The Basement Level Five: Never Scared

It's summertime, my dear Rancourtesans, which means I'm still in the mood for a frosty beverage and a bit of fun. And nothing is more fun than introducing a guest. This week my Wednesday post is by Leslie Wright, another of the fine authors I've met through Black Opal Books. Her book, The Basement Level Five: Never Scared is a page-turner (Kindle-flipper?) and took me to some real interesting places. Never thought I'd root for a cold-blooded killer, but there you go. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Here's our interview...

Liv: What’s the most compelling thing about your most recent project, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?

Leslie: I would have to say that I'm just interested in seeing the journey come to an end. In Basement Level 5: Never Scared, I was invested in seeing Alexa and her family beat the enemy and get to happy. Plus, I'd set a personal deadline that I wanted to meet. My latest WIP is a heavy romantic women's fiction about a woman torn between two brothers. I fell in love with the heroine and I empathize with her plight. It's a touchy subject matter and I want to do it justice.

Liv: If you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class or a book or a workshop, what would that be?

Leslie: I took a creative writing class in college and that had a lasting impact on me. In that class, we experimented with lots of forms of writing, including fiction, plays, and poetry. I would definitely recommend a basic creative writing class or two for everyone.

Liv: Fantasy or reality? Most people lean one way or the other in their work. Do you have a preference, or do you swing both ways?

Leslie: I prefer to write reality. I like to write real people in real situations. But having said that, I do enjoy reading fantasy and immersing myself into different worlds.

Liv: Clutter or quiet? Which one makes it possible for you to be creative? Describe your perfect writing situation.

Leslie: Clutter. I can't stand quiet and I can't concentrate in quiet. In order for me to write, I have to always have my music on. Without it, I will not be able to concentrate.

Liv: How to you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee, housekeeper, writer)?

Leslie: Actually, I'm trying to figure that out myself. Life has taken so many twists and turns, I've found it harder to write now. I'm starting to think I have to get up early in the morning just to get some words down on paper, especially during softball season for my daughter. Luckily, that's almost over. But I'm thinking I either need to stay up later (which is hard) or get up early to write (that's probably not going to happen) Time seems to slip through my fingers.

Liv: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a daily mall-walker? Or, do you collect vintage salt shakers?

Leslie: I love to plan events. I'm always organizing something, which may contribute to my lack of time to write. I'm also addicted to Investigative Discover channel and HGTV. I will sneak to watch my House Hunters or Nightmare Next Door. I love those shows.

Liv: Football, basketball, baseball or soccer?

Leslie: Football, definitely, and only because the season is so much shorter than basketball. LOL My hubby is a huge sports fan so I can't escape it. Those damn Detroit Lions have disrupted family life too many times to count. LOL

Liv: What’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or other upcoming project.

Leslie: I'm working on multiple projects but trying to finish/revise my work in progress, It's Complicated. Every time I think I'm done, something forces me to edit and edit and revise and edit. After I finally nail down the ending, I'm going to finish up another romance tackling one of my favorite subjects: a marriage of convenience.

Thanks very much, Leslie, for playing along. Your book is awesome and I'm so glad I had the chance to find out more about it, and about you. I wish you and all the Rancourtesans out there a happy Summer Solstice!
Peace,
Liv

Basement Level Five: Never Scared

Alexa Martinez was raised to believe that murder, deceit, and lies were a part of life. A trained killer, she follows in her father’s footsteps, specializing in political assassinations for Martinez Security—contracted through the CIA. She thrives on the power, money, respect, and—most of all—the adrenaline rush.

Despite the danger associated with her profession, Alexa strives to give her children a normal life. But when her past catches up with her, they become pawns in a deadly game of revenge. Operating from a secret base five levels below ground, Alexa struggles to unravel the puzzle, uncovering secrets that will alter their lives forever. Now she must make a choice—is she willing to die to give her children a life outside the bullet proof glass?

