My blog has been lonely. Fortunately, Nancy Weeks dropped by to give me a little company and to share her newest romantic suspense The Eyewitness. Be sure to read all the way to the end for a special giveaway.
Welcome, Nancy. How have you been?
Lola, I’m so thrilled to back on your blog to talk about my new release, The Eyewitness. This story will forever hold a special place in my heart. I use to slip into a great story to relieve the stress of my daily life. This time around, writing The Eyewitness had that effect. It got me through a rough year and kept me sane. But that’s so 2016. My health is almost back on track and I have this wonderful story to share with the world.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Besides living my own happy-ever-after for the last thirty-five years with the best man I know, I’m a mother to two grown kids, and I can’t be a prouder mom. Now that they are off on their own—for the most part, I write romantic suspense.
What makes a book a romantic suspense?
I weave a suspenseful and gripping element through the romance in my novels. The suspenseful element is not the driving force of the story. The romance between my heroine and hero, their internal conflict, the reason they can’t be together is what drives the story. Tossing a sniper into the mix, evil-out-of-control drone or nasty cyber criminal at my characters while they are working through their issues, and seeking a much deserved happy-ever-after is fun, okay, super-fantastic fun. [Insert loud MUWHAHAHA laugh here].
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
The Eyewitness is the first book in a new series. I decided to keep my characters in the same world as the Shadow series for one reason– it’s so hard letting go of my sexy, amazing McNeil brothers, and maybe one of them will find time to pop into this new series.
I dipped my toe into the world of forensic science in this story and took my ‘inspiration’ from a page out of the tragic sniper attacks in Maryland in 2002, The Beltway Snipers. My villains—the way all three series are connected—copy-cat on that event. Here is a short blurb:
Fans of TV’s Blue Bloods will love this dynamic new suspense series.
Maryland PD forensic scientist Emersyn D’Azzo has an explosive past with her father’s younger, sexy partner, Detective Alec Pearce. Then an ill-timed kiss destroys the thin line of trust between her and her dad, just before tragedy strikes and someone guns down her father.
The fatal bullet turns out to be tied to the ongoing spree of random sniper kills across the state, but Emersyn knows this wasn’t a random act of violence and is determined to find the killer.
To do so, she’ll need to rely on help from Alec, whom she doesn’t quite trust but just can’t resist. When they discover a connection to a decades-old disappearance of a college student, their investigation takes a deadly twist. Can they learn to trust each other with their hearts to save their lives?
What made you want to write?
Like most writers, I have had stories of new worlds, fascinating people, heroes, heroines, and bad guys running through my head my whole life. What I didn’t understand until just recently is that’s not really normal. Normal people keep to-do list, grocery list, kids’ schedule in their heads. And they don’t sit in restaurants or museums and plot romantic suspense stories about the people around them.
How do you balance writing and life?
Balancing my writing time with my normal life can be difficult, but not as difficult as it would have been had I tried to do this when my kids were home 24/7. I’m very blessed in that I can write every day and I DO. I sometimes have to pull myself away from the laptop and re-enter the real world. I gave all of myself to my family when they needed me. Now, my time has become very valuable and I spend it learning to be a better writer.
What are your future writing goals?
My most immediate future goal is to finish the series. Once the D’Azzo series, [Emersyn, Tessa and Nathan] is in the world, I want to try writing something a little calmer.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Just write. That’s the biggest hurdle. Seek out workshops and conferences in your genre where you can really develop your craft. The publishing world isn’t always a nice place. Rejection is real, hard to deal with, but part of the dream. Don’t allow it to stop you in your tracks. When you are ready to jump into the pool, feel free to seek me out. I’ll hold your hand through it like so many authors held mine. Here is what I had taped to my laptop. Improve. Develop a thick skin. Write through it all.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Yes, and I promise to make this short. I have launched a new closed Facebook page for readers who would like to have a more personal relationship with me. It’s called Nancy’s Corner. Please stop by and check it out. I would love to have you. Enter as guest, leave as friends.
Care to share an excerpt?
Excerpt for The Eyewitness. Enjoy!
Emersyn opened the driver’s door then faced Alec. He moved in close, the back of his finger brushing away the moisture on her cheeks. She didn’t pull away when his hand rested on her waist. “I’m sorry, Alec. I thought clearing my father’s office would help.”
“You don’t owe me an apology. I get why you came here, and it is me who should apologize. I took my mood out on you.”
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Emersyn ached to press her hand over his and feel his heat on her face. But at the same time, a new sense of self-preservation prickled across her skin. Who could she trust? Her own mother had warned her that she really didn’t know the man in front of her.
Fear had a way of distorting reality. Her world had become so damn confusing she couldn’t find balance. She slipped her hand into her pocket and fingered the flash drive. The small piece of plastic could be nothing—or it could be everything.
“Em, where did you go?”
She faked a smile. “Just thinking about work. I keep expecting an email from security requesting my badge.”
He drew her close, wrapping his arms around her, his warmth calming her immediately. She couldn’t pull away. She needed this—something else she couldn’t understand.
He finally dropped his arms and took a step back. “I know Angela McCain well. Regardless of how she feels about you right now, she will get to the bottom of what happened yesterday.”
“I keep running the events through my head. The fire had to come from inside the walls, but there was no burning smell.”
“The fire marshal and CI team are on scene. This wasn’t a lab accident, and they aren’t treating it as one.”
“Why haven’t they questioned me?”
“I’m sure they will at some point.” He lifted her chin. “Something else is wrong. I see it in your eyes. What else happened?”
“Nothing.”
“You are a terrible liar.” He let her go, resting his arm on the roof of her car. If he was trying to make her feel trapped, it worked.
“From my house to here, what could have possibly happened?”
“What do I have to do to get you to trust me, Em?”
The annoyance in his voice set her back up. “I’m not getting into this with you in the parking lot.”
“Answer my damn question.”
And they were right back where they always seemed to fall, at each other’s throats. She tossed her shoulder bag into the front seat. Hell, if it was a fight he wanted, then maybe a good bitch-slap was what she needed to clear her head. “For starters, you can stop pissing me off with things like this.” Emersyn knocked his arm off her car so she could drop into the seat. He blocked the door when she tried to close it.
“How, Em? I walk into a room, and your blood starts to boil.”
She couldn’t get the shields up fast enough. “You could at least pretend you don’t despise me, maybe treat me once in a while like you treat Tessa.”
He knelt and reached for her hand. “I don’t despise you.”
“Now who is lying?”
*****
Where to find Nancy C. Weeks
If you want to know more about Nancy, go ahead a stalk her on her social media sites below. She would especially love it if you would join her Newsletter and Nancy’s Corner, a site she created for a more personal relationship between her and her readers.
Facebook For Readers NANCY’S CORNER
BUY LINKS TO THE EYEWITNESS
GIVEAWAY
My simple pleasure is sipping my favorite coffee while reading a great book. I’m passing that on to you. Answer the question below for a chance to win a digital book from my backlist—including The Eyewitness, and winner’s choice of a $5 Starbucks or Teavana tea gift card. Hint hint—read the excerpt.
What is my hero’s favorite name for my heroine?
Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks
Lola Karns 