Lisa Caviness will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Order
of Fear
by Lisa Caviness
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GENRE: Romantic Suspense
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INTERVIEW:
Interview
Questions for Rogue's Angels
Please
answer 10 to 15 of the questions. Oh, and don't forget to use examples from
your book to elaborate on the questions. Please write your response immediately
below each question you choose to answer.
What or who inspired you to start writing?
I began
writing in elementary school. I was a shy, introverted child who loved to read
and while I had a lot of friends, I found a voice in writing stories. In my
story worlds I could lead my heroes and heroines in any direction possible and
I loved the idea of placing incredible odds in front of my protagonists and
finding ways to have them succeed.
How did you come up with your idea for your novel?
The
inspiration for my book, Order of Fear
originated after watching a documentary on secret societies, such as the
Illuminati, Free Masons, and The Knights of Templar. I made the decision to
join National Novel Writing Month challenge (a yearly marathon to write 50,000
words during the month of November).
Several months before the challenge started I was set to write another
story, but this idea took hold and I knew I had to write a story placing the
protagonists as targets of a covert organization.
What expertise did you bring to your writing?
My background is in psychiatric nursing, clinical research, and
medical policy and the basis of those positions are deeply involved in
searching and answering who, what, where, when, and how questions to solve a
problem. I drew on all of this to create my characters and develop, what I
hope, is an intriguing plot.
What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
I’d like
readers to know that I belong to a group of writers, called the Juice Box. The
group is not a formal organization but simply a dedicated group of writer
friends committed to releasing the best books possible. We get together to
brainstorm, talk about what’s going on the industry, and to discuss various
aspects of writing. More importantly, we are friends who cheer each other’s success
and commiserate with our shortcomings, both professionally and personally.
As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
This book is
part of the Order Series. I’m at work on book two, Order of Malice with a third book in the works. I also have several
story ideas I’m contemplating, including one involving a mystery at a military
academy and another in the young adult genre. In October, I’m excited to have a
romantic suspense short story, titled Snowmist,
included in a new anthology.
If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?
If I could
be a character from my book, I’d be Marissa Nash. She’s a gorgeous, smart
ballet dancer who has caught the eye of a handsome doctor! I also admire her
journey. She starts the story living her life being concerned about making
everyone else happy. As the story progresses she grows more confident to the
point she knows exactly what she wants and is empowered to go after her dreams.
It’s thrilling for me to see those types of stories.
Here’s a
bit of Marissa dancing to relieve tension.
The studio loomed dark and empty. Relief
swept over her as she flipped the light switch of her office. The older girls
sometimes had class or rehearsed late into the evening, but tonight she had the
studio to herself. She changed in the small office she shared with two other
teachers, glad she kept spare dance attire and pointe shoes on hand.
With her hair rolled into a familiar ballet bun, she entered a large mirrored
room, cued the music, and began her warm-up routine.
Her favorite Mozart compilation wafted
through the speakers. For several seconds, Marissa closed her eyes as she
grasped the barre. She opened her eyes and, with her lean legs supported
on the barre, she bent back to stretch as she moved through pliés
and tendues to ready her limbs.
Once she warmed up, she moved into a
favorite routine. She performed several fouettes, grande jetes,
and pirouettes. Her movements took on a life of their own as she glided
across the floor on pointe.
The piece, Sleeping Beauty, had been Grandmother Valentina’s favorite, and one
Marissa had been set to perform for her Juilliard audition. She curled her
lips. Juilliard was a long time ago.
8. Can you give us a sneak peek into this book?
Marissa Nash,
part time ballet dancer and accountant by day, plans to call off her wedding to
her philandering fiancé, instead she finds him dead. Dr. Justin Tanner, best
man, battles PTSD after a horrible attack on his medical unit in Iraq. He also
harbors buried feelings for Marissa. As Marissa and Justin uncover past
secrets, throwing them into a deadly battle with an evil organization, they
must also come to grips with their growing feelings threatening to leave them
both shattered.
Here’s a
little snippet.
Sand swirled like a gritty tornado mixed
with smoke and the putrid odor of gunpowder. The hole in the side of the war
hospital allowed in the toxic mixture, which burned his eyes and throat. Fire
snaked up another wall dangerously close to a row of oxygen tanks.
Justin rose from the floor after the
explosion moments earlier. Pain seared through his shoulder. He glanced down to
see blood spurting from a bullet wound. Ignoring his injury, he scanned the
room.
Laura.
A loud moan led Justin to a crumpled body
trapped beneath a gurney strapped with a wounded soldier. “Laura!” He righted
the gurney. A piece of metal protruded from her leg, and blood poured from a
deep gash in the right side of her head. The gash extended to her right eye,
and Justin suspected she’d lost her vision. A chest wound caused labored
breathing. “I need to get you on my table!” The most direct path out bisected
the current gun battle. The hole in the wall created a possible escape route,
but its proximity to the fire-threatened oxygen tanks made running through the
hole a questionable decision.
The area he'd stood in moments earlier
appeared unrecognizable. Dead soldiers and body parts were scattered about like
they were staged for a horror movie.
Her left eye fluttered open. “Get the
boy.” She grimaced and closed her eye.
Before he could decide, he ducked as
bullets whizzed past. Justin spent the next few minutes defending their
position. Gunshots roared in his ears as he pivoted from one threat to another.
A break in the gunfire gave Justin the opportunity to check on the boy he’d had
on his operating table thirty minutes ago.
