Welcome, Author Christine London!

This week I am welcoming author Christine London to Gina's World of Good. A prolific author, Christine's novel WHEN WE WERE AMAZING was selected as Author 100 Romances Best of the Year. It a delight to have her visit this week. Leave a comment and be eligible to win a PDF of WHEN WE WERE AMAZING and a $!) Amazon Gift Card. Welcome, Christine!

Now let's get on with our chat.

What makes a book great in your eyes?

   The emotions it evokes. For a book to do its job, for it to have meaning and maybe even change my life it has to ring true to something important. Whether that is the oh-so-real challenges faced by fictional characters or the depth of thought in a nonfiction work, the key to success, to reaching me, is through my heart.

  Uplift. Educate, Entertain. Inspire.

What is the hardest scene you ever had to write?

   Australia, France and California. In spite of the globe hopping backdrops the hardest scene I ever had to write was a car accident. A three year old girl, Livvie, is struck, hand yanked from her brother, Cooper. Her mother Carrie arrives moments later to see the floral print dress of her little girl, limbs askew, peeking out from beneath the car that struck her. Just recalling it now makes my heart squeeze tight in my chest. Anyone who has loved a three year old. Anyone who has had a child. Anyone would feel the same.

Pastel painted facades of six story buildings abutted the frontage, like Lego blocks in a child’s display of idealized reality lining the curve of river. Pedestrians walked along narrow sidewalks. A balloon-tired bike darted onto the street with the thrum of rubber against cobblestones. It all seemed surreal, as though the camera of life had broken, shifted into fluid encumbered ballet.

From around the corner she came, Livvie toting Cooper. Determination in her stance she pulled on him like a dog on its lead. A spotlight of happiness shone, her children in the midst of the gloom. They reached the curb. Carrie lifted her hand to wave, to call.

And then the world slowed into eternity.

The grip was broken. Livvie dove into the street headlong, unseeing toward river’s edge. A screech of tires. The blur of metal. Then interminable silence. Carrie wanted her heart to stop, because if what she saw was true, her life was over.

She froze, blood turning to ice in her veins. Power unknown shot through her. Muscles fired to life propelling her forward. She was at the front bumper of the white sedan before she could take another breath. Hands on the hood, she pushed with the strength of heaven. The car rolled back, and Livvie’s crumpled form appeared, an unnatural twisting of limbs, clothing, hair. Her face was turned toward the undercarriage, ear and cheek the only visible features.

Carrie’s first reaction was to hold her, rock her in her arms like the baby she was. Sing a

lullaby, the aural version of motherly shield from harm. Feel the weight of her, the reassuring warmth, the powder sweet scent of her ivory flesh against hers, in her nostrils reassurance of home, safety, life.

But like a china doll, Livvie lay motionless, broken.

The scream that erupted from her core sounded distant, yet it tore something irreplaceable from her. It was like her own blood poured forth on that street in Lyon, all color, all light draining from the world in an instant. Carrie looked up as though a magnet drew her eyes.

Cooper jolted to a halt above her, face contorted in horror.

Torn from her, Carrie’s heart vacated her chest, leaving in its place a chasm of cold, hideous death.

“Call. Get help.” More disembodied words, the sound coming from her, but not real. She

turned back to the rumpled form below, covering her with the tent of her chest, so carefully surrounding the sweet floral fabric of Liv’s dress. Cheek placed on cheek, she listened for respiration.

*****************

Excerpt from: When We Were Amazing - Christine London (http://christinelondon.com/books/when-we-were-amazing )

 Twenty three year old Aussie wine heir Bryan Lassiter wanted nothing more than to be a self made man. When online love, California ranch owner Carrie Sorrell flies half way round the globe to visit him, she’d no idea his magnetism would erase both their fourteen year age difference and her common sense. As fate and a powerful family collide to tear them apart, will she have the strength to let him go or will it be the secret she’s so carefully protected that destroys… or heals?

What is your favorite place in the whole world?

