plain cell phone, yet she has the latest style of food processor, four coffee
pots, enough kitchen knives to open a store, and three sets of pots and pans. Rather
than wandering around the shoe department at Nordstrom’s or Macy’s, she stalks the
aisles of Crate and Barrel and every boutique kitchen store in the Houston metro area.
Coliseum in Rome Interview with Character Quinn Wells
A biography has been written
about you. What do you think the title would be in six words or less?The title would probably be something like: The Tenacious BroadPicture yourself as a
store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be
sold there?This is an easy one, I would be a kitchen store. i would sell
everything, other than food and large appliances, that could be found in a residential
kitchen. And, naturally, I would be forced to tour the world for the very best products
for my store . . . ooh, too much fun!If you came with a warning
label, what would it say?Watch out, too smart for her own good.Please Fill in the Blanks — Responses by Quinn Wells
I love pizza with black olives and extra cheese.I’m always ready for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, usually
wine if it’s after 11 am.When I’m alone, I enjoy
trying out or creating a new recipe.You’d never be able to tell, but my first grandchild will
be born soon. (I agree, I look so young for forty-four!)If I had a halo it would be lopsided.
I’m so not an angel.If I could have a dog, I would spoil her like crazy.
Hmm, maybe I should adopt a puppy.I can never grow house plants because I have a black
thumb, seriously, left hand.About the Author
Karen
Sue Burns writes romantic suspense and mystery featuring feisty heroines who find
themselves embroiled in risky situations full of adventure and sexy heroes. She
has worked as a CPA for over 25 years. She’s traveled to Rio
de Janeiro, London and Oslo, audited glass molds for wine bottles in California, and taken a helicopter to a drillship off the
Gulf Coast–all in the name of accounting. For
the last 16 years she’s been controller at a liberal arts university in Houston, Texas
handling the financial statements, the annual audit, and preparing IRS Form 990.
Accounting has been good to her, but writing romance novels is her passion. In Hot
Pursuit is her debut romantic suspense novel. Karen may be contacted via her website
at http://karensueburns.comBooklist
In Hot Pursuit is the first
novel for the author.Books Coming Soon
Karen Sue Burns The Liberation of Mr. Delaney,
a contemporary ghost mystery and book one in The Texas Ghost Series, is currently
planned to be indie published by the end of October 2012.Find Me Here
Website: http://karensueburns.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/KarenSueBurnsTwitter: http://twitter.com/karensueburnsBlog: http://karensueburns.com/blogPinterest: http://pinterest.com/KarenSueBurnsAbout the images
Statue of Liberty outside the
New York-New York Casino in Las Vegas: One of Quinn’s favorite sights during
the first leg of her search for the thief of the $25 million.Trevi Fountain in Rome: Throwing
a coin in the foundation alongside Logan
is a comforting act for Quinn — “They
had crossed an unspoken boundary. The warmth of his gaze filled her with hope. Hope
that what lay ahead wouldn’t bite her in the butt. But at that moment, the planets
in her world were in perfect alignment.”The Coliseum in Rome:
This nighttime photo was the inspiration for the cover of In Hot Pursuit.
