Getting to Know You

Start by telling us a little about yourself. What do you write and who do you write for?
TO: I write “romantic suspense” but I prefer to consider my books more mystery/romance. I grew up reading mysteries, and that preference shows in my writing. I throw a puzzle at the characters and they have to work together to solve it.
As a matter of fact, I thought I was writing a mystery, but my daughters insisted it was a romance, and once I started listening to the characters, I gave in to their demand that they be allowed to develop a relationship.

When you’re not writing, do you have any hobbies or interests?
TO: Reading, for sure. If I don’t read or write every day, I’m no fun to be around. I have also done a LOT of needlepoint in my day-sometimes I think I took up writing because I ran out of space on my walls. Photography is another interest. I go back to the days of film and used to shoot and process a lot of black and white. Travel, if I could afford it, would make a great hobby.

What authors inspire you?
TO: So many! Mystery writers: J.A. Jance, Barbara Parker (who has been a wonderful help to my writing), Tami Hoag, Christopher Whitcomb, Michael Connelly and Robert Crais. In romance (which, to be honest, I’ve only begun reading since after I started writing): Suzanne Brockmann, Susan Wiggs, Roxanne St. Claire (who’s another wonderfully helpful author), Allison Brennan, Brenda Novak, Karen Rose, J.D. Robb.

Do you have a favorite book or series?
TO: I think my ‘go to’ series in romance would be J.D. Robb’s “In Death” books. I’ve probably read the entire series 4 times, and some books even more than that. (The question said “a” so I limited it to one, but I read a LOT of series.)

If we look in your TBR pile right now, what titles would we find?
TO: Mine’s more of a list than a pile, because I don’t like having more than half a dozen unread books around at a time. I read about 3 a week, so things keep moving.
Playing Dead by Allison Brennan. Running Blind and Tripwire by Lee Child Now and Then, by Robert B. Parker. Steeplechase, by Blair Bancroft. Watch Me by Brenda Novak; One Juror Down, by Heather Hiestand. Kiss and Tell, by Suzanne Brockmann, and her “Into the Fire Extras for Readers and Writers”, Dark and Dangerous, by Jeanne Adams.

About Your Books

Tell us more about Hidden Fire and When Danger Calls.
TO: Hidden Fire, from Cerridwen Press, is the sequel to Finding Sarah. It begins 3 months after Finding Sarah ends. True series books are unusual in romance, because the hero and heroine have already achieved their HEA. But since I love series mystery books, I didn’t see why I couldn’t do one for romance. In this book, Randy & Sarah’s relationship is tested when she becomes a suspect in a crime-one he’s no longer allowed to investigate (officially!) because she’s too close to him. The blurb:

Returning from a stint as part of a task force on violent crime, Randy Detweiler is eager to reunite with Sarah Tucker in Pine Hills, but she’s having second thoughts about their relationship.  Can she deal with a cop who gets called away at a moment’s notice, especially one who won’t talk about his job?

Their reunion is cut short when a body is discovered and rumors fly that it’s the work of a serial killer. To make matters worse, the Town Council might disband their police department, and Randy’s under added pressure to solve the murder before they take action.  Forced to work under the radar, Randy struggles to balance work with a shaky relationship.

Sarah can’t cope with apparently meaning less to Randy than his job. Should she force him to choose between his job and the us she envisions for the two of them? All bets are off when Sarah herself becomes a suspect in Randy’s case. Before long, it’s more than their relationship that’s in danger.

When Danger Calls is my first book with Five Star Expressions. It’s an action adventure romance about Ryan Harper, a field operative for a high end security company that has a private, covert ops side. These are the people you call when Uncle Sam can’t help you. The “official” blurb:

If someone asks single mother Frankie Castor to clear a room, she’ll smile and find a vacuum cleaner.  Ryan Harper uses a gun.  Can they work together when their lives depend on it?

Frankie’s returned to her childhood home in Montana to help care for her mother. Her biggest worries are balancing the budget and the upkeep of an aging home. When she offers a man a ride home from the hospital, she never imagines she’ll end up having to choose between her daughter’s life and matters of national security that could cost the lives of millions.

Ryan returns to his family home to find a way to prove he didn’t leak vital information on a covert ops mission gone south. As he searches for the meaning of a file he’s kept hidden from the mission, he has no idea that international mercenaries have been searching for it-and him. When the mercenaries come after Ryan, he’s torn. Fighting for his country wars with fighting to rescue people he loves.

Do you come up with your characters first or the plot of the story?
TO: Characters all the way. Until I know who they are, I don’t know what I’ll have to throw at them to peel away their layers. It’s fun when a secondary character demands his or her own story. These characters aren’t usually fleshed out in the first book, so I have to figure out their entire back story before I know what book to write for them.

Is there a genre you haven’t written that you’re interested in trying?
TO: Straight mystery. I’d be tempted to do a time travel, although I’ve never been much good at history, so I’d probably have to do one set between now and the future. Anything that pulls characters out of their comfort zones works for me.

Do you have a favorite book or one that’s closest to your heart that you’ve written?
TO: That’s like asking me which of my 3 kids I love best! I suppose whatever book I’m working on has to be my favorite of the moment. For me, the books are about the characters, and I love them all dearly.

Random Questions

If you were stuck on an island, what 3 things would you take with you?
TO: I want more details! Are you talking remote and I’m the only person there, or could it be Maui? If it’s the former, are we assuming it’s cheating to say things like ‘my husband’ or ‘a generator’ or ‘a boat’? I will have to assume that basic survival accoutrements are available. Do I have a house/cottage/tent on this island? Is there food, water, and shelter? Only the clothes on my back? I suppose MacGyver would be handy in more ways than one. A tool box. Books (or does each book count as one thing?) If so, I guess I’d bring my eBook reader, which is one thing, but it requires electricity to recharge the battery. If not the eBook reader, then the Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes would tide me over for a while.

Give us 5 words that describe you.
TO: Outspoken. Contrary. Insecure. Compassionate. Curious. Of course if you ask my husband, you’ll get a different list. And yet a third list from my mother, I’m sure!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
TO: Right now, I’d love to go to Ireland because my daughter lives there. The Greek Isles is another on my wish list of places to go – so much history.

Do you have any advice to new writers?
Write. Read. Keep at it. This is not an easy business, and even after you finish the book, there’s another world to discover. Selling it. Marketing it. And it’s never too late. I got into writing well after I became a card-carrying AARP member, and it had never been a life goal. I fell into it by mistake.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Via my website is the best way: http://www.terryodell.com. There’s an email link there under my photo (which my very talented son did for me!) I love to hear from readers, and I answer all my mail.

Is there anything we didn’t cover that you’d like to mention?
In addition to my novels with Cerridwen Press and Five Star Expressions, I also have 6 short stories published with The Wild Rose Press. These are straight contemporary romance-and if money’s tight, they’re affordable! Also, When Danger Calls is a hard cover edition. The publisher targets the library trade, so the best thing you can do if you want to read the book but feel it’s a bit pricey (I don’t blame you), is to go to your library and request that they order it.

Thanks so much!

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