WHEN A CHARACTER DEMANDS THEIR OWN SERIES

Wall mural by Alex Perryman.

Have you ever written a story, perhaps a stand-alone story or a secondary character, only to find that the character has lots of adventures to tell? And wants to tell them? 

My guest, L.J. Sellers, tells how a routine research trip for her homicide series ended up with a demanding character, Jamie Dallas, and a new series. I'll let her tell you the tale.

When I sat down with an FBI agent to talk about a story in progress, I was expecting a broad overview of how an eco-terrorist case would be handled. Instead, I learned that my agent-friend had been the lead on the investigation into the Eugene cell of the Earth Liberation Front, an eco-terrorist group that sabotaged and burned businesses across the northwest.

What was most fascinating was that a key component of the investigation was to send an undercover agent to infiltrate the group. As soon as I heard that, I knew I had to incorporate the character and tactic into my story.

So I created Agent Jamie Dallas, a young woman who specializes in undercover work—and has to lie, cheat, steal files, seduce targets, and put on performances to accomplish her goals. Unlike my homicide detective character, Agent Dallas is free to travel. She’s based in Phoenix, but the bureau sends her out on special assignments to infiltrate groups.

She’s also young, unencumbered, and willing to take risks. Once I got inside her head and wrote her part, I had so much fun, she simply demanded her own series. Writing the character has invigorated me, reminding me that I used to be young, adventurous, and seductive. It’s such a blast to put myself back in that mode—then amp it up with a little spying and gunplay.

So now I rotate between the two series, with protagonists who couldn't be more different. Yet I’m equally comfortable writing from both perspectives—as well as many others. Writers tend to have multiple personalities, but I seem to have dozens!

I've now published two Agent Dallas books, each set in a different location. Another great reason to write this series—I get to travel every once in a while for research. In The Trigger, Dallas infiltrates a group of survivalists near Redding, CA to find a missing woman, and in The Target, she gets inside a San Diego medical technology company to solve an agent’s murder and stop a corporate saboteur.

 

I have a third book planned for the fall, as well as a trip to Washington DC. Based on readers’ enthusiastic response, I suspect there will be many more.

One of the greatest joys of writing is to explore facets my own personality and to live vicariously through the adventures of my characters. It’s a great life, and I feel blessed to be a full-time writer with such loyal readers.

                                                                                                                                                            

BUY: AMAZON

Agent Jamie Dallas loves undercover assignments that get her out of the Phoenix Bureau. But her new case is daunting—an FBI agent is mysteriously dead, and a medical device company is targeting competitors with dangerous acts of sabotage. 

Dallas infiltrates TecLife, spies on her new bosses, and tries to steal a sample of their mutant bacteria. But soon her life is in danger when she’s caught in a battle between companies, each hoping to kill the competition while launching a billion-dollar blockbuster. 

Meanwhile, a famous actor is found beaten and murdered in an abandoned cannery, and a young detective lands the case of a lifetime. Determined to bring justice to his favorite star, Detective Cortez follows a trail of evidence that leads to the medical-product war—but he has no idea how deadly it is. 
Can Dallas survive long enough to stop a researcher who’s gone over the edge and save millions of consumers from getting caught in the crossfire? Excerpt

                                                                                                                                             

L.J. Sellers writes the bestselling Detective Jackson mysteries—a two-time Readers Favorite Award winner—as well as the Agent Dallas series and provocative standalone thrillers. Her novels have been highly praised by reviewers, and she is one of the highest-rated crime fiction authors on Amazon. L.J. resides in Eugene, Oregon where most of her novels are set and is an award-winning journalist who earned the Grand Neal. When not plotting murders, she enjoys standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. She’s also been known to jump out of airplanes. You can find Linda: Facebook, Twitter, Website

AN IMAGINATION FIRED BY MYTHICAL WORLDS

Early morning coffee

When I was a kid I loved stories set around myths. I don’t know how many books I've read in my lifetime on various pantheons of gods and goddesses. I loved the worlds set around them. Magic and lore. 

I've always loved Boris Vallejo's work.

My imagination was always fired by stories of mythical animals and things like the mythical world of fairies and elves of the Celtic lore. I collected pictures or checked books out of the library and drew or painted some of the pictures or pictures based on what I read from my imagination from these stories.

