Can't Get Enough of Colleen Thompson!

I'm thrilled to welcome romantic suspense author Colleen Thompson to the blog with some fun questions. But first, a little about her September release:

THE OFF SEASON

Winter winds off the Atlantic have turned the tourist mecca of Seaside Creek, New Jersey, into a ghost town. Dr. Christina Paxton, however, is growing accustomed to living with ghosts. Recently widowed, the emergency room physician has returned to the shore with her young daughter, house-sitting a sprawling beachside Victorian home. One night, her two-year-old calls her by a name that makes Christina’s blood run cold and sends her thoughts spiraling back thirty years.

Deeply unnerved, and certain someone else is in the house, she flees with her child into the cold night, only to come face-to-face with Chief Harris Bowers, a former classmate with whom Christina has a complicated history. Now divorced, Harris hopes to mend their past, but Christina is wary of being played for a fool again. As threats emerge, Christina and her small family find themselves in grave danger. It seems there is no one she can put her trust in—least of all herself.

BUY THE BOOK--Available to pre-order, September 13th release date

RITA-nominated, bestselling author Colleen Thompson writes stories that explore how love can kill, and how it can also empower us to seek healing and justice. From her fast-paced contemporary romantic thrillers to her sweeping historical romances (written under the pseudonym Gwyneth Atlee) she puts the reader in the heart of the story... when she's not busy exploring remote corners of her adopted home state of Texas, working with her rescue dogs, or speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Colleen Thompson: As often as possible. I try to read at least a couple of books a week—or maybe I should say try to limit myself to that number so I can keep up with my writing!

Jan: What are you reading?

Colleen: I’m halfway through an advance copy I scored of RITA finalist Loreth Anne White’s IN THE BARREN GROUND. A chilling (in every sense of the word) murder mystery with a light touch of romance, it’s set inside the Arctic Circle—the perfect antidote to the brutal summer heat in Texas, where I live.

Jan: What’s the best part about writing romantic suspense?

Colleen: I love the complexities of murder mysteries—trying to choose from among the suspects while avoiding the compelling distractions of red herrings. Romantic suspense allows me to amp up the emotion in the puzzle—creating layered characters the reader can fall in love with, root for, and worry over as they fend off danger and fight their way to justice—and possibly each other along the way.

Jan: Does your heroine have any of your character traits?

Colleen: I’d like to think Dr. Christina Paxton, the heroine of The Off Season, is an idealized version of certain attributes of mine. She always reaches for the logical, fact-based solution, even when her two-year-old begins speaking of things (in the dead of night) that she seemingly has no way of knowing. And the recently-widowed Christina will doing anything to keep her loved ones safe, just as I’m sure that under the right (or wrong, as it were) circumstances, I could be pushed to such extremes.

Jan: Most writers have to find their zone before the words start flowing. Describe your ideal writing day.

Colleen: After tea or coffee, I putz around on my computer, responding to any e-mail requests and generally wasting time until the pressure builds to write. Then I get to it through the late morning and afternoon, at least until I’ve hit my daily goal.

Jan: I keep a case of Dasani in my office. What’s your go-to beverage of choice?

Colleen: Right now, it’s iced coffee or iced tea. But that’s Houston’s summers for ya.

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Colleen: San Francisco, because it’s deliciously cool in the summer. Can you tell I’m not enjoying our recent heat wave?

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: My hubby works for Haagen-Dazs, so what’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Colleen’s GOTTA ANSWER: More coolness! Yea! I’m pretty much in favor of all ice cream flavors, but lately, I’m especially enamored of a smooth and simple classic: plain vanilla.

FIND COLLEEN THOMPSON:

 Contact, Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads Previous GLIAS interview

  

PREVIOUS RELEASES: “Rescuing the Bride” in Cowboy Christmas Rescue, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, November 2015 and The Best Victim, Montlake, April 2014.

THANKS SO MUCH, COLLEEN, for sharing part of your writing world with us. One commenter will win a preordered copy (e-book or paperback) of The Off Season (releasing 9-13-16) or any of her past romantic suspense titles. If your book will need to be mailed rather than sent electronically, she's happy to send to anywhere the Book Depository mails to. See the list HERE. And answer this question:

What's the last great romantic suspense novel you've read? Who are your go-to authors in the genre?

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The Best in Romantic Suspense...

LONE STAR REDEMPTION

Harlequin Romantic Suspense

Rusted Spur, Texas, is full of secrets…until reporter Jessie Layton arrives looking for her missing twin. Even after the search turns deadly, she vows to let nothing stop her–including her own unwise attraction to a drop-dead gorgeous rancher who only wants to protect his family from the truth that Jessie’s presence threatens to expose.

