Journey to Redemption book trailer - check it out!

Purchase eBook or print at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Whimsical Publications (where the ebook is half off during the month of August).

Check out the cover for my upcoming release!

Thanks for an awesome cover, Laura!  A Familiar Evil releases May 1st in eBook and print.  Here's the blurb:  Jordan Russell had the perfect life until the brutal monster from her childhood resurfaced, opening up scars she thought were healed.  With the hope of finally finding closure Jordan leaves her cheating husband, and her career in the FBI, and returns to where her nightmare began.  But what awaits her in Thorny Creek will push her to the very edge of sanity and bring her face to face with her abductor.


It's been a wild few weeks!  After battling writters block for...it seems forever, I finally completed Renegade Hearts.  It's an inspirational romance with a dash of mystery, which is currently looking for a home.  And I'm 55,000 words into Deadly Secrets, an inspirational romantic suspense.  I then need to get busy on book two of my Wounded Heroes Series.  I'm doing some last minute research for it tomorrow by going back to the third grade.  Since my heroine is a school teacher, a wonderful friend of mine invited me to sit in on her class.  I'm sure it'll be a blast.

Be sure to drop in Friday because Sharon will be back to share more about herself and her awesome books.  Enjoy the rest of your week everyone!

Oliver...the man of my dreams

I've been looking forward to today since I first contacted Sharon and asked her and Oliver to come for a visit.  If you haven't ever visited Sharon's blog and met her sexy butler, you're in for a real treat.  He sure makes my heart go pitter patter :-).  

*'Oliver'©SDonovan2010   Picture©iStockphoto.com/Nikada

[Anne] Welcome, Oliver!  I see where you have your own fan club now. Any special fan mail you’d care to share?

[Oliver] First of all, Annie love, thank y’all for interviewing me today. Here’s a bouquet of wild flowers I picked in the garden this morning, just for you. Bright Morning Glories, pretty pink tulips, red roses, Blue Bells and dazzling daffodils. But, might I be so bold to say, as fresh and lovely as they are, not a bloom in the blossom can match the sparkle in your eyes, sweet thing. About that fan mail, a true gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell. Wink.

[Anne] Now aren't you the sweetest thing that ever walked the earth.  Oliver, I saw in a recent interview that you were born in Tuscany, but raised in Hawaii. Have you traveled to either place lately?

[Oliver] Well, hot lips, as y’all know, Charade of Hearts is set in the exotic tropical isles, and we had a release party in a gorgeous plantation manor overlooking the peaceful waves of the Pacific Ocean. Although I live in Pennsylvania with the boss lady, I go home to Hawaii every chance I get. The warm summer breeze is in my blood every bit as much as the hibiscus scented nights. And no sound is sweeter than waking up to the peaceful cooing of love doves, just outside my window. But nothing can compare to a refreshing hike through a rain forest, the wildlife is incredible, the gushing sound of a waterfall cascading over rocks, music to my ears.

Tuscany is beautiful, sweet home of my heart. I’m tellin’ you, Annie, my pet, y’all haven’t lived til you’ve seen the vineyards sparkling like jewels in the brilliant sunshine. Deep purple, sizzling crimson, and glossy amber cover the landscape. Wild roses and honeysuckle bloom abundantly on a hillside bordered by fragrant lemon trees, and age-old olive trees sit on hilltops, gnarled branches reaching upward as if in prayer. No wonder Italy had some of the most legendary artists, it’s a painter’s dream.

[Anne] Oliver, you keep making me blush and we're never going to get through this interview.  *Anne clears her throat and smiles at her handsome guest* So once your day is done, meeting Sharon’s every need, how do you spend your evenings?

[Oliver] Between my detective job and waiting on Sharon hand and foot, talk about high maintenance, there isn’t all that much spare time. But I do enjoy a decent jazz band that can play the blues with a snappy deliverance, reminiscent of the Big Easy, a favorite vacation spot for me. Sitting in a cool, dimly lit jazz bar with a shaken not stirred James Bond martini and a pretty woman like you, sweet thing, is my idea of heaven on earth. Wink.

*Anne bats her eyes at Oliver, wishing she was just a few years younger*  What made you choose to be a private investigator?

[Oliver] It’s in my blood. I grew up watching all the top detective shows. Hawaii 5-0, Barnaby Jones, Magnum PI, now those were some real role models, real men, heroes to be looked up to and admired. But y’all know my idol was, is and always will be James Bond. I have his entire collection of movies on DVD in my library and openly admit to copying a few of his moves. Oliver pumps his biceps and grins. So, naturally, love, with JB as my mentor and being born with the living on the edge of danger gene, what else could I want to be but a secret agent man. Wink

[Anne] Any interesting cases you can share with us?