Much of my artwork, through my teen years, involved women warriors with various magical creatures, some not from this world but from portals opening into alternate worlds. I made up a lot of stories about such worlds. To me finding and taming a magical creature always held a special appeal. Hagrit (from Harry Potter) and I are kindred spirits. Probably because I had a close affinity to animals to begin with and just imagine one with magic or telepathy (which all my imagined creatures had). Lol!

Dragons have always held special place in my heart. I love them. I have a dragon mascot sitting on my computer in my office. I have posters too. I’m afraid I was highly incensed with the perception of dragons being something that brave knights killed. 

Uh, no. 

To me dragons were majestic and honorable. It wasn't until I was well into adulthood that a friend, who was involved with astrology and in the process of learning all about the Chinese end of things, told me I was a dragon. 

Hmm, okay, makes sense.

I was visiting my brother over the weekend and I talk about stories I think of or ideas—very normal for me because I always told the *little kids* stories as we grew up. They were my captive audience. They cheered ohh and aahhed and begged for more.

My brother reminded me of a series of stories I made up and told to them about shifters like wolves and cougars, cats with magical powers, and my mighty dragon warriors. You know, I’d forgotten much of it until he reminded me of one his favorite stories. My other two brothers were there and reminded me of my stories of Merlin, King Arthur and the round table and the very unique knights.

Women warriors also figured prominently in these tales. It was fun listening to them recount various stories I told.

My son was all round eyed. He told them of the stories I’d tell him when he was three onward about Lobo the wolf. Lobo was the protector of Jake in all the stories and adventures. Of course, my son found all sorts of trouble and hairy situations to get into when he was little and I wished I had a Lobo to watch over him. Lobo was loosely based on my own half Husky/wolf, Micah. But unlike Micah, Lobo was telepathic. Jake shared with them a "really cool" story idea I had been talking about to him the past few months and this time he added elements to the story. Will I write it? I’m in the process of another one right now, but I do have this one and the world outlined, so yes, I probably will soon.

• Don't you love imagination? So what fires your imagination?

 

Luis Royo is another favorite of mine and of course it's a woman warrior.

ONE NIGHT ONLY—WHAT'S YOUR WISH?

My guest is Caridad Piñeiro. She's a romance author but still quite the eclectic writer in subject matter. Everything from vampires, super strength heroes, a touch of  sci-fi, and suspense. All with a strong heartbeat of romance and engaging stories. 

Her topic is a newer area of writing, erotic romance, and how create a good story to hang a hot romance to. Erotic romance is more than sex scenes. There has to be an engaging story. Something that touches fantasies—and haven't we all had them? That moment we wish we could have acted on?

When I was first approached about participating in the ONE NIGHT ONLY anthology, I really wasn't sure what to write about.

The theme was one special night, just one, and I went over idea after idea in my head until the story came to me in a blast of memories.

There I was back at my alma mater, Villanova, and there were the ROTC men and women in their dress uniforms at a formal.  They all looked so beautiful and amazing and I knew then that my hero had to be a just graduated Marine who will soon be leaving.

I wanted to shake things up a little so I decided that the heroine had to be someone that the hero, Jase Hart, might consider off limits.  Who might that be?  His best friend’s slightly older sister, Nickie de Salvo.

I had so much fun getting them together and giving them a very special and sexy night on the day of a graduation party of Jase and Nickie’s brother Tommy.  I won’t say more, only that the story is emotional and sexy.

It’s also been awesome working with my fellow anthology members, Stephanie Julian, Raven Morris and Willow James!  They've all had such great ideas about the theme for the stories and for all the fun memes and teasers we've been sharing for the anthology.

I hope you’ll take a moment to check out our anthology and the four naughty novellas that are sure to have you snuggling beneath the covers to finish the book in one sitting!

• If you had to write, or live, a story about one special night or day, what would you choose? It doesn't have to be erotic or even romance.

Would you choose sitting on a mountain as the sun goes down? A night in Vegas, a show on Broadway, a jungle safari? Ballooning at sunrise? Snorkling? An adventure on the USS Enterprise?  

The Genie is present what is your wish?

                                                                                                                          

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, ALL ROMANCE

He has just one night to prove to her that anything is possible . . .

Jason Hart, Jase to his friends, has just graduated college and earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. It's the night of the graduation party and she'll be there. His best friend's slightly older sister, Nickie. Nickie is the only woman he's really wanted for a long time. He has just one night to make it happen.

She has just one night before the man of her dreams leaves, maybe forever, but can she find the courage to take a chance . . .

