***
Today, I’m very pleased to introduce a debut author, RWA chapter co-member and lovely friend, Reggi Allder. She’s pleasantly surprised us all by recently publishing her wonderful debut book called “Money, Power and Poison”. I read her work and left a review which you can see here.
Hi Mimi, I’m very happy to be
here. Thank you for asking me.
here. Thank you for asking me.
As you know my book Money
Power and Poison is now available on Amazon. I’m pretty excited. It’s a page
turning, romantic suspense that take place in a California beach
community. But be careful what you wish
for. When my heroine realizes her dream, she’s thrown into the world of the
rich and ruthless and surrounded by a web of lies, betrayals and danger.
Sounds intriguing, tell me
about yourself.
I’m married and have two kids.
The youngest is at university. My husband is a great guy who’s supportive of my
writing full time. I have two dogs, a pure bred poodle and a rescued mutt. They
stay in my office with me while I write. They’re patient, though there are
times when they give me that we-need-a-walk look and won’t take no for an answer,
probably a good thing for me. I’m a film buff and an avid reader. I can’t
resist a good mystery, mixed with a passionate love story. Themes of redemption
and second chances are favorites of mine. I’m drawn to wounded heroes and bad
boys. I’d love to hear from readers telling me their favorite heroes from
either a book or a movie. I’m making a list to be put up later.
The youngest is at university. My husband is a great guy who’s supportive of my
writing full time. I have two dogs, a pure bred poodle and a rescued mutt. They
stay in my office with me while I write. They’re patient, though there are
times when they give me that we-need-a-walk look and won’t take no for an answer,
probably a good thing for me. I’m a film buff and an avid reader. I can’t
resist a good mystery, mixed with a passionate love story. Themes of redemption
and second chances are favorites of mine. I’m drawn to wounded heroes and bad
boys. I’d love to hear from readers telling me their favorite heroes from
either a book or a movie. I’m making a list to be put up later.
What inspired your latest suspense?
Unrest around the world
triggered the inspiration for my second suspense Shattered Rules. When I saw a
report about the turmoil, I thought what if a woman was innocently involved
simply because she was naïve? There’s romance, conflict, intrigue and a theme
of redemption, not to mention a gorgeous FBI agent. Shattered Rules will be available
on Amazon soon.
triggered the inspiration for my second suspense Shattered Rules. When I saw a
report about the turmoil, I thought what if a woman was innocently involved
simply because she was naïve? There’s romance, conflict, intrigue and a theme
of redemption, not to mention a gorgeous FBI agent. Shattered Rules will be available
on Amazon soon.
What is your writing routine
like?
like?
My schedule starts early. I
get up, dress and go straight into my office. I’m usually in the office between
seven and eight in the morning. I’m lucky because my husband brings me coffee
so I don’t even have to go downstairs. These days I even keep that schedule on
the weekend if my book is on a roll. I work until late afternoon. Occasionally I
work after dinner.
get up, dress and go straight into my office. I’m usually in the office between
seven and eight in the morning. I’m lucky because my husband brings me coffee
so I don’t even have to go downstairs. These days I even keep that schedule on
the weekend if my book is on a roll. I work until late afternoon. Occasionally I
work after dinner.
Tell me about your current
WIP or series.
WIP or series.
I have two WIPs, a romantic
suspense sequel to Money Power and Poison and another contemporary that follows
the lives and events of people in a small town in the California foothills. It’s
the second book in my Sierra Creek Series and follows characters from in Her
Country Heart.
suspense sequel to Money Power and Poison and another contemporary that follows
the lives and events of people in a small town in the California foothills. It’s
the second book in my Sierra Creek Series and follows characters from in Her
Country Heart.
Are you a plotter or a
pantser and have you ever experienced writer’s block?
pantser and have you ever experienced writer’s block?
I’m a pantser. I tried to
plot when I first started writing and I had my first bout of writer’s block. Making
lists and outlines and plotting every scene is a great idea but it just didn’t
work for me. I was lucky to find that out early. I stopped plotting and the
writer’s block disappeared. Now I let ideas percolate. Feelings and plot twists
come to me as I write. I do have a general idea of where to story will end up.
Often I know the end of the book before I have a beginning. I don’t work
backward. But when I begin the first chapter, even though I don’t have all the
characters and the plot turns, I know how the book will end.
plot when I first started writing and I had my first bout of writer’s block. Making
lists and outlines and plotting every scene is a great idea but it just didn’t
work for me. I was lucky to find that out early. I stopped plotting and the
writer’s block disappeared. Now I let ideas percolate. Feelings and plot twists
come to me as I write. I do have a general idea of where to story will end up.