[Oliver] With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Oliver kisses Anne. Annie, sweet thing, that’s why I’m a G man, a secret agent man, because everything is top secret and will not pass my hot lips.

[Anne] Whew!  You are quite the charmer, my G man.  Besides being a handsome devil, word is you love to cook. What is your favorite dish to make?

Oliver grins. Pasta, my own sweet mama’s recipe, God rest her soul. As you know, I was born in Tuscany and lived on a farm. I grew up on peasant cooking, food that was home grown or gathered in the wild. I’m telling you, Annie, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a meal prepared with farm grown meats and fresh greens and vegetables from the good earth. Italian women add an extra ingredient, love. Mama certainly did. We had pigs and chickens in our villa, and nobody in the land grew sweeter or plumper tomatoes than Mama. And her spaghetti sauce, he kisses his fingertips. Mama made the best and passed her recipe to me.

[Anne] Now I’m sure all the ladies out there have wondered this, what traits do you find most attractive in a woman?

[Oliver] That’s simple, love. I’m attracted to a woman whose inner beauty is as radiant as her smile, a woman who is compassionate as well as passionate, a woman who isn’t afraid to live life to the fullest and make every day count. A woman just like you, Annie..

[Anne] Don't tease me, Oliver, if I could find a man as sexy as you who loves to cook I might just settle down and get hitched.  *Grinning* Okay, say you’ve picked up that special lady in your life and are going to treat her to a night on the town. Where would you take her?

[Oliver] First, I’d appear at her door with a fresh bouquet of her favorite flowers. I’m a man with old fashioned virtues and believe in treating a woman like a lady. Then, her choice in cuisine, I’d sweep her off to a nice eatery slightly off the beaten path, specializing in home cooking that takes more than five minutes to prepare. We’d sit in a secluded booth in the back of the bistro where we could quietly talk and get to know each other without being disturbed every few minutes. It would be a candlelit dinner, of course, so that I could gaze into her eyes. We’d order a nicely aged bottle of wine to start things out, white if she preferred, although I enjoy a Tuscan red myself. And definitely a basket of warm crusty bread with some of that whipped garlic butter that melts in your mouth. Oh, you asked earlier what kind of woman I’m attracted to. Did I mention one with a healthy appetite that isn’t afraid to eat and isn’t forever on a diet counting calories. It does my heart good to see a woman dig into food with gusto. In Tuscany, folks enjoy long, leisurely meals, seven course meals that aren’t rushed, an admirable custom might I add. So when I take a woman out to dinner, I like to indulge in the same. After dinner, a nice romantic stroll under the light of the silvery moon. We would end the evening with a nightcap at a quaint little piano bar where we could dance cheek to cheek, followed by a kiss is just a kiss. .

[Anne] I picture you in a sporty, red, muscle car. Am I wrong?

[Oliver] Absolutely right on the money, Annie, my sweet, only it’s black. Wink

[Anne] Will there be a sequel to Charade of Hearts?

COH is a single title, but the boss lady’s been burning the midnight oil lately working on another romantic suspense featuring a hot Cajon French detective. Wink

Oliver kisses Anne and casts her a wicked wink. Annie, love, you are a gift. Thank y’all for inviting me into your heart and home for an exclusive. You are most hospitable and ask the best questions Drop into Oliver’s bar anytime, and I’ll mix your favorite cocktail with a wink and a smile. Cheers!


Dear Reader,

If you would like to be a guest on the Dear Oliver Show to vent about your favorite pet peeve, please contact Sharon at Sharonad@comcast.net

Dear Oliver can be seen every Wednesday here: http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com

Wow! No offense to any of my other guests who've appeared on my blog, but this had to be my favorite post. Isn't Oliver the most romantic devil you ever came across. *Letting out a long sigh* Man what I wouldn't give to be a few years younger.

Fire and Ash - LASR BEST BOOK of 2010 Nominee!

"This is a beautiful, yet hard-hitting story, fluently written, presenting characters you fall in love with, and ensures you’ll keep it on your shelf permanently and re-read often, which is why I have given it a Best Book rating." - Reviewed by Fennel @ LASR.

I'm absolutely thrilled with the nomination, and I thank Fennel for giving it such a wonderful review. You can read it here if you like: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/10/fire-and-ash-by-anne-patrick.html. A lot of hard work went into the creation of Fire and Ash. Several months of research were involved, which I couldn't have done without the help of a wonderful man named Keith Tarbox. He is the fire investigator I corroborated with to make sure I got my facts straight. His help was invaluable. Not only did he take time out of his busy schedule to answer all my questions he read the manuscript and made some suggestions that gave the book more depth than I originally intended. His insights and the real life experiences he shared helped me to get inside Sadie's head and really get to know her. In all honesty, this books success is due largely to his willingness to help out a nagging author. So Thank You, Keith!