Nicole de Salvo has been in love - and lust - for her little brother's best friend for years. For years she's watched from afar and done nothing about her attraction for Jason Hart only now their time together is almost at an end. On their last night together will she find the courage to do something about her feelings, or will she live with regret for the rest of her life?

                                                                                                                           



Caridad Pineiro is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Caridad is a Jersey Girl who just wants to write, travel, and spend more time with family and friends. Caridad is the author of over 40 novels/novellas. You can find Caridad: Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Website

MONDAY'S MUSINGS--SINGING UP THE SUN

One of my favorite things to of a morning is sit outside with a cup of coffee and watch my world brighten as the sun rises. It centers me and fills me with peace and contentment. I can face my day much better fortified by morning sun and birdsong. 

Granted, sometimes the sun is rising before I do, but most mornings I watch the ribbons of sunlight embrace my world to the accompaniment of hundreds of birds. My flying flowers. They sing up the sun, you know. You hear the liquid warble of the Red Wing Blackbirds, the raucous cry of the crows, the inquisitive queedle-queedle of Blue Jays calling out, and the piercing call of various hawks looking for breakfast. I have a front row seat. There's nothing like watching a hawk drop like stone in the field across the way and the magnificent play of wings as they back swing stretching their talons out to grab their breakfast--mostly mice, unwary squirrels on the ground, and the occasional rabbit. We have a series of tall hills surrounding that field and if you look closely you can see their nest high up in one the oaks, pines, or even woven in a bare lightening struck tree.

In the yard I have several feeders. You'll hear the soft coo of the doves long before they fly in to eat. Proper little puffs of gray wandering under the feeders picking up sunflower seeds and chortling to each other. Bright flashes of yellow finches and those of softer yellow green of the females, a few pairs of rosy finches. Lots of Cardinals. I have a few large red headed woodpeckers that feed early morning and again in the afternoon. They eat sunflower seeds but I also put out peanuts for them and the Jays. Since the spring has been very cool I've kept the suet out for all. It seems they all have their assigned feeding times.

Blue Jay nest & eggs. wiki commons

When the Blue Jays decide to descend on the feeders everyone else leaves. Blue Jays don't like to share. They love oak trees, acorns are one their favorite foods (or at my house, cat food and dog food), and although they usually choose pines and cedar for nests, I discovered I have a pair nesting in the big oak out front. I spotted the tell tale signs of sticks, twigs, and this pair also grabbed strips of bright blue and yellow from our dog food bags to weave in. I've watched the male bring food to his mate sitting on the nest. Today, they both are flying to the nest and feeding the babies that just hatched. 

I love Mockingbirds and we have two very fine musicians on either end of the yard. One is nesting near my bedroom window and I love to listen to him sing throughout the day.

There's a lot of work ongoing at the McKye domicile. I sometimes wonder if we'll
ever catch up. We've been doing quite a bit of clearing of tree brush from the three trees we had to cut down. The pile was much larger than this before Dan went to work on it. We've also cleared a lot of deadwood piles from the tornado downed trees.

I've also been planting tomatoes and other veggies as well as flowers. My Iris and roses are going to be blooming together--which is rare. Rosebuds should be opening in the next couple of days. My cats seem to love the mulch and so it often looks like I'm planting cats as well. I love the look of the mulch, too, but I'm going to have to move some of it and lay down a black weed mat fit them around the existing plants to keep some of the persistent weeds from growing through the mulch.  Sigh...that's another job.







I've been doing a little bit of planting everyday. Going easy on the shoulder and on my work breaks I get outside in the sun and plant something. I'm like a sunflower soaking up the sunlight.






So what have you been doing this spring? Planting? Or just enjoying the sun?

                         

Winners of Carolyn Brown's e-books Liza :The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society, and  Tina: The Red Hot Chili Cook-Off. Send me your email and I'll forward it to Carolyn who will gift you from Amazon.

                          

BRAIN, DON'T DESERT ME NOW!

TWO giveaways...in ebook form...one of Blue Ribbon to one reader. One of Red Hot to another.

I heard a suspicious whine in the air so I thought I'd better fortify the Over Coffee bar. Hot scones will be out of the oven soon, meanwhile help yourself to the fresh coffee and tea. Made cookies last night and they're great with coffee and kick butt on the whine. Just sayin' 

My guest is romance author, Carolyn Brown. She's been dancin' around with way too many sexy cowboys the past couple of weeks, but I'll let her tell you about that problem...