Often I know the end of the book before I have a beginning. I don’t work
backward. But when I begin the first chapter, even though I don’t have all the
characters and the plot turns, I know how the book will end.
Tell me about your characters.
As an author of and romantic suspense and
contemporary novels, I love nothing better than tales of love lost and then
found or stories of heroes and heroine who discover love but wonder if they’ll
live long enough to enjoy it. My main characters cope with longings, secrets,
lies and betrayals. They control their panic and manage their passion as each
fight to discover a hidden strength. It’s a strain for them to remain motivated
as the world offers temptations and puts them in untenable situations. Can they
survive multiple ordeals and carry on to reach their goals and find true love?
contemporary novels, I love nothing better than tales of love lost and then
found or stories of heroes and heroine who discover love but wonder if they’ll
live long enough to enjoy it. My main characters cope with longings, secrets,
lies and betrayals. They control their panic and manage their passion as each
fight to discover a hidden strength. It’s a strain for them to remain motivated
as the world offers temptations and puts them in untenable situations. Can they
survive multiple ordeals and carry on to reach their goals and find true love?
In the contemporary novels my heroes and heroines
search for love while struggling with the trials of day to day living,
including the demands of family, finances and employment.
search for love while struggling with the trials of day to day living,
including the demands of family, finances and employment.
Here are links to my website
and to my book on Amazon:
Blurb: Money Power and Poison When a billionaire is murdered, a woman fights to
stay alive long enough to prove she’s innocent. An obsessed killer has plans to
make her his next victim. A mystery from the past and lies from the present
could help a reporter make sense of it all before it’s too late and the woman
dies.
stay alive long enough to prove she’s innocent. An obsessed killer has plans to
make her his next victim. A mystery from the past and lies from the present
could help a reporter make sense of it all before it’s too late and the woman
dies.
In idyllic Carmel California,
billionaire software developer Conner Harrison is poisoned at his fiftieth
birthday party. Young business woman, Kathryn Carlyle is about to be charged
with his murder. Why would the police think she’d murder a man she only met
once? And why is someone trying to kill her? Out of her depth, she wants
someone on her side.
billionaire software developer Conner Harrison is poisoned at his fiftieth
birthday party. Young business woman, Kathryn Carlyle is about to be charged
with his murder. Why would the police think she’d murder a man she only met
once? And why is someone trying to kill her? Out of her depth, she wants
someone on her side.
Alpha male, TV reporter Holt
Rand needs a scoop to revive his career. The exclusive on Harrison’s murder
will put him back on top of the ratings game. Nothing and no one will stop him
from getting to the truth. But when he meets Kathryn his life is changed
forever.
Rand needs a scoop to revive his career. The exclusive on Harrison’s murder
will put him back on top of the ratings game. Nothing and no one will stop him
from getting to the truth. But when he meets Kathryn his life is changed
forever.
Excerpt:
Chapter One
In the midnight gloom of a
residential street in Carmel, California, business owner Kathryn Carlyle
watched the city’s dim lights from the back seat of a speeding police car. She
gasped for air as dread tightened her throat. This can’t be happening to me.
residential street in Carmel, California, business owner Kathryn Carlyle
watched the city’s dim lights from the back seat of a speeding police car. She
gasped for air as dread tightened her throat. This can’t be happening to me.
The catering van she drove
to billionaire software developer Conner Harrison’s birthday party had been
impounded by the police as evidence. She rubbed her throbbing temples to
release the pain accumulated there.
to billionaire software developer Conner Harrison’s birthday party had been
impounded by the police as evidence. She rubbed her throbbing temples to
release the pain accumulated there.
Two blocks from her
beachfront condo, she snatched a breath of air. “Please stop. I have to get
out.”
beachfront condo, she snatched a breath of air. “Please stop. I have to get
out.”
The middle-aged officer
guided the patrol car to the curb. “We’re not finished with you. Go, but don’t
leave town.”
guided the patrol car to the curb. “We’re not finished with you. Go, but don’t
leave town.”
He’d probably been waiting
all night to use that cliché. Don’t leave town. She almost laughed,
except nothing funny had happened tonight.
all night to use that cliché. Don’t leave town. She almost laughed,
except nothing funny had happened tonight.
She exited the car and
inhaled the sea breeze as it rustled her hair. It was such a welcome change
from the stifling atmosphere that contaminated the police station where she’d
spent the last few hours. How long before the man came back to arrest her?
inhaled the sea breeze as it rustled her hair. It was such a welcome change
from the stifling atmosphere that contaminated the police station where she’d
spent the last few hours. How long before the man came back to arrest her?
