Who else is a huge fan of suspenseful fiction? Well, it honestly doesn’t get more gripping than Lisa Harris‘ latest release The Traitor’s Pawn. There’s the trading of government secrets, kidnapping and of course, a little bit of romance!

Author Lisa Harris sat down to answer a few questions about the inspiration behind The Traitor’s Pawn as well as what she is working on next. Read on for more!

Want to order your copy of The Traitor’s Pawn? Click here! 

Q: What inspired the idea for your new book, The Traitor’s Pawn?

A: It actually started with a simply hunting scene gone very wrong that I couldn’t get out of my mind, where a woman survives and is a witness of an assassination of a senator. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to make the story more personal to the heroine, so things quickly evolved from there to a story where she is the one in the crosshairs and is being used as a pawn in a much bigger game.

Q: Two of the main characters in The Traitor’s Pawn, Jack and Aubrey, have history together. Without giving away spoilers, can you tell us a little more about their relationship?

A: Because my books usually take place over a very short time span, I love it when my hero and heroine have a complicated history. Something that kept them apart in the past but then, in the end, brings them together. Jack and Aubrey do have a long history, and this unexpected encounter between the two of them in the beginning of the story ends up reminding them both that the feelings they once had toward each other never completely went away.

Q: Did anything surprise you as you were writing the novel?

A: One of the fun things about writing is when I’m headed a certain direction and then a twist in my “author plan” takes me off guard. I always have an end goal for my stories, but there are definitely times where getting there surprises me. In this story, I was surprised when a couple of the good guys turned out to be not so innocent.

Q: Did you face any challenges in creating this story? What was the hardest scene to write?

A: Action scenes are always a challenge for me. For example, in the beginning of the story when Bree is trying to escape her kidnapper, I had to write a fight scene between two experienced fighters, I typically watch YouTube videos for ideas, then I will always block out the scene before writing it down.

Q: Do you see parts of yourself in any of your characters?

A: While I never plan to put any of myself into my characters, I know that I write from who I am. Because of this, the way I look at life, as well as my experiences, does have an impact on my characters. On the other hand, most of my characters – like Jack and Aubrey – who are in law enforcement, are very different from me. They run on adrenaline and don’t hesitate to risk their lives for justice. I would simply run the other way. One of the reasons I write stories like this is because I admire those who daily put their lives on the line to protect our country, and I’m grateful to them.

Q: What do you hope readers will gain from Traitor’s Pawn?

A: Besides a page-turning story that keeps them up all night (sorry!), I hope it reminds them that God redeems even the worst of situations. And that while he knows that life is often filled with injustice and suffering, God is about the long game. He’s more interested in who you become, even if the actual process is difficult. Not that God doesn’t care about the little things, but he’s more interested in our persevering and reaching the finish line.

Q: What new projects are you working on?

A: I’m currently working on a brand new series about a pair of US Marshals that will come out in the fall of 2020, and I am super excited about!

Order your copy of The Traitor’s Pawn by Lisa Harris by clicking here! 

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If you are a fan of a suspenseful read with a touch of romance, then we’re sure you must already be an Irene Hannon fan! But, if you have somehow missed Hannon’s incredible reads so far, then you are in for a real treat. One, you have quite a number of reads to already jump straight into! But two, she’ll be releasing a new book, the first in a new series, this October. This gives you plenty of times to get through Hannon’s back catalog!

Point of Danger is the first book in the Triple Threat series and is guaranteed to be a real page-turner that will have you guessing right until the end. Irene Hannon kindly answered some questions about her latest release as well as what is coming next. Read on for a little insight!

Click here to preorder Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

Q: Can you provide a brief description of Point of Danger?

A: My newest novel features a strong-willed heroine who’s determined to stand up for her principles no matter the danger, and a police detective who has to find her unknown foe fast – or lose the woman who’s stealing his heart. In true Hitchcock style, the tension intensifies throughout the book, leading to an explosive conclusion.

Q: Point of Danger is the first book in your new Triple Threat series. What ties the three books in your series together?

A: The series features three sisters involved in the truth-seeking professions who are plunged into dicey situations that lead to danger – and romance.

Q: The main protagonist, Eve Reilly, is a controversial talk show host. What type of research was required to accurately portray her role?

A: Online research primarily… plus my own experience in listening to talk radio – and being a guest on a number of programs!

Q: You have stated that you prefer to focus on psychological suspense and character development in your books – a style that resonates more with Alfred Hitchcock rather than a James Bond style of narrative. What led to this preference in your writing style?

A: My undergraduate degree is in psychology, so I’ve always been fascinated with the workings of the human mind. That’s why, in all my suspense books, I take readers into the villain’s head. The whole cat-and-mouse game they plan intrigues me. Knowing what the villain is planning, and watching that unfold in spider-spinning-a-web fashion is far more enthralling, suspenseful, and mentally engaging to me than constant car chases, shootings, explosions, etc. The human mind is much scarier than an action sequence!

