Hello, beautiful readers!
Today I’m so pleased to have my friend and fellow Princess here with me today. She’s agreed to answer 5 questions as well as do a giveaway! Be sure to leave a comment to enter. Contest good through midnight CT!
Hi, Barb! Thanks for coming to the inkwell today! I’m so happy you could join me here. What do you like best about writing romantic suspense?
First things first, thank you so much for hosting me today.
Oh, great question. There’s so much I love about writing romantic suspense, but the best part has to be when I’m really into a story (and sometimes working into the wee hours) and I jump when the dog sneezes, or a tree branch scrapes the window outside my office because all my senses are heightened–I’m experiencing the story as it unfolds just like my characters. Love that.
You seem to have a knack for writing heart-stopping action that keeps the reader’s heart racing. How do you sustain that kind of suspense for so many pages?
Thank you! You’ve given me the best compliment I could ask for. I think most writers write for themselves first, and I like a fast paced read. I want action, adventure, and something that forces me to turn the page when I should be asleep because I’m so invested in this wild ride I don’t know what’s going to happen next and can’t wait to find out.
Neither can I! You had me turning pages of this book. 🙂 I know you’re a wife and mom as well as write full-time. How do you find the balance between all that?
Balance is even trickier now that I’m published. I set priorities every day. I do my level best to give my family, career, and body the attention each deserves. I try to hit all three every day, and on those days I feel a sense of balance. Other times, I wake up and work toward my goals, accepting that I will fall short in at least one area. I’m blessed with a family that is incredibly supportive and they cheer me on at every stage. We make time for each other. I’ve given up a lot of guilty pleasures to make it all work. I had to sacrifice watching TV a few years ago, and I miss it. Although, Allison Brennan just gave me a great tip. She watches TV while on the treadmill. Brilliant! I’m scouring Craig’s List.
That is brilliant! I love Netflix (highly recommend). Now tell me: What is the best part about writing?
I get to live a thousand lives through the eyes of my characters. How cool is that?
It’s the best job ever. For fun: If you could be any color, what would it be and why?
Blue. Definitely blue. Blue is the color of water and sky. I love how soothing it is.
I love blue too. I knew there was a reason I liked you. Thanks for joining us today! Tell us what color you would be and why to enter to win an eBook copy of CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIR and a $5 gift card to Starbucks! Contest ends at midnight CT tonight.
Hi Barb,
Love the cover. Haven’t read this one and will add you to my TBR shelf on my kindle.
Good morning, Sylvia! Thanks so much for stopping by. Diana Carlile did the cover. Didn’t she do an amazing job! I hope you enjoy Jaden and Lauren!
Hi Barb. Great interview. That balancing act is tricky. I so agree about escaping into my story and getting to live different lives. Getting so deep into a story that it startles me when real life interrupts. The experience keeps me sane, or insane as my friends and family might say.
I am a water person and I guess blue should be my color but it leans more toward greens on the spectrum. I’m specific on shades. Not into baby/powder blue or mint green. But I love teal and aqua. The color of the water in the Caribbean. Splendid mix.
Oh I agree, Pamela. Balance is such a tricky thing and there are just times when I have to acknowledge I won’t get there until I meet a deadline, etc. I love that feeling–that deep in a story feeling. It’s the best!
Green is my runner up color. What could be better than the color of the grass under our feet? Reminds me of barefoot summers spent in the small town I grew up in. It’s the color of leaves when they’re living at their fullest…the color of life, to me. Great choice!!
Hi Barb! I have this one on my TBR list, and can’t wait to dig into it. I love suspense with lots of action and adventure. Writing is a solitary live, so it’s greater that you have your family who are so supportive of you. I’m definitely a purple girl, love all the varying shades and hues of it, especially the deep, dark, richer shades.
Thank you so much, Kathy. I hope you enjoy Jaden and Lauren! You’re a woman after my daughter’s heart…we painted her room a beautiful pale purple last month. 🙂
Thanks for coming by, Barb!
Hi Michelle! *waving wildly* Thank you for hosting me today.
I would love to be the color of a golden tan year round. I’ve always achieved it in the summer but the paleness of winter I could do without.
I’m so jealous, Dennis! I only ever turn a different shade of pink, then back to pale.
I would be red. Firey, intense. Pink is second because it is happy and girly.
I can totally see that, Vicki!! You’d be an awesome fiery red, too!!
I love this question! My favorite color is purple but I don’t think I would want to walk around looking like “Barney” all the time. lol So I’m going to go with bright orange…I absolutely love the sunset when the sun is a fireball of orange and red. Actually this morning our sunrise was the exact same 🙂
You don’t want to look like Barney? What?!? LOL. Oh, I love the color of the sunset you described!! How beautiful!! Thanks for stopping by.
HI Barb!! Ultimately, I would love to be a chameleon and change color with mood, but if I had to pick one I would be the color of the Starfire Lily. It is exotic and beautiful, and looks very sexy 🙂 LOL – It’s a sexy flower and I want to be a sexy flower! 🙂 BTW, Where is the purple hair you promised???
Hi Stacie! Wow, love your color!!
Did I promise purple hair? LOL I totally chickened out at the last minute. I did talk to my hair stylist about making the change in the future though. It might be something I do for summer. Will keep you posted!
Hi Stacie! Wow, love your color!!
Did I promise purple hair? LOL I totally chickened out at the last minute. I did talk to my hair stylist about making the change in the future though. It might be something I do for summer. Will keep you posted!
No chickening out!! If you are afraid of permanent, they have temporary colors that you can try at stores like Hot Topic. They wash out after 6-8 shampoos, and you get to pick a color you like before you commit to having it professionally done. You can do it! Let your amazing personality shine! I promise it is very liberating. I was afraid to do it until my 30’s and then I took a chance, now I wouldn’t go back to the old hair ever.
Oh, cool! Sounds fun! I will check into one of those and get back to you. Love that you’ve embraced your color!!
My hair has been about every color in the wheel. Even green, but that’s a long story about a mistake. 🙂 But all over? Hmmm, I might go with a pale powder blue.
Green? Can’t wait to hear the story behind that one, Jerrie. LOL
Oh, pretty color. I love pale powder blue!
Today’s winner is: Stacie Jacobsen! Be looking for an email from Barb and thanks for coming by!