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Katie Ruggle | Exclusive Interview: RISK IT ALL + Giveaway!
December 30, 2019
Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Katie! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your latest novel, RISK IT ALL?
It’s great to be back--thank you for having me! I write romantic suspense with funny bits (at least I hope they’re funny) set in the Colorado Rockies. In my latest book, RISK IT ALL (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2), we’re back with the bounty hunting Pax sisters and their felonious mom. All Cara Pax wants is to be a kindergarten teacher, but she somehow finds herself chasing after bail jumper and accused killer Henry Kavenski. As she gets swept up in the danger that surrounds Henry, she realizes that things are even more complicated than first appears, and she begins to wonder--is he innocent, or is she just a sucker for a gorgeous, protective skip?
RISK IT ALL is the second book in your Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters series. What keeps you coming back to writing romantic suspense, and specifically set in this party of the country?
The rugged, remote, and oftentimes dangerous mountains are the perfect setting for romantic suspense! While I lived there, I fell in love with the Colorado Rockies, as well as the interesting mix of people who make the mountains their home. Also, I’m just not happy unless I’m blowing things up.
Bounty hunting literally runs in Cara Pax’s family - her sisters are also bounty hunters, too. But Cara is a reluctant participant in the “family business.” How does Cara’s drive to do something aside from bounty hunting change her character over the course of the novel?
I love to write about characters discovering their hidden inner bravery. Although Cara’s reluctance to take part in chasing down skips at first makes her seem timid, each reach out of her comfort zone--such as breaking into Henry’s motel room--takes a huge amount of courage on her part. Also, holding onto that dream of being a kindergarten teacher is actually the difficult road in her family. Without her iron will, Cara would have taken the path of least resistance and resigned herself to working in the family business.
Henry Kavenski is a man with a storied past, but he’s doing his best to make things right. What does Henry’s troubled past tell readers about the man he’s working to become? How does Cara throw a wrench into his new plans (or maybe help him out)?
I think Cara’s presence ups the stakes dramatically for Henry. He’s fine with putting himself in danger, but when his actions--both past and present--put Cara at risk, keeping her safe becomes his most urgent priority.
This is an action-packed story! Do you find it difficult to balance the suspense with the romance? Which do you find easier to write about?
Thank you! It’s always a tricky balancing act when there are explosions and gunfire and car chases, and the main characters need to find some quiet bonding time. I don’t really find either easier, but I think my favorite part to write is that first tentative connection between characters. In that moment everything’s so fragile and filled with possibilities, and when I manage to get it right, it’s just. . . perfect.
In just a few days, it’ll be 2020! Are you the type of person who makes New Year’s Resolutions? Any fun plans to ring in the new year?
Rather than making New Year’s resolutions, I tend to set goals year-round (although sticking to them is another matter). I don’t have any wild and crazy plans for New Year’s Eve, but I think that 2020 is going to be an amazing year.
We love to ask authors about what they are reading! What have you read recently that you absolutely love and recommend?
WR Gingell has absolutely sucked me into her The City Between series. I highly recommend her books to urban fantasy fans.
What can readers expect from you next?
The last two bounty hunter books will take us to interesting places, so expect to see some familiar Search & Rescue characters pop up again.
Rapid Fire Random Questions
Favorite animal: Bees. They’re so useful.
Coffee or tea: Tea, most definitely.
Favorite book to re-read: This question is too hard. How can I chose just one from my trove of comfort books??
Beach or mountains: LOL! You can probably predict my answer to this one--mountains.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?: Veterinarian, ballet dancer, lawyer (this was a short phase), forest ranger, horse trainer, author.
Dream vacation: Riding horses in Ireland.
Aside from reading and writing, what are your hobbies?: Riding horses, traveling, training my dogs, scuba diving in warm places.
Five people you’d invite to your book club (dead, alive, fictional, etc.!): My five sisters.
Favorite movie: Again. . . how do I choose?
You have a totally free afternoon - no deadlines, no obligations, no Twitter notifications! What do you do? Go horseback riding!
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COMMENT TO WIN! Tell us if you'd rather take a vacation to the beach or the mountains in the comments below to enter for a chance to win a print copy of RISK IT ALL by Katie Ruggle! US & CANADA only.
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Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2
Five bounty-hunting sisters
Deep in the heart of the Rockies
Fighting to save each other
...and the men who steal their hearts
Cara Pax never wanted to be a bounty hunter. She's happy to leave chasing criminals and tackling skips to her sisters. But if she wants her dreams of escaping the family business to come true, she's got one last job to finish... Only problem is, she doesn't think her bounty is guilty.
