Sunday, March 31, 2013

April Author Guest


I’m excited to have an author friend as my guest today, Stanalei Fletcher (some of us call her Kim). She’s a great person to get to know and I hope her interview will inspire you to put her on your list of new authors to read. I can promise you will thoroughly enjoy her books. She’s a person of many interests, for instance, she has a 3rd degree black belt rank of Sandan in Aikido, rides the open roads on a Harley with her husband exploring ghost towns, and she’s a sci-fi fan so be sure to stop by her website. Her stories are suspenseful romanes filled with danger. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Utah, Greater Seattle and the Kiss of Death Chapters of Romance Writers.
Stanalei, thank you for being with us today, and now, we’d like to know a little about your main character in LIGHTNING ONLY STRIKES TWICE.
Judy:  What drives and motivates Annie Crawford?  
Stanalei: Annie is motivated by a need to connect to family and more deeply, her heritage.
 
Judy:  What does Annie do for a living?
Stanalei:   Annie needed to support herself and her grandfather right out of college. She works as an accounting clerk for a software company. Not glamorous, but it pays the bills.
Judy:   What does Annie mean to Luke Maxwell when they first meet?
Stanalei:   After Annie sold her property to Luke, he wanted to garner her support/approval, as the previous owner, for his new development plans for the property. To Luke, she’s a means to an end, although she turns the tables on him when she doesn’t completely approve of his plans and realizes she may have made a mistake to sell the land.
 
Judy:   Why did you chose the location and was it because of a real-life connection?
Stanalei:   I was born and raised in Idaho. I love the areas near the Sawtooth mountain range and have fond memories of picnics and hikes up there. When I crafted the story involving a mining ghost town, it just made sense to locate the story in those mountains.
Judy:   Is LIGHTNING ONLY STRIKES TWICE part of a series?  
Stanalei:   No. Writing Lightning Only Strikes Twice was an anomaly for me. I had no intention to write a time-travel until the idea came to me one day—out of the blue. As a consequence, I have no plans for sequel regardless of Rebecca Winter’s wonderful book quote, (thank you a million times over, Rebecca). That said, I’ve considered a few ideas for sequel because I have a sense that readers might like one, but nothing is on the drawing board yet.
 
Judy:   Do you have a favorite scene that you can share?
Stanalei:   One of my favorite scenes is when the kids from White Rock stumble across Annie in the forest just after she’s time traveled to 1891. Here’s a short excerpt:
Another boy knelt beside her. Dressed similarly to the first boy, he looked a couple of years younger. He touched the back of her hand, and then cradled it in his own. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “We ain’t gonna hurt you.”
A young girl stepped into view. Her faded blue cotton dress didn’t quite reach the tops of her black button boots. “Is she sick? It sort of smells like throwup.”
“I think we oughtta git the doc,” the older boy spoke again. “Willie, you stay with her.”
The boy holding her hand looked up. “Me? Whadda I do if she dies?”
The girl leaned over and stared at Annie with solemn eyes. “Don’t die,” she whispered. “Willie’s
afraid of dead people.”
 Judy:   What are you working on now?
Stanalei:   I’m currently working on the final book in my Northstar Series. The common thread in the series is a private security firm. The stories are all contemporary romantic suspense.
Blurb: FBI agent, Nelson Kane’s Aunt Rosalee has a story to tell. Someone wants her stopped. When Northstar Security’s unconventional bodyguard, Justine Colby is assigned as Aunt Rosalee’s protention, Colby learns she’s a welcome as a wiretap at the annual J. Edgar Hoover Christmas party. Ornaments start to fly when Colby informs by-the-book Agent Kane to stay out of the way while she helps his aunt complete her tell-all autobiography.
Judy:   A couple of quick questions so my readers can get to know you as an author:
What do you do to relax?
Stanalei:   Watching TV is pretty much the most relaxing thing I do. Sometimes I need the mindlessness of letting someone else tell the story. Reading is a close second, but I tend to read like a writer nowadays, so it feels a bit like work.
Favorite spot: My backyard
Cat or dog: Nope
Favorite drink: Coke, when I want to treat myself.
Favorite season: Fall
Hobbies/past time: Martial arts, gardening, going for a drive to get out of the city.
Favorite movie: Guns of Navarone
Favorite color: Green
Favorite smell: Fresh mountain pine-scented air
Judy:   Special words for your fans
Stanalei:   Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The feedback you’ve given me on LIGHTNING ONLY STRIKES TWICE has made all the hours sitting at my computer worth every word. I’m humbled and honored that you’ve enjoyed my stories.
Judy:  Where can my readers find you?
 
Thank you, Judy, for this opportunity to share a bit about my work and myself with your readers. Through our shared love Stargate: SG1 and your wonderful stories, your stellar example has helped me reach out and obtain my dreams. Bet you didn’t know I was watching, eh?
 
Thank you Stanalei, I'd like mention to my readers that you also have a short story call Imperfect Dream Perfect Reality, http://www.stanaleifletcher.com/idpr.html - Readers, if you like a short quick read, you shouldn't miss out on this one.

11 comments:

  1. I love mountain air,too! Thanks ladies for the fun and informative interview. Congratulations on your success, Stan!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to say hi, Sandy. Happy April 1

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  2. Thanks so much for having me today, Judy. This has been a fun experience.

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  3. Love that line.
    Don't die. Willy's afraid of dead people.
    LOVE IT!
    Little nuggets like that keep me reading.

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    1. Thanks L.L. That line still has the power to make me smile.

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  4. Great interview, ladies! I enjoyed learning more about you, Stanalei. Idaho sounds like it was a wonderful place to grow up.

    Lightning Only Strikes Twice was a book I really enjoyed reading. Wishing you many sales!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to say hi, Mae. So glad you enjoyed the story

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  5. Great post Judy and Stanalei. I loved the book and yes I like your other books too but this one...

    But I loved the interview I got to know a bit more about my friend.
    Thanks

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    1. Hey, Mary. So glad you had a minute to say. Thanks. Great to see you here.

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  6. You're interview was great, Kim. Thanks everyone for stopping by and commenting. Judy

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  7. Thank you, Judy. It's been a fun week.

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