   Those who read my blog know I adore exploring new places. From California's golden grassed hills to Paris and London's historical wonders, to Australia's wine country and back. I have happily traveled to many gorgeous locales.

   At the end of the day, it is my own back garden that I adore. Perhaps it is the familiarity of home. Maybe the plants that I have memorized over the years as I care for them. Maybe the dancing twinkle of lights strung along my pergola or the happy tinkle of the wind chime. More likely, it is the place my closest friends and family have gathered, sometimes around the round of raised brick fire pit, sometimes at the simple white rimmed and glass picnic table. Maybe it is their love and presence that makes it so.

   My back garden is my favorite place in the world.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend they start with and why?

  Now that would depend of if that someone was a fan of short reads or full length novels, spicy or sweet. End of October or first of November my anthology of short stories, 55 Portobello Road, is slated to come out in both e and print format at Amazon.com. Six of the eight shorts are already available at Amazon in electronic format for 99 cents.

Notting Hill Scrooge -  http://tinyurl.com/qagpnhb

Happy New Year Baby - http://tinyurl.com/q69dgk6

Valentine Huntsman - http://tinyurl.com/ojwu9sz

Pancake Race - http://tinyurl.com/nhlewqr

Cait the Cat Burglar - http://tinyurl.com/pkhcsqx

Caught Being Good - http://tinyurl.com/kvu6hhn

 They are a great way to get a taste of my American/British tinged tales in a short, sweet doses you may not wish to end.

   

Full length fleshed out tale? My first is the story of my heart that got me into this biz (Soul In His Eyes http://christinelondon.com/books/soul-in-his-eyes ), though unless you like celebrity-meets-every-day-girl stories with the celeb having the most to learn, you might prefer the lavish, sexy love letter to Hawaii (Reluctant Companions http://christinelondon.com/books/reluctant-companions ) or the touching tale of a young woman coming to terms with the recent diagnosis that has shattered her world—Leap of Faith http://christinelondon.com/books/leap-of-faith .

  

Hard to say, and certainly as personal a choice as the clothes you wear. All can be sampled at christinelondon.com  under the pull down menu of the "Books" tab.

What three things bring you to tears?

These days, a lot. Maybe it is the softening of the heart as we age or the fluctuating hormones that does it.

- The beauty in nature, be that a breathtaking sunrise or a snow capped mountain jutting from the verdant green of the valley below. God's paintbrush is unrivalled.

-A heartfelt note from a reader whose life has been touched by what I have written.

-The distance and infrequency in seeing my Marine First Lieutenant daughter stationed clear on the other side of the continent—and how very proud I am of her courage and accomplishments. Trying to come to terms with the fact that my disabled son may never enjoy all the things in life with which I have been blessed. (Oh, that four— Sorry.)

   Thank you for leading me through this amazing journey with the thoughtful questions you have asked, Regina. I love visiting you and your readers.

Thank you for visiting, Christine! Please come back again soon.

Here are some ways to find Christine in cyberspace:

Christine London
Author 100 Romances Best Of the Year, When We Were Amazing
Tweet sweet with Christine at https://twitter.com/ChristineLondon
Facebook cool stuff: https://www.facebook.com/christine.london
Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Christine-London/e/B003MX4AW6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Impossibly Pretty Pinteresting: http://pinterest.com/christinelondon/

Now Available! PRAISE of the HEART, Book 3: The Sterling Lakes Series

So happy to let you know that the 3rd book in my Inspirational Romance series, The Sterling Lakes Series, is now available at Writer's-Exchange Publishing. http://www.writers-exchange.com/Praise-of-the-Heart.html

PRAISE of the HEART finds pro baseball player Cliff Markham coming home to help with the fundraising efforts for the renovations at St. Luke's Church. However, his home town of Sterling Lakes is not as idyllic as he remembers. The town librarian Laura Matthewson is key in helping him research the problems with the town's water source. Will she assist him in his efforts to unearth the truth? Or does she have secrets of her own to hide?

