Monday, January 16, 2012

Interview of Author Karen Cote

Today I'd like to present an interview of romance author Karen Cote.

Latest Book: Erotic Deception
Buy Link: http://www.karencote.tv/newsbooks

Thank you so much for the fun questions as well as the opportunity to talk about my recent release of Erotic Deception. This is all surreal and I’m grateful for this time in my life and for being here.

BIO:
Karen lives in a California Castle with Prince Charming and a Magnificent Black Stallion. Okay, it’s a bungalow, a corporate husband and a small black pug who totes a sense of humor and lotsa attitude. But it is her dream. A real life dream to inspire the romantic suspense novels she writes.

Q: What part of the book is the hardest for you? Why?
A: Final galley. When your publisher is asking you to scrutinize your novel one final time before going to print to make sure there are no errors, my mind freaks. Even though there are a couple of editors who have gone through it and you’ve already fine-tooth-combed every aspect, the fear of missing something unnerves me to pieces. Excruciating.

Q: If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as one of your heroes? Tell us about your hero.
A: Aaron Hotchner aka Thomas Gibson from Criminal Minds. Hypothetically speaking my hero comes in the form of law enforcement. To me, there is something special ingrained in those who will put their life out there for someone else’s. The best cops are strangely unique in this aspect. John Douglas who wrote Mindhunter is one such person.

Q: Do all your heroes and all heroines look the same in your mind as you “head write”?
A: Absolutely not. Variety and all that.

Q: What hobby do you enjoy when not writing?
A: Reading, behavioral analysis research, horseback riding.

Q: What’s your strongest point as a writer?
A: My Muse. I love him (yes, my Muse is a him). He is so fascinating and feeds me the most fabulous scenes and ideas.

Q: You’re on a remote island with a handsome man, a computer, and a “mysterious” source of electricity to power your computer. What do you do?
A: Do a background check on the handsome man and then put him through a behavioral analysis test to determine why he’s there, what does he want, why didn’t he bring his own computer, and what skills does he have to get me off this island where I can ultimately be alone and not be the one source of someone else’s entertainment.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
http://www.karencote.tv
Twitter: @KarensRomance
https://www.facebook.com/KarensRomance

BLURB:
Her brother was dead. He’d practically raised her and stood by her during a miscarriage that left her barren. He’d been the sole person she’d had left in this world. How had Dr. Lily Delaney with a PhD in Psychology missed the psychotic signs of Anthony Capriccio, the Kansas City District Attorney and her ex-fiancĂ©? Now at twenty-nine she was on the run to hide from the impending threats to her own life. But on the road to a safe secluded lake community, Lily crashes into the path of a new dangerous element, literally. One with deep blue eyes who totes a badge and carries a gun. And would their budding relationship be threatened when Lily finds out her own doctor had lied and discovers she really can have children? How would the sheriff take knowing she’d gotten pregnant when she’d already heartily assured him she wasn’t?

After his experience as a detective in Kansas City, Missouri, Jet Walker enjoyed his life as sheriff of the quiet lake community, Windom Hills. However, when Lily Delaney literally crashes into his car and life, his world disrupts into chaos. Couldn’t the woman do anything normal? Between fighting to protect her and fighting against his growing attraction for her, the previous peace Jet had found was now falling apart. And how could he possibly trust another woman after the trick his ex-wife played in trying to pass off another man’s child as his?

EXCERPT:
As suspected, it showed positive. Suddenly the cabin seemed claustrophobic and the need for air was overwhelming. Deciding exercise would fuel her need, Lily went out through the French doors. She crossed the yard to the trees where it was cooler. She was glad to be wearing a ventilated halter-top while her jeans protected her legs from wayward branches and weeds. Deeper into the trees, she came across a small creek. As she crossed over, her flip-flops caught on a hidden tree root and she lost her balance and fell to her knees. She extended a hand to prevent pitching forward while her other cradled her midsection in a protective gesture. This time, her womb wasn’t empty. She smiled.

Lily got up and brushed off her jeans. With melancholy appreciation, she noticed how green everything was as if she were viewing it all for the first time. She breathed in the fresh scent of the growing plant life, smiling at the rabbits and squirrels ducking away as she approached.