Relieved to be in her safe
neighborhood, she took a deeper breath, kicked off her black leather pumps and
sat on a driftwood log overlooking the serene bay.
neighborhood, she took a deeper breath, kicked off her black leather pumps and
sat on a driftwood log overlooking the serene bay.
She swallowed as nausea
swirled in her stomach. The fact that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast didn’t
help. Always nervous before an event, she’d planned to eat after Mr. Harrison’s
party. Now he hovered near death. The thought of eating brought bile to the
back of her throat. Why did the authorities think she poisoned a man she’d only
met once?
swirled in her stomach. The fact that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast didn’t
help. Always nervous before an event, she’d planned to eat after Mr. Harrison’s
party. Now he hovered near death. The thought of eating brought bile to the
back of her throat. Why did the authorities think she poisoned a man she’d only
met once?
A nightmare had snared her
and was holding her in its grip. When Mr. Harrison died the charge against her
would be murder in the first degree.
and was holding her in its grip. When Mr. Harrison died the charge against her
would be murder in the first degree.
As the realization crept
through her, she tensed. Two deep breaths calmed her, but didn’t stop the
headache forming over her right eye.
through her, she tensed. Two deep breaths calmed her, but didn’t stop the
headache forming over her right eye.
True she’d had the
opportunity to poison him, but no motive. She only met him because he’d asked
her to cater his birthday party. With his death, there was nothing to gain and
a lot to lose, her reputation, her business, her life.
opportunity to poison him, but no motive. She only met him because he’d asked
her to cater his birthday party. With his death, there was nothing to gain and
a lot to lose, her reputation, her business, her life.
In the morning the police
would sort out the truth of her innocence. Still, adrenaline caused her heart
to race. She rubbed her temples and tried not to think anymore.
would sort out the truth of her innocence. Still, adrenaline caused her heart
to race. She rubbed her temples and tried not to think anymore.
A gust of wind circled
her. She shivered and folded her arms in front of her. Damn. Her suit
jacket was still in the patrol car.
her. She shivered and folded her arms in front of her. Damn. Her suit
jacket was still in the patrol car.
She stood and brushed the
sand from the back of her skirt and picked up her high heels and shoulder bag.
Time to go home, sleep was doubtful, still at least she’d put up her sore feet.
sand from the back of her skirt and picked up her high heels and shoulder bag.
Time to go home, sleep was doubtful, still at least she’d put up her sore feet.
Leaves crunched somewhere
in the shadows of the nearby trees, she squinted into the darkness but didn’t
see anyone. Even so, fear gripped her.
in the shadows of the nearby trees, she squinted into the darkness but didn’t
see anyone. Even so, fear gripped her.
She forced her swollen
feet back into her pumps and walked quickly up the dimly lit street. The click
of her heels echoed in the quiet night air. The desire to flee from an unknown
danger increased the speed of her footsteps.
feet back into her pumps and walked quickly up the dimly lit street. The click
of her heels echoed in the quiet night air. The desire to flee from an unknown
danger increased the speed of her footsteps.
With the exception of a
black truck parked at the curb, the street was empty. The pickup’s engine
revved. The cab light came on and cast an eerie glow on the driver’s face. He
smiled at her.
black truck parked at the curb, the street was empty. The pickup’s engine
revved. The cab light came on and cast an eerie glow on the driver’s face. He
smiled at her.
As she thought about
waving to let him know the headlights were off, the vehicle drove straight at
her. It jumped the curb, sideswiped her, sending her flying.
waving to let him know the headlights were off, the vehicle drove straight at
her. It jumped the curb, sideswiped her, sending her flying.
With a thud, she landed on
the muddy front lawn of a neighboring condominium. The sound of the engine
faded as the vehicle disappeared.
the muddy front lawn of a neighboring condominium. The sound of the engine
faded as the vehicle disappeared.
She lay motionless on the
ground. Cold mud oozed into the fabric of her skirt. A twinge jabbed her and
terror banged against her rib cage.
ground. Cold mud oozed into the fabric of her skirt. A twinge jabbed her and
terror banged against her rib cage.
Overriding the sense of
shock was her need to get home where she’d be safe. She grabbed the strap of
her purse and attempted to stand. Pain shot through her hip and down her leg.
She fell back into the mud.
shock was her need to get home where she’d be safe. She grabbed the strap of
her purse and attempted to stand. Pain shot through her hip and down her leg.
She fell back into the mud.
A man dressed in black
came out of the darkness and stood over her. Before she could cry out, he bent
down and covered her mouth with his huge hand.
came out of the darkness and stood over her. Before she could cry out, he bent
down and covered her mouth with his huge hand.
“Don’t scream. You’ll wake the whole
neighborhood. I’m not going to hurt you.” He helped her stand.
neighborhood. I’m not going to hurt you.” He helped her stand.