Here's a review of Sterling Lakes Book 2, ANGELS of the HEART:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Christian Book!, June 23, 2013

By 

Diane Craver (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sterling Lakes Series Book 2: Angels of the Heart (Kindle Edition)

Regina Andrews hooked me instantly into her Sterling Lakes Book Two: Angels of the Heart. From the first page, I felt like I was on the studio set of WMAS with Maryanne Lynch, a television journalist. Although Maryanne is engaged to Elwood, a wonderful man, she's eager to talk with an old high school friend, Travis Collimore, when he comes to the studio. As a developer, he tells Maryanne how the Townsend Barn will be destroyed when they do renovations of St. Luke's Church. Maryanne hasn't seen Travis for years, so she goes to Sterling Lakes Diner to continue their conversation and to catch up. She's happy to see him but isn't pleased that his consortium group have plans to destroy the old barn along with its rare angel weather vane.

She's surprised that while speaking with Travis in the diner she starts feeling warm. Why is Travis having this effect on her after all these years? Maryanne is a feisty and amazing woman. She decides to save the barn from being torn down, even though her fiancé, Elwood, disagrees with her. Her determination and compassion is what draws the town's people to her goal of saving something that is more than a barn to everyone. It seems to represent the spirit of the people. It's heartwarming how they come together as a unit to save what is important to their community. The barn is symbolic especially to Maryanne. She has happy memories of playing with her brother Mark in the barn before he died at age six. Losing the barn would be devastating to Maryanne because her childhood is tied with her precious times there.

Maryanne's caring for others doesn't stop at her TV studio. She reaches out to a pregnant teenager, Crystal, who needs her assistance. Travis is also a multidimensional character with his charity work being a priority in his life. He flies a helicopter for the Angel Flight Program and delivers transplant patients to the hospitals where the organs are available.

The way that Andrews weaved the story of Maryanne and Travis is touching, sweet, and even humorous at times. Reading how each character approaches their spiritual growth as Christians was uplifting to me. As I read this book, I felt like the author's words poured from her heart as a Christian. Regina Andrews has created an inspirational romance readers will root for, and I highly recommend this book.

http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1922066915/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

Check out my website for more great reviews: http://www.reginaandrews.com

Welcome, Award-Winning Author Anne Patrick and her new release OUT OF THE DARKNESS

Today I am super-excited to welcome award-winning author Anne Patrick to my blog. Anne is a wonderful writer with a talent for taking her readers on a thrilling ride filled with emotional depth and realistic details. No wonder all her fans - including me - look forward to each new book she writes! Plus, she is one of the nicest people I have ever been lucky enough to know. Thank you for visiting today, Anne and best of luck to you with your new release, OUT OF THE DARKNESS.





Author Bio:
Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award winning and bestselling WOUNDED HEROES SERIES, FIRE AND ASH, and LETHAL DREAMS. Her books have garnered four-star reviews from Romantic Times, 'Top Pick' and 'Best Book' honors from Night Owl Reviews and Long and Short of It Reviews, and Five-Heart reviews from The Romance Studio. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.
To learn more about Anne, please visit her website: www.annepatrickbooks.com or blog: www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com. She loves to hear from her readers!


Blurb:
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 and wants to win back custody of his son.

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 house was dark as Alex Michaels drove onto the snow-covered lawn. She slammed the gearshift into park, pulled her gun from its holster, and jumped from the car. She swiped frantically at the tears as she stepped to the front door and grasped the knob. Please God... Please don't let me be too late. Her grip tightened on the 9mm as beads of perspiration formed on her forehead. Inside the entryway, she reached out with her left hand to flick the light switch.
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 fist full of her hair, the attacker jerked back her head as his knee rammed her rib cage, forcing a gush of air from her lungs.
She cried out as her knees buckled and she fell. 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 blood curdling screams of terror.
"Sorry you didn't make it in time to say goodbye. But you'll be with her soon enough."