About L. R. Wright:  I’m a devoted wife of many years and mother to 3 wonderful children who inspire and motivate me to follow my dreams.  In addition to writing, I love romance novels, fine wine, and hanging out with my friends and family.  I crunch numbers for a living, and plan events for fun. 

Website:  www.thebasementlevelfive.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeslieWrightAuthor

Twitter: @LWrightAuthor

Purchase Links: Black Opal Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, ARe

Murder In Devon - An Interview with Maggi Andersen

This week my guest is multi-published romance author Maggi Andersen. Her newest book, Murder In Devon, is a solidly entertaining story, and I was so glad that I had the chance to read it while preparing for this post. I liked the main character, Casey, and thought it was very well-paced and suspenseful. I'm excited to introduce Maggi, so she can tell you more about this book and writing in general.

    

      LR: So how long did you live in London? :) For a girl from Sydney, you did an amazing job of creating a realistic setting.

MA: I have a good friend in England, in Richmond actually, which features in the book. I visited her for short stays of about six weeks at a time. That gave me enough time to travel around the country. Years of reading books set in England helped as well.

      LR: As I mentioned earlier, I enjoyed the pacing of the story, the way events were spread out over weeks to months. It felt real to me. So many books seem to try to cram a lifetime into 72 hours and I end up more exhausted than the characters. What's your strategy for organizing a story so that events unfold at such a realistic pace?

MA: I don’t have a strategy. I have a timeline in my head I suppose and try to make it clear on the page. I like to write a few quiet reflective scenes in among the action scenes, where a reader has time to consider what has happened and what might happen next. That gives an idea of time passing. I don’t enjoy full on exhausting pace from beginning to end. I realize that many people do though.

:     LR: You clearly know a lot about art history and how WWII changed so much. Is that your background, or did you have to do a lot of research? And how did/do you approach research when you’re preparing to write?

MA: My mother was an award winning artist and I grew up with the smell of oil paint and books on art filling the shelves. After studying fine arts at university I became interested in art history. I tried painting too, but found I sadly hadn’t inherited my mother’s talent. I prefer to paint scenes with words. Reading my father’s thrillers as a teenager sparked an interest in the Nazis and WWII. After watching a neo-Nazi march in Munich on television it occurred to me that an evil group could be gaining strength and planning to cause chaos in the world. I wrote a synopsis for the book just before September 11.   

      LR: Describe the perfect writing environment. Do you like quiet or music or a certain chair, or do you like to write in a coffee shop? What’s the best place for you to create?

  

MA: I marvel that writers can produce work in a coffee shop, I’d be far too distracted. I have my corner in the house, a small study area off the kitchen. My research library is growing daily, crowding me out, and I might have to move to a larger area in the house soon. I often write with Fox News on in the background. Music can put me in the right mood for a scene, but I prefer to write without it playing in the background.

      LR: Okay, so an on-line friend of mine from Melbourne wrote a blog post recently about the wonders of Vanilla Slice. Do they make that in Sydney, and if so, where’s your favorite place to get Vanilla Slice (or other fave desert) and coffee?

MA: I love vanilla slices! There’s an award winning French bakery in my small town which makes superb ones. It’s one of my favorites along with black forest cake, and I also love a good apple pie with cream. These are delights I seldom indulge in these days. I put on weight just looking at them. We have a fabulous coffee shop here called Elephant Boy. The walls are lined with old books and pictures of India at the turn of the last century. Very charismatic. I may be able to write there now that I think of it. The coffee is excellent. What a temptation!

  

      LR: What’s next for Maggie Andersen? Historical? Contemporary? How do you decide?

     MA:  A reader asked if I planned to write a historical spy series and I thought it a good idea so that’s my next project. My first book: A Baron in Her Bed comes out in September. Regency spies and romance is a lot of fun to write. I’m submitting another romantic suspense to Black Opal Books soon. It’s set in Ireland and outback Australia.

