Interview with Terri Reed

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Terri Reed. 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 Chasing Shadows. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

When senior citizens start disappearing from a Boston retirement center, heiress Kristina Worthington is suspicious. Especially since she fears her beloved grandmother is next. Without solid evidence, she’s forced to turn to the one police officer who might listen—her former love, Gabe Burke. Now a seasoned cop, Gabe still sees her as the rich girl whose family thought he wasn’t good enough. And though he takes the case, Gabe seems convinced he’s chasing shadows. Until they start dodging threats, bullets...and their rekindled feelings.

Chasing Shadows is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

While writing the book I had the heroine questions whether they were chasing the shadows in her grandmothers mind and as soon as I saw the words I knew that the title had to be Chasing Shadows.

Would you describe your book as a cozy, mystery, suspense, or thriller?

I would say this book is a bit mystery, a bit suspense with a dash of cozy through in.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I had decided early on in my writing journey that I want to write for Harlequin but I couldn’t gain any traction. When the company started the Steeple Hill line, I realized my writing really reflected my faith and Steeple Hill seemed a natural fit. It still took a decade to finally sell my first novel to Love Inspired, but I know this is where I’m supposed to be.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

My grandmother was in a group retirement home for the last few years of her life. She had Alzheimer’s. When my mother starting showing signs of the disease, I began researching retirement centers. As I was contemplating the decision, my mind began to ask “what if”…what if residents started disappearing? What would happen? Who would care? And who would do such a thing and why? From there the idea started to blossom and then I had to people it. I had Gabe as a secondary character in my February 2007 book Double Deception, part of the McClain mini-series and I wanted to give him a story so I thought he’d be the perfect person for Kristina to call upon for help.

Do you have all the key suspense/mystery elements thought out before you begin writing?

For the most part I do. Though I had thought a different person was the villain in this story up until almost the end. That was fun for me to realize I had subconsciously kept the villain a secret even from myself.

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

I visited a retirement center in my area and loosely base the layout of the center in the story on it. I also belong to a wonderful network of writers who helped with the police info. Though I know I fudged on a few things for the sake of the story. Creative license, and all that.

What are your favorite research books or sites?

Well, that would depend on the subject matter. When writing books where one or more characters are in law enforcement I had several different resources, depending on which branch the characters serve in. Police Procedures and Investigation for Writers by Lee Lofland, Practical Homicide Investigations by Vernon Geberth, Witsec: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program by Pete Earley—to name a few. The internet is an indispensible resource as well. You can find info on almost any subject and any setting.

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

I think I liked writing Sadie, the grandmother, the most. My own grandmother was spunky and very adventurous. She and my grandfather had the most romantic courtship and marriage. They met when they were twenty, married a year later and were married when they both passed on in their late eighties. I miss them both so much.

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

I do fill out some sheets that help me to narrow the focus of the characters inner and external conflicts, motivations and goals. In the past, when a character wasn’t developing quick enough or thoroughly enough, I have had my characters tell their own story from their point of view and I discuss interesting facts. But mostly the characters develop as I write.

How does your research affect your character development?

If my hero, Gabe in this book, is a cop, then I use the info I’ve gleaned from the research books to help define him. For Kristina, being a heiress who was trying to gain autonomy from her family I watched reruns of Gilmore Girls. I wanted Kristina to have the same sort of drive and vulnerability as the Lorelei Gilmore.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Tons! The list would be too long if I started it.

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

I’m not good at promoting myself so I’m not sure what is the best avenue. I have done flyers, postcards, booksignings and joined several group blogs. And done interviews like this one. Thank you for by the way.

You're welcome. What do we have to look forward next?

Right now I have a short suspense story on the eharlequin site www.eharlequin.com titled Yuletide Peril that runs through the month of October and should still be available to read. I have Love Inspired Suspense book coming out in May 2010, titled Covert Pursuit which features a secondary character from Chasing Shadows. In August 2010 my Love Inspired Romance book Treasure Creek Dad will be available, this book is book two of the Alaskan Brides continuity series. And I have a Love Inspired Suspense novella coming out for Christmas 2010

Thanks, Terri!