Out of the Darkness buy link: http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/out-of-the-darkness-epub/ Also available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

RAVING Five Star Review - ANGELS of the HEART Book Two in the Sterling Lakes Series -- A Writer's Dream Come True!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Christian Book!, June 23, 2013

By 

Diane Craver (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sterling Lakes Series Book 2: Angels of the Heart (Kindle Edition)

Regina Andrews hooked me instantly into her Sterling Lakes Book Two: Angels of the Heart. From the first page, I felt like I was on the studio set of WMAS with Maryanne Lynch, a television journalist. Although Maryanne is engaged to Elwood, a wonderful man, she's eager to talk with an old high school friend, Travis Collimore, when he comes to the studio. As a developer, he tells Maryanne how the Townsend Barn will be destroyed when they do renovations of St. Luke's Church. Maryanne hasn't seen Travis for years, so she goes to Sterling Lakes Diner to continue their conversation and to catch up. She's happy to see him but isn't pleased that his consortium group have plans to destroy the old barn along with its rare angel weather vane.

She's surprised that while speaking with Travis in the diner she starts feeling warm. Why is Travis having this effect on her after all these years? Maryanne is a feisty and amazing woman. She decides to save the barn from being torn down, even though her fiancé, Elwood, disagrees with her. Her determination and compassion is what draws the town's people to her goal of saving something that is more than a barn to everyone. It seems to represent the spirit of the people. It's heartwarming how they come together as a unit to save what is important to their community. The barn is symbolic especially to Maryanne. She has happy memories of playing with her brother Mark in the barn before he died at age six. Losing the barn would be devastating to Maryanne because her childhood is tied with her precious times there.

Maryanne's caring for others doesn't stop at her TV studio. She reaches out to a pregnant teenager, Crystal, who needs her assistance. Travis is also a multidimensional character with his charity work being a priority in his life. He flies a helicopter for the Angel Flight Program and delivers transplant patients to the hospitals where the organs are available.

The way that Andrews weaved the story of Maryanne and Travis is touching, sweet, and even humorous at times. Reading how each character approaches their spiritual growth as Christians was uplifting to me. As I read this book, I felt like the author's words poured from her heart as a Christian. Regina Andrews has created an inspirational romance readers will root for, and I highly recommend this book.

Congratulations to Linda Weaver Clarke on her NEW Release, "The Rebels of Cordovia"

The Stories of Robin Hood is Inspiration for The Rebels of Cordovia

We celebrate Independence Day, remembering the freedom we fought for centuries ago. Many patriots had to pay for this freedom with their lives and we are grateful to those who fought for our liberty. In this new novel, you get a glimpse of what another country had to fight for, as well. The freedom of speech, the freedom of equality, and the freedom to worship as we please! No one could have a greater gift than this.

This tale will entertain those who enjoy bits of adventure, humor, mystery, and a tender love story. The stories of Robin Hood have enchanted readers for years. In our youth, we enjoyed hearing the escapades of Robin Hood and were spellbound by each story and how he cared for the people. How awesome would it be to live during that time period just because of Robin Hood! In The Rebels of Cordovia, a similar story is created but centuries after the legend of Robin Hood. But this time, there are two major groups of rebels fighting for the rights of the people. Daniel, a good-looking rogue, would be the leader of the Freemen. Robin Marie, a young woman, would be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Each leader is an expert archer and swordsman. With bits of adventure and delectable kisses, this tale will entertain anyone who enjoys a sweet romance.

In The Rebels of Cordovia by Linda Weaver Clarke, the time period is set in the late 1700s. Centuries after the legendary Robin Hood, a group of men and women find themselves fighting for the same cause: for their rights, for freedom of speech, and equality. Robin’s Rebels realize they must fight against the tyranny of a wicked king and help the people survive this oppression. In the small country of Cordovia, groups of rebels begin springing up, but its Robin’s Rebels who get the attention of the king.

In this battle for freedom, a tender love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be?

