1--What is the title of your latest release?
HOUR OF SURRENDER
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
An ex-CIA agent falls in love and must return to the service he’d left in order to protect her from a vengeful enemy.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
It takes place in Pasadena, California, which is my hometown. The house featured in the story actually inspired it – a very old Mission Revival that was overgrown and gorgeous. It was fun to give that old home new life – even if it was fictional!
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Oh, absolutely. I don’t write characters that I wouldn’t want to either be best friends with or marry. I’ve left my husband many a time for a fictional hero. He’s used to it by now.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Loyal, handsome, dangerous
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Surprisingly, I learned a lot about architecture and the particular style of the house.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
Edit as I draft – that way, when I’m done, I’M DONE!
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Anything pickled. I love pickled vegetables!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I actually have two offices – my main office, which is built exactly to my specs so it’s perfect for me, and a second office in my bedroom that’s a smaller version of the first. I should clarify that my husband and I purchased a historic home a few years ago and the house has 30 rooms. Built in 1932, there were no ‘offices’ in homes back then, so I just picked a couple of the more useless rooms (the housekeeper’s room was one!) and built my offices from there. The old housekeepers room still has the ironing board built into the wall and I left it there, so it’s a fun conversation piece!
10--Who is an author you admire?
There are so many, all for different reasons, but I would say Tanya Anne Crosby is one because of her ethics, her humanity, and her talent. Virginia Henley is another because she showed me the glory of Medieval Romance. Ray Bradbury is yet another because everything he did was so simplistically brilliant. If perfection has a name, it’s Ray Bradbury.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Answer: The Falcon and the Flower by Virginia Henley. When I read it, it was like the lightbulb went on. This was what I was meant to do!
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Answer: The defining moment in my life was in 2012. I’d spent more than 20 years trying to become published and receiving rejection after rejection. When the latest rejection came in 2012, I very nearly gave up. That was rock bottom for me. But a friend of mine had published on Kindle, so I figured – what the heck? I had nothing to lose. I published three books in May 2012 and made $300. I thought I’d hit the motherlode. So I quickly began publishing the rest of my backlist (I had about 35 books that I’d written over the years), and imagine my shock when they took off. I’d finally found that audience that trad pub had denied me. They were there and they loved my books, so after that, I never looked back. I was eventually published through trad in 2020, but that was after I’d already made an Indie success of myself. I think the point is to never, ever give up. I can’t stress that enough. If one door shuts, find a window!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Interestingly enough, Science Fiction. I love it. But Historical Romance is also my passion.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
A question with many, many answers! I’m partial to pre-code Hollywood movies with stars such as Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford, and Bette Davis. Why? Because there was such originality back then! Very few restrictions. I would say some of my favorite modern movies are The Green Mile, Otto, Hidden Figures, Greyhound, and This Beautiful Fantastic. If you haven’t seen any of these, watch them. They are transformative and brilliant.
15--What is your favorite season?
Autumn!
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I just celebrated a milestone birthday this year and we had a Great Gatsby party. All my friends dressed up in Gatsby costumes and we had a murder mystery party. It was so much fun. But I think that’s the only birthday party I’ve had since I was about 12. Otherwise, birthdays around here are pretty low-key.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I have a few, actually, and these are based on the brilliant storytelling and acting – Masters of the Air is my first. I am obsessed with it. The only TV series that actually made me burst out weeping in one episode because it was so emotional. The second is Young Sheldon – purely brilliant storytelling and done with a light touch. The last book I read was a Pauline Gedge novel. I would recommend anything she writes because her stories are absolutely sublime.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Probably good old American meat and potatoes, but I do like Mexican cuisine and Italian. Secret confession: I have a lot of food allergies, so I can’t be too adventurous, unfortunately.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Fill out questionnaires like this one. Ha! Seriously, I like to decompress by watching old movies, knitting (I’m not very good, but I find it relaxing), gardening, cooking, or interior decorating. I’m a creative at heart!
20--What can readers expect from you next?
Wow, so much. I’ve got a Historical Fiction book releasing in January 2025, plus a new Contemporary Romance series rolling out this autumn. I’ve also got three more Medieval Romances coming out between now and the end of the year, so I’m extremely busy – but so in love with what I do that it’s not work. This is my idea of heaven!
The Unholy Angels #1
When an ex-CIA agent and a young widow connect, a new world opens up for them both.
But so does a world of secrets.
After the death of her husband, Katharine "Kiki" Conrad moves back to her hometown of Pasadena, California with the intent of starting a new life. With her trusty French Bulldog, Stanley, by her side, Kiki buys an old fixer-upper and has big dreams of turning the home into a bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, the old home, known as Agua de la Vida, is more work than she anticipated. When a sexy contractor gives her an estimate to restore the place, Kiki is in a quandary - she is attracted to the blond, blue-eyed hunk, but repelled by the money he estimates a restoration of the house will eat up.
What's a girl to do?
Trace Rocklin is that sexy contractor. Or, at least, that's what he pretends he is. The truth is that Trace was a CIA assassin, now returning to his hometown to try and forget that part of his life. But trouble follows him, even as he falls for the owner of a derelict old house. Soon, Kiki is in danger and Trace is drawn back into the world of intrigue he's trying so hard to forget. In order to save Kiki, and himself, he must temporarily return to that job - he must become that assassin again. But in that hour of surrender, when Trace’s guard is down completely, will his secret past destroy his relationship with Kiki once and for all?
It's a flirty, fun adventure with a hint of danger in Pasadena, California as Kiki and Trace fall in love, and Trace must reconcile the deadly part of his past once and for all.
Romance Military | Action | Fiction Adventure [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: August 27, 2024, e-Book, / ]
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