Kidnapping, drugs, a coma, and a hunky FBI agent. Today, The Write Way Café welcomes author Lynda Kaye Frazier, who talks about dreaming a book that is full of suspense and romance.
When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book? Was that first thought related to writing romance?
I know you’ve heard this before, but it literally came to me in a dream. I'm an avid reader, but suck at English, so writing never crossed my mind until I had that dream. It was so vivid and a great story. So I wrote it down and haven’t stopped since.
What was your path to getting this book written and published?
I wrote a story, but had no idea what the next step should be, so I emailed one of my favorite authors, Cindy Gerard. She was great. Answered all my questions, told me to Join RWA and a writers group. I did and was able to publish my first book.
What type of research did you do?
I researched local writers groups, critique groups and online workshops and found everything I needed to strengthen my craft.
Where did the idea for your story come from?
Like I said earlier, a dream. It was actually chapter 10 in the first draft of my book. A beach scene where my heroine is trying to hide, but she’s found. I loved that scene, but it was cut on the second editing round. But I saved it. A memory of how it all started.
Why did you pick the setting you did?
I love suspense, romantic suspense, especially. Navy Seals and FBI agents always made the best hero’s. So basing my story around their life style just seemed natural.
Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself?
All imaginary, but with characteristics of some people I know. My uncle was part of the SWAT Team and he had the type of personality that kept everything light. I used some of that in my story. Mercy, my main character, has a lot of my traits. Always late, clumsy and hates small places.
Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
I never had any writing blocks. I work during the day so my only time to write is in the evening, after all my chores. Once I get to sit down the words flow. I wrote this story in two months.
What have been surprises you've encountered while writing the book and after?
I found out that writing the story was the easy part. When I wrote this story I realized I had no idea how to write. I sent my story to three publishers and was very surprised that I got three re-vise and re-send requests. I learned so much from those letters. Two of them went into great detail on how my story was good, but my writing needed help. They told me what I needed to improve on. So I found Savvy Authors, and the great MM Pollard. I took workshops and learned what POV was, how to use a comma and how to fix all my grammar errors.
What did you learn? For instance, what did you learn about yourself, your process, the writing world; about the FBI, smuggling, and kidnapping?
The main thing I learned was that high school English was a long time ago. I learned, through the many lessons and workshops, how to write. I found some great author groups, and writing groups that helped pave the way for me. Then I used the internet to find the information I needed for terrorist groups and bomb making. This made my three children, who are in the military very nervous. The last thing they wanted was their mother investigated for having terrorist group information, and bomb making on her computer.
Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
I truly have no set space. I wrote my first book, on my couch in front of the TV. I’m more comfortable there so that’s where you will find me most of the time. But when a thought hits me I have been known to jot down scenes in the grocery store, or even at a stop light.
What are some of your favorite books and why?
Love, Cindy Gerard, Suzanne Brockman and anything by Janet Evonovich. There are many others. I read every chance I get. I’m never without a book, or my kindle. I read all genre’s, except horror, they give me nightmares. But my favorite is Romantic Suspense.
What are you working on now?
I have three going right now. I finished a YA last month, If I Knew Then, and was just offered a contract for it through Black Opal Books. It’s a touching story of a strong willed teenager that overcomes a life of abuse to find a future filled with love, instead of pain. I am almost done with the next in my suspense series, Last Chance to Run. Story of Ron Daily’s fight to save a daughter, he thought he lost. Pitch…What if you found out the daughter you buried was really kidnapped by a man you thought you killed. Then I have two shorts that I’m going to self publish when they're finished, shooting for June. First one, Sealed with a Dream, a Navy Seal rescue story and the other is a cowboy erotic story called Leather Chaps and Forgotten Promises.
Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why?
I have a Romantic Suspense, Contemporary and a YA story written. I think the only other Genre I want to write is erotic, and I’m working on my first one now. It was the hardest one to do. I grew up in an Irish Catholic family, and went to a Catholic School so every time I tried to write a sex scene I felt like I needed to go to confession, but I’m getting past that.
If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be?