Author Anna Del C. Dye wrote: “What a fun and interesting tale The Rebels of Cordovia is. A very good story to keep you glued all the way to the end. I really enjoyed the romance mingled with the fights. It is a well-paced tale to give you entertainment next to a warm fire in the rain. Linda writes a good, clean, and sweet romance, for young adults and adults alike. You will enjoy this story to the end.”

Read a sample chapter here: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/rebels.html

The Rebels of Cordovia by Linda Weaver Clarke

Genre: Sweet romance

ISBN: 978-1484147658

Purchase Book Link: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/purchasebook.html

Price: $12.95, Ebook: $2.99 

Welcome, Author Gail Pallotta and her new release, STOPPED COLD!

Today I am thrilled to welcome the wonderful author Gail Pallotta to Gina's World of Good. Gail will be discussing her newest release, STOPPED COLD, which is already stopping traffic on the sales charts! Welcome, wonderful author, blogger and friend - Gail! Let's start with chatting about your thoughts on writing.

As an author, what makes a book great in your eyes?

I love to read, so it’s difficult for me to find a book I don’t like, but there are a few I’ve read that stand out. Those touched my heart on a personal level and had meaning for mankind as well.

Tell us a little about what you are working on.

I recently finished an adult romantic comedy with suspense. It’s a fun book with surprises. Also, I’m writing a romance about a young girl with a mysterious illness.

Let’s talk about the book you’d like to promote today.  How did you come up with the title and where can we find it?

Stopped Cold is a sports mystery. In it the heroine looks for drug dealers who sold her brother the steroid that caused him to have a stroke. As I worked on Stopped Cold, I thought of titles that had something to do with sports and came up with the word “game.” Pondering further, it dawned on me that some might think of taking drugs as a game, so I titled the book A Dangerous Game. Another day while writing about the young man who took the steroid, I thought, “Man, he was stopped cold.” I changed the title.

Here are buy links for Stopped Cold:

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/305506

Front Porch Romance: http://www.frontporchromance.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33&products_id=194

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stopped-Cold-ebook/dp/B00CBAT37I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365693797&sr=8-1&keywords=gail+pallotta

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stoppedcold-1157330-176.html

What was your first reaction when you got a glimpse of your cover art?

Excitement. It validated that I really had a book coming out soon.

Please give us a blurb and excerpt!

The Book Blurb:

Margaret McWhorter enjoys a laid-back Freshman year in high school flirting with Jimmy Willmore, swimming and hanging out with friends—until that day. Her brother, Sean, suffers a stroke from taking a steroid. Now he’s lying unconscious in a hospital. Margaret’s angry at her dad for pushing Sean to be a great quarterback, but a fire of hatred burns inside her to make the criminals pay.

Looking for justice, she takes Jimmy and her best friend, Emily, through a twisted, drug-filled sub-culture. A clue sends them deep into the woods behind the school where they overhear drug dealers discuss Sean.

Time and time again they walk a treacherous path and come face to face with danger. Even the cop on the case can’t stop them from investigating. All the while Margaret really wants to cure Sean, heal the hate inside, and open her heart to love.

An Excerpt:

My heart flip-flopped, my feelings in a boxing match. Sean

was so sick. I couldn’t understand why he took the steroid.

Trying to figure it out haunted me day and night like a ghost

inside my head that wouldn’t shut up howling. Then Jimmy

gave me attention, and I was all flowers and sunshine.

How ironic that Sean’s illness brought Jimmy and me

together. Maybe we would have gotten to know each other

better anyway. I’d never know for sure, but Sean would be

glad for me. The need to find the people who hurt him burned

in my stomach like a raging fire. “Wednesday sounds good.

Can we go after my swim practice?”

Suzie put her palms on the table. “That’s good for me. I have

to go to French Club Wednesday after classes.”

“Let’s meet in front of the gym at four-thirty.” Jimmy stood.

“I’ll see you then.”

He left, and Emily leaned across the table. “Sometimes I

wonder if Candy’s as out-of-it as she acts. I can’t see Sean

dating her.”