      LR: Aussie-rules football or American? ;)

MA: I have to confess knowing little about either, but American football is fantastic to watch.

Thanks for inviting me to your blog, Amy. 

And thank you for posting, Maggi! It's been fun.

Peace,

Liv 

 

MURDER IN DEVON

She wants the truth, but it may cost her more than she thinks...

An ex-patriot-American living in England, magazine reporter Casey Rowan wakes to find one best friend murdered and another seriously injured. Casey is determined to find the killer, despite running afoul of the detective in charge of the case—a blue-eyed Scot named Rod Carlisle, who considers her a prime suspect. As Casey gets closer to the truth, losing her heart to the sexy cop isn’t the only thing she risks. Now her life is danger, too.

He wants her, but he may have to choose between love and duty...

Rod has no patience with civilians who interfere in police matters, even hot little numbers like Casey. Though he tries to keep things professional, Casey’s beauty and spunk are hard to resist. He warns her that what she’s doing is dangerous, but he only succeeds in alienating her. She refuses to listen and goes off on her own with disastrous results. Now Rod’s in a race to find the killer before the woman he loves becomes the next victim.

Available from Black Opal Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords

Excerpt

“Are you with me, Ms. Rowan?” The words pulled Casey’s attention back into the room. She took a sip of cold, sweet tea from the mug. Someone’s hand reached for her cup, and she moved her gaze up to a pair of concerned blue eyes.

“Ms. Casey Rowan? I’m Detective Chief Inspector Carlisle, of the Devon and Cornwall Police.” He squatted beside her. “I realize you’re in shock. Is there someone I can call?”

She bit her lip hard, needing to feel something. She wanted to scream and cry, but a cold vacuum seeped through her insides, and a sharp pain at the back of her throat sealed the scream inside. She’d stayed by Tessa’s side until they’d taken her away. Don was gone too, packed into an airless body

bag, zipped up tight. “I have to go with Tessa,” she begged him. “Will you take me to the hospital, Inspector...”

“Carlisle, Ms. Rowan. There’s no point in going to the hospital right now. And you can’t stay here. Is there somewhere we can take you?”

“I have to know if Tessa is going to be alright.”

“The hospital will ring you.” He looked down at her left hand, where she clutched her mobile so tightly her knuckles were bloodless.

“Is there somewhere you’d like to go, Ms. Rowan?”

Casey shook her head. The tears flowed and eased the pain in her throat a little. She sniffed and wiped them away with the sleeve of her dressing gown. “Someone has to take care of Soc.” She struggled to gain a hold on herself, not recognizing the strange, high-pitched voice.

“Who’s Soc?” A policewoman came to stand beside the man.

“Socrates is Don’s cat.”

“I see.” The policeman stood and spoke into the policewoman’s ear. Casey didn’t try to listen, her attention drawn to another policeman securing tape to the sitting room door. A fourth packed away his video camera. Be careful of their things, she wanted to say, pick up the cup I dropped.

The blue-eyed man left the room.

“Come on, love.” The policewoman took Casey’s arm.

“Now, don’t you go worrying about the puss. We’ll find someone to take care of him. First, we’ll go up and get dressed.

Detective Chief Inspector Carlisle has found somewhere for you to stay.”

Casey opened her mouth to protest. “Right near the hospital.”

She shivered and wondered if she’d ever feel warm again.

AUTHOR BIO: MAGGI ANDERSEN

Maggi Andersen lives in the countryside outside Sydney, Australia, with her lawyer husband and their cat. Her study overlooks the creek at the bottom of the garden where ducks gather. Chickens peck around the yard and cockatoos call from the trees. After gaining a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing, and raising three children, Maggi now indulges her passion for writing.

She writes in several genres, contemporary and historical romances, mysteries and young adult novels. You’ll find adventure and elements of danger in everyone.

More information on her website: http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com