R.T. Wolfe Writes From the Heart

The Write Way Café welcomes R.T. Wolfe, who follows her stars to write stories of her heart.

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of Island Secrets?
Oh! This is such a great story. I’m really glad you asked. I watched a random, yet fascinating, clip about sea turtles and thus started this game of ping-pong in my head.
     Ping: In the back of my mind an eccentric family who raises goats on their roof and grows herbs on their porch lives on a small island. Each devotes their life to sea turtle conservation.
     Pong: But, sea turtles? Really? I live in the Midwest. I’ve written about dogs, eagles, dogs, whooping cranes, and dogs. But, sea turtles? A few weeks later a box turtle crawls out of the pond behind my home, up my berm and digs a nest on the side. I about came out of my skin, videotaping and taking pictures for over an hour.
     Ping: The eldest brother of said family goes missing during an underwater treasure hunt causing the entire family to pour their lives into finding him.
     Pong: Okay, okay. Divine intervention seems to be taking place but still…I would need a conservation group willing to talk to me and place to stay and when would I go? How does Nora Roberts do this all the time and everywhere she goes?
     Ping: Raine, Willow and Zoe Clearwater. What perfect names. Each sister will have her own book. I could start with the youngest, Zoe. She, of course, carries the most guilt with the loss of their brother. It was she who was set to be his diving partner the day he went missing, except she was too busy building her scuba diving business and blew him off.
     Pong: A colleague of mine offered me her condo on Anna Maria Island off the west coast of Florida. I tried not to get my hopes up, but this was getting out of hand. The stars just kept lining up.
     Ping: Zoe sells her business to her childhood treasure hunting nemesis, spends her days with the island local turtle conservation organization, her evenings working as an employee for the nemesis, and her weekends diving in caverns searching for clues for her lost brother.
     Pong: Suzi Fox, the Primary Permit Holder of the Anna Maria Turtle Watch and Sea Bird Monitoring, offers me the opportunity to shadow her for the week this condo is available. I spent 7 days on the island and never put my swimsuit on once. Suzi took me under her wing and we were off. It was a non-stop week of chasing turtle watch volunteers, excavating nests, saving injured turtles, protecting nestlings and releasing several into the wild. It was a week that turned into several return trips and a great friendship I will cherish forever. Plus, a fantastic trilogy in the making.

Can you share some stories about people you met while researching Island Secrets?
Suzi Fox is the Primary Permit Holder for Anna Maria Island which, in my mind, basically means she runs the island. (Hi, Suzi! Sorry, but it’s true. ☺) Her along with her expert assistants, Glenn and Claudia Wiseman and so many, many others who volunteer their time for the incredible cause of saving these endangered species have changed my life forever. What amazing, selfless people who have dedicated their lives to helping sea turtles and assisting with an amazing story.

What are some of the references that you used while researching Island Secrets?
The turtle conservationists often wanted to educate me on the ins and outs of saving turtles. What they didn’t realize was that I was taking most of my notes on the conversations and scenarios between and around them.

For those interested in exploring the subject or theme of Island Secrets, where should they start?
With the book, of course. It is available in ebook form from all retailers and in print through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

What is the most important thing that people DON'T know about your subject/genre that they need to know?
Romantic suspense novels come in vast varieties of time periods, settings, range of violence as well as of heat level. R.T. Wolfe books are intelligent writing for today’s contemporary romantic suspense reader. They could be compared to a PG-13 rating in both violence and love scenes.

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?
I recommend using fans for naming characters. That’s what I do. Zoe, Willow, and Raine are all names suggested from followers on my Facebook Page. It’s all about the readers. ☺ So dang fun.

Are you a plotter or a pantster?
Both, if that makes any sense. I plot my outline, but the characters always seem to have minds of their own and cause me countless revisions to my outlines.

Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?
No way! If that were the case, I would stick with romance only or possibly the suspense genre. Authors write what we love to read for sure.

Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
I do read my reviews and try to respond to each but have been overwhelmed with that as of late. The bad ones are killers for sure. Many are just plain hateful, but some are quite helpful. So, I force myself. --glutton for punishment--

What did you find most useful in learning to write?  What was least useful or most destructive? What is your best marketing tip?
Most useful? The never-ending path of learning to pull a reader into the head of the character. The least useful? All of the rules the powers that be say are set in stone that mean very little to the people who matter…the readers! Best marketing tip? I say leave that to the people who do that for a living. The best marketing for an author is to get out the next book.