If you'd like to vote for Fire and Ash here's the link: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm the poll is open until February 27th.

And if you haven't read it yet, here is the book trailer and buy links.



Christianbook.com; Desert Breeze Publishing; Amazon; and Barnes & Noble.

Interview with Kylie Brant

I’m very excited to have fellow suspense author Kylie Brant joining us today. Kylie is the author of thirty-one romantic suspense novels for Silhouette and Berkley. She’s a three-time Rita finalist and has been nominated for five Romantic Times magazine awards, including a win for Career Achievement. She’s the recipient of two Daphne du Maurier awards for mystery and suspense. Brant’s books have been published in twenty-five countries and translated into fifteen languages.

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Kylie?

[Kylie] Writing always came easily to me but it wasn’t until I began reading contemporary romances that I was inspired to write. Authors like Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Elizabeth Lowell and Jayne Anne Krentz couldn’t write fast enough to keep me in reading material every month, so one day I decided to try my own hand at it. I began writing in 1990 and two years later I sold my first two manuscripts to Silhouette.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Kylie] Deadly Intent is book four in The Mindhunters series. The books are loosely connected, as the main characters all work for the same company. Forensic linguist Macy Reid pairs with fellow investigator Kellan Burke as they race the clock to find an abducted eleven-year-old girl before the kidnapper follows through on his threats.

[Anne] This sounds like a story right up my alley. What inspired you to write this story?

[Kylie] Originally the book was entitled Deadly Fear, because the abduction of a child encompasses a parent’s worst nightmare. Ellie Mulder, the abducted child in the story has been kidnapped—for a second time. I wanted to delve into that fear, but what I found in the character of Ellie Mulder surprised me. She’s much more than a victim, and her experiences help her heal and find some closure from her past. The way she handles her experience serves as an example to the heroine, Macy Reid, who suffered a similar experience in her past.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Kylie] I always talk to experts about specific plot points in my books and this time was no different. I spent a lot of time communicating with a national expert on forensic linguistics, an assistant director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a mask maker…and a forensic doctor about how long a severed thumb will ‘keep’.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Kylie] Deadly Dreams is book 5 of The Mindhunters and is released in April. Deadly Sins follows in August.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

[Kylie] I much prefer the term ‘organic writer’ :-). No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t force myself to outline. When I begin I know the characters very well; the overarching suspense plot, the conflict and I have a few scenes planned out. It makes it a bit difficult sometimes, especially in the first half of the book. It’s like ‘writing in the mist’. I have a general idea of where I’m going but the landmarks are fuzzy . But I like to be surprised in the story. It keeps it fresh for me. I’m afraid if I plotted it beforehand I’d feel like I’d already written it. I can’t stand being bored when I write.

[Anne] I totally agree, Kylie! I love those surprises our characters throw at us. Okay, If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Kylie] I’m still intrigued by Macy Reid, the heroine of Deadly Intent. Rather than dwelling on a traumatic incident in her childhood she grew up to be a strong independent woman dedicated to catching the sorts of criminals that victimized her family. But her resolve is tested when, in the course of following up on a lead in the story she must confront the man who kidnapped her when she was eight. I find that depth of character admirable.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Kylie] Hmm, dreaming here! I’m going to keep it pretty simple. I’d like to set my next trilogy in Savannah, GA and have already made some contacts there from a previous book. I’d like to spend a couple weeks and do all the touristy things before visiting the crime lab there and talking to people who can give me thorough history lessons of the area. I’ve always found that location fascinating.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Kylie] I’m terrible at these sorts of questions, LOL, because I don’t ‘see’ my characters so much as ‘know’ them. What they think, what shaped them, who they are. But for Macy Reid I’m thinking Selma Hayek and for Kellan Burke a younger (green-eyed) Ewan McGregor.

[Anne] Well you did good! I love your choices. What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Kylie] I love straight psychological suspense and complex romantic suspense stories.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Kylie] Diet Coke, Skittles and the Internet :-).

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Kylie] Finish the book. I’m appalled by the number of people I know who get invitations to submit and then never follow through on them. It’s easy to be tempted by the shiny promise of a new story, one that promises to be perfect…easy to write, a future award winner, etc. But writers write the whole book. They can’t quit when they get to the sagging middle, or when they hit plot problems. They write the story to the end and they do it by deadline. Once one has moved from novice writer to intermediate level they really need to finish manuscripts because they’ll learn more by going through that process, from start to finish, then by starting and stopping several works in succession.

