I am from Casper, Wyoming, I have one sister who is married with two kids (I *love* being an aunt!), my parents and some extended family also live in town, and I work out of my home for both writing and my marketing consulting business. Those are regular boring facts…so a couple fun facts would be: if there was an Olympic metal for binge watching, I’d take the gold every time; I love just about anything ginger, and; I am a night owl (but also love mornings once I’m up) and if I had the chance to vote to institute an afternoon siesta I would—I think 1-4pm is the worst time of day.
Q ~ What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I work with my marketing consulting clients and teach some continuing education classes at my local college. I have my hands in a lot of different pots lately! But, to relax, I love hanging out with my family playing board games (we take gaming pretty seriously), going to movies, reading, and catching up on tv (shout out to fellow binge-watchers!).
Q ~ What are you currently reading?
I just finished Jami Wagner’s “Just One Night” – it’s contemporary NA and a great read – I highly recommend it!
Q ~ Why did you choose to write mystery as your primary genre?
I love the pace, the mystery and suspense of the plot, and I find it fascinating what intense, high pressure situations do to people—their decision making process, their guard, and their personality. Reactions are generally genuine because it’s hard to fake emotion when you are in a do or die situation. It’s an intense way to get to know another person and fall in love.
Q ~ Do you prefer to write in a small town or big city setting? Why?
I have placed stories in both big cities (Seattle, San Diego) and small towns (Casper, Wyoming) and I enjoy both. The setting does make a difference in the story though. With my romantic suspense series, I think that the big city fits it better because of the action and all the possible scenarios that the landscape of Seattle provides. In my holiday series, a small town suits the characters and the cozy journey of love more.
Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release Protecting His Heart and what inspired you to write it?
I knew Felix’s story was next and I dove right in after “the end” of Protecting the Prince. He’s a gruff fellow that had a past – one filled with missions, secrets, love, and loss. I jumped right into his character as if he was leaving the office one night for Protecting His Heart. Felix was pretty grumpy and then all of a sudden there was a perfume in the air that mixed his feelings and a naked woman in his bed. The story took off from there. I wrote the first part of CH 1 at around three the morning and just went with it – the nakedness, hints of betrayal, all the shade thrown, and then had to figure out what the heck was going on in his life. It was a glorious unfolding – I love Felix and Arabella!
Q ~ What was the most difficult part of the process while writing Protecting His Heart?
Sorting out all of the emotions! Felix and Arabella run so hot and have such a past that it was sometimes hard to sort out all of the emotions that were both festering down deep and on the surface. In the end, I love how the story came together, but their emotional journey was sometimes a tiger that had to be tamed.
Q ~ What characters did you find yourself especially drawn to and why?
As I wrote Protecting His Heart, I realized that I am especially drawn to characters that just couldn’t get it together in the love department the first time around but that their flame for one another still burns hot. It’s the heartbreak and redemption that I was attracted to in this story—specifically with Arabella. She’s strong, wants so badly to be independent, but then keeps getting drawn to the love of her life. She doesn’t really want to “ex” Felix out of her life. Finding her path, her happily ever after, was especially satisfying.
Q ~ Do you have anything in the works at the moment? Care to give us a hint about it?
I am working on book 3 of the Wyn Security Series – Eddie’s story! I can’t say much about it yet, but our jelly donut eating friend has met his match in the form of relentless FBI Agent Hannah Malone.
Felix Ibarra thought he’d put his past behind him, so he’s shocked when Arabella shows up naked in his bed, warning him of an imminent threat. Then, to make things worse, she gets a job with his firm, Wyn Security, behind his back. It’s clear there’s more to her story, but trust doesn’t come easily to either of them.
Can Felix and Arabella work together to banish a mutual enemy, or will the deep emotions that tore them apart the first time be their undoing once again?
This sexy cat-and-mouse game between former lovers will keep you on your toes all the way to the surprising ending.
Book Links
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my review
Enter to win in this fantastic giveaway for 1 ecopy of Protecting His Heart by Dana Volney
(mobi, epub, or pdf)
Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law.
Entries close at 11:59pm Feb 26/16.
Winners will be drawn Feb 27/15.
Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.
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