What’s next for R.T.?
My current work-in-progress is Island Pursuit, Island Escape Series book 2, and then onto book 3. Life is good when I can get to Panera, warm up my coffee and power up my laptop.

Thank you for having me, ladies. Love, love, love your blog.



About R.T.:  R.T. was born and raised in the beautiful Midwest, the youngest of six ornery children. She married at a young age and began her family shortly after. With three amazing small boys, life was a whirlwind of flipping houses and working two jobs in between swim lessons and Candyland. Now that her boys are nearly grown, R.T. spends much of her time on the road traveling from one sporting event to another serving as mom and cheerleader. She works to assist the several non-profit organizations that have supported her books and promote the work they do for those who cannot help themselves.

Website          Amazon          Google Play 
Barnes and Noble          iTunes          Facebook 
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Writing Real-Life Issues in Romantic Suspense by R.T. Wolfe

The Write Way Café welcomes R.T. Wolfe, who discusses how real-life concerns and issues, such as endangered species and human trafficking, play in her books.

Can I first just say how much I love your blog? The two of you are dedicated and awesome. Thank you for having me back!

Tell us a little about Savage Alliance.
Duncan Reed’s need to bring closure to his Nickie’s history of human trafficking captivity morphs into an addiction. In Lima, Peru, following a lead discovered on a mole’s computer, Detective Nickie Savage and Duncan are undercover as traffickers. The plan: infiltrate the compound. Rescue the children.

Nickie hadn’t planned on pinning the trafficker who abducted her as a child. But discovering the King Pin’s identity, the very person who sold her into slavery, just might bring Detective Nickie Savage to her knees. And this time, escape is not an option.

Here is a single link to all purchase options at all retailers. http://bit.ly/2lVj01M.

If Savage Alliance was made into a movie, who would play your main characters, and why? 
Ashton Kutcher would play the hero mostly because of his real-life involvement with trafficking. Check out and Like his Thorn Facebook Page. The heroine could be … I don’t know. Help me out here. I am asked this question all the time, and I’m always at a loss. I need someone who’s strong but has a load of issues. She’s smart and blonde and uses her sexuality when needed in a case. She brazen and unrefined and bit crazy, but when it comes to helping those who cannot help themselves, she is careful and warm. Yep. I got nothin’. Haha

How is this book related to your Nickie Savage series?
Savage Alliance is the fifth and final book in the Nickie Savage Series. Bittersweet and surreal all wrapped up into one. 

Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?
Readers of either gender ages 20-99 who enjoy a PG-13 cop fiction/mystery. 

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
I like to learn something as I read my fiction novels. Irony. LOL. So, as with most of my books, I start with a conservation/non-profit organization to help me with authenticity. And as with all of my books, I soon become steeped in their cause. Endangered whooping cranes, protected bald eagles, sea turtles…and human trafficking. I write intelligent mysteries for today’s romantic suspense contemporary reader with some pretty amazing real-life facts and stories you can sink your teeth into. In each R.T. Wolfe novel, someone dies and someone hooks up, but the characters are somehow involved in making this planet a better place.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?
Detective Nickie Savage. She was raised a debutante, but with her history, she becomes a brass, unrefined, intelligent train wreck who not only gets herself into all kinds of trouble, but lives to save the day. She is, most definitely, my favorite. 

How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?
The antagonist in the Nickie Savage Series is awful. The character is heartless. I mean the kind of heartless that has no emotion whatsoever. I have a hard time relating and Nickie has a harder time finding bread crumbs from a person with no feelings.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?
This is actually an interesting story. When authors sign a contract with a publisher, the book no longer belongs to the author. Technically, the publisher can make whatever edits they want. The author has very little say on the cover as well. My first book, Black Creek Burning, had a previous publisher. When my current publisher took over the contract, they wanted a face on the cover rather than the creek, rocks, and trees the previous publisher had chosen. 

However, I had created a trailer with this first book. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/1KdUJyZ.  It was just for fun. My niece was the model, my son wrote and composed the music, and the photo shoot was done in my backyard and even features Goldie, my golden retriever. It had 1,000 hits on YouTube at the time and since there was a face out there in the world connected with this character, my publisher used it on the cover. 

10 books later…all four of my sister’s daughters are on the covers of my books. They are completely amazing humans and perfect cover models of romantic suspense books that are heavy on the suspense.
         
Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series.
I was first published in January of 2013 and hit bestseller the very next month. Humbling. I have worked with the East Coast Center for Conservation Biology, Operation Migration, Master Gardeners of Illinois, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring, as well as Child Rescue and Catalyst Ministries human trafficking prevention organizations. 

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? 
Nora Roberts regarding the way readers learn something (how to train a rescue dog, what fire chasers do, in’s and out’s of running a vineyard, etc.) when they read her books as well as her talent for character diversification. 

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?
Unique? Hmm. I raise and release endangered monarch caterpillars in the summer months, am a complete eagle nest cam addict, am dedicated to anything sea turtle conservation related, rescued a Saint Bernard adolescent puppy, have been to Liberia and Haiti, and have been found viewing a flying over of highly endangered Whooping cranes. Now, I have loads to share with my psychiatrist this week. 

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?
Tips for readers? Reviews are a scam and you can find amazing authors who are indie published. 
Tips for authors? Get a shrink. You’ll need one. 

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
Okay, but I’m going to contradict myself here…leave an honest review. Tell others about said book(s). 

What can we expect from you in the future?
I am presently working on the next book in the Island Escape Series. It is light and funny, sexy, and full of missing treasure and whodunit murder. 

Thank you for having me back, lovely ladies. It is always an honor.

Duncan has finally found his life's purpose—rescue trafficked children—while Detective Nickie Savage still seeks closure.

In Lima, Peru, following a lead discovered on a mole's computer, Nickie and Duncan are undercover as traffickers. The plan: infiltrate the compound. Rescue the children. Blow the place up.


Then Nickie goes radio silent. Recognized by the man who abducted her as a child, she's once again in his hands. And this time, escape is not an option.

Amazon
Google Play
Barnes and Noble 
iTunes



R.T. was born and raised in the beautiful Midwest, the youngest of six ornery children. She married at a young age and began her family shortly after. With three amazing small boys, life was a whirlwind of flipping houses, working two jobs in between swim lessons and Candyland. Now that her boys are nearly grown, R.T. spends much of her time on the road traveling from one sporting event to another serving as mom and cheerleader. She works to assist the several non-profit organizations that have supported her books and promote the work they do for those who cannot help themselves.

Website       Facebook        Bookbub       Pinterest       Twitter

Tuesday Special: Barnes & Noble Spotlight Feature with R.T. Wolfe

R.T. WOLFE

www.rtwolfe.com

This Barnes and Noble Spotlight features book one, Black Creek Burning, in a connected 8 books series. 

Barnes and Noble Spotlight

Barnes and Noble

Free Nook app (compatible with all devices)





NEW RELEASE: Savage Betrayal is now available in print or ebook. It is exclusive to Barnes and Noble for 3 months, and then will be released everywhere else.  


The child trafficking crime ring Detective Nickie Savage is chasing--the one responsible for her own childhood abduction--is growing. The traffickers have infiltrated the police department, the FBI and even her home, steeling Nickie's resolve to find the abducted girls and take down the crime ring once and for all. But discovering the King Pin's identity, the very person who sold her into slavery, just might bring Detective Nickie Savage to her knees.

Barnes and Noble - Savage Betrayal


Watch for the final book in the series to be released in February 2017!


R.T. Wolfe enjoys creating diverse characters and twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance. It's not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in R.T.'s candy dish, her Golden Retriever at her feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on her counters. R.T. loves her family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found viewing a flyover of migrating whooping cranes.

Tuesday Special: Savage Disclosure, Nickie Savage Book 3

R.T.Wolfe

www.RTWolfe.com

Savage Disclosure, Nickie Savage Book 3

Detective Nickie Savage is on the heels of a domestic child trafficking ring—the same one responsible for her own childhood abduction. 

When the ringleaders repeatedly slip her grip, Nickie suspects there's a mole funneling information to an outside source and calls upon her new husband, Duncan Reed, to find the leak. 

But Nickie needs more than Duncan's photographic memory and computer hacking skills to get back on track. She must make peace with the ghosts of the children she left behind. 