Q: What do you hope readers can take away from your book?

A: Admiration for the heroine, who’s willing to stand up for what she believes in no matter the cost – and encouragement to do the same; a better appreciation for the tremendous power of love to transform lives; and a healthy dose of hope. I want readers to close the book believing that no matter how bad things get, there’s always the possibility of a happy ending.

Q: When is the next book in your Triple Threat series scheduled to release?

A: Book 2 will release in October 2021 and features Cate, the oldest sister, whose job as a police detective takes her on a dangerous undercover assignment.

Q: Library Journal has referred to you as the “queen of inspirational romantic suspense.” However, you are also known for your contemporary romance books, which is where your writing originated. Can you please provide a brief glimpse into your writing history?

A: As you noted, my first published books were contemporary romances. However… my first attempt at fiction was romantic suspense. And it was really, really bad! Why? Because there was no internet (yes, it was the dark ages!), so research was difficult to do. I also didn’t have any contacts in law enforcement of the military, and to write credible suspense you have to have access to data and experts. Most books in this genre require quite a bit of technical knowledge. So, I put romantic suspense aside for many years. By the time I began writing fiction full time, the internet was around and I had a contact in law enforcement. So, I decided to give romantic suspense another go. It was successful beyond my wildest dreams. Now I alternate between the two genres.

Q: What are you working on next?

A: My next novel will be Book 7 in my Hope Harbor series. It’s called Blackberry Beach and will be out April 2021. I’m so gratified that readers have embraced my little Oregon seaside town and keep asking for more stories!

Click here to preorder Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

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Looking for your next suspenseful read? Haven’t dove into the latest release from Lynn H. Blackburn? Well, you’re in for a real treat! In Too Deep is the second book in Blackburn’s Dive Team Investigations series, and it does not disappoint.

The award-winning author invites readers back to Carrington, North Carolina where readers will meet investigator Adam Campbell who, after recovering a dead body from a submerged car, uncovers a human trafficking ring in his own backyard. Campbell soon realizes all is not as it seems and sinister elements lurk behind the idyllic facade.

Lynn H. Blackburn answered some questions from readers about her latest book – and she even gives us insight into what is coming next for the author!

Q: What was your inspiration for In Too Deep?

A: When I first developed this story, I knew I wanted it to have a human trafficking angle and I wanted Adam’s family to be mixed up in it. But it was a very vague idea and I didn’t know how it would come together. Then I heard about the labor trafficking happening in my own city and how the Carolinas have a high number of people living in slavery right in front of us and we don’t realize it. I can still remember the moment I knew this was the kind of trafficking the characters would be dealing with. It shook me in a way no other story I’ve written has.

Q: What type of research was required for writing your book?

A: I interviewed a white-collar crimes investigator and a computer forensics expert, both of whom gave me valuable insights into Adam’s and Sabrina’s characters. We talked about what they love about their jobs, what’s challenging about their jobs, and what a day-in-the-life looks like for them. I’m also fortunate to have a homicide investigator who graciously answers my procedural questions and a master underwater criminal investigator who helps me get the diving scenes right. I also spent a lot of time researching human trafficking – specifically labor trafficking in the Carolinas. It was the most difficult research I’ve ever done.

Q: What intrigued you most when writing about dive team investigations?

A: The thing that is both the most intriguing and the most terrifying to me is how often the divers have little to no visibility. They are floating just above the bottom of a lake and searching with their hands. It takes a very special person to have the courage to do something like that.

Q: Do you have a favorite character in your book?

A: The hero and heroine always get my love and devotion, of course. But after that, I’m very partial to the EMTs who, unfortunately for the main characters, get a lot of action in this novel. I think Clark and Dorothy might each have an interesting story. And Adam’s parents, Art and Abby, were a lot of fun to get to know.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading In Too Deep?

A: I always want my writing to encourage people in their faith – to help them remember that God is faithful and good. But with In Too Deep, I also hope readers come away with a new understanding of the very real issue of human trafficking in our country and seek out ways they can help in their own communities.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: I’m writing the third book in the Dive Team Investigations series. Readers have been clamoring for Investigator Gabe Chavez to get his own story, and I can tell you that he has a good one!

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Christy Award winning suspense author, Lisa Harris has returned with her latest release, A Secret to Die For. This book introduces readers to Grace Calloway, a psychologist whose patient has been murdered. Grace soon realizes she holds a secret worth killing for – but what is it? Step in Detective Nate Quinn, a man with a mission to find out just what this secret is.

A Secret to Die For is now available for purchase, click here for more. 

Q: What was your inspiration for A Secret to Die For? 