[Anne] Great advice, Kylie! Where can we find you on the web?

[Kylie] Oh, I’m everywhere, LOL. My website is www.kyliebrant.com

Find my ten author blog at ridingwiththetopdown.blogspot.com

Facebook url: http://www.facebook.com/kyliebrant1

I’m also on Twitter.

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

[Kylie] Deadly Intent was released November 2 and can be found in bookstores everywhere!

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Kylie] Thanks for having me! Readers can contact me at kylie@kyliebrant.com

Thanks for the interview, Kylie. I wish you continued success in your writing career. Folks, be sure to drop back by Friday as Kylie will be sharing a writing tip with us too. Until then, enjoy your week!


Anne

Fire and Ash receives Best Book ratings from LASR!

Fennel at Long and Short Reviews gave Fire and Ash its highest rating. Here’s a snippet - "This is a beautiful, yet hard-hitting story, fluently written, presenting characters you fall in love with, and ensures you’ll keep it on your shelf permanently and re-read often, which is why I have given it a Best Book rating." Read the whole review here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/10/fire-and-ash-by-anne-patrick.html

Thank you for the awesome review, Fennel!

For those of you who have been curious about my progress on A Familiar Evil, I finally finished the first draft. Whew! And it’s going to be a doosy. A funny note – I had to change my heroine’s name three times *grinning*. The reason being I’d already used the name Kate, well Katie, in Sabotage. So I changed it to Morgan...then I realized I’d used that name in Journey to Redemption. The heroine’s name is now Jordan. And yes, I’ve checked, I haven’t used it before. Tip to future writers out there, always keep track of your character’s names. I now have a chart with all the ones I’ve used.

All my edits on coming releases are finished too. Yaay! Now I can get started on the second book in my ‘Wounded Heroes Series’. I’m really excited about this series. Most of the books take place on a fictional island off the coast of Maine called Dauphine Island. No, I’m not joining the paranormal frenzy *grin*. You won’t find any vampires or wolves. All of my characters are human. Each book will be a stand-alone with previous characters making cameo appearances. For instance, Hope & Nick from my Christmas short story (coming in Dec) will be in the series. Each story is about a wounded hero. For instance Deadly Foe is the story about a former army medic struggling with PTSD who has someone trying to kill her. Not all are military heroes, though, some are in law enforcement or other emergency services.

Well, that’s all the news I have so I’m going to get off here and get back to work. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week.

Happy reading!

Anne

Check Out My New Book Trailers!

Journey to Redemption – Available now at most online bookstores!



Sabotage – Coming in November!



Christmas with Hope – Coming in December!

Ties That Bind & Out of the Darkness - Now in Print

Ties That Bind available at Mundania Press & AweStruck Publishing


FBI profiler, Jo McDaniels has an unusual gift. As with most profilers, they are able to take the evidence, background of the victims and crime scene photos and reenact in their minds what took place between the killer and the victim. But what if there are no crime scenes and the victims have been decapitated in order to hide their identity? This is where Jo's unusual gift comes into play. Unlike most profilers in her field, she is able to go a step further. Using her psychic ability she is able to sense exactly what victims felt prior to their death. Her ability allows her to get to know the victims better than anyone else. She not only feels their emotions; she feels their pain.

Sheriff Austin Garrett doesn't quite know what to think of the sassy and beautiful profiler that is able to tell him more about the victim after a few minutes with her than the coroner knows. But he's willing to try anything to catch the serial killer plaguing his community. In all his years in law enforcement, nothing has prepared him for the monster he is up against now. A killer so cruel and calculating that it leaves him no choice but to turn to Jo and her unique gift.

Jo knows the risk she's taking by using her psychic abilities. The last time she relied on it, it almost cost her career as well as her sanity. As the case progresses and the body count rises they soon realize that Jo's sanity isn't all that is at risk. She has become the killer's next target.

http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Ties+That+Bind

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=Awe-Struck&product=Ties+That+Bind&exact_match=exact

Out of the Darkness available at Champagne Books

FBI profiler Alex Michaels’ life was shattered when a sadistic serial killer murdered her twin sister and left Alex with a career ending injury. Hoping to put the past behind her, she sets off across country with a truck driver she barely knows.

Royce McIntire knows Alex is on the run from something or someone, but he doesn’t care. He’s fallen in love with her and is finally getting his life back on track.

The killer is hot on Alex’s trail though, determined to find the one victim who got away. As more bodies turn up dead Alex has no choice but to tell Royce who she really is. Will the love that has blossomed between them be strong enough to sustain them, or will the killer get to Alex before they even have a chance to find out?


EXCERPT

The knife came out of nowhere.

