What
gave you the idea for this new series?
For
me, writing is kind of like being a crazy
person. I don't really know where my ideas come
from. I like to think of situations that require
an exploration of all kinds of human emotions.
Then I try to develop realistic characters and
place them in those situations to see what
happens. I think that having a child kidnapped
would be just about the worst thing that could
happen to a parent. It would change the way you
feel about everything-even
life. Then, after I had that basic concept I
thought, what if the mother had exhausted all
normal avenues to retrieve her child without
success and had to go to an "enemy"
for help? That sounded intriguing, so I went
with it. I feel that loyalty and camaraderie
abound among soldiers, so I made Dane a major in
the Army and collected a group of military
"helpers" for him.
Is
any of Hazardous
Duty
autobiographical?
No.
The only thing that happens in Hazardous
Duty that relates to my personal experience
is the fact that my father was in the Army for
several years. (He was even a major!!) And I was
married in the Washington DC
temple. I like the Washington DC
area and LOVE Virginia (although I've never
lived there).
How
has the Southern hospitality you've experienced
by living in the South influenced your writing?
My
'southern-ness' comes out more in my Haggerty
novels than in this one. I consciously tried to
downplay it to make a distinction between the
two series. However, being Southern is unique
and it does affect everything I do-including
how I write.
Are
there any unique things you do as part of your
writing process?
Since
I don't know what other writers do when creating
characters and plots and books, I'm not sure how
unique my process is! I know that once I get an
idea it is simple at first-kind
of bare like a skeleton. I type the idea into
the computer in the form of a detailed outline.
Then I go back and flesh it out. This is
intimidating at first, but as I go along I can
see where the story should go and I know what
each character will say, etc. It's a very
strange and wonderful experience. Sometimes I
get to a point where I don't know what should
happen next (or how to get my characters from
where they are to where I need them to be). I
have to think about it (and yes, even pray about
it) and eventually the answer will come to me.
At first I was kind of confused by this and I
asked my husband if he thought it was possible
that the Holy Ghost was helping me write fiction
books. He said that the Lord is interested in
all aspects of our lives and will help us with
whatever we need. So now I don't feel bad saying
that I think the Holy Ghost helps me with my
plot problems. If only I was better at listening-imagine
what a good book I could write!!!
Can
you tell us anything about the next book in this
series?
I
have this planned as a three-book series. It's
kind of nice knowing from the beginning how long
it will go on. In the next book Savannah and
Dane work together to get Rosemary's husband
away from Mario Ferrante. And now I'll give you
an exclusive sneak preview into the last book in
the series. When the second book (I'm calling it
Double Duty, but that might change)
ends, Savannah can't bear to be separated from
Dane again but he still won't commit to a
relationship. So she hires him to help her find
her father-who
she has never met. Doesn't that sound fun?
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