The streetlight lit his face and a lock of
coffee brown hair fell over his furrowed brow. Five o’clock shadow covered his
jaw and his full lips formed a grim line. Compassion shone in his obsidian
eyes. It was incongruous to his hardened expression. He reminded her of
someone, but she couldn’t think of a name.
coffee brown hair fell over his furrowed brow. Five o’clock shadow covered his
jaw and his full lips formed a grim line. Compassion shone in his obsidian
eyes. It was incongruous to his hardened expression. He reminded her of
someone, but she couldn’t think of a name.
“Your uncle sent me,”
he said in a deep voice.
he said in a deep voice.
“You were at the
police station.” She pushed a strand of hair from her face.
police station.” She pushed a strand of hair from her face.
“Yeah. Thought I
could talk to you. They wouldn’t allow it. Can you stand by yourself?”
could talk to you. They wouldn’t allow it. Can you stand by yourself?”
“I think so.” A
spasm shot in her leg and her knees buckled. She grabbed him and reluctantly
leaned on his lanky body for support.
spasm shot in her leg and her knees buckled. She grabbed him and reluctantly
leaned on his lanky body for support.
“I’ll call 911.” He
held her to him.
held her to him.
“Don’t phone them.”
“You’re hurt.”
“I’m okay.”
“The police need to know
about this. Use my cell.”
about this. Use my cell.”
“No. I can’t handle
it. Not tonight. I’m cold. I’m muddy. I just want to go home.”
it. Not tonight. I’m cold. I’m muddy. I just want to go home.”
“Can you walk?”
“Yeah,” she
said, hoping she could. The first step sent pain racing through her. She
gasped.
said, hoping she could. The first step sent pain racing through her. She
gasped.
With one hand he steadied
her. With the other, he yanked a smart phone from his pocket. ”What’s your
address?”
her. With the other, he yanked a smart phone from his pocket. ”What’s your
address?”
“330 Sea View Avenue,
number three.”
number three.”
He punched in 911.
“There’s been an accident. A woman’s hurt. I need an ambulance sent to 330
Sea View Avenue number three ASAP.”
“There’s been an accident. A woman’s hurt. I need an ambulance sent to 330
Sea View Avenue number three ASAP.”
After he pocketed his
phone, he carefully scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get you home.”
phone, he carefully scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get you home.”
Never one to ask for help,
this time she had to admit she needed it and balanced herself by putting her
arm around his neck. His body heat warmed her as her cheek rested against his
solid chest. Odd how protected she felt, almost as if this stranger were an old
friend.
this time she had to admit she needed it and balanced herself by putting her
arm around his neck. His body heat warmed her as her cheek rested against his
solid chest. Odd how protected she felt, almost as if this stranger were an old
friend.
Now book – to be released soon.
ShatteredRules
Workaholic FBI agent Brick
Larson loves his job. He doesn’t need personal relationships. He’s been burned
too many times. The last thing he wants is to get involved with the younger
sister of his ex-fiancé. But to defend the United States that’s exactly what
he’ll do.
Larson loves his job. He doesn’t need personal relationships. He’s been burned
too many times. The last thing he wants is to get involved with the younger
sister of his ex-fiancé. But to defend the United States that’s exactly what
he’ll do.
Kelly Shaw secretly loved Brick
when she was a teenager and would have trusted him with her life then. But that
was years ago. Neither are the same people they used to be. Can she trust him
with her current secret?
when she was a teenager and would have trusted him with her life then. But that
was years ago. Neither are the same people they used to be. Can she trust him
with her current secret?
Mimi thanks again for
having me.
***
Mimi
Love love love your new website design. It's dark, cool and sexy. You must be so happy.
Reggi
Another book coming out! Fantastic. I admire your energy. Your first cover went beautifully with Mimi's background, have to say.
All the best to both of you.
Jo-Ann
Thanks Jo-Ann. I'm so pleased with the "new look". And Reggi's cover is brilliant – it matches the story 🙂
Super re-vamp of your site Mimi! Congrats to you and Rae Monet!
Looks like your on a roll Reggi – have a great time on this new adventure.
Mimi
I love the new blog design and Reggi, your covers look fabulous, as do the books themselves!
Thanks for commenting Pat. You're a doll!!
Sorry I'm arriving late to your blog post, Reggi & Mimi!
Sound like you definitely have a productive routine for writing, Reggi, and one book released and another soon on it's way is concrete proof of that. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into your writing life with us!
Mimi, love your new blog look! It's very easy on the eyes 🙂
Reggi, the story sounds great, full of tension and intrigue. You really bring out the suspense in your writing. I can't wait to read it.
Sylvia