Character Interview “What Makes a Hero Special?”

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character interview, kidnapping, mystery, suspense, teacher

I’ve tracked down Jolie Wyngate heroine of A Matter of Trust and want her to tell us about Mac Carlson. Jolie is sitting beside the pool at the Arizona estate of a well-known congressional candidate. He and Mac are buds from way back and he’s extended his hospitality to the couple. After working together to rescue a kidnapped child, Mac and Jolie are taking a well-deserved break now that the bad guy has been taken care of. (At least that’s what they think as they visit Sedona, Arizona for a little R & R.)

MJ: “Jolie, the question we would like to have answered is what makes Mac great hero material?
Jolie: “Mac is certainly hero material, just ask the Maniac, she’s quite taken with him.”
MJ: “Okay, let’s start with physical appearance, is there anyone you think Mac favors?”
Jolie laughs, the sound carries on the warm Arizona breeze. “He looks a bit like Matthew McConaughey. But then you know that MJ, I’ve seen the picture you hung over the computer while you were working. He has a boyish charm that most women find endearing.”
MJ: “What was the first thing you noticed about Mac?”
Jolie: “His smile and he has really nice teeth. And that dimple beside his mouth. But his eyes, he has the most beautiful, dreamy eyes. But you do remember the first time I saw him, right? That first impression was a little hard to shake. I thought he was an alien!”
MJ: “Yes, I remember, he was wearing night-vision goggles, wasn’t he?” I smiled at the memory. “So, what else about Mac made an impression?”
Jolie: “His sense of duty and honor, you do remember he was a SEAL?”
MJ: “Did you find working with Mac a challenge?”
Jolie: Definitely, he has big time trust issues. But you’ve got that under control right?
MJ: “Me?”
Jolie: “You’re the author, you’re the one who gave him those trust issues.”
MJ: (I suddenly realize what comes next in the plot and decide to change the topic) “What do you think is the most important character trait for a hero?”
Jolie: “Honesty is very high on my list.”
MJ: Still remembering where we are in the plot. Uh oh. Mac can still pull this out if he’s careful. “How about on the hotness scale. Where would you rank Mac on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being too hot to handle?”
Jolie: Again with the giggle. “Mac is definitely a 5+.”
MJ: “Why?”
Jolie: “He’s in top shape, has a killer smile and Paul Newman eyes. Just being near him is enough to make your toes curl.”
MJ: “Where is this male paragon?”
Jolie: “He went to get the Jeep, we’re going to explore red rock country. I want to see Bell Rock.”
MJ: “Bell Rock? Well, y’all be careful.” I decide not to distract Jolie any longer because I know she… well, read the book and you will see!

You’ll want to know what happens next, so hurry and click the buy link for A Matter of Trust!

Watch the trailer for A Matter of Trust


About the Author:
MJ Flournoy loves crafting stories of romance and suspense. Her interest in writing grew organically from her love of reading. A late bloomer, MJ attended college as a non-traditional student and earned a degree in history with an eye toward writing historical romance.
After graduation from college, MJ became a middle school teacher, which helps to keep her grounded in the real world while her plots take her away to the extraordinary worlds of imagination and creativity. MJ enjoys adding a twist of paranormal to her plots.
MJ makes her home in rural Georgia with her husband. She has two children and two
grandchildren. Her favourite activities are writing, reading, and travel.

Find MJ Flournoy here:
On this blog of course! or
https://www.facebook.com/authormj.flournoy
http://twitter.com/authormjflourno

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Baton Blog Hop

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baton blog hop, beverley bateman, blog hop, carol shaunghnessy, erotic romance, Kizzie Darker, lisa kessler, MJ Flournoy, romantic suspense

Today I’m joining the Baton Blog Hop. Blame it on my friend Beverley Bateman. Bev is a member of Kiss of Death chapter of RWA and a close friend. Beverley writes romantic suspense and medical thrillers. She lives in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Beverley has an extensive background in nursing that helps keep her medical thrillers “real.” Bev’s current release is A Cruise to Remember. Visit Beverley at http://www.beverleybateman.blogspot.com

Here’s how the Baton Blog Hop works, I answer the following questions and then pass the baton on to three other authors. We hope it doesn’t get dropped along the way. You know – you’ve seen it happen in relay races. But not this time. We got this!

