2/18/2013

Get Lost in a Story welcomes back Melinda Leigh


A stalker, a cold murder, and a hot cop turn a horse trainer's homecoming deadly

SHE CAN TELL (Book #2 in the “She Can” series)

When a terrible accident abruptly ends her riding career, Rachel Parker returns to Pennsylvania to rebuild her family’s horse farm. But her welcome home is anything but warm. Her sister’s abusive husband and a violent vandal threaten Rachel’s new business and her life. Someone is systematically trying to destroy her. Someone who knows private things about her. Someone who’s been watching her. Now Rachel must face the fact that the sins of her carefully hidden past have returned to haunt her…

Police Chief Mike O’Connell never had trouble drawing the line between his personal life and his job—until he met Rachel Parker. Mike’s investigation uncovers a shocking number of secrets and suspects. But the stalker’s escalating violence convinces him he doesn’t have much time to sort through it all. Whoever is watching Rachel wants her dead. Mike and Rachel race to untangle a web of deceit and lies that stretches two decades into the past—before her stalker strikes again.

"Leigh has created a nail-bitingly suspenseful romance novel that’s sure to put your manicure in danger." — Booklist

"Don't start this book before bed unless you enjoy sleeping with one eye open!" —RT Book Reviews

“Relentless tension builds to a riveting crescendo in Leigh’s romantic thriller…”—Publishers Weekly

DONNELL:  Welcome back Melinda, to Get Lost in a Story: If you could live anywhere on earth, where would it be?

MELINDA: I would love to live somewhere warm, preferable close to a beach.  My favorite vacations always include an ocean view to accompany my morning coffee, and I never sleep better than when I can hear the surf from my bed.  

DONNELL:  You write thrillers and chilling suspense, so … I’m curious do you cover your eyes during scary movies?

MELINDA:  NEVER, unless bugs are involved. The scarab scenes in The Mummy immediately come to mind.  And though The Chamber of Secrets isn’t exactly a horror movie, those scenes with the spiders were too much for me. But I barely blinked during An American Werewolf in London (one of my personal favs). 

I’m not a fan of slasher films or senseless gore.  Movies have to have a real mystery suspense plot to entice me into viewing.  Although I admit to LOVING campy horror films, especially if they involve animals grown to disproportionate size (Lake Placid, Alligator, Tremors).  What’s not to love about giant man-eating worms?  I’m also a big fan of spoofy horror humor (Zombieland, Van Helsing).  Twinkie anyone?

DONNELL:  What character would you most likely invite to dinner?  Then turn this question, what character would you definitely exclude off the invitation list. 

MELINDA:  Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden is one of my favorite characters.  His self-deprecating sense of humor cracks me up.  He’d be welcome to bring Bob, the snarky spirit that lives in the skull.

I would definitely exclude Hannibal Lector, mostly because I’d probably be ON the menu. 

DONNELL:  What is the most unusual thing you have in your closet? 

MELINDA:  Most people would consider the load of martial arts weapons odd.  My closet is full of Kama, Arnis sticks, bo staffs, and rubber knives.  I think it’s weird that we still have the empty box for every electronics purchase since 1999.  We don’t even own half of this stuff anymore. 

DONNELL: What comes next for Melinda Leigh?

MELINDA: I’m very excited for the release of Midnight Sacrifice, the sequel to Midnight Exposure, in April.  This book took on a life of its own during the writing process. Typically, I’m a plotter. But this time I had to let go of my original outline and let the story have its head. With 5 completed manuscripts, I’m fascinated that the writing process for each one has been different.

I just turn the manuscript in for She Can Scream, which is tentatively scheduled for a September release.  I’m contemplating plot details for the next “She Can” book, She Can Hide.   I should probably clean my house first.  <looks around>  I should definitely clean my house first.


And now . . .
 
MELINDA’S QUESTION FOR READERS: I love to add animals into stories. Dogs, cats, and horses have been a part of my life since I was a child. How do you feel about animal characters? If you love them, name some of your favorites.

BOOK GIVEAWAY One signed copy of SHE CAN RUN (book #1 in the series)

LINKS:




 Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Don’t feel comfortable leaving your email on the blog? Send it directly to Angi at GetLostInAStory@gmail.com. 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
 

 

18 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the new story! It looks like an exciting one with some interesting twists. I don't mind animals in a story but I don't really remember any particular ones since I am usually focused on the characters.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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    1. Thanks, Maureen. She Can Tell has a number of twists and lots of action.

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  2. Hi, Melinda, congratulations on your amazing success. Animals in a story. Their okay, but like Maureen above, I care about the main protagonist(s). An animal can be a great secondary character, however. I use a cat to warn my protagonist of an intruder. I was careful, just like I am with any secondary character to not let it take over the story. Thanks for joining us today, and, darn dquing myself from the drawing. Come join us on Get Lost in a Story at Good Reads and post your books on our guests shelves!

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    1. That's interesting, Donnell. I'm afraid I let my animal characters have free rein. Since animals don't speak, giving them personality is the ultimate show-don't-tell challenge. So far, it's worked out well for me. Even reviewers who didn't like my debut book, SHE CAN RUN, loved Henry the police dog reject. Henry received a lot of fan mail.

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  3. The story sounds great. I wouldn't throw an animal in just to have an animal, but if they have a strong purpose within the plot or character building for the main protagonist, then the animal must be in there, but they have to have a strong or quirky personality on their own.

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    1. Exactly!! In this respect, animals are no different than every other element in a story. Every single character introduced, every event that takes place, every single word that goes onto the page must have a strong purpose. If it doesn't impact the plot, why is it there?

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  4. I like animals... Janet Evanovich's Bob is a great character.

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    1. May, I love Bob! Also, Rex. It takes a talented writer to make me worry about a hamster.

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  5. HELLO MELINDA and welcome back to GLIAS. I love animals in stories, and I guess it's good that I can't remember any in particular--that means that the story was well-written and the animals didn't over-shadow the main characters.

    Mucho success to you...no luck needed with your writing!
    ~Angi

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    1. Thanks, Angi. This year has been a whirlwind for sure.

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  6. Hi, Melinda! I'm so with you on Harry Dresden. I saw the TV show before I started reading the books, but I love them both. I'd move all the computers in my house OUT of my house before he came over, however!

    As for animals - I love Ian's dog in the Outlander books. Or maybe he's more wolf? I don't remember. I haven't read Game of Thrones, but I love Aria's and Jon Snow's... uh... beawolf?

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    1. Abigail, I haven't read the Outlander books or Game of Thrones, but they're both going on my TBR list right now!

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  7. Don't mind animals in books. Liked the animals in Lisa Kleypas' Hathaway series.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  8. Love your books, great secondary characters in it too.I love animal's in stories.Dog's, cat's and horse's. They can be just as funny as people.

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    1. Thanks, Debbie. I agree completely. I've had a ton of animals. No two were ever alike, and they added so much fun and life to the house.

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  9. And the winner of a signed copy of She Can Run is ...

    Abigail Sharpe

    Congratulations! Please email me with your snail mail address so I can send out the book.

    TO everyone else - thanks for stopping by!

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