A sharp pain, followed by a burning sensation, seared up her right forearm. Her fingers went numb and the gun clattered to the floor. She jabbed with her left arm, her clenched fist coming in contact with the jaw hidden behind a black ski mask.

The intruder retaliated with a punch to her right cheek that slammed her body back against the door. The room swirled, her knees grew weak. She struggled to stand on solid ground. With a fistful of hair, her head was jerked back as the attacker’s knee rammed her rib cage, forcing a gush of air from her lungs.

She cried out as her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor. Another blow to her rib cage knocked her back onto the floor. Her left arm pinned beneath her, she raised a bloody right arm toward the intruder and stared in horror at her hand dangling lifelessly.

With the full weight of his body pinning her, she writhed beneath him trying to free her left arm.

“Fight me, Alex. Show me you’re not as weak as the rest.”

“I swear I’m going to kill you.” Using her feet as leverage, she rolled against him but she was no match for his strength.

He laughed. “Come on, Alex. Your sister put up a better fight than this.”

A sob escaped her lips. She could still hear Cassie’s cries for help and her bloodcurdling screams of terror.

“Sorry you didn’t make it in time to say goodbye. But you’ll be with her soon enough.”


http://champagnebooks.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=204

Sharon Donovan Interview & Book Giveaway

Joining us today is author Sharon Donovan. Here is her bio: Sharon lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.

Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. She is a published author with The Wild Rose Press, White Rose Publishing, Whimsical Publications and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Echo of a Raven received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee. To read excerpts and reviews of Sharon’s books and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.sharonadonovan.com

[Anne] Welcome, Sharon. Why don’t we begin with you telling us about your latest book?

[Sharon] Book one in the sequel series, Mask of the Betrayer is a psychological thriller set in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Here is a hook and a brief synopsis:

When the whispers in the night, the whispers of her lover, are the whispers of a killer, will Margot escape before she becomes the next victim?

Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on the corpse. But when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved ten years ago--all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.

MASK OF THE BETRAYER opens with MICHAEL DEVECCIO (The Hunter) killing his uncle when he learns the man who has trained him to kill is guilty of committing the ultimate crime. As sole beneficiary to the entire DeVeccio Empire, Michael fancies himself king of the world. Determined the DeVeccio kingdom will thrive for generations, he sets out to find the perfect woman to propagate his domain and will demolish anyone who gets in the way of his absolute power. When Michael meets art curator MARGOT MONTGOMERY, he decides she is the woman who will produce his heir.

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Sharon] The mind has always fascinated me. It can bend. It can break. It can snap. Getting inside the mind of the killer is like dismantling a bomb before it goes off. A disturbed psyche is just that, a ticking time bomb ready to explode. One wrong word can cause it to erupt like a quaking volcano. What could cause some of the most seemingly normal people to do such heinous and unspeakable crimes? This inquiring mind needs to know.

[Anne] LOL. How did you go about researching your book?

[Sharon] I took psychology classes to study behavioral patterns of sociopaths. Outwardly, they are charming and quite convincing. But this is only a façade to mask the inner demons that lurk within. Sociopaths are cold and unfeeling, they lie with ease, and have no guilt or remorse for the crimes they commit. The end will always justify the means. They are devoid of all feelings. According to psychologists, this generally stems from childhood abuse, either sexual or mentally, traumatizing them to the point they block it out in order to survive. But it pecks away at the subconscious as they grow up, causing them to strike back with a vengeance.

I also had the advice of a Pittsburgh homicide detective. He explained to me that getting a confession is nothing like it’s portrayed on television. For the most part, there is no rough stuff involved, unless a weapon is drawn. He told me the best way of getting someone to talk is to sit down and talk to them in their own environment. Sooner or later, once their guard is down, they will let something slip. He also said that some really want to be caught and will wind up confessing to get it off their chest.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Sharon] I am hard at work on the sequel to Mask of the Betrayer. And to not give anything away for those of you who haven’t read book one, my lips are sealed. Wink.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn’t very likely to happen but since I’m asking the questions…)

[Sharon] Tuscany. I fell in love with the quaint fishing harbor when doing research for Mask of the Betrayer. From the cypress-lined cobblestone streets to the umbrella tables in the courtyards, it offers a taste of old world Italy. Garlic, basil and oregano spill out of colorful window boxes, and flower carts and cafes grace corner sidewalks. Keeping with the age-old custom of long, leisurely lunches, quiet strolls and afternoon siestas, Tuscans maintain a little of yesterday in today’s world. Colorful fishing boats bob in the waters of a working harbor where women wrap the catch of the day in newspapers. Very whimsical and magical.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Sharon] I’ve recently given that a lot of thought. I’m having a video made for Mask of the Betrayer, using actors from Triad Productions. It’s very exciting, and I get to have a say so in which actors they choose to portray my characters. With the way I’ve described Margot, they’ve chosen a Julie Roberts type and I think Julie would be perfect for the part of Margot. Michael is a tough one. He’s devastatingly handsome with brilliant blue eyes and the face of a fallen angel. But he wears many masks once he begins to snap. I envision a personality like Jack Nicholson in the Shining, but the looks of a young John Travolta or Alec Baldwin.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Sharon] Romantic suspense, suspense and J.D. Robb mysteries. Who doesn’t love Rork?