***

So I was about to send a note off to Sia to ask her for an interview rather than a post. My brain was coming up totally empty and for me that’s a first. I can always talk the ears off a politician so what was wrong with my brain. Did I have something terminal? Good Lord, was I going to blank out on the WIP? It’s only a few thousand words over the half way mark…brain don’t desert me now!

Then that little voice inside my head said, “Hey, you have given your brain cells a workout this past two weeks and they are demanding a vacation? Plus you've been layin’ off sugar and your fat cells are whinin’. The brain cells demand the right to whine along with them.”

One can not argue with the truth but it can be explained.

I was typing along on the third book in the Burnt Boot series and was on top of the mountain. That’s when I hit the half way mark. I've climbed, struggled, slipped in several places and slid backwards in even more. But now I’m on the top. I can see where I've been and where I’m going and the backside doesn't look nearly as formidable as getting to the top.

Then I got the first round edits for Daisies in the Canyon and it does involve more than adding commas and question marks. No problem, put the WIP on hold. I've reached the top so it’s not any big deal, right?’

Wrong! I get half way through the Daisies in the Canyon and I get the first round edits for The Trouble with Texas Cowboys. Both of my publishers are putting out a book next January—one at the beginning of the month; one at the end. So I leave Daisies in the Canyon and work on The Trouble with Texas Cowboys because the deadline for it comes first. Remember now, I was half way through with the WIP, One Cowboy Too Many.

Three sets of characters dashing around in my head which means a lot of hot cowboys. I turned on the fans and drank a lot of really cold water. I could do this. I could eat an elephant a bite at a time. So still no problem, right?”

Wrong again! My awesome editor called to say that since we’d decided to go another route with the last two books in the Burnt Boot series, the launch materials did not fit anymore. So I left behind Daisies in the Canyon, The Trouble with Texas Cowboys and One Cowboy Too Many and whipped out new launch materials. Then I had five sets of characters in my head, all of them involving hot cowboys and I needed more than a fan, dear hearts! Where were those little white pills to prevent hot flashes? I know I had some left in the cabinet.

And that is why my brain cells are whining today! But hey, I wanted to be a writer. I asked all the higher powers to let me be a writer. And now I am one so my brain cells can suck it up and help me think of a decent post so Sia won’t be disappointed. And my fat cells can be

The one and only Chester Fat Boy. He told
Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw, it was
his turn to be the star.

quiet, too, or I’ll start cleaning house and sweat a few of them out just to show them I’m still the boss.

Oh, and I finished all the edits, the launch materials and worked on a few more new ideas for the WIP. Got to admit I probably couldn't have done it without my muse so meet Chester Fat Boy, who has been beside me every day for two weeks. Yes, he does have his own pillow and yes, he does sleep a lot but he never forsakes me. I bet he’d even have something very interesting to write a post about and he wouldn't whine like my brain and fat cells!

I spent a week in Cadillac, Texas (you can read about it here). Both books are great stories and you have a chance to win an e-book of either, The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society (Book I) or the current book, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off (Book II and they can be read as a stand-alone). 

BTW, Sia is never disappointed with any of Carolyn Brown's writing. Just sayin'.

                                                                                                                                                          

BUY: AMAZON, B&N,
CHAPTERS INDIGO ca, INDIEBOUND

More Than the Chili's Heating Up Cadillac, Texas

Carlene Lovelle, co-owner of Bless My Bloomers lingerie shop, found a pair of fancy red-silk panties in her husband's briefcase, and all hell is breaking loose. She custom-made those fancy bloomers herself—and she remembers the bimbo who bought them. If her husband had a lick of sense, he'd known there are no secrets in a town like Cadillac.

Carlene's cohorts—and their mamas—plan to exact revenge on Lenny Joe where it'll hurt the most: break his ten-year winning streak at the prestigious Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off. Never before has a woman dared to compete. But the ladies of Bless My Bloomers are cooking up a storm...and it seems the whole town is taking sides in the showdown.

Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the chili is hot, the gossip is hotter, and friends stick by each other, no matter what the challenge.

                                                                                                                     

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than fifty books published, and credits her eclectic family for her humor and writing ideas. She writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma, where she continues to write more cowboy romances! For more information, please visit www.CarolynLBrown.com and Facebook.

