Brenda Novak

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has written forty novels, three of which will be coming out this year—INSIDE, IN SECONDS & IN CLOSE. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $1.4 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

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INSIDE

Virgil Skinner served fourteen years for a murder he didn't commit. He's finally been exonerated, but he can't escape the gang he joined in order to survive. They'll do anything to keep him from telling what he knows. And if they can't get to Virgil they'll go after his sister and her kids.

The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate another gang, one that's taking control of the state's most notorious supermax. Virgil agrees to do it under an alias—in exchange for his sister's protection.

Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams is opposed to having Virgil in her prison. How will she protect him if things go bad? Besides, she's far too attracted to him; she might even be falling in love with him. That makes her all the more desperate to keep him safe—and it gives him someone else to lose.

I'm very excited to have Brenda Novak join us today. As a huge fan for years, I was delighted to interview her for Get Lost In A Story. I hope you enjoy getting to know Brenda as much as I did.

CAT: How often to you get lost in a story?

BRENDA: I’m always lost in a story—usually several at once. There’s the one I’m writing, the one I’m critiquing for my mentoree, the one I’m reading out of genre and the genre reads. That’s before I get to any books I might be reading for an endorsement or contest I might be judging. I LOVE BOOKS!

CAT: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

BRENDA: Ooooo, have to be honest here. My favorites are period pieces.

CAT: What turns you off like nothing else?

BRENDA: Shallow stories. I want something with some layers and complexity, something that dares to be different.

CAT: What was the first story you remember writing?

BRENDA: My first story was the historical I started when I first decided to write. I rewrote it several times, but I was lucky enough to sell it to HarperCollins. It came out in November 1999 and I just got my rights back. I’m going to be offering it as a free e-book to anyone who buys INSIDE, my new release, before July 5^th.

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

BRENDA: LAST OF THE MOHICANS. My kids groan every time I suggest we watch it (because I can watch it over and over again). One time fellow author Sharon Sala and I were sitting in a writing workshop together. The instructor asked what movie we watch when we run into a brick wall with our writing, what inspires us to punch through that wall. We both looked at each other and said the same thing. LOL

CAT: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?

BRENDA: Being a rather shy person (although no one ever believes that when I say it) I would much rather hide behind my typewriter and have the chance to perfect my words before sending them out so…I’m a much better writer.

CAT: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?

BRENDA: Buy my new book. Does that count? LOL

CAT: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

BRENDA: I can have a dozen kids tramping through my house and talking to me while I’m writing but I can’t have music on. Weird, I know.

CAT: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

BRENDA: Start the next one.

CAT: If you could interview one person (and it doesn’t have to be a writer) who would it be?

BRENDA: Margaret Mitchell.

CAT: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?

BRENDA: Medieval England. I’m fascinated by that location and time period.

CAT: What do you do to unwind and relax?

BRENDA: Unwind? Relax? What are those things? LOL

CAT: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

BRENDA: Virgil Skinner. He’s the hero of INSIDE, which will be out June 28^th, and he was incarcerated for a murder he didn’t commit for fourteen years. He’s a very interesting fellow—and has a lot of stories to tell.

CAT: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

BRENDA: I’ve always dreamed of hitting The Times. The day I got that call from my agent was one I’ll never forget.

CAT'S GOTTA ASK -- BRENDA'S GOTTA ANSWER:

If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be and why?

Black. I love black. I think people look very classy in black. LOL

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Why do you think wounded heroes are so much more appealing than less complex men?

Brenda would like to give away an autographed copy of INSIDE and a limited edition Brenda Novak silk scarf designed by Hayden-Harnett ($128 value).**

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.