I'd like everyone to meet Angel. We met a couple of years ago through Facebook believe it or not. I can't exactly remember the details, but before I knew it I'd connected with a kindred spirit from the next state over. Isn't the internet fun?
And I am THRILLED to announce her debut release SWEET DECEPTION, which is available now.
I've asked Angel to stop by and answer some FAQ so everyone can get to know her and get a taste of her new book. One lucky person will be gifted a copy of SWEET DECEPTION, to be drawn on Friday, December 12 at 12:30pm PST.
Now to be all official....
The only
girl in the midst of four brothers, Angel Nicholas spent her childhood hiding
behind romance novels. Now the mother of four overly-energetic children, a
Whimsy kitty and slobber-flinging Great Dane, fiction is still her refuge.
Excessive caffeine fuels her typing, stiletto heels maintain her sass, and the
splendors of Idaho alongside its gregarious people inspire her muse.
Here's the back copy blurb for the book:
Ally
Thompson’s life is perfect. Calm, quiet, some might even say boring. The sole
survivor of a tragic accident, she’s not the adventurous type—something she’s
decided to change.
One
roller-coaster ride…
A
murder and a detective in disguise shatter Ally’s first attempt at “fun.”
Detective Greg Marsing is everything Ally knows better than to want. The
gun-totting, tattooed scumbags trying to kill her are almost a welcome
distraction from her pointless attraction.
Blows
her world wide open…
A
contract on Ally has every lowlife for miles gunning for her. Sparks fly while
she and her unlikely hero scramble to unravel clues. As the deadly game
escalates, Greg has to decide if self-preservation rates higher than a love
worth dying for.
FAQ by Angel:
Have you always been a writer, or is there
a pivotal moment that started you on your journey?
I’ve
been a writer for as long as I can remember. Writing was how I expressed all my
teenage angst. I have a folder full of dark prose and weepy poetry! There was a
long period where I set it aside, however. Instead of pursuing my dream of
becoming a freelance photojournalist after high school, I pursued life.
Children came along. Who knew the little darlings were so distracting? I found
hobby after hobby to occupy myself with as they grew—in number and years. Then
one night I had a dream so vivid that it would not leave me alone. So I sat
down at the computer I used to maintain my then husband’s business and began
writing. And wrote and wrote and wrote. I was like a woman obsessed. It started
out horrid and was writing completely wrong, but I kept writing. I finished
that story, and moved on to another. Then another. In the process, I educated
myself about writing and the publishing industry. I’ve always believed that
anything worth doing is worth doing right. Four and a half years later, here I
am. I must have done one or two things right, don’t you think? ;-)
What is your favorite thing about being a
writer?
The
marabou slippers, feather boas, bon bons, and pink champagne of course,
dahling!
Oh,
you were being serious? Hmm… I have always enjoyed the ability to create
something from nothing, whether I was doing heirloom sewing or knitting or
anything else. Writing is an extension of that. You sit down to a blank screen
and you weave this intricate story. You create real people out of thin air,
breathe life into them, and send them on this incredible journey that gives
them even more depth. Then you send it out into the world, and pray it moves
people just a little. It’s truly the most incredible thing I’ve ever done,
aside from giving birth to and raising my munchkins.
Do you prefer dogs, cats, or none of the
above?
Ha!
More like ALL of the above! I’m an animal lover to the core. I currently have
three cats, which was unintentional, I swear. I’m no longer allowed anywhere
near the Humane Society for fear I’ll come home with more. Home feels wrong
without a dog though! Rental properties are oddly against their renters owning
170 pound Great Danes. I think it’s an unfair restriction, personally. An
ill-behaved dog is destructive no matter their size. So the Dane is still with
the ex-husband at the ex-house. I miss him desperately.
Last question: Do you have any shameless
addictions—Starbucks, shoes, sunglasses, coins, books?
*snort*
Everyone who knows me is well-aware of my addictions! Coffee, ridiculously high
heels, and books. I’m not the least bit shy about indulging or sharing. I’m
less vocal about things like my enjoyment of excellent food and fine weaponry
of any kind.
Thank
you so much for having me on your blog today, Carmen! You’re a doll! If you don’t
mind, I’ll say farewell by giving your readers a taste of my new release, Sweet
Deception. Hugs & kisses!!
Excerpt
Oh,
God! He was shooting at her. Actually shooting. In broad daylight. In her
neighbor’s backyard. Didn’t they have rules about that sort of stuff?
Nerves
shredded, Ally gritted her teeth. Three more feet. Two. Another crunch. She
swore the heat of the bullet singed her shoulder. Arms extended, she jumped for
all she was worth. Up, braced her arms and pushed off. She landed with an oomph
on the other side, followed by another crunch and a hole in the wood fence.
For a
split-second, she crouched panting, staring in disbelief at the fence towering
over her head. Had she really done that?
Cursing
from the other side got her up and moving again. Squealing tires and a revving
engine brought her head around. A car tore into the alley and raced toward her.
More bad guys? Had he called in reinforcements?
Ally
froze.
Did I do something horrible in a past life
to deserve this?
Truly, I’ll help the poor. Serve food at
the soup kitchen. Go to church every Sunday. Donate money to the shelter. I’ll
even babysit my friend’s bratty kids.
Just please, please, please get me out of
this alive.
The
shiny black Camaro careened to a stop with the driver’s side door facing her.
Heavily tinted windows revealed nothing. In a last desperate bid for freedom,
she darted past the door. Strong arms encircled her waist and dragged her back
toward the idling car.
“No!”
Ally screamed like a banshee, flinging out her arms and legs, scrabbling for
purchase. Hard hands sent her flying across the front seat.
“Ally.”
“Let
me go!” She dove for the door handle.
“Ally!”
He grabbed her elbow and pulled her back, away from the passenger door. “Damn
woman, you are way more trouble than you’re worth.”
Almost
blind with panic, she twisted around and crouched on the seat, prepared to draw
blood.
Shocked
hazel clashed with furious aqua. Her mouth fell open. Muttering under his
breath, Detective Marsing threw the car into gear and spun out of the alleyway.
She whipped her head around in time to see a blocky head pop up over the
privacy fence as they disappeared around the corner. She’d done it. Escaped.
Stayed alive. Like an atomic bomb, the events of the past hours and the
emotions she’d worked so hard to control mushroomed up, exploding inside. Tears
stung.
“Can’t
you stay out of trouble for five minutes?”