MONDAY'S MUSINGS—TOOK A TRIP AND NEVER LEFT THE RANCH

Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. Mine was great and I got to spend some time with my mother on Saturday and got to see her mama cat's new litter of babies. She has them in one of her extra bedrooms—now a nursery, lol! That's my mom J.

We have a winner for M.L. Buchman's Pure Heat: Farawayeyes. If you'll contact me I'll arrange for you to pick up your copy. Congratulations!

While I was recuperating and restless I had the chance to read some books that I enjoyed. Somewhere along the way my sense of restlessness was assuaged by my 'travels'. I've been to Texas, Colorado, Montana and slipped up into northwest Canadian wilderness, traveled all the way over to Pennsylvania and up to Maine.  Pretty nifty. Take a trip and never leave the farm, J  I’d thought I share a few with you (All were at least 4 1/2 stars in rating). 

Being restless I wanted something different. Something to pique my interest and divert me from hurting. I do have eclectic taste in reading. And it is very much mood driven. About the only thing I don’t read is horror (sorry horror fans), I don’t care for heavy-duty erotic romance (I like a bit left to my imagination), and kid’s books (my kid’s all grown up). I've read and enjoyed a few YA—but I really have to be in the mood to read YA (preferably when I don’t have a house load of young adults running in and out or playing Dear Abby with me). 

I have a towering stack of TBR books I can read but nothing appealed. Have you had those times? 

A friend of mine who writes sexy and fun cowboys also writes women’s fiction (which I hadn't read yet). She has a great sense of humor and I've laughed a lot reading her books, her turn of phrase, her realistic settings, sense of family and community. I needed some laughter and so I thought, why not?

TheBlue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee and the second, The Red Hot Chilli Cookoff, by Carolyn Brown. 

“Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the jalapeños are hot, the gossip is hotter, and at the end of the day, it's the priceless friendships that are left standing...”

Oh, I am so glad I passed that welcome sign! That was five days of fun and laughter spent in Cadillac, Texas. Just what the doctor ordered.  What drew me to her stories?  Well, I loved watching movies like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes, and absolutely loved Designing Woman series on TV. These books encapsulate the best of those shows. The southern humor, laughter and tears, diverse multi-generational women and how they deal with life, and strong friendships that see you through everything life throws you. Scratch the surface of the southern charm and you’ll find some very strong women who can take you to the cleaners without breaking a sweat and smile graciously while doing it, bless their hearts. I have to tell you, I fell in love with the feisty Agnes! The woman is diabolical and Lord love her, she can have my back anytime. She is a character in both books. All I can say is I’m glad I’m not the pretentious Violet (I loved how that played out!).

If you like a face paced page-turner and laugh out loud situations these two stories are a must read this summer.

I tried a new, to me, author, Mark Nykanen. I haven’t read any of his books but that will change henceforth. I read his thriller, Primitive Excellent story. Definitely intense. I like stories that grab from current issues facing us and in this case it was climate control and what dangers could be facing our world if steps aren't  taken to correct consumption. I've read a lot about the issue. But Primitive doesn't preach and it is an involving, multi-layered thriller about climate change theories. It starts with a kidnapping of a well-known model, Sonya Adams, to act as a spokesperson for their group’s agenda and subsequent media frenzy and some darker governmental agencies involved. It kept me turning pages and I liked the growth of Sonya and how she found her own tough core to survive. There is a well-developed layer in the story that says the surface may not show the whole and that’s especially true in the relationship between Sonya and her estranged daughter, Darcy. They seem at first glance to be polar opposites and yet at the core of both are more similar they either believes. Tightly constructed and entertaining story. Makes you think. If you like a good suspense/thriller it’s worth the read!

Another new to me author, but not for long, is Melinda Leigh. I read her romantic suspense, Midnight Exposure. Another multi-layered page-turner. I really liked the reasons for the creepy villains actions. She developed that well without tipping her hand by prematurely revealing him (I knew one character had to be involved but minute clues said he wasn't the main bad guy and that kept me guessing for awhile). You really got to see the bad guy’s arc and goals and motivations. Still a very creepy guy but very well done. This one starts with the disappearance of two hikers, which is blamed on the snowstorms in the Maine wilderness, but it’s oh so much more. Add in the attempted kidnapping of visitor, Jayne Sullivan, a tall red-headed beauty who is a part time tabloid photographer, a reclusive sculptor with past, and sparks fly. There is a well done happy ever after but not before some serious danger to traverse and problems, one of which is to keep Jayne out of the hands of a creepy Druid with an agenda. I really enjoyed the story—clever in execution and fast paced with a good romance attached. Hope you will, too.