Amazon     Google Play       Barnes and Noble       iTunes


     Juggling both the take-out bag from Mikey’s Bar and Grill and the yogurt she snatched from home, Nickie stepped into the elevator and pushed the button to the top floor. Except, this was Northridge, New York, which meant the top floor to the tallest downtown building was a whopping four floors. And yet the man the local newspapers call The Taste of L.A. stayed for her. Here. And bought the top floor of the tallest building to serve as an office he used only part-time. 
     The doors opened and she stepped into the hallway, her mind still rolling through the roadblocks of her frustrating new case. Duncan had had two sections of wall on each side of the entrance replaced with floor-to-ceiling glass. As she spotted his morning receptionist’s empty chair, Nickie realized how late it was for lunch. Luckily the bag from Mikey’s was heavy.
     It wasn’t like her to walk into anyone’s office unannounced, especially when the door was closed. With the absence of his receptionist, Nickie attempted to raise her full hands to knock. The door opened before she had the chance.
     Duncan greeted her with a half smile. He took the Mikey’s bag from her, then wrapped his free hand around hers. Twirling her wedding ring between his thumb and forefinger—the habit he’d picked up since their marriage—he leaned in and kissed her softly. The familiar scent of him dove into her lungs and settled next to her heart.
     “There you are,” he said just as softly. She blinked three times in order to regain her composure.
     Turning, he headed back for his desk with his bag, opening it as he walked.
     “Am I so late that you waited by the door for your lunch?” she asked as she sunk into the guest chair on the opposite side of his enormous desk. She lifted a boot, ready to plop it on the top before noticing the polish of the glass and letting it fall to the floor.
     Pulling out the over-sized tenderloin from the bag, he gestured to the monitor at the side of his desk. “I saw you on the security cameras.”
     Of course.
     “Sorry for leaving you hungry. And for the hectic past few days. It doesn’t look like the next few will be any better.”
     “Hmm,” he said as he swallowed bites of the French fries, never one to talk with his mouth full. “That it a shame since I haven’t seen you naked in seventy-two hours.”
     Opening her half-empty yogurt container, she considered. “What about the other night?” On the stairs. Yum.
     “You weren’t naked.”
     She smiled. It couldn’t be helped, but it was followed by the frown created from her predicament with her recent case.
     “Would you like to talk about it?”
     “Hmm? Oh.” She shrugged and dunked some of the blueberries she’d thrown in the container on her way out of the house. “Roadblock on a case. Alleged college rape.”
     “You use the word ‘alleged’ often. I know better, but others view this as assumed innocence.”
     Another shrug. “Innocent until proven guilty and all that. The girl sounds legit, but no need to throw some bloke under the bus until I have proof. Which is where we come to my roadblock. Statistically, these things don’t come in isolated cases. I’ve got the alleged victim.” Oops. There was that word again. “I’ve got the dude’s ID.” She dug in the pocket of her blouse and pulled out the photo she’d downloaded of him. Waving it around with her free hand, she took another bite before continuing. “I can’t exactly stand in front of his Drama Club practice and show his picture to girls as they leave, making accusations. I’m a NPD detective.”
     Duncan set down the burger that so ironically mismatched everything about him and walked around to her. Would the reaction of her heart rate to this kind of simple gesture ever wane? He reached down and placed his hand beneath one of her calves, lifting her leg and setting her boot on top of his desk. Before repeating the process with the other leg, he snatched the photo from between her fingers. “I, however, am not a cop and would enjoy an afternoon on the beautiful Heritage Junior College campus.”

About R.T.:  R.T. Wolfe enjoys creating diverse characters and twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance. It's not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in R.T.'s candy dish, her Golden Retriever at her feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on her counters. R.T. loves her family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found viewing a flyover of migrating whooping cranes.

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Island Secrets with R.T. Wolfe

The Write Way Café welcomes R.T. Wolfe, who is full of surprises and words of wisdom.

Good day, The Write Way Café! It’s lovely to be back on your blog. I truly enjoy your postings. Thank you!

Tell us a little about your Island Escape series.
     When Zoe Clearwater learns that the skull she found in an underwater cave is her missing brother, she sells her scuba diving business, Sun Trips Touring, and dedicates herself to unravelling her brother's mysterious death.
     Dane Corbin, the new owner of Sun Trips, is determined to prove to Zoe, now his employee, that he is not the womanizer he once was. But it'll take more than profit to turn Zoe's head.
     Her investigation at a standstill, Zoe unearths letters from a secret lover among her brother's possessions, along with plane tickets, a promise to run away to safety, and the painful realization that she'll need Dane's help.
     As mercurial clues plunge Zoe and Dane into a life-threatening pursuit and the truth burns brighter and brighter, Zoe recognizes she needs Dane as much as her brother's unnamed lover needed him. But Dane will have to make it to safety, first.

