Overjoyed to have fabulous author, Allison Brennan! #romanticthriller #newbook #giveaway

Are we lucky at Get Lost in a Story? Today, we welcome a fun gal, Allison Brennan. 

Let's get to know her: 

Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 25 romantic thrillers and mysteries, and numerous short stories.

Investigative reporter Maxine Revere has a theory: that the five New York City murders for which Adam Bachman is being tried are just part of his killing spree. In probing the disappearance of a retired couple who vanished the prior summer, Max uncovers striking similarities to Bachman's MO and develops a theory that Bachman wasn't working alone.

Max wins a coveted pre-trial interview with the killer, whose disarming composure in the face of her questions is combined with uncomfortable knowledge of Max's own past. She leaves the room convinced, but unable to prove, that Bachman knows exactly what happened to the missing couple. The D.A. wants nothing to jeopardize his case against Bachman and refuses to consider Max's theory. With no physical evidence, Max has to rely on her own wits and investigative prowess to dig deep into Bachman's past. The picture that Max puts together is far darker and more deadly than she ever imagined.

As Max gets closer to the truth, she doesn't realize that she's walking down a road that has been paved just for her. That every step she takes brings her one step closer to a brilliant, methodical sociopath who has been waiting for her to make just one small mistake.

And when she does, he'll be there waiting.

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK: St. Martins

*scrubbing palms* Allison, let's get down and dirty and delve into some fun areas.

I’m a huge handbag girl. What is your favorite accessory? SHOES!

How often to you get lost in a story? Bi-weekly. I wish I could read more, but I’m lucky to read one book a month! So I made a commitment to read at least one book a week … and I’ve managed two books a month, more if I’m traveling. Before I started writing, I read at least 3 books a week and usually more!

 

What’s the first book you remember reading? Trixie Belden the summer before 3rd grade. I know I read many books before that, but that’s the first series that stuck with me for a long time. I love Trixie too!!! 

What’s your favorite cartoon character?Bugs Bunny. Still love him! Me,too! I just attended an exhibit on Chuck Jones. 

What’s your favorite movie of all time? Star Wars. I saw it when I was 8 and it completely blew me away. I still remember how awestruck and mesmerized I was when I saw it at the theater. I think the nostalgia is what has made this my favorite movie. And It’s a Wonderful Life. Watch it every year.

What’s the best birthday (or any holiday) present you ever received? My husband, a blue-blooded Dodgers fan, gave me a SF Giants World Series sweatshirt for Christmas this past year. I wear it ALL the time.

Describe an absolutely perfect day. Write 5,000 words that are actually good before the kids get home from school, then go out to watch my kids play whatever sport they’re in for the season, then go out to a fun dinner where none of the kids are bickering, then home to watch one of my favorite tv shows, followed by a long, hot bubble bath and glass of wine.

What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do? I have always loved mysteries. (My mom named me after a character in an Ed McBain book.) I read Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden and Agatha Christie and Lois Duncan and Joan Nixon Lowry and more …. there was no real “young adult” genre when I was a kid, so I graduated to Stephen King when I was 13. I love dark suspense as well as mysteries. My mom had all these mysteries by authors like Lillian O’Donnell and Marcia Muller and I loved them. Then after college I read Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz and Susan Anderson and discovered romantic suspense. It seemed to be the best of all worlds … and THEN, after I read Lisa Gardner’s THE THIRD VICTIM and Iris Johansen’s THE SEARCH I realized that was the exact type of story I wanted to write. A dark, twisty suspense novel with a happily-ever-after.

What inspires you daily? My love of writing and my love of reading.

What has been your most rewarding publishing moment? Selling my first book, followed by the first time I hit the New York Times list.

What has surprised you the most about being published? It doesn’t get any easier.

 

Complete this sentence. When I want to relax, I. . . take a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good book. 

What could we find in your heroine's purse? Max has a big purse: an iPad, her phone, a notepad, multiple pens, a small make-up bag, a hair brush, a toothbrush, breath mints, tissue, several hair-ties, sunglasses, security cards to the NET building and her apartment building, wallet with multiple credit cards and at least $200 cash (never know when you have to pay for information!), and a Taser. She hasn’t had to use her Taser yet! And, she carried a photo of her best friend who disappeared while they were on Spring Break during her last year in college.

FIND Allison at: Email     Website     Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads    Pinterest

Murder She Writes Blog     Get Lost in a Story prior interview

UP NEXT: BEST LAID PLANS, a Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan romantic thriller, 8.4.15. Also, for those who missed books in the Lucy series, four of them (SILENCED, STALKED, STOLEN and DEAD HEAT) are being re-issued in value priced mass markets this June!)

PREVIOUS RELEASES: NOTORIOUS, the first book of the Max Revere series, is out in mass market paperback.

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS or do you have a promotion you'd like us to link to? I’ll give away a signed copy of NOTORIOUS, the first Max Revere book, or any other book in my backlist to one lucky commenter who includes their email in the comments!! 

Plus, every month I have a contest on my website: Contest

IF MAILING: North America or Canada (If an international winner, will gift Crash and Burn, the first Moreno & Hart mystery co-written with Laura Griffin.)

Note: Please leave an email address for notification. 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.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS? So I shared a lot about me! What about you? What’s your one guilty pleasure? 

For me it’s a bubble bath with a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers and a good book … I use up all the hot water in the house. For Max, my character, it’s indulging herself — good food, good wine, good hotels. Except, she doesn’t consider this a guilty pleasure!