Hurricane Crimes

Hi Chrys. Welcome to the Ranch!

How did the writer’s journey begin for you?

My journey began at a very young age. I wrote my first story when I was six, which I still have. I became a serious writer at twelve after a strange find sparked the idea for a series of books. I later rewrote these books, and I was searching for an agent to represent them when I sent Hurricane Crimes to The Wild Rose Press. I count myself very lucky, but I still hope to publish my supernatural-thriller series one day.

Tell us three things about you-the writer-readers wouldn’t typically know.

1. I had spine surgery when I was fifteen, so I can seriously say I am a woman of steel. 😉

2. Last year, I donated 14 inches of hair to Locks of Love.

3. I rescued four stray kittens.

Those are very interesting facts!

It all began when…

Hurricane Frances visited Florida back in 2004 and Tropical Storm Fay came and didn’t want to leave in 2008. I was inspired greatly by Tropical Storm Fay and even wrote a song while she was causing floods, but Hurricane Frances by far impacted me the most. I always knew something would come out of her reign of stormy chaos. It was only a matter of time.

Where did you get the premise for this book?

I started writing Hurricane Crimes on Christmas morning 2011. I had just finished reading a book set during a blizzard and pondered the fact that I had never been in a snow storm because I live in Florida, so the idea to write a story that really focuses on a hurricane immediately became my goal. Although I wanted Hurricane Crimes to be a romance, I didn’t want it to be a typical romance. Thus, I created Donovan, a sexy and passionate man who may be a murderer.

What stands out about this story that made writing it different for you?

I really wanted the hurricane in Hurricane Crimes to be one of the essential characters, but I had never created a character before that wasn’t alive in the way that human beings and animals are, so it was a challenge to make a force such as a storm into a character that readers could identify with on a human level. I think I did a good job though.

Were there any difficult challenges or special subject matter you came across while writing this book?

In the beginning I did have a problem with the POV because there were moments when I wanted readers to know Donovan’s suspicious thoughts, but since the story is in Beth Donovan’s perspective I had to omit it. I think it came out better though because it made Donovan even more mysterious.

What about this book would make us want to read it more than others of similar taste?

There are many romantic-suspense stories out there, but not a lot are set in Florida during a hurricane. And if they are, they probably don’t have a murder mixed with the romance and extreme weather.

What do you want readers to take away from this book?

Strength comes when you least expect it, and so does love.

Tell us about the finished book. Is there anything special we might not know after reading it?

I am a huge advocate of domestic violence awareness, and with Hurricane Crimes I had the opportunity to give one of my passions to Beth Kennedy, a tough woman who is a self-defense instructor.

Blurb:

After her car breaks down, Beth Kennedy is forced to stay in Florida, the target of Hurricane Sabrina. She stocks up supplies, boards up windows, and hunkers down to wait out the storm, but her plan unravels when she witnesses a car accident. Risking her life, she braves the winds to save the driver. Just when she believes they are safe, she finds out the man she saved could possibly be more dangerous than the severe weather.

Donovan Goldwyn only wanted to hide from the police, but the hurricane shoved his car into a tree. Now he’s trapped with a beautiful woman while the evidence that can prove his innocence to a brutal crime is out there for anyone to find.

As Hurricane Sabrina wreaks havoc, Beth has no other choice but to trust Donovan to stay alive. But will she survive, or will she become another hurricane crime?

Excerpt:

On the television set, which was fighting to stay alive, was breaking news. She caught bits and pieces of it as she emptied the bowl of blood-tainted water and threw out the cloth. It was about a high-speed chase that had occurred about a half-hour ago. Beth shook her head. Apparently, Donovan wasn’t the only idiot driving around during a hurricane.

She went back into the living room and began replacing all the medical supplies into the first-aid kit. Behind her, a reporter was explaining that the driver of the car was believed to be a murder suspect.

“The name of the—”

The lights flashed, prompting Beth to snatch up her flashlight.

“Donovan Goldwyn.”

Her fingers went cold around the plastic tube as ice frosted her veins. She straightened her spine and turned stiffly to the television, her heart wasn’t beating in her chest. On the screen was the picture of the man who was right now changing in her bedroom. Above it was a caption in bold letters that read—SUSPECT.

She gripped the flashlight in her frozen fingers. Her heart thudded fearfully. She stared into the immobilized violet eyes through the glass.

“Oh my god,” she gasped.

She had brought a murderer into her home!

***

Where can readers find you and your books?

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00GVK921G      

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18757793-hurricane-crimes

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysfey

Blog: www.writewithfey.blogspot.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey

Google +: www.google.com/+ChrysFey 

Is there anything else you want to share or add?

I would like to thank you, Calisa, for having me on your wonderful blog.

It was my pleasure. Thank you for coming over, Chrys. Good luck with your books!