If Island Secrets was made into a movie, who would play your main characters, and why?
     Renee Zellweger is the perfect Zoe Clearwater! She’s independent and focused on the outside and a delightful train wreck on the inside. And Chris Hemsworth fits the bill for Dane Corbin. He’s simple, loyal and, oh who am I kidding … then, I’d get to meet him!  J

What’s the best writing advice you’ve been given?  What’s your best writing advice for others?
     “Finish the damned book,” Kate Larkins.  And “Finish the damned book,” R.T. Wolfe.
     Nine times out of ten an author overthinks verses underthinks their work. We are mostly a group of insecure introverts for sure!

What “keepers” are in your home library?
     Full House by Janet Evanovich, Northern Lights by Nora Roberts, Private by James Patterson, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin.

If you could be a character in any book you’ve read (or written), which character would you be and why?
     Oh no! This is supposed to be a blog about my new release, Island Secrets! Yes, the main character, Zoe Clearwater, is smart, witty and a delightful train wreck all at the same time. Yes, she has 2 sisters who are completely unique, devoted and fun. Oh and, Dane Corbin is completely NOT a train wreck, adventurous, and in love with her. And yes, she has a hilariously lovely hippy mother and equally fun father. But my true hero is Detective Nickie Savage from my Nickie Savage Series (book #3 coming out next month!). She is unrefined, canny, and completely dedicated to helping victims of abuse and kidnapping. Understandably, she relies on her husband, Duncan Reed, and his photographic memory and computer hacking skills to help her take down the bad guys. She’s a blast to write.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
     Toughest: That I am a Nora Roberts wanna be.
     Best: That I am a Nora Roberts wanna be.

We’re adding books to our Café menu.  Would your book be a drink, an appetizer, an entrée or a dessert?  What would you call it?
     Island Secrets is an appetizer as it is book #1 in the Island Escape Series.

Do you have any compulsions you must do for no particular reason?
     All of my hangers have to be the same color. I can’t believe I just admitted that. HAHA

Tell us about the book in your closet.
     Other than a few dozen skeletons, I have no book in my closet. I am a transparent skeleton/book closet girl. J

And now for the fun stuff!  

If you were a punctuation mark, what would you be?
     I am a question mark. Always seeking to learn. J

If you aren’t a full-time writer, what is your day job?
     I am a kindergarten teacher. #LoveMyKiddos!

What is something you do that people would be surprised at?
     I raise caterpillars on my kitchen counter all summer long.

If you had to write with a pen instead of a computer, what type of pen would be your preference?
     Ball point. Medium line. And who writes a manuscript with a pen?! So dang funny.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of love?
     Married the love of my life six months after meeting him! Who does that!

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?
     I write while pedaling on my stationary bike. I have rigged a table that fits just above the handlebars for my laptop. It’s perfect!


About R.T.:  R.T. was born and raised in the beautiful Midwest, the youngest of six ornery children. She married at a young age and began her family short after. With three amazing small boys, life was a whirlwind of flipping houses and working two jobs in between swim lessons and Candyland. Now that her boys are nearly grown, R.T. spends much of her time on the road traveling from one sporting event to another serving as mom and cheerleader. She works to assist the several non-profit organizations that have supported her books and promote the work they do for those who cannot help themselves.

Website          Amazon          Google Play     
Barnes and Noble          iTunes          Facebook     
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R.T. Wolfe: Nickie Savage Series (Book 1) Review and Giveaway

If the rest of the books in the Nickie Savage series are anything like the first one, I’m adding them to my TBR pile now!  

The first page of Savage Deception intrigued me and made me laugh at the same time.  Early in the book, I felt I had missed some important information and I wondered if I should have read the previous books first.  But this fast-paced read drew me in and kept me turning pages.  I didn’t want to put it down!

There were a few quick point-of-view changes that caused me to re-read small sections.  I'm really curious to see if and how R.T. uses some loose ends in future books.  I love how she writes about real-life issues.  R.T. has really grown as a writer since her first book, and I look forward to reading more!

   

Savage Deception
Busy juggling loan sharks and Amber Alerts, Detective Nickie Savage makes time when the FBI seeks her expertise with a child trafficking ring. But when Nickie discovers that the men running the ring are the same ones who abducted her as a young teen, the case gets personal.

Risking her badge, Nickie goes rogue. Luckily, she has Duncan Reed, along with his wire tapping and surveillance expertise. But Duncan also wants to take their relationship to the next level.