“If I didn’t know Sean, I’d think he did it to aggravate Dad.

But Sean’s not spiteful. He tries to please people.” Tears

forcing their way to my eyes caused me to blink. “You know

what? He probably did it because Candy hangs out with the

football players. You can see how they all flip out over her.”

Emily peered at me with sad dark eyes. “Sean deserved

better.”

“I know. I wish I’d talked to him about her and steroids.”

“You can’t blame yourself for what happened.”

How could I not blame myself? He got no help from me

when he needed it most.

Joe Garrett walked past us then meandered through the

students toward the doorway.

“Do you think he heard us make plans?” Emily tilted her

head toward Joe.

“No, we weren’t talking loud. There’s so much noise in here

I doubt he could hear anything.”

A glint danced in Emily’s eyes. “You’re probably sorry

Jimmy left. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s totally into

you.”

I couldn’t have stopped my grin if I’d wanted to. “You think

so?”

“Oh, yeah.” Emily nodded. “I’m glad he’s going with us

Wednesday.”

“So am I. Thanks for asking him.”

“You’re welcome.” Emily shifted her gaze to my plate. “You

have to keep up your strength. We’re not leaving until you

eat.”

Seeing Candy, the talk about the temple, and the shame of

telling Jimmy about Sean had squashed my appetite. “Emily,

I can’t. My stomach’s churning.”

Emily’s dark eyes turned stern. “You have to.”

I rubbed my stomach.

“Think of something soothing and eat.”

My thoughts turned to the warmth I’d seen in Jimmy’s eyes

the day he told me he was keeping Sean in his prayers. The

first nibble of my french fry tasted better than I thought it

would. Now, the chicken sandwich. Yum.

Emily grinned. “After you eat it all, I’ll take you home.”

Since Sean had been in the hospital, Emily looked after me.

Guess she realized there was no one else to do it. “You

sound like my mom, but for a ride, I’ll do it. I’m too tired to

wait on the bus.”

Emily laughed. “I’m more like a big sister.”

I cleaned my plate. “There.”

Emily and I strolled out of The Grill to her car. The

conversation Candy had with the football players replayed in

my mind and fueled my hatred of the drug dealers. Seemed

like Candy thought steroids were a big joke. Did she really

know something about the temple?

Emily turned on the radio and kept her eyes on the road. “I

love this song.”

It was a soft, love tune. Tears pooled in my eyes. With all of

the hurt and anger in my heart there wasn’t room in my life

for such songs. “It’s pretty.”

 Thank you for visiting, Gail! Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win an e-book copy of  STOPPED COLD. Good luck!

Welcome, Author Nike Chillemi ~ Crime Fictionista!

Today I am delighted to welcome author Nike Chillemi for a visit to Gina's World of Good. Nike will share her thoughts on writing and specifically, her book BURNING HEARTS, published by Desert Breeze Publishing. Welcome, Nike!

Regina: As an author, what makes a book great in your eyes?

Nike: The characters, first and foremost, determine a great work of fiction. If the author hasn't presented compelling characters who I love to love, or love to hate, then it's a waste of an interesting plotline. I don't care if it's a seat of the pants ride, if I haven't become emotionally invested in the characters I won't become fully engaged in the story.

Regina: Tell us a little about what you are working on.

Nike: I'm leaving the world of historical whodunits w/romance and venturing into contemporary mysteries w/romance. I'm constructing a series with really strong, spunky private investigator and law enforcement heroines and stalwart heroes who are sometimes exasperated by these impulsive, but very capable females. My heroes are three-dimensional and ultimately can handle relationships with complicated women. There is a huge amount of humor, some of it all out funny, or zany, with moments of satire. I'd compare it with some of the work of Susan Issacs (humorous romantic suspense) or Jaqueline Girdner (comic California murder mysteries) or Chris Well (Earl Walker series, hilarious Christian mysteries).

Regina: What is the hardest scene you had to write in this piece?