To celebrate her book release, Terri is offering a free ebook of Chasing Shadows to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away... (please check Monday night to see who won. Chances of winning depends on number of comments.)

Check out author’s website at www.loveinspiredauthors.com or http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/ http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
Buy http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Shadows-Steeple-Inspired-Suspense/dp/0373443617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256586178&sr=8-1

Interview with Jenness Walker

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Jenness Walker. 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 Double Take. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

The story begins with the hero reading a thriller. Then that scene is played out in front of him in real life. Using the book as a guide, he tries to save the heroine. But then the bad guy changes the ending...

Double Take is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

I had a little help. It was originally called Déjà Vu, because the hero feels like he’s seen some of the story playing out before it actually does. Apparently foreign words as titles don’t sell well for my publisher, so my editor and a few others came up with Double Take as a replacement.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I read almost anything, but suspense is definitely one of my favorites. It’s the genre I get most of my ideas in.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I’m not exactly sure. ☺ I was trying to brainstorm a story that would be kind of a cross between Speed and My Hands Came Away Red. I’d also just read an interview with a book cover model. Somehow the plot for Double Take came out, although all it has in common with the movie is a bus, and nothing whatsoever with the book.

Do you have all the key suspense/mystery elements thought out before you begin writing?

No. I usually have a vague idea of where I’m going and none whatsoever of who the bad guy is. Keeps things interesting. ☺

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book? What are your favorite research books or sites?

I researched odds and ends, mostly online. Like watching youtube videos to get a feel for whittling. Checking out the MARTA website and photos on google. That kind of thing. Oh…and I picked a guy to be Cole. He was a musician (which Cole was in the original draft), and he was perfect. But then I googled more images of him to look for different facial expressions…and found out he had a side job as an underwear model. Not exactly the shots I’d had in mind. I wrote the book without a picture. ☺

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

I think Cole was probably my favorite. He’s the wounded hero kind of guy—the kind I like best. ☺

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’m more of a seat-of-the-pants type writer. I get bored with character interviews. I have to see the characters in the story itself to figure out exactly who they are and what they want. It’s so awesome to me when I get near the end and somehow the threads start tying together in a nice neat bow in a way that I never would have thought of. I love that feeling. Of course, sometimes I have to tweak it, and I think I changed Cole’s eye color three times before I did a search of the document to find out what it was supposed to be. Can you tell I’m not the most organized person in the world?

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

At my first writers’ conference, Susan May Warren looked over the first few pages of one of my projects out of the kindness of my heart. I still have the comments she wrote on them. One of them said something like, “You can write!” Coming from one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, that was really special. Also, Donna Fleisher kind of mentored me a few years back and I learned a LOT from her. Her friendship and encouragement has meant so much.

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

I haven’t done much promotion yet—Steeple Hill is great at marketing its authors. With the book releasing this month, however, I’m stepping up my efforts, with a blog tour, some giveaways, a promotional video, etc. Honestly, though, I think word-of-mouth is going to be the most effective tool. For most of my life I’ve lived in a tight-knit Christian college community where people are always coming and going. Because of that, I know people in churches and schools all across the U.S. I’m hoping curiosity will cause them to pick up the book, and the characters won’t let them put it down.

What do we have to look forward next?

I’m currently reworking the first novel I ever wrote to hopefully sell to Steeple Hill. It’s another romantic suspense about a wounded hero. What else? ☺

Thanks, Jenness!

To celebrate her book release, Jenness is offering a free book to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (Please check back Monda night to see who won. Chances of winning depend on number of commenters.)

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

Bio. Jenness Walker has always been captivated by stories. Growing up, she read while she walked in line, ate lunch, played the clarinet, and brushed her teeth. (Unfortunately she still hasn’t figured out how to clean the house with a book in hand.) She’s been writing ever since a contest in first grade, and this month her debut novel, Double Take, releases from Steeple Hill.

She lives in Florida with her beloved website-designer husband.

Check out author’s website at www.jennesswalker.com. Buy it at a store near you or online at Amazon or CBD.com.