A painter. I love to do oil paintings. Even won a partial College Scholarship with one of my paintings.
What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
Grammar. Like I said earlier, It’s been a long time since high school English.
She has no memory of their love...
Kidnapped by terrorists and sent into a drug-induced coma, FBI intern Mercedes Kingsley awakes with no memory of her ordeal—or the intimate interlude that left her pregnant. Convinced her child was fathered by her ex-fiancé, she walks away from the only man she has ever loved, determined to make things work with her ex, a man the FBI suspects is implicated in her abduction.
He knows the truth, but no one will listen...
FBI undercover agent Jason Michaels remembers what Mercy can’t and those memories are breaking his heart. Forced to keep his distance from his lover and their unborn child, Jason risks his life to protect Mercy from a cell of international terrorists who have vowed to get the secrets locked in her memory, no matter the cost. Can Jason convince Mercy to trust him until she remembers their past, or will he lose her to a man who will trap her in a nightmare world of darkness from which there is no escape?
Excerpt:
An explosion ricocheted behind Jason Michael’s eyes as the pressure mounted in his head. The rush of panic consumed him. He struggled to move, tried to swallow, but nothing. His throat burned as the flames engulfed his lungs. He needed to breathe but couldn’t. Shit. He strained to make out the muffled voice, but the pounding in his ears erased all hope. His head started to spin and he succumbed to the realization, this was it, the end. He won. The flames dampened and his heartbeat slowed as the drums subsided, then the voice became clear.
“Give it to him now you son of a bitch. What were you thinking? We still need him.”
In a split second, Jason sucked in a breath, causing stabbing pains to shoot through his chest. Every muscle fiber burned as the cold blast of air shot through his lungs releasing the oxygen his body craved. He arched his back, raising his chest up to pull in more air when his head snapped to the side and the crack from his neck echoed in his ears. The pain ripped through his jaw, racing across his cheekbone. Before he could gather his senses, intense burning set his face on fire. What the hell?
The slap against his cheek stung, and his eyes snapped open. He wrenched upright, hitting his head on the roof of the SUV. His gaze darted back and forth looking for something familiar until he locked onto the ice-cold stare of the devil himself, Shaun Flanagan.
Damn, that was close. Jason could not blow his cover, even if it meant he would die as David Logan and not Jason Michaels.
“You’re finally awake, my boy. We almost lost you,” Shaun cold, emotionless laugh caused Jason’s blood to boil. “You stopped breathing, I think. It’s hard to tell with this new stuff. I hope you’re not too injured. We’ve got work to do.”
Jason’s vision blurred, but his other senses were sharp. Shaun had known exactly what the drug would do and the burn in Jason’s throat was a harsh reminder. Shaun’s sarcastic tone spoke volumes to him. He was evil and did not play by anyone’s rules but his own. Jason had spent the last two months undercover, playing their games and doing their dirty work to buddy up tight to this family. He’d earned his spot with Thomas Flanagan, but his son Shaun had issues trusting anyone, even his own father.
Jason’s anger burned inside of him, but he couldn’t afford to make mistakes, not now. He was too close. It’s time to step it up, but first the drugs had to stop. He rubbed his aching jaw with one hand, clenching his other into a fist to hide his visible shaking. He had to get control of this game before he lost everything.
Buy links:
Amazon - B&N -
Smashwords -
KOBO -
ARe -
Black Opal Books
About Lynda:
I’m an avid reader of romantic suspense and started writing after a vivid dream. I know, sounds cliché, but that’s how it started. I work full time at a Cardiology clinic, then at night you will find me in front of my computer. I grew up in Pennsylvania, but now live in Arkansas, surrounded by the Ozark mountains where I get to enjoy the four seasons without a long, cold winter. Other than spending time with my wonderful family, my favorite things to do are writing, reading and listening to music, but my most favorite is going to the beach. Surf, sand and a good book, my stress relief.
Find Lynda here:
http://lyndafrazier.blogspot.com
www.lyndakayefrazier.com
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Writing is my passion, Reading is my Love.
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