Deadly Deception
Deadly Deception is the third book in my ‘Til Death series—a series connected by theme.
In this installment, estranged couple, Special Agents Mallory Reeves and Sawyer Kent, are reunited to faceoff against Seattle’s newest serial killer—the evidence of which points towards a previous case the couple worked on. The only problem—the man responsible was just executed by lethal injection…or was he.
But catching the killer isn’t the only issue. Sawyer wants Mallory back in his life, but achieving that might be harder than figuring out who is behind the rash of new deaths. They’ve got more than a few misunderstandings to clear up, and time is running out when the killer decides to make the case far more personal than they ever dreamed possible.
It took you a while to realise that there were characters forming in your head for fiction, so tell us about some of the ideas bubbling away when your first began to write.
Other than thinking my next stop might be a padded cell…
Like many authors I’m sure, my first ideas were rooted in personal experiences, only in my head, they became entrenched with espionage and dangerous villains. After all, who doesn’t dream of being a hero or saving the day at the last possible moment? I have, shall we say, a varied portfolio, so I didn’t have any problem extrapolating from previous careers and hobbies to create situations that were the perfect mix for a suspense/thriller book.
My first attempt was a thriller book that saw our couple cover a mountain’s worth of ice and risk it all to stop a terrorist cell from releasing a deadly nerve agent. That book has since been released as Hard Target. This came to life after completing an ascent of Mount Rainer. It’s amazing what you think about when you’re above ten thousand feet.
You are a jack-of-all trades, so what else do you enjoy doing other than writing?
I think the question is more along the lines of what haven’t I done in the past. I hold a commercial helicopter’s license and have worked for 911 emergency services. I’ve been a commercial boat captain and have worked as a tour guide.
Currently, I’m a single mom, which means I’m a chauffeur, maid, cook—you name it. I also edit and enjoy rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, running and adventure racing. I recently completed the TransRockies 7-day Mountain Bike Race. Basically, I don’t like to sit stillJ
Why does the crime genre appeal to you so much?
I love the crime/thriller genre because at the end of the day, I like believing that good has once again conquered evil. I think it’s part of being a hopeless romantic. I grew up watching cop shows—do you guys remember Starsky and Hutch? Hill Street Blues? SWAT? McMillan and Wife? And who can forget Charlie’s Angels and that hair Farrah Fawcett made famous…
I know, I’m dating myself, but I’ve always had a love for police action shows. I’ve watched endless seasons of CSI and love trying to figure out who’s behind the crime or watching the team race to catch the killer before time runs out. And subsequently, this has always been my biggest draw for writing. I want readers to go on a wild ride and arrive at the end knowing justice will triumph, even if they had their doubts along the way.
Please give us some insight into your previous publications with Total-E-Bound.
Most of my books with Total-E-Bound have been in the thriller genre. I have two other books in the ‘Til Death series—Deadly Vision and Deadly Obsession. All three books revolve around couples on the verge of losing each other only to have their lives put in jeopardy. I like to think that stressful times make us examine our priorities, and what we hold most dear. I also have a short story with them called Centrefold, which is a ménage thriller.
I did start a vampire series, entitled Dark Prophecy, which I’m in the process of finishing. I should have the third book completed shortly. And lastly, I have a fantasy book with them—Healing Hands. It’s the first book in another series and I hope to revisit it in the future.
Fantasy is another favourite genre of mine. I love being able to create new worlds and walking off the beaten path, so to speak.
How hard is it to keep your writing fresh when there is such a rise in erotic e book fiction?
A wise friend once told me to write what you love and what you want to read, because by the time you’re done, you’ll have read your book a thousand times. Okay, maybe not quite that much, but it’s true. I think the key to keeping things fresh is to write what you’re passionate about and not to be afraid to branch out. Writing a book in a different genre is a great way to spice things up. I also like to switch between single couple relationships and multi-couple relationships. Nothing like a tri of hot men to spark your imagination and keep the stories twisting and turning.
I also think that it’s the backstory that helps keep erotic fiction fresh. I believe the reasons and settings to where and how your couples get intimate can make the story fresh.
What is the appeal of writing for the e book for you?
What I love most about e books is the ability to take an infinite amount of them anywhere. You don’t have to choose only one or two to take on a vacation. You can take your entire library with you. I also love that I can start reading the book I want immediately. I don’t have to wait for it to arrive in the mail or drive to the store. I just click and download it. I honestly prefer reading this way…but then with so many incredible e readers, what’s not to love?
Why is it important to mix the genre of erotic fiction with other major themes such as vampires and crime?
Let’s be frank. While sizzling love scenes are fantastic, just reading sex for sex sake doesn’t hit the spot with most readers. Like anyone else, I want to be drawn into the book and feel as if I’m right there, walking beside the characters as they run or trip their way through the story. Regardless of how hot and steamy the love is, if you don’t have a solid plot with believable characters and vivid descriptions, it just won’t fly.
Erotic fiction—to me as a writer—is allowing readers to see beyond the bedroom door, but only when it adds to the story. It isn’t what sustains the book, but what completes it. But the story should still be riveting without it. That’s the mark of a great erotic fiction book.
What is your writing process?
Process—I’m supposed to have a process? Well, quite honestly, I usually get the opening of a book in my head, and I simply go from there. I don’t always have it figured out, (true story—I don’t always know who the bad guy is at the start either) but I like it that way. It allows me to look at the story as it progresses from different points of view and weave more aspects into it than if I stuck to a hard and fast outline. I’m definitely a seat-of-the-pants kind of writer.
What is next for you?
I’m currently finishing off book three in the Dark Prophecy series, currently titled Blood of the Wolf (we’ll see if that title sticks, lol). I also want to expand the original book in that series, Sacred Talisman. After that, I would like to divide my time between finishing that series and getting back to my fantasy series.
You can purchase Deadly Deception from Total-E-Bound Publishing!