[Anne] I hear your gorgeous butler, Oliver, will be appearing in one of your upcoming novels. Will you please tell us about it?

[Sharon] LOL, Anne. Oliver is getting a wee bit arrogant, doncha know! The fame has already gone to his head. I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s demanding autographs and making me shake his James Bond martini just so. LOL But, yes. He’s been bugging me for some time now to star as the romantic hero in one of my books. I knew he couldn’t play the serial killer in Mask of the Betrayer. I’d have his countless fans bidding to knock me off! LOL But when I began writing a story for the Jewel of the Night series for the crimson line of Wild Rose Press, I knew our darling Oliver was the man to play the part of the homicide detective. Here’s a teaser for Charade of Hearts

While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Sharon] Coffee, potato chips and audio books

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Sharon] Never give up on a dream.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

[Sharon] My website for releases, excerpts, reviews and to sign up for my newsletter www.sharonadonovan.com

My blog where you can set eyes on Oliver, sexy cyber butler, happy to stir you up a drink with a wink! http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com

Face Book www.facebook.com/sharon.a.donovan or write to me at: sharonad@comcast.net

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

[Sharon] Mask of the Betrayer can be purchased at the publisher, Whimsical Publications www.whimsicalpublications.com

My inspirationals can be purchased at White Rose Publishing www.whiterosepublishing.com

or through my website www.sharonadonovan.com or online bookstores as Amazon, Fiction World, Smashwords. Her Biggest Fan and Charade of Hearts are coming soon from Wild Rose Press Crimson www.thewildrosepress.com

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Sharon] Just a big thank you, Anne. You ask great questions that really make me think. I would like to offer a pdf of Mask of the Betrayer to one commenter, so leave a comment! Thanks for a great interview!

[Anne] You’re welcome, Sharon. I’m thrilled you were able to join us. Your books sound great! They’re definitely going on my TBR list. Good luck everyone!

Fire and Ash Cover

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for my July release, Fire and Ash.  Jennifer Ranieri, w/Desert Breeze Publishing, did a fantastic job, don't you think?

I thnk you're going to like Saddie and Quinn's story.  They are both great characters and I really enjoyed getting to know them.  Here's a sneak peak.

Blurb:
Fire Investigator Sadie McGregor is called to her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri to investigate a suspicious fire which claimed the life of a local college student. By appearance the fire looks like the girl was just careless. What Sadie and the handsome new sheriff discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community.

Excerpt:
Quinn looked up at the yellow VW and sighed. Thank God it's Friday. He got out of his cruiser and walked up the drive that was still soaked with run off from the 1:20 A.M. fire. He looked around for the young officer he'd posted at the scene. There was no sign of him or his car. He ducked beneath the yellow tape, stepped through the maze of charred furniture, and entered the burned out structure. As he glanced around, he spotted the possible owner of the classic VW standing in what had once been the living room. At least this guy was a fireman and not a reporter. His eyes narrowed on the man who stood with his back to him. For a fireman he was very small in stature, only about 5'6" and he guessed barely over 120 pounds, even with the turnout gear and helmet.


"Excuse me, sir. Are you supposed to be in here?"

The fireman turned. Quinn's eyes widened. Even with soot covering a good portion of the face, he could tell it was a woman from the brilliant smile she tossed at him. "It's miss, and I reckon I am if you wanna know the cause of this fire."

"You're with the State Fire Marshal's Office?" he guessed. Emerald Point's Fire Chief had told Quinn earlier that he suspected arson.

She stuck her clipboard underneath her arm, reached for the badge pinned to her turnout coat and flipped it around for him to view. "Sadie McGregor, Fire Investigator."

Interesting. She shared the same last name as the Fire Chief. That couldn't be a coincidence. "I had an officer posted here. Do you know where he went?"

"I sent him on an errand. Hope you don't mind." She stepped forward. Underneath her helmet, short strands of caramel colored hair framed a pretty face with freckles marching across both her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Haunting emerald eyes held his gaze as she offered her hand.