Now, Nickie must choose: break her own rules and risk her heart or forge ahead alone.


About R.T.:  R.T. Wolfe enjoys creating diverse characters and twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance. It's not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in R.T.'s candy dish, her Golden Retriever at her feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on her counters. R.T. loves her family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found viewing a flyover of migrating whooping cranes.

Where to Find R.T.:  Website     Facebook     Twitter     Pinterest

Savage Deception Buy Links:       Kindle     Nook     iBooks     Kobo

Don't miss the contest!  R.T. is giving away a $100 Amazon or BN gift card.  Click on the Rafflecopter giveaway link below to enter!

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R.T. Wolfe is Back!

We are happy to welcome the prolific and talented R.T. Wolfe back to The Write Way Café. R.T. is talking about her new Nickie Savage Series, and giving us a sneak peak at what's up next.

The first book in your Nickie Savage Series was recently released. Tell us about this new series!
This is a splinter series from my Black Creek Trilogy. Nickie Savage is a brass, smart-as-hell detective. Duncan Reed is an artist for Hollywood with a photographic memory. As opposite as they are, they’ve found they are unstoppable team. If you like detective/mystery romance, give this series a try!

Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
My writing space is mostly a table at our local Panera. Sometimes it is the bleachers at one of my sons’ swim meets or the car on route to said swim meets. Rarely do I write at home. There are too many distractions at home … laundry, long grass, dusting. I can tune out other restaurant patrons but not perennials that need to be dead-headed.

What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
Time. Those dang day jobs get in the way of everything.

Who or what has been instrumental in or to your writing journey?
My inspirations are Nora Roberts and James Patterson (before his co-writing days). Their styles may differ, but they both have an ability to draw a reader into the setting, into their characters heads. They provide great mystery, amazing relationships, and excellent writing. Rarely, am I disappointed by one of their books.

If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be?
An author. Or maybe a writer. Seriously, writing is my dream job. It is my crack cocaine and my readers are what keep me going.

What is your favorite social media?  Why?
Social media has become a four letter word for authors. I have over 1500 followers on my Facebook Page and FB only shows my posts to about 35 of them unless I pay for more. Regardless, I post there daily. Nothing too serious, mind you. My Page is all about mindless fun, announcements, and more mindless fun. I use Twitter daily, too. Do you? Do you ever feel like you’re talking to yourself? So dang funny. I also have Pinterest, Linkedin, and Google Plus accounts but have yet to find one I could call a ‘favorite.’

What’s up next for R.T.?
In December, I finished book 1 in a new series I’m writing. The Island Escape Series is all about murder, passion, treasure, family, and sea turtles. In book 1, Island Secrets, a scuba diving instructor devotes her time to finding her brother who went missing in a diving accident. She finds herself relying on the help of her childhood friend, the playboy who ends up her boss. If you like sand, sea turtles, and intense relationships, you’ll like Island Secrets. It is with my editors right now and should be out sometime this year. With book 1 in that series with my editors, I’ve started writing book 2 in the Nickie Savage Series. Savage Rendezvous is flying onto the pages as Nickie finds herself at risk of losing two things, her most personal case ever and Duncan Reed. If you would like to receive once-a-month updates on R.T. Wolfe novels, sign up for my newsletter. The link is located on the Home Page of my website, www.rtwolfe.com.

And now some fun stuff!
What is your biggest shopping downfall?
Um, shopping. Shopping is my biggest shopping downfall. I only shop when I’m desperate.

Are you a glass half empty or glass half full personality?
Ooo, tough question. I’ll go with honesty. I’m half empty. I’ve had ‘one of those lives’ and find it easier to live on the cautious side. Past trauma may keep my guard up, but it makes for great writing material!

Are you a dog/cat/other person?
My Facebook followers tell me I’m a dog person. They accuse me of only posting pictures of cute, furry … Okay, okay, I’m a dog person. J

What is your favorite season and why?
I am a four-seasons person, but my favorite is Fall. I love to get out my jeans and sweaters and walk through forests of brilliant colors with leaves crunching under my feet. Winter is magnificent. I even enjoy shoveling. Spring is rejuvenating and summer brings days of writing on my patio. I live in Illinois and am probably right where I need to be.


Thanks for stopping by today, R.T.!

Congratulations R.T. Wolfe!  You're the winner of our anniversary giveaway - a $10 Starbucks gift card.  Thank you for supporting our blog.