1. What am I working on?
My current work in progress has the working title, The Serpentine Thread. It is the first book in my new romantic suspense series. It features a teacher who works with special needs kids, a hot FBI special agent with the OTD and an autistic student who is a computer whizkid.

2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?
My heroine is a teacher who is a regular person placed in an extraordinary situation. I draw on my 20 year career as a special education teacher to breathe life into Erin.

3. Why do I write what I do?
I write what I like to read. I enjoy putting my own twists on my plots.

4. How does your writing process work?
Who says it works? I like to base my plots on true life events, but fictionalize them to fit my plot. My current release, A Matter of Trust,was inspired by a news headline about a woman who had a “feeling” that a child was in danger and saved te child’s life when she reported it to the authorities.

That’s enough about me. Let me tell you about my three friends.

Lisa Kessler and I met on Facebook. We enjoy chatting and following each other around the web. Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.

When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Next up is Kizzie Darker, another Facebook friend, this one from across the pond! Kizzie Darker was born in may 1979 in the small UK brewing town of Burton on Trent.

She grew up in a small town outside of Burton where she lead a somewhat happy childhood until her parents divorced and Kizzie was taken into care where she lead a more fullfilled childhood.

She left school with the minimum qualifications and studied performing arts at college.

She now lives in the West Midlands UK with her husband Adrian and her pets. Kizzie’s new book, Destraction & Desire is currently free on Amazon, so snap it up!
Kizzie just sent me the link to her book in print! Squee!! http://createspace.com/4727671

Our third author is Carol Shaughnessy. Carol and I met at a Georgia Romance Writers meeting and hit it off right away. Carol writes paranormal menage erotic romance. Her belief in Happily Ever After and love at” almost” first sight ties her characters together through dangerous missions to protect their world from discovery. Filled with passion, secrets, and self discovery the stories are unforgettable.

Her latest book is fifth in the Sanctuary series. The Learning. See more at http:// carolshaughnessy. com

Don’t forget to check out these three authors in Monday, April 7th. You’ll be glad you did!

First Kiss-A Matter of Trust

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first kiss, Jolie, Lip, Mac Carlson, Maniac, Matter of Trust, paranormal, Paul Newman, psychic ability, romantic suspense, Sense, teacher's intuition, Tongue