"Guess not." He shook the small latex covered hand, surprised by the strength of her grip. "Sorry for mistaking you for a guy."

She chuckled, turned, and walked into a room off to the right.

He followed. "I thought you were awfully small for a firefighter. I'm Police Chief Quinn Harrington by the way."

"I gathered that from your badge," she said with a smile. "Joe said you were on the scene during suppression, did anyone videotape it by chance? Or take pictures?"

"There were reporters on the scene so footage is probably available. Are you kin to Joe?"

"I'm his niece." She knelt along the baseboard. It was several seconds before she moved anything other than her head, which tilted from side to side as if in deep concentration. A few minutes later she balanced the clipboard on one knee, reached down and picked up what looked to be a framed photograph. "Must be her parents," she said, holding the frame up for his viewing.

"Mike and Donna Ingram. Larissa was their only child."

"Too bad. What do we know about her?"

"She was a senior over at the college, good kid, has never been in any trouble that I know of. The parents are away on vacation, so we think she was house sitting for them."

"Did you know her?"

"Not well. I've only been on the job a few months."

She laid the photograph on the buffet table, scribbled something on her clipboard and continued her examination of the room.

"I believe the point of origin is her bedroom, upstairs, first door on your right," Quinn volunteered.

"I've already been there," she said before exiting the room.

He followed her down the hall, into the kitchen. "How long have you been here?"

"Since dawn."

Just about the time he'd gone home to get a couple hours of much needed sleep.

Sadie pried opened the door of the soot-covered refrigerator and surveyed the contents. "Looks like our girl had herself a party."

"What makes you think that?"

"The refrigerator is almost empty and there are two barrels on the back porch with enough beer cans to pay for both our lunches."

"Preliminary findings of the coroner suggest she died from smoke inhalation."

"She also had a skull fracture."

"You've seen the body?" he asked.

"Yup."

"Well she could have received the head injury when she woke up disoriented. She was found next to the bed. She could have tripped and struck her head on the corner post."

"That's one possibility."

Rebecca Savage Interview

Joining us today is Rebecca Savage. Rebecca was born and raised in rural Missouri, but she left the small town when she joined the USAF and became a Morse Code Operator with a Top Secret SCI Clearance and flew away to basic training in San Antonio, Texas then on to Biloxi, Mississippi for special training then on to Italy where she was stationed for 5 ½ years.

Rebecca writes Contemporary Romantic Suspense because she lived it, and many of her stories she can relate to very well. Rebecca has three children, one grandchild, and has returned to rural Missouri, but she is now a teacher of History and German at the college and high school level.

Rebecca hopes you like her work and would love it if you read her stories and emailed to tell her what you think: rebeccasavage@rebeccasavage.com

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

[Rebecca] I’ve always been an avid reader, and at the end of the summer of 2003 I finished my Masters in History and I started reading romance when a friend of mine handed me a book when I said I wanted to read something for fun after having to do all that non-fiction reading for my Masters. I read for a year then I was lying on the couch one day reading, and I thought, “What would I write if I write?” It would have to be romance but with a good, fast-paced storyline. I got up and sat in front of the computer and penned my first story that summer. It’s now published along with all my other works. I can’t imagine my life without writing now.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Rebecca] My latest published book is a story called Guard My Body, and it is the second of a series of six, the first being Guard My Baby. The heroes are a group of ex-mercenaries who worked together for years, so they come in and out of my stories. So you get to know the secondary characters very well. The heroine is a librarian with a wild side. She is asked to insert Top Secret information in a missing tooth in her mouth and transport it for reasons you’ll understand if you read the story. lol

Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Rebecca] I like reading and writing suspense, and the CIA interests me, and I have lots of friends who are librarians, and I worked with a clearance, and I was looking at information in my classroom about terrorism and crossing the border of Mexico, and I write a story revolving around all those elements.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Rebecca] I didn’t have to do much research because of what I teach and what I did in the military, but I did have to look up some location information and specifics on who runs the CIA and how the levels of echelons an territory controls work.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Rebecca] I am working on the third of that series of six called Guard My Life, and I am also working on a fantasy called Dragon Fire, which is a working title right now, but it’s a dragon story based on Chinese dragon personalities and power colors and elements.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

[Rebecca] I am more of pantser than a plotter, but I figure out the basic storyline before I take off running, then it just comes to me. The dragon story is the most difficult because I’m out of my element, although I am incorporating military characteristics and FBI workings.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Rebecca] If I could be any one of my characters, it’d be the librarian. She lives the best of both worlds. She gets to work with books all day, hang out with a sexy CIA operative at night, and live out her wild side fantasy every new and then. lol

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn’t very likely to happen but since I’m asking the questions…)

[Rebecca] Italy! Yes, I’ve been there before, but when you leave that country, you leave a bit of your heart behind. I want to go back. Badly. lol

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Rebecca] Wow! What a dream that would be! I’d choose Gerard Butler & Jessica Alba.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Rebecca] Anything Romance! But especially suspense and historical and dragons.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Rebecca] Books, teaching, and fun in the sun!