So, how was your Mother's Day? Do anything fun? Read any good books you'd like to share?

 

FINDING THE FIRE

My guest is romantic suspense writer, M.L. (Matt) Buchman. I love his books. The romance is great but what I love is the action, danger, kick-ass solutions, and of course a happy ever after. What's not to like? 

Today Matt talks about the challenges of writing romantic suspense based on real life heroes. 

Hi and thanks for coming aboard for a short flight.

I have this friend who says he likes writing romance because it gives so much structure which he can than hang his story on. And I see his point: her, him, love interest, love challenge, love resolution, HEA! Voila!

After 15 published romance novels, I've concluded that my friend is a lunatic. Totally! Why? (So glad you asked!)

Most of my novels aren't just romance, they’re romantic suspense, including my latest release Pure

LA County Fire Department's S-70 Firehawk

Heat which launches my new Firehawks series. Rom Sus means I've set myself a tough challenge, winding together a love story and a suspense story in such a way that one drives the other and neither can be removed without the whole thing falling apart.

But was that enough for me?

Nooo! Fool M.L. Writer had to set a higher challenge of writing about real world heroes and heroines. I struggle to be as accurate as possible, though not as realistic as possible. (Military battle and fighting forest fires are much too ugly and scary to include all of the details and at the core I want to tell a love story; so I clean it up a little.)

That means that one of the major tasks I set for myself is research. Oh, I’m fine with reading books, blogs, and following the news. I did two years of that before I even tried to start my Night Stalkers or my Firehawks series. My trouble is that I’m pretty shy in new situations with people.

Drop me into a corporate environment, and I can rock-and-roll; I spent over 25 years there. However, on my very first day in corporate, I was assigned to copy a large box of court documents. As I squatted down, I blew the seam out of my pants from the bottom of the zipper all the way up to my back belt loop. I was too terrified to do anything, so I didn't take lunch, I didn't take breaks, I spent the whole day with my butt facing a wall and then snuck out with my suit coat held just so.

Every interview I do for my writing is like that. Over the years I've conducted hundreds of job interviews as well. But when it comes down to my writing, not so much. For example, I had a change to talk with a Coast Guard heli-rescue pilot, who was at an airshow with his chopper specifically to answer questions. I fell mute. It can take me weeks or even months to gear up for an interview.

And oddly, instead of getting easier with time as it did in corporate, I find personal interviews for my stories keeps getting harder. The more book-based knowledge I acquire, the more I am daunted by the men and women who fly to the rescue—military or fire. I once had the opportunity to interview a woman who flew two tours in Iraq as a Black Hawk crew chief. She was an incredibly shy and soft-spoken woman half my age, and I was so daunted by her that, if my friends had not dragged me in, I would never have managed to do it. (She was awesome and immensely helpful, by the way.)

Oddly, my reaction has become one of the key features of my books in both of these series. I am in true awe of the real life versions of these people and I attempt to capture that, yet show the real people that I came to know and several of whom I now count as friends. These are the men and women of Pure Heat!

Let's chat 
I’d love to hear who are the people you go gob-smacked mute in front of? 

One commenter will win a copy of Pure Heat, and I'll announce the winner Friday's blog. 

                                                                                                                                                              

These daredevil smokejumpers fight more than fires.

The elite fire experts of Mount Hood Aviation fly into places even the CIA can’t penetrate.

She lives to fight fires

Carly Thomas could read burn patterns before she knew the alphabet. A third-generation forest fire specialist who lost both her father and her fiancé to the flames, she’s learned to live life like she fights fires: with emotions shut down.

But he’s lit an inferno she can’t quench

Former smokejumper Steve "Merks" Mercer can no longer fight fires up close and personal, but he can still use his intimate knowledge of wildland burns as a spotter and drone specialist. Assigned to copilot a Firehawk with Carly, they take to the skies to battle the worst wildfire in decades and discover a terrorist threat hidden deep in the Oregon wilderness—but it’s the heat between them that really sizzles. Download chapter excerpt

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M. L. Buchman has over a dozen romances and more than 20 books in print (he also writes science fiction and fantasy). His full name, Matthew Lieber Buchman, translates as Matthew Beloved Book Man, no wonder he’s a writer.
He is now making his living full-time as a writer, scribbling away with his wife on the Oregon Coast.