Romantic Suspense Author Toni Noel

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Toni] The Lilac Lady. I have no idea who wrote it, but the story was about a young girl living next door to a lady who shares her love of flowers with the child. My mother bought three hardback books for a dollar and it was one on them. I was also a Bobbsey Twins fan. Never read Nancy Drew, I didn’t like mysteries. Now I write romantic suspense. Go figure.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Toni] Sharon Sala. She writes about subjects other writers avoid.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Toni] Judy Duarte’s first inspirational Entertaining Angels. It's about a little girl who leaves poignant letters for her deceased mother in a tree in the park, and the lady who answers them.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Toni] A car-and-passenger ferry plying Alaska’s Inland Passage. Our sleeping compartment was larger than our accommodations on an anniversary cruise to Bahama. There were comfortable chairs in the main viewing room where we could watch whales sounding, and several restaurants with enough choices to satisfy anyone's hunger. On deck at the rear of the ferry adventurous young people slept in tents and dangled fish hooks over the side.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Toni] My husband does the cooking. I recently had the kitchen remodeled for him, but my forty-four-year-old closets desperately need help. The closet rods are so overloaded one actually broke!

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Toni] Something blue, always. When it’s chilly, like today, I get cozy in fleece. In the summer, I wear cotton knits or capris. You do not want to see me in shorts.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Toni] Lasagna. Favorite meal, steak.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Toni] Gardening, camping, and talking long walks. I’m a nature lover at heart.

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Toni] None of the above. We’re a two Volvo family, and I dream of replacing one of those twenty-year-old vehicles with a trim Volvo SUV.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show?

[Toni] NCIS. Movie? Toy Story 3.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Toni] I used to sing church solos and recite Poe's The Raven for school programs, but not anymore.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Toni] I’d love to be invisible. I’m actually very shy. I dread walking into crowded rooms.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Toni] Good writing is hard work, but you meet some wonderful people along the way.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Toni] For my time travel Rising Above, I had to learn how to maneuver a hot air balloon.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Toni] To an RWA chapter meeting.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Toni] I do my best writing on rainy days, we just don’t get enough of them in Southern California.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Toni] Well-defined characters determined to get what they want.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Toni] A contemporary romance about a stager and the wealthy man whose house she is hired to help sell.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Toni] I'm still waiting to have one, perhaps it will happen at the Romantic Times Convention.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining.

[Toni] A burly man came out of nowhere, and before I could react, he shoved me into a passing car.


Check out Toni's Lawbreakers and Love Makers!

Blurb:
Deputy Sheriff Jon Sutherland reunites with his high school sweetheart when he responds to a silent alarm she sets off while house sitting. This chance meeting sends the sheriff and Zoe Westmoreland on a roller coaster run for their lives.

Burglars escaping from her parents’ home, send her sprawling. Twice. Then she finds the gardener floating face down in the family pool and interrupts a burglary-in-progress next door. When the gardener's death is ruled a homicide Jon moves in to keep Zoe safe. Not all that easy.

Two men try to force their vehicles off the road, and the one time Jon leaves Zoe alone those really bad guys show up again. Thanks to Zoe's quick thinking and resourcefulness, the crooks get a free ride to the hospital and she winds up in Jon’s arms for keeps.

Purchase from her publisher: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-113/Toni-Noel-Law-Breakers/Detail.bok