[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Rebecca] Okay, put the tune to Finding Nemo with this line: “Just keep writing, writing, writing. Just keep writing…”

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

rebeccasavage.com

[Anne] Where can we purchase your book(s)?

[Rebecca] You can link to any of them from my website. Just click on their covers.

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Rebecca] Just please let me know what you think of my work. I’m always open to criticism. Well, I’ll pretend to be anyway. lol

Out of the Darkness & Ties That Bind Releases Today!

Both Out of the Darkness and Ties That Bind release today. Listed below are some of the places I’ll be visiting this month to promote the books. Please feel free to visit some or all of these sites. I’d love to hear from you! Plus, I’ll be keeping track of the comments at the sites, where you can post, and periodically through the month I’ll be giving away review copies of the books at various stops. Then at the end of the month I’ll be giving away a tote bag with several goodies, including a T-shirt with the book cover, a mug and autographed items. So be sure to join in the fun and help me celebrate my new releases.

Month of May – Beverly Bateman: www.beverleybateman.com
May 4th - Vijay Schartz: http://www.vijayaschartz.com/blog.html
May 6th - Evie Alexis: http://longlivechicklit.wordpress.com
May 7th – Melanie Atkins: http://www.melanieatkins.wordpress.com/
May 12th – Gail Pallotta: http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com/
May 13th – Linda Rettstatt: http://www.lindarettstatt-author.blogspot.com/
May 14th – Ginger Simpson: http://www.mizging.blogspot.com/
May 14th – Stephanie Burkhart: http://www.sgcardin.blogspot.com/
May 19th – Sharon Donovan: http://www.sharondonovan.blogspot.com/
May 24th – Susan Whitfield: www.susanwhitfield.blogspot.com
May 28th – P.I. Barrington: http://www.thewordmistresses.com/
May 30th – K. Dawn Byrd: http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/

Now a little about my new releases

Out of the Darkness - 'Sweet' Romantic Suspense

In Out of the Darkness, ex-FBI Profiler Alex Michaels is forced into hiding by the serial killer who murdered her twin sister and left her with a career ending injury. Meeting up with an ex-pro football player who is also facing an uncertain future, Alex makes Royce McIntire an offer he can’t refuse. Settling into her new life, Alex has no idea the killer is hot on her tracks along with the team of FBI agents who failed to protect her before. When they all catch up to her, not only is her peaceful life shattered, but once again her life is in jeopardy.

Out of the Darkness releases today from Champagne Books!

Ties That Bind - Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Sheriff Austin Garrett enlists the help of FBI profiler, Jo McDaniels, to help him solve a string of murders plaguing his community. Unlike most profilers Jo has an unusual gift that allows her to get to know the victims better than anyone else. She not only feels their emotions; she feels their pain. But the last time she relied on her physic ability it almost cost her career as well as her sanity. As the case progresses and the body count rises they soon realize that Jo’s sanity isn’t all that is at risk. She has become the killer’s ultimate kill.

Ties That Bind releases today from Awe-Struck Publishing!  15% off

You can read excerpts from both of these books on my excerpt page. Just click on the links in the sidebar.

Pre-Release 5 Star Review for Out of the Darkness!!!

Sherry at Love 2 Read Novels just made my day by giving Out of the Darkness five stars.  Here's what she had to say about it.

Anne Patrick has done it again! She has delivered a story that keeps you glued from a running start to a nail-biting finish! Alex is an interesting character. She is so strong and self sufficient but doesn't have the one thing she wants most. Royce is a wonderful tortured hero. One who has a lot of past issues but still possessed a tenderness in his heart. They really fit together well and you felt the struggle each had in trying to accept their feelings for one another. I really enjoyed all the supporting characters as well. Anne allows you a glimpse into the mind of a serial killer which is kinda scary but interesting to see the twisted way they think. She keeps you guessing through the story who the killer really is and you don't find out until the end. I like how she works faith in God into the story without being preachy. The story is chock full of action, suspense and romance. I highly recommend Out of the Darkness!  To read the whole review, click here.

Out of the Darkness is due to release in May from Champagne Books.
Thank you, Sherry!

In other news, I want to congratulate Martha Lawson.  She was the winner of Betty's book Murder.Com.  I really enjoyed having both Barri & Betty drop in last week and I do hope they'll come back for another visit sometime.