Nike: The first work to introduce this new contemporary series is a novella, HARMFUL INTENT. My heroine is a girl-next-door private investigator from Brooklyn, NY who goes to Abilene, TX where she is accused of murdering her husband of one year. There were two difficult scenes to write. The first was searching the husband/murder victim's hotel room. I rewrote it several times to get the police procedure correct. The second was writing the scene when my female PI discovers the body of the second victim of the murder(s). I'm a victim's rights advocate. The second victim is a sympathetic character and I wanted to be honest about the brutality of murder and also wanted to be sensitive to my victim and respectful.

Regina: Let’s talk about the book you’d like to promote today.  How did you come up with the title and where can we find it?

Nike: I'm promoting BURNING HEARTS (arson/murder, action, romance, and humor). It's gotten all four and five star reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The title is a play on words. It's an arson/murder whodunit. The story opens with an arsonist burning down a house, killing the owner. But it's also a "sweet" romance in which Erica and Lorne yearn for each other, but they care so deeply, their hearts are burning, so to speak. It's actually my debut novel which Desert Breeze first published as an ebook, but it's now come out in print and I'm very excited about that. I love ebooks and was completely happy with it in electronic format, but I do know there are readers who only read print and now it's available for them.

Regina: What was your first reaction when you got a glimpse of your cover art?

Nike: When I first saw the cover for BURNING HEARTS I'd never had my own cover before and didn't know what to expect or what it should look like. The I'm afraid I asked Desert Breeze Art Director, Jenifer Ranieri, some pointed (though hopefully not rude, no seriously, never that) and stupid questions...all out of ignorance and beginner's fear. Here I am, now a multi-published author, and I can laugh about how wet behind the ears I was back then. The fact is Jen's cover for the novel is gorgeous and the other covers in the series are equally awesome. I keep getting wonderful complements on the covers.

Please give us a blurb and excerpt!

BURNING HEARTS: Historical Murder Mystery with Romance, mid-1940s

---arson/murder, action, and romance

---Sweet romance, sophisticated themes presented tastefully

---Finaled in 2011 Grace Awards Romance/Historical Romance category

Can a sheltered young seamstress, disillusioned by the horrors of WWII, escape an arsonist/murderer who has killed her employer and mentor, while trying to decide if she can trust the dashing war hero who’s ridden into town on his Harley—who some say is the murderer?

Erica Brogna’s parents doted on her and taught her to think for herself. Many boys she grew up with had fallen in WWII, shaking her childhood faith. In rides a handsome stranger, at the hour of her most desperate need. A woman who is her close friend and mentor is trapped in a burning house. After making an unsuccessful rescue attempt, Erica stands by as this man rushes into the inferno and carries her friend’s lifeless body out.

Lorne Kincade can’t out run his past on his Harley Davidson WLA, the civilian model of the motorcycle he rode in the war. He’s tried. He’s been a vagabond biker in the year since the war ended. His Uncle Ivar bequeathed him a ramshackle cottage in Sanctuary Point, on the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY and now he’d like to hope for a future again, repair the miniscule place, and settle down. The only problem is, a young woman with hair the color of mink is starting to get under his skin and that’s the last thing he needs.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Long Island, New York

September 1946

Erica Brogna hurried down Hill Street, eager to sketch her new design, a forest green taffeta dress with a swirling skirt for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary -- her first significant assignment. She paused to inhale the salt scent on the ocean breeze, and her gaze lingered on a copse of red, rust, and gold maples near Ada's house and dress shop.

She smiled, pulling her cardigan tight around her, and dropped the newspaper Poppa asked her to bring to her mentor and employer. She retrieved the paper and saw Bess Truman smiling as she entered Walter Reed Army Hospital. With the war over, the First Lady visited broken soldiers in long-term care. Erica slapped the paper closed before rage and depression overtook her. So many boys had not come home.

Chin jutted out, she smoothed the pleats of her skirt and marched toward Ada's house.

She'd think on pleasant things and hand the paper over without a fuss as she did every morning.

