Interview with Lynette Eason

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Lynette Eason. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called Too Close To Home. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Sure, I’d love to. TOO CLOSE TO HOME released April 1, 2010! Wahoo! But the cool thing is, I started seeing it in bookstores by the middle of March. This has been a REALLY loooooong wait. I sold the Women of Justice Series back somewhere around March or April of 2008 so this has been a two year journey. I’m so excited (and stunned that two years have passed already!) and am eagerly waiting to see this book on the shelves and in the hands of readers. The back cover of TOO CLOSE TO HOME reads:

The FBI has a secret weapon. But now the secret’s out.

When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, the FBI sends in computer forensics expert Samantha Cash to help crack the case. Her methods are invisible, and she never quits until the case is closed.

Homicide detective Connor Wolfe has his hands full. His relationship with his headstrong daughter is in a tailspin, and the string of unsolved murders has the town demanding answers. Connor is running out of ideas—and time.

Samantha joins Connor in a race against the clock to save the next victim. And the killer starts to get personal.

Too Close to Home ratchets up the suspense with each page even as love blossoms in the face of danger. Read this one with the lights on!

“My friend Lynette has a hit on her hands with this romantic suspense. I enjoyed every minute. The plot managed to surprise and captivate me, and the romance was priceless.”—Dee Henderson, bestselling author, the O’Malley series

“A fast-moving tale filled with nonstop action. No chance to catch your breath with this one!”—Irene Hannon, bestselling author, the Heroes of Quantico series

“Eason gives the reader an exciting ride with characters you will care about.”—Margaret Daley, award-winning Steeple Hill romantic suspense author

TOO CLOSE TO HOME is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

My publishers actually came up with it. I had originally called it Seek to Devour, but I like Too Close to Home much better now.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

It’s the genre I’ve always loved. I’ve read suspense from the moment I learned it existed. I can remember reading suspense stories as early as elementary school.

Are you a plotter or a pantser and how did it affect the writing of this book?

I’m both. Because both publishers require me to send a synopsis of the story with the proposal, I have to plot it out. But as I write, I kind of turn into a pantser and tend to go where the characters and story take me. As long as I don’t deviate TOO much, everything always comes together in the end.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

YES! Because of all of the computer technical stuff I had to do tons of research. What are your favorite research books or sites? For this book, I used the crimescenewriter yahoo group. There was computer forensics person on that loop that answered all of my questions. If it hadn’t been for that loop, it would have been a lot harder to get the information I needed.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

From a Lifetime movie. Seriously. Only I took the idea and twisted it so that it fit what I wanted.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

I liked the villain believe it or not. Well, I didn’t LIKE him, but he was the most interesting in a way. Because I had to do so much research about serial killers, writing him was just crazy. And different and SCARY.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

I have this character chart that I got from somewhere—Randy Ingermanson, I think—and I fill it out even as the story is taking shape in my mind. I can usually write a short synopsis about the story while I’m doing the character sketch and then go back and add detail to the synopsis after I know my characters a bit. I have to have a synopsis to sell anything so this process really helps me shape it and make sure I have all my details together. As I do the research, I develop the character accordingly.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Dee Henderson was my mentor. Because of her books, I realized I could write the stories I wanted. I also love Brandilyn Collins and Terri Blackstock. And too many others to list.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Hm…tough one. Probably the online stuff. My publisher has been awesome in their marketing for Too Close to Home, but I’ve lined up booksignings, sent out mega amounts of postcards and done tons of facebook and twitter announcing the release. I really haven’t been able to determine which one is most effective yet.

What do we have to look forward next?

Book TWO in the Women of Justice series. Don’t Look Back will release sometime in September, I believe.

Thanks, Lynette!

You’re quite welcome. It’s been fun! Thanks so much!

To celebrate her book release, Lynette is offering a free book of Too Close to Home to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see who won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. She attended the University of South Carolina, Columbia as an undergrad and Converse College for Graduate school where she obtained her Master’s degree in Education. She is the author of eight Inspirational Romantic Suspense books. She is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married “the boy next door” and now she and her husband and two children make their home in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Check out author’s website at www.lynetteeason.com Buy Too Close to Home.