Henry Kavenski is a man with innocence to prove. When he realizes that Cara believes him, he'll do anything to keep her out of harm's way. Escaping criminals and dodging cops might not be the best time to fall in love, but Henry and Cara won't give up, not when there's a chance at a new life ahead—if they can survive the fall.
Romance Suspense [Sourcebooks, On Sale: December 31, 2019, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492662525 / ]
A fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, shoots guns (not while riding, although that would be awesome), cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics.
Comments
24 comments posted.
Re: Katie Ruggle | Exclusive Interview: RISK IT ALL + Giveaway!
I would prefer mountains.
(Melanie Rosen 3:55am December 30, 2019)
I'd prefer the mountains. Congratulations on your
release,Katie!
(Tina Rucci 4:21am December 30, 2019)
sounds like a good read
(Vickie Couturier 9:25am December 30, 2019)
we generally take a beach vacation, but I love the mountains too - as long as there is water around like a lake or river or even a stream
(Diane Sallans 12:43pm December 30, 2019)
Totally a beach girl here! Gimme warm sunshine and sand for
my toes and I'm in heaven!
(Faith Sparks 4:12pm December 30, 2019)
It's the mountains for me. I love to see the beautiful trees and flowers, the sparkling streams, and even the wildlife.
(Anna Speed 5:13pm December 30, 2019)
I prefer the mountains, you have a chance to get cooler.
(Cynthia St. Germain 8:04pm December 30, 2019)
Mountains, most definitely. I grew up in the Adirondack
Mountains of NY, lived in Northern Maine in those
mountains, then the Rockies in Colorado, and now live in the
foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We lived in Colorado
Springs, CO for 3 years and loved every minute. Best
assignment my husband had during his AF career. We
would have loved to stay longer or retire there, but it didn't
work out. We go back out West to the Rockies whenever we
can. I love that you have set your series in that area. It
makes them more enjoyable for me.
(Patricia Barraclough 12:11pm December 31, 2019)
I love the beach and miss it so much. Lived in the bay
area of Ca for 49 years then married someone who lived in
Iowa and moved there and not a beach in site and it makes
me so depressed. I have several friends we went to school
together 54 years ago and some of them still live near
HMB and they know that when I see my family first place
we go is the beach. Last Sept we took my husband to Santa
Cruz and he saw my love for it and he really likes it.
When we were dating he did go to SF and we all ate out as
a family dinner and he loved it with the ocean right
below us We plan to move back when he retires in 8 yrs
and I hope he goes thru with it as i am homebound and
would rather be out there with my kids and 9 grandkids
that can help me write etc and his kids hardly see him so
he know how important family is to me as i grew up in a
abusive foster home and didnt go to my grandmas till i
was 16 too many years in the system. Thanks a lot for
asking that question and you have a safe New Years Eve
but have a lot of fun. Peggy clayton [email protected]
(Peggy Clayton 12:42pm December 31, 2019)
Beach! I live in the mountains
(Katrina Dehart 1:40pm December 31, 2019)
I would go for a walk by water probably on the boardwalk
at the Shaker Nature Center. Water is soothing,
mesmerizing and refuels me not matter what kind of day it
is. Deer, chipmunks, squirrels, ducks, geese and other
birds are in their natural habitat there. One time I saw
a weasel. I've seen beavers build their dams, too.
(Alyson Widen 1:57pm December 31, 2019)
the mountains
(Jean Patton 2:43pm December 31, 2019)
I like both. I love the mountains when it isn't snowing.
(Glenda Martillotti 3:08pm December 31, 2019)
Your books sound amazing! I love the mountains. They are my
"happy place"!
(Jamie Gillespie 3:11pm December 31, 2019)
Honestly it completely depends on my moods. I love both. But right now the beach because I'm freezing! LOL
(Amber Hall 9:10pm December 31, 2019)
Beach! (hands down!)
(Martin Bodnar 7:55am January 1, 2020)
I prefer the mountains.
(Jana B 11:40am January 1, 2020)
The mountains since there would be more of a breeze and shadier.
(Sharon Good 2:15pm January 1, 2020)
I prefer the mountains because it can be so peaceful there.
I love the mountains.
(Lynne Brigman 6:05pm January 1, 2020)
I would prefer the beach. I love to soak up the sun!
(Mackenzie Bates 5:08am January 3, 2020)
Mountains over the beach for me!
(Tracy Urschler 8:31am January 3, 2020)
Definitely prefer the mountains.
(Nancy Reynolds 4:48pm January 3, 2020)
I can be beachy keen!
(Rebecca Shields 9:15pm January 5, 2020)
I love the beach.
(Renee Grandinetti 11:38pm January 5, 2020)
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