Nothing would ruin this day.

She climbed Ada's wooden front steps and opened the door.

Smoke filled the living room Ada had turned into a fabric shop. Erica waved a hand in front of tearing eyes. Gray vapors, like swirling fog, partially obscured bolts of fabric stacked against the opposite wall.

"Ada! Ada, answer me please." Dropping the newspaper, Erica rushed toward the stairs, trampling Bess Truman's image. "Ada can you hear me?"

Coughing, she grabbed on to the cutting table in the middle of the room, steadied herself, and reached for the phone -- no dial tone. Perhaps the fire melted the line.

She yanked the collar of her blouse over her nose and mouth against the smoke. The stairs loomed before her, seeming as impossible to scale as Mount Everest. She lunged forward, gripping the baluster, and thrust herself up two steps. Since Ada wasn't outside, she had to be upstairs.

As Erica climbed, the smoke thickened and swirled around her. It was darker with each step.

One hand clasped the rail and pulled, and she advanced a few more steps. Heat blasted against her skin from above, and soft crackling sounds drew her gaze to the upstairs landing.

Squinting into the smoke, she lost her grip on the banister, missed the next step, and fell backward tumbling to the bottom.

The back of her head smacked against the baluster, and wooziness followed sharp pain.

She tried to stand but couldn't get her bearings.

Will triumphed over ability. She hoisted herself, ignoring the dull throb at the back of her skull. Her palms stung, the skin scraped off during her fall. She took a deep breath, and a coughing fit seized her. Shallow breaths were the better alternative.

Planting her penny loafer on the bottom step, Erica began her climb again, shaken but with new resolve. If she could reach the top of the stairs, she could also make it to Ada's bedroom.

Halfway up, the scratches on her palms pulsated as the temperature rose. So did her knees -- must've scraped those, too. The pungent smoke shrouding her darkened, and grit clung to her skin. She couldn't see the banister or the top of the stairs and each breath took effort.

Poppa's lectures on fire drills flashed into mind -- stay low in a fire to get fresh air. She dropped to her knees and crawled, ignoring her pain. A sickening smell made her stomach lurch.

Inch by inch she crept, now three quarters of the way up. Hot, putrid air assaulted her windpipe, and she doubled over, her insides trembling.

Heaving herself forward, she maneuvered up one more step, but the smoke pushed back, choking her. She sobbed, knowing she couldn't make it to Ada, and scrambled down, hoping she could find help.

Regina: That excerpt totally grabbed me, Nike! Name two things readers would be surprised to know about you.

Nike: A ways back, I was a pet rescuer for about five years and even had a small animal shelter in my basement complete with cages were stray cats and dogs could live until they were adopted. I rescued and adopted about nearly 50 dogs and cats. The other thing is that I worked in marketing in the bridal industry before I started writing professionally.

Regina: What is your favorite place in the whole world?

Nike: Key Largo, Florida (and some of the other lesser well known keys). I find them relaxing, romantic in the classical and personal sense. The Florida Keys are a great place to kick back.

Regina: If you didn’t have to worry about counting calories or fat, what’s the first food you’d reach for?

Nike: An authentic Florida homemade key lime pie.

Regina: Mmm- great choice! Speaking of choices, if someone hasn't read any of your work, Nike, what book would you recommend they start with and why?

Nike: I always like to start reading a series from book one, so I'd recommend BURNING HEARTS, the first in my historical whodunit series. That way readers can get to know all the people of Sanctuary Point, my fictitious bayside village. Characters from the first novel reprise in the later novels as secondary and minor characters. All the types you'd have in any tiny village. Of course, HARMFUL INTENT will be coming out soon and is book one in my new contemporary series.

Thanks for spending a bit of time with Gina’s World of Good and best wishes for your continued success. 

Leave a comment for Nike and you may win a pdf copy of one of her books.

Here's a link to finding Nike on the Web: 

Nike Chillemi ~ Crime Fictionista  http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com