READ a little, BUY the book

COLLEEN THOMPSON

From the historical novels that began her writing journey (written as Gwyneth Atlee and Colleen Easton) to the riveting romantic suspense that has become her trademark, Colleen writes stories that show us that sometimes, love can kill.

In 2004, Colleen's first  romantic thriller, Fatal Error, launched Dorchester Publishing’s new line of fast-paced, steamy romantic suspense.  The book was nominated for the RITA Award for Best Romantic Suspense and won the Texas Gold for Best Mainstream Fiction.  Other honors received by her books include a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a Readers’ Choice Awards, nominations from the Reviewers International Organization, Top Pick, KISS awards, and a reviewers’ choice award nomination from Romantic Times Book Club Magazine, and a Perfect Ten from Romance Reviews Today.

Now residing in the Houston area with her husband and son, Colleen works with children in addition to her writing and speaking. When she’s not on deadline, she can often be found hiking with her family, playing with her pets, fiddling with her computer, or with her nose stuck in a good book.

THE INTERVIEW

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

COLLEEN: I was once privileged to meet one of the U.S. veterans who helped in the liberation of one of the horrendous Nazi death camps near the end of World War II. Though it was painful for him to talk about what he'd seen, he came and spoke to my classroom of students with a humility and compassion I'll never forget. He believed that bearing witness was the most important thing he could do, and the children were deeply moved to hear it.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

COLLEEN: I'm a big fan of The (animated) Pink Panther and Bugs Bunny, both of whom embody the concept of cool.

ANGI: What do you like about the hero of your book?

COLLEEN: Zach Rayford suffered horrific abuse as a boy in a family torn apart by his father's violence and his mother's refusal to deal with it. Yet after his father's death, he eventually comes home to help his failing mother and picks up the reins of an unwelcome legacy. He's a really stand-up guy for finding the wherewithal to forgive and do the right thing.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

COLLEEN: I read in bed, sprawled on the sofa, or out on my back deck as often as I'm able. It's my favorite stress reliever after a busy day of writing!

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

COLLEEN: I'm in love with the sounds of nature: the wind rustling the leaves, the rain plinking off a tin roof, and the surf murmuring secrets to the shore. When I'm stressed, I play recorded nature tracks by my bedside to help me fall asleep.

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

COLLEEN: Action adventure for sure. When it comes to books, I love a good thrill ride!

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

COLLEEN: I recall being about twelve and writing a short story called "The White Flame" about a wild mustang round-up, from the point of view of a horse. It was terribly sad and beautiful (though I'm sure I'd cringe to see it now) and I got up my nerve to show it to a very nice older English professor who lived across the street. He encouraged me and gave me some pointers--and I was totally hooked.

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

COLLEEN: Wasting way too much time playing games on Facebook.

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

COLLEEN: Oh, it's just *awful* being forced to write about big-hearted, noble, cowboys, rancher, firefighters, ER docs, and lawmen and the smart, savvy women who tame them. And looking for character model photos (especially of the male persuasion) on the Internet--it's absolutely *brutal* work!

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What's your favorite thing about living in Texas?

COLLEEN'S GOTTA ANSWER: I often write books set in Texas because I'm in love with its varied landscapes and people. Readers often don't realize that the state has mountains, beaches, plains, and deserts and contains everything from the tiniest of towns, where residents have to have potable water trucked in to the most cosmopolitan of cities. My husband, whom I've lovingly nicknamed "The Texas Almanac" and I have spent a lot of have hours exploring our adopted state.

FIND COLLEEN

Contact    Website  Facebook   Twitter @coll_thompson   

Goodreads   Boxing the Octopus   Previous GLIAS interviews

UP NEXT for COLLEEN: LONE STAR SURVIVOR, another Harlequin Romantic Suspense, will be out in December 2014. I haven't seen the cover yet, but I'm editing the story now, and it's one of my most emotional reads ever.

PREVIOUS RELEASES by COLLEEN:

THE COLTON HEIR

READ a little,

BUY the book

THE BEST VICTIM

READ a little,

BUY the book

COLLEEN is giving away a copy of LONE STAR REDEMPTION or THE BEST VICTIM (North American readers only, please.)

Note: COMMENTERS are encouraged to leave a contact email address to speed the prize notification process. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

ANGI'S back next Wednesday with KIMBERLY KINCAID

UP NEXT ON GLIAS:  HADLEY HOLT

~Angi Morgan

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or @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

COLLEEN WANTS TO KNOW: What are your favorite settings for contemporary stories? Do you love small towns, big cities, exotic locales, or vacation venues that let you feel as if you're on a beach/ski vacation?