A: As with a lot of my stories, my inspiration started off with a random idea for a heroine, who quickly became Grace Callahan. She was a psychologist, but more than that, she had her own personal giants that she was facing in her life. After I began to flesh out her character, I brought in the hero who was also dealing with loss, and the ideas for the plot line started to come together – both for them personally and for the greater danger they were facing.

Q: What type of research was required for writing your new book?

A: I ended up having to do a lot of research, particularly on the nation’s power grid, survivalists and preppers, and hackers. Next to romantic suspense, my favorite genre is apocalyptic-type stories where someone has to save the world. So while there is no monstrous tidal waves, falling meteors, and definitely no zombies, the research was a lot of fun. In fact, I tend to get a bit too caught up in my own research sometimes.

Q: Detective Nate Quinn struggles with PTSD. How did his disorder come in to play in A Secret to Die For? 

A: At the beginning of the story, Nate has just gone back to work after an explosion took the lives of his partner and several co-workers. And while he wants to be back on the job – even needs to be back – he’s not a hundred percent sure he’s ready. He encounters a number of triggers and begins to realize how his life has changed. He also has to deal with the guilt of being a survivor, which is something very real for those who have gone through trauma and lost people they care about. Grace becomes the perfect person to help him heal, which I love watching play out in the book.

Q: Was there any part of this book that really surprised you once you began writing it?

A: As with a lot of the stories I write, I’m usually not sure who the villain is until the end of the book, and that was definitely true for this story. On the positive side, I’ve decided that if I’m not sure until the end who did it, then hopefully the reader won’t figure it out either!

Q: You have written more than thirty books, including Vendetta, Missing, Pursued, and Vanishing Point. Have you always written in the suspense genre of do you also write other genres? 

A: I started out writing romance novels, but they always had a string of mystery in them. I just couldn’t get away from that thread in my stories. So it’s safe to say that I really love writing suspense and can’t imagine writing anything else!

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading your book?

A: While I definitely want my readers to be entertained – and maybe a bit (okay, a lot) scared – while reading my books, I also want them to discover how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for him. People like you and me have the chance to allow God to use us in spite of all our fears and insecurities. I see the spiritual thread in my stories as a part of my characters’ reactions to life. How they react and deal with things on a spiritual level is crucial. Just like in my own life, I don’t want my faith to be simply tacked on but an intricate part of who I am.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: Next up is another stand-alone novel that I’m super excited about as it takes my hero on a treacherous path I’ve never taken them on before. (Sorry, no spoilers!)

A Secret to Die for is now available for purchase, click here for more.

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Attention all you fans of Lynette Eason – and those of you who just LOVE a good Christian suspense read! Eason has returned with brand new book in the Blue Justice series, Called to Protect. In this new release, Eason explores the incredibly important issue of human trafficking through her character, Chloe St. John.

Want to know more about the inspiration for the book as well as what’s next for the bestselling author? Read on!

To purchase Called to Protect by Lynette Eason, click here.

Q. Why did you decide to write a series based on a law enforcement family?

A. I thought it would have interesting dynamics and be fun to write characters who understood each other yet had a lot of differences too. I wanted to show that a family can disagree and still come together to support each other when needed.

Q. Your series is set in Colombia, South Carolina. Why did you utilize this location for your new series?

A. I went to college in Columbia, so I’m fairly familiar with the area. I also liked the setup of the law enforcement for the city because it fit into my plans with what I wanted to do with the series.

Q. Human trafficking is a hot topic in the news. What type of research was required to effectively write a novel based on this issue?

A. It’s a hot topic for good reasons. Human trafficking is prevalent and a huge moneymaker for those who exploit others. I think it’s also something that people have a hard time believing can happen in their own backyard, so to speak. The research was intense and in-depth.

Q. Chloe St. John is a K-9 cop working with her Dutch shepherd partner, Hank. Was there anything new you learned about K-9 divisions when writing Called to Protect?

A. I did! I learned a lot. I learned about the way dogs track and how they’re trained. It’s an incredibly interesting process. I had a K-9 trainer who was willing to answer any questions I had, so having the input of a professional was especially cool.

Q. Do you have a favorite character in Called to Protect?

A. I love Chloe St. John. She just really appeals to me. She’s strong and fierce and funny. She’s also got an independent streak but isn’t afraid to ask for help when she needs it – for the most part anyway.

Q. What is one of the main points you hope readers gain from your book?

A. First, I want readers to love the story. Next, I want them to get how big a problem human trafficking is and that we can’t turn a blind eye to it.

Q. What are you working on next?

A. I’m working on Book #3 in the Blue Justice series. It’s Brady St. John and Emily Chastain’s story. It also deals with human trafficking but from a whole different perspective than in Called to Protect.

To purchase Called to Protect by Lynette Eason, click here!

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