Contest & Conversation with AGAINST THE SUN'S New York Times Bestselling Author Kat Martin

Please give a warm welcome to one of my favorite authors, New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin.  She has dropped by today to talk about her latest in her fabulous The Raines of Wind Canyon.  AGAINST THE SUN takes you on an action packed, high-octane ride with two intensely provocative protagonist that will keep a reader coming back for more.  So,kick off your shoes, grab a cup of your favorite libation and tuck in and enjoy yourself.  I know I am.

 AGAINST THE SUN

INTERVIEW WITH

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING 

AUTHOR 

KAT MARTIN

Kat a few months ago I was flipping through one of several RT magazines. While chowing down on my favorite veggie lover’s pizza I was flipping I came across the a truly exciting article by Liz French, Stephanie Klose, Faygie Levy and Elissa