Set Me Up

List your favorite books in your mind and what stands out as the reason you love reading them? Probably you enjoyed the characters—their personalities and their stories—whether their stories were adventure, intrigue, romance, or all of those things and more. What about setting?

I would put at the top of my list of favorite books all the books in the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. The first one I read, Bitten, hooked me, to put it mildly. Armstrong wrote strong, three dimensional characters I wanted to spend time with. Throughout the series, the characters remained consistently interesting and the plots were sitting-on-the-edge-of-my-seat good. The characters and their stories were highly engaging, but for me, the setting proved equally satisfying. I realized that a good story, for me, offers a variety of elements that together make a complete and satisfying read, and setting is one of those elements.

If you're a Harry Potter fan, imagine the story without the backdrop of the various settings. Didn't you want to walk down the short stairway into the Gryffindor living space and settle in front of the fireplace—with a good book? Couldn't you imagine yourself walking through the hallways of Hogwarts, watching the movement of the subjects in the many paintings, and finding your way into Dumbledore's office, with all its fascinating objects? The characters and the adventures were large, but the setting was the backdrop of their lives and we get a feeling of being there because it's so well done. We enjoy Hagar's cozy abode and the quirkiness of the Weasley home and we want to come back.

In Bitten and other Otherworld books, the setting for the werewolves includes Stonehaven, the home of the pack's Alpha and essentially home base for them all. Stonehaven is a large, beautiful and secluded, well, haven for the family of werewolves. They can luxuriate in being themselves while being protected by unfailing privacy (from the outside world) and plenty of space, both indoors in the spacious home and outdoors in the surrounding fields and forests. I wanted to live there myself. In Stolen, a subsequent book in the series, though the setting is predominately in an underground prison, when main character Elena finally escapes, she goes home to Stonehaven to recover. The description is so well done that readers can relax, too, in the concept of a place of comfort, safety, and support.

 A book's setting doesn't have to be fantasy in nature but it can still be magical if it fuels a reader's understanding of the struggles characters suffer, even when their setting is dangerous territory. A few years ago I read Donovan's Child, by Christine Rimmer. It's a category romance that was an easy read for a variety of reasons, but, in part, because the setting was mesmerizing. Circumstances bring together Donovan McRae and Abilene Bravo on his ranch setting. Again, cozy and comfortable, the setting played a role in the appeal for me.

Though characterization and plot are primary in importance, of course, a detailed and authoritative description of setting can support characterization and plot. In R.T. Wolfe's Black Creek Burning, the description of the heroine's home supports her attachment to family and her ongoing sense of loss. We can imagine how Brianna feels connected to her parents while surrounded by the structure of the home she grew up in, and yet haunted by their absence. The description of setting woven for woodcrafter and hero Nathan supports his expertise of his craft and makes him believable as a caring and sensitive man. In Rena Koontz's Love's Secret Fire there is plenty of intrigue and danger, but when hero Adam Michaels offers heroine Valerie Daniels his hotel suite as a place of respite after a terrible ordeal, his gesture shows us his kindness, but the setting—his luxurious suite—gives readers a place of relaxation and safety to watch their relationship develop. In the setting we can believe that Valerie can imagine letting down her guard.

Whether a writer or a reader or both, don't you find setting is high on your list of things that make a book good? What books have you read where the setting was masterfully done? What about the setting resonated for you? Share?

An Interview with R.T. Wolfe

The Write Way Café is happy to welcome romantic suspense author R.T. Wolfe today.

Hello, HiDee and Lynn. I enjoy your blog posts and am honored to be your first guest author! Thank you!

When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book? Was that first thought related to writing romance?
Honestly, I never had a first thought of writing a book. I’m a bit of an insomniac. I’m not sure what made me write the first line in Black Creek Burning in the middle of one of those sleepless nights, but somehow the first line turned into the first page and then into the first hundred pages…It was absolutely addicting. The research, editing, revising…I truly love all of it. Nine months later I had completed my first book in the Black Creek Trilogy. As far as your question regarding writing in the romance genre, you mean to tell me there are other genres besides romance? LOL

What was your path to getting this first book written and published? What type of research did you do?
I used books listing literary agents, pitched at a writing conference and found my lovely Romance Writers of America friends. Each has given me equal knowledge. My contract offer from Crimson Romance came from a call for submissions, forwarded to me through one of those lovely friends.