The young Iraqi boy had numerous injuries
to his lower extremities but quick medical intervention had saved the boy’s
leg. With the boy still unconscious, Justin scooped him up and raced for the
door. He passed several soldiers moaning in pain, a couple of them were part of
his team. In minutes they were outside. Through the yellow murky sky he spotted
the helicopter lowering toward them. After the helicopter took off with the
boy, Justin ran back inside.
He encountered two of his teammates,
badly injured and struggling to escape the carnage. Justin hurled one soldier
over his arm and had the other lean on him. As he lowered them to the ground,
he glimpsed another helicopter approaching.
He had to get Laura out but on his way he
encountered more injured soldiers. He moved as many people out as he could,
before making his way to Laura. Finding her still breathing, he picked her up
and ran toward the door.
Just as he exited the facility an
explosion erupted, hurling Justin to the ground. He stared up at the fireball
engulfing the medical facility.
He scrambled to pick up Laura and darted
for safety. Justin tripped over debris but managed to hold on to her. He found
a clear spot and set her down.
“Laura!”
This time, no response. Her beautiful
smile, frozen in lifeless amusement, stared back.
Justin stumbled backwards, falling over
dead bodies as sand particles rammed his face, thick and hard.
Laura was dead. Everyone, dead. Through
the sand and fire dead bodies rose and mocked him. “Useless doctor, you
couldn’t save us!”
With a yell, he bolted upright.
“Justin, are you okay?” Marissa tapped
his shoulder.
He jumped up, sweat pouring down his
face.
“It’s me, Marissa.”
He stared, blinked twice, and fought to
comprehend. The fuzzy glow of the room slowly drifted into focus. “Damn!” He
ran a hand through his hair and stalked into the bathroom, where he splashed
his face with water. The cold liquid shocked his system. As he stared at his
reflection, he almost didn’t recognize the pained expression.
Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
My critique
group is fabulous! They have helped my writing in countless ways by not only
pointing out issues with plot, characters or grammar, but they also help
brainstorm and guide me in making my story better. Our strengths help each in a
non-threatening environment.
What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
The worst
writing advice I’ve received is to write only what you know. While I understand
the reasoning behind that advice, I find the concept limiting. I research, read,
and talk to other experts in order to make my stories as accurate and
believable as possible. The best writing advice I’ve received is to write
everyday. Practicing a craft is important to growth.
Do you outline your books or just start writing?
As a romantic
suspense writer, I always have a general outline before I start writing. I need
to map out the twists and turns of the suspense plot as well as the trajectory
of the romantic storyline. However, I don’t end up following the plot map
perfectly as I allow for new ideas or character story arcs to expand and flow.
How do you maintain your creativity?
Listening
to inspiring music and answering “what if” questions helps me create new ideas.
I’m an avid exercise enthusiast. The solitary nature of clearing my mind and
focusing on the cadence of running or lifting weights have provided me with
tons of light bulb moments. In similar regard, a relaxing drive through the
country (I’m lucky to live in Indiana and within minutes of an abundance of
farmlands and cornfields!) brings about new perspectives. I often pretend I’m
moving to a different country. I’ll search for real estate, school websites,
local newspapers, and various other attributes about that country and the
citizens. I find this exercise helps spur my creativity by placing myself in
another world different from mine.
BLURB:
Marissa Nash,
part-time ballet dancer and accountant by day, plans to call off her wedding to
her philandering fiancé, instead she finds him dead. Dr. Justin Tanner is the
best man who harbors buried feelings for Marissa. As they uncover past secrets,
throwing them into a deadly battle with an evil organization, they must also
come to grips with their growing feelings threatening to leave them both
shattered. Order of Fear is a romantic suspense novel.
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EXCERPT:
The
sticky sensation of David’s blood coated Marissa’s hands. This wasn’t supposed
to happen. She’d been ready to tell him she couldn’t marry him. Maybe they
could have worked through their problems, or maybe they could have parted as
friends, but now he was dead. Anger and preoccupation would no longer alienate
them. The easy humor and quick laugh that had been absent in recent weeks would
never return.
Surrounded
by blood, she glanced at one wall of the kitchen. Her stomach roiled as she
studied the brain matter splattered on the wall like abstract art. The wall had
once been tan, but was now stained a ghastly shade of red.
Marissa
blinked several times, hoping to erase the sick scene, but the reality
remained. David was dead.
The
last few weeks she’d been embroiled in romantic, tranquil colors. Soft peach
hued roses. Elegant gray candles. Delicate swirls of ruffled silver icing on a
too-pretty-to-eat wedding cake. A snowy white wedding dress.
Now
her world was blood red.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
As a lifelong reader of an eclectic pool of books from
mystery/thrillers, science fiction, contemporary romance, and the classics,
Lisa Caviness has never been without a book on the nightstand and a long to be
read list. Like many writers, she started crafting stories as a child. However
as an adult, creativity took a back seat to her career in pharmaceutical and
medical device research. In 2013, Lisa decided to get serious about writing and
joined Romance Writers of America (Crossroads Romance Writers, Indiana RWA, and
Kiss of Death Chapters) and later Sisters in Crime (Speed City Chapter). The
education she has received, proved invaluable but more importantly the support
from fellow writers has enriched her in thrilling and unexpected ways. Lisa
writes romantic suspense.
Social
Media Links:
Order
of Fear Buy Links:
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Lisa Caviness will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and
Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