I’ve joined the blissekiss.co.uk Sunday SNOG This is from my romantic suspense published by Reniassance Ebooks. This is the first kiss from A Matter of Trust.
“Dammit, this makes no sense. I’d have bet my life that you were not involved with Walters, and then you dropped a bombshell only he could’ve given you.”
He moved closer, so close that his nose was mere inches from her face. His Paul Newman eyes bored into her. He focused first on her eyes, and then allowed his gaze to drop to her lips.
Jolie couldn’t stop herself from darting her tongue out to moisten her lips. Sudden fire blazed in his eyes when they followed the motion, then banked to smolder just beneath the surface of his arctic gaze.
“I can’t figure you out.” He moved closer still. He filled her vision and her senses screamed overload. Her body, no longer comatose from exertion, spiraled to vibrant life. The scent of him filled her senses, her very being.
He closed the inches separating them, eyes ablaze.
Jolie held her breath. His lips met hers, slowly brushing them. With infinite care his lips glided, caressed, tasted, his tongue gently probed her lips. Her eyes closed of their own volition. His arms closed around her, pulling her into his embrace.
All thought fled under the heated onslaught of his kiss. It was at once sweet and demanding, gentle, yet controlling. For a moment, she let go of all questions, doubts and fears, allowing her body to go with the onslaught of his kiss. It was torture and bliss, his desire bombarded her, sheer physical wanting inundated her as his body telegraphed its needs to hers.
He drew away and Jolie sensed his withdrawal in more than just the physical sense. Once again cloaked, shuttered, a world unto himself, guarded from her.
Jolie felt alone, outside that world. She sat for a moment in wonder. What had just happened? Why had she allowed him to kiss her?
Because he is totally hot, screamed Maniac.
Jolie lifted trembling fingers to her lips, found them swollen and tender from the onslaught of his kiss. His taste lingered there, and she licked her tongue out to touch its’ tip to her tender lips, testing the slight tingling awareness lingering there. She had not invited his kiss, yet strangely, she could not have resisted because his lips ignited a burning d bliss, his desire bombarded her, sheer physical wanting inundated her as his body telegraphed its needs to hers.
He drew away and Jolie sensed his withdrawal in more than just the physical sense. Once again cloaked, shuttered, a world unto himself, guarded from her.
Jolie felt alone, outside that world. She sat for a moment in wonder. What had just happened? Why had she allowed him to kiss her?
Because he is totally hot, screamed Maniac.
Jolie lifted trembling fingers to her lips, found them swollen and tender from the onslaught of his kiss. His taste lingered there, and she licked her tongue out to touch its’ tip to her tender lips, testing the slight tingling awareness lingering there. She had not invited his kiss, yet strangely, she could not have resisted because his lips ignited a burning deep within her. Her blood sang. Her body responded. Never had she experienced such overwhelming, blatant, raw sexual power. It both attracted and repelled her.
Jolie blanched at the discovery. Where Mac Carlson was concerned, she could not trust her own body not to betray her.
For a moment, Jolie focused on her body’s response to Mac, and then her attention was claimed by the impressions that had transmitted to her from the man. He had been trying to master and control her, but he had, for a second, lost control of his iron will. He had wanted her, more desperately and totally than any man had ever wanted her. And she had wanted him just as much. Wanted him with a deep, primitive, all-consuming need, one Jolie had never felt before. She wasn’t sure she liked the way it made her feel and she was absolutely certain she would never be able to control herself if he pulled her back into his arms.
She scooted away from him just a few inches, hoping to clear her brain of the heated swamp of hormones his presence caused.

A Teacher’s Intuition

Tags

Education, Educators, ex-Navy SEAL, K through 12, kidnapper, Matter of Trust, Parent, Professional development, psychic ability, romantic suspense, sixth sense, Star Trek: The Next Generation, teacher, teacher's intuition

Do you have a special sixth sense? A sort of knowing that everyone doesn’t share? Teachers, some teachers, at any rate, have what I’ve come to call “teacher’s intuition.” It’s something that I see and experience everyday at school. Some teachers have that extra something that helps them to understand their students. Maybe it is an empathy developed by years of being there and seeing the kids. Or maybe it is something they came equipped with, that knowing when something just isn’t right.

I’ve seen cases where a teacher intervened and found a child had been abused. Other times that extra teacher’s intuition led to the information that the child was going hungry because there was no food at home due to sudden hardship befalling the family.

Teacher’s intuition is not unlike a mother’s intuition. In fact, it is probably the same sense, because many teachers are also mothers. Or maybe I should say parent’s intuition, because fathers too often know when their child is in danger.

In my romantic suspense novel, A Matter of Trust, Jolie Wyngate experiences just such an intuition, but in Jolie’s case the sense goes a step further. Jolie knows things she shouldn’t know. She reads people and objects. Those skills are not cherished by school boards, making it hard for Jolie to keep her job when the media outs her as the psychic who found a kidnapped child. Now history is poised to repeat itself.

A Matter of Trust available from Sizzler Editions.

http://amzn.com/B00FDWOL3C