Where did the idea for your story come from? Was it always the first in a series?
I wish I knew. As eccentric as this sounds, I simply don’t. Sometimes when I’m proof reading my work I say to myself, “Where did I come up with this stuff?” So fun. Book two, To Fly in the Shadows, started spinning holes in my head when I was about half way through Black Creek Burning and ideas for book three weren’t far behind. Each book is also a stand alone. It was incredibly difficult to make that work and some of the best fun I can remember!

Why did you pick the setting you did?
Since the heroine, Brie Chapman, is a landscape designer who works outside much of the time, I wanted a climate close to what I’m familiar with. Upstate New York is similar to where I live, although I did plenty of research. I’ve had the privilege of three Master Gardener reviews for Black Creek Burning regarding the authenticity of the mention of plants and shrubs twined throughout the novel. The first review is already on my website. Mostly, I needed seasons. I use subliminal metaphors when I write. The growth of Brie’s character tandems the growth of the plants she works with.

Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself?
The main characters are completely fictitious. However, Brie’s sister is an absolute duplicate of one of my sisters. Her daughters have previewed Black Creek Burning and have commented on how creepy the similarities are. Have I mentioned how fun this is?

Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
Ugh! That is such a scary question. I have never experienced writer’s block. There. I said it. Where is some wood to knock on? I’m not sure I have a magic secret. I expect writer’s block will hit me as it does most of us.

What have been surprises you've encountered while writing the book and after?
Agents want something new and fresh. Yet, editors want the work of author’s to fit in a very tiny box. I work hard to listen to advice, but I try to listen to my readers a bit more than the others. After all, who am I writing for anyway?

What did you learn? For instance, what did you learn about yourself, your process, the writing world, woodworking, education?
I’ve learned boat loads about writing, but I’ve mostly been writing about what I know and what I know well. The hero, Nathan Reed, is a woodworking artist. I am knowledgeable on this subject as well as the landscape design and planting references in the book. Book two is about a conservation biologist who specializes in the rehabilitation and banding of eagles. I know a great deal about this, also. Again, however, I have a talented gal from the amazing custom furniture store, Sawbridge Studios, previewing Black Creek Burning and a biologist from the east coast Center for Conservation and Biology previewing book two for authenticity.

What are some of your favorite books and why?
Using all of my senses, I want to be taken into another place when I read. I like to learn new and interesting facets in life. I like books to be realistic with tangible and diverse characters. I only hope to have brought that experience to my readers. Some of my favorite novels include the Women’s Murder Club series by James Patterson, Northern Lights by Nora Roberts (although not the film-ugh) and the Circle Trilogy by Roberts.

What are you working on now?
I am polishing book two for a possible February release. This would be my first self-published book. So, I’m not sure precisely how much time the set up would be for that new adventure. I also have another publishing company interested in taking a look at that one…who knows? I am very close to being finished with book three in the Black Creek Trilogy, Dark Vengeance. My readers are graciously hounding me mercilessly to finish. It’s all so humbling, as well as serving as a guest on your lovely blog. Thank you, once more!

About R.T. Wolfe:  R.T. Wolfe writes romantic suspense stories that manage to touch the hearts of her readers as well as their intellect. She lives in the Midwest and is a loving mother to her boys. She enjoys working in her gardens and spending time training her Golden Retriever and writing in and around each of these.


Black Creek Burning by R.T. Wolfe

Brianna Chapman learns to handle just about anything. Witnessing the murder of her parents had that effect. Knowing the unsolved arson had been meant for her is the one thing she can’t handle. Instead of dwelling, she stuffs her guilt soundly into her subconscious through diving into the teaching job she loves by day and the dirt of the landscaping business she owns by night. Her habit of remaining aloof to personal relationships is, well, working. 

Will her guilt be as easy to keep buried if the killer comes back to finish the job?

In the midst of juggling a scorched yard, dead animals on her doorstep and her vandalized car, the one thing she didn’t count on was the staggering Nathan Reed. A nationally renowned woodworking artist, Nathan and his two priceless nephews move into the run-down historical house behind her and over Black Creek. They have a canny way of maneuvering around her aloof demeanor and into her heart. Will they still want to be part of her life when they discover she is haunted by past memories and hunted by present dangers?

Buylinks:
Amazon Pre-Order buy link: http://amzn.to/Tycagh

R.T. Wolfe website: http://www.rtwolfe.com

Where you can find R.T.:

 R.T. Wolfe Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RTWolfe2012

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R.T. Wolfe Pinterest Page: http://www.pinterest.com/RTWolfe