Wading through the foliage, the covering of trees lessened as she neared the other side. A road running parallel to her property was a few yards ahead and she was crossing out of the trees to it when a sensation of being watched tingled along the back of her neck. She stopped and scanned the area behind her. Seeing nothing amiss, Lily still hastened her step until she reached the dirt-paved road. It was dusty and it would take her longer to get home, but it was flat and the air had cooled.

Despite the cooler air and without the protective cover of the trees, Lily felt the sun beating down on her head. She tightened her ponytail, wrapping the long ends into a makeshift bun to get it off her neck. She wasn’t far from the main street that ran into town when a vehicle turned onto the dirt road. Great! She just prayed it wasn’t the sheriff at the wheel of the blazer. The vehicle made short work of the distance and her stomach plummeted. It was him. He stopped beside her.

“Why haven’t you called me back?” He glowered.

Lily stiffened her shoulders and ignored him by continuing her pace. Some interesting variations of curses came from his direction, but her steps didn’t falter. She had no desire to speak to him. A message she intended to make clear...a message he obviously intended to ignore. The door slammed and seconds later, a vice-like grip grabbed her arm.

“I asked you a question,” he gritted between his teeth. “And what are you doing out here anyway.”

“What’s it look like I’m doing? I’m walking. That’s Detective 101, Sheriff.” She wrenched her arm out of his grasp and took off again.

Chanting a few more obscenities, he reached for her again. She spun around, her temper blazing.

“How many times do I have to flush before you go away?” she yelled.

Fire shot from his eyes before in a sudden fierce movement he scooped her up and carried her to the blazer. She beat at the tight grasp around her waist. When that didn’t work, she resorted to scratching and kicking, but her wedge-heeled flip-flops were ineffectual as he easily held off her attacks. In desperation, she reached for his gun. He didn’t guess her intentions until she’d unsecured the latch on the holster. Realization made him bark out an incredulous laugh and he checked her hand.

“You little she-cat!” He countered. “What are you going to do, shoot me?” He shook his head in exasperation. “Don’t you know reaching for an officer’s gun is an automatic jail sentence?”

“Then arrest me, Sheriff!” She spat, breathless from her exertions.

“What’s wrong with you?”

He swung her down and used his body to brace her against the blazer.

“Nothing. I told you I felt like a walk so I’m walking. What’s the mystery?” Her voice was heavy in sarcasm.

“Why didn’t you return my calls?” he asked unmoved by her ire.

“Maybe I didn’t want to,” she said childishly.

“Well maybe I was worried,” he returned.

“Well maybe you should’ve called your wife. No wait,” she said, pausing in mock perplexity. “Maybe you should call Rachel instead.”

His gaze flashed angrily. “Did my deputy tell you about Rachel too?”

“No your deputy didn’t tell me about Rachel,” Lily mimicked jealously. “Your sister did. Enlighten me Jet, how many women do you need to feed your ego?”

His heated blue eyes searched her face before settling on her mouth.

“Get in the truck,” he said softly.

“Are you taking me to jail?” She tilted her head in defiance. “Because that’s the only way I’m going anywhere with you.”

He gave her an exasperated look and before she could protest, opened the door and lifted her in. He followed and clamped a hand on her arm to prevent her escape from the passenger side.

Deftly starting the blazer with his left hand, Jet slammed it into gear and performed a U-turn. Lily sat beside him, her lips mutinous; attention straight ahead. She couldn’t stop him from manhandling her, but he couldn’t force her to converse with him. She’d combat him with her silence and see how he liked that.

A flash in the trees near where they’d been standing caught in the corner of her eye. She searched along the area to capture it again, but it was gone. She encountered Jet’s raised brows. Discounting the fact that she wasn’t speaking to him, she definitely wasn’t going to tell him she was seeing things again. She jerked her attention back toward the front.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Once again, I am excited to be here. Thank you so much for hosting me.

3 comments:

  1. Great excerpt, Karen. I'll definitely get this book.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Sandy & Tina! Thank you so much for your comments. I have to say, I have been sick with the flu and barely keeping my personal life in focus let alone my writing. I am very sorry I missed you today and I am grateful of your visit.

    ReplyDelete