Welcome to Colleen Thompson

CONGRATULATIONS TO COLLEE'S WINNER:

LORETTA!

 
Hi GLIAS FANS!

Please welcome author Colleen Thompson to Get Lost in a Story today. I’m so happy to have her with us! Her newest book The Best Victim is available now from Montlake.

RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling author Colleen Thompson writes stories that explore how love can kill, and how it can also empower us to seek healing and justice. From her fast-paced contemporary romantic thrillers to her sweeping historical romances (written under the pseudonym Gwyneth Atlee) she puts the reader in the heart of the story... when she's not busy exploring remote corners of her adopted home state of Texas, working with her rescue dogs, or speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST VICTIM

You don’t deserve to live.

The ugly words delivered online finally hit their mark. The younger sister of web security specialist Lauren Miller took the taunts to heart—and took her own life. Devastated, introverted Lauren has nowhere else to turn but the arms of a man who shares a similar pain…and a burning need for vengeance.

FBI agent Brent Durant is determined to unmask the Troll King, a vicious Internet stalker he suspects of preying on the weak, goading his victims into suicide. Victims like Lauren’s sister. Working off the grid as a rogue agent, Brent risks it all—even his freedom—to bait the clever killer. But when he involves Lauren in his deadly game, their unexpected chemistry complicates an already tangled web. With his dark obsession all-consuming, can there be any room in Brent’s life for the passion Lauren stirs within him?

FIND THE BEST VICTIM ON LINE:

Amazon

Barnesand Noble:

LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT COLLEEN WITH HER FUN A's to our Q's!

LIZ: How often do you get lost in a story?

COLLEEN:     Almost every evening, I spend time reading, and at least several times a week, I get so lost in a story that I lose all track of time…thank goodness!

 

LIZ: What’s the first book you remember reading? 

COLLEEN: H.A. Rey's Curious George is the first book I can remember reading on my own. I was enthralled!

LIZ: What are the next five books on your ‘to be read’ pile?

COLLEEN: I just started Kendra Elliot's Buried. Next up: Allison Brennan's Notorious, Melinda Leigh's She Can Hide, Harlan Coben's Missing You, and Lisa Scottoline's Keep Quiet…unless I'm hijacked by another story, anyway!

LIZ: What one thing about your hero drives his heroine crazy? And what one thing about your heroine drives her hero nuts?

COLLEEN: The Best Victim's heroine, Lauren Miller, is introverted and obsessive to the point that you could probably classify her as having Asperger's syndrome, on the autism spectrum, but Lauren's never met anyone as obsessive as disgraced FBI agent Brent Durant, who will go to any lengths to find the Internet troll he believes responsible for driving a number of young women to take their lives. Although she shares his goal, his total focus drives her crazy.

LIZ: Name three things that are, at this moment, in your heroine’s purse.

COLLEEN:  Dog treats for her fat, old rescue dachshund, Dumpling, a flash drive, and a wireless bug—because a white hat hacker never knows when an opportunity will present itself.

LIZ: What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

COLLEEN:  My two rescue terriers. They're naughty as all get-out but hilarious.

LIZ: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

COLLEEN:  That's a tough call, but I'd probably say Casablanca. Every time I watch it, I love the dialogue and characters more.

LIZ: Who’s your favorite villain?

COLLEEN:  Joffrey from Game of Thrones is my pick. I've hated him from the book to the TV series, but whenever he's on-screen or on the page, I can't get enough of that sadistic little jerk.

LIZ HAS GOTTA ASK: What’s the most personal thing you’ve ever put in one of your books?

COLLEEN: The heroine of my romantic suspense, The Salt Maiden, struggles with the emotional fallout of infertility after having to have an emergency hysterectomy at a young age. Although I was fortunate enough to have had one child, I went through something similar. Writing the book helped me process those emotions, just as I hope it can help others.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

What's the last great romantic suspense novel you've read? Who are your go-to authors in the genre?

One commenter will win a copy (e-book or paperback) of The Best Victim. I'm happy to send it to anywhere the Book Depository mails to. See the list at http://goo.gl/RwTj69

CONTACT COLLEEN

Website: www.colleen-thompson.com   

Facebook: 

Visit here to win a Kindle Paperwhite! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colleen-Thompson/62166694560   

Twitter: @coll_thompson

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

Blogs: www.boxocto.com

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR COLLEEN?

Lone Star Redemption, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, June 1^st

CHECK OUT COLLEEN'S PREVIOUS RELEASES: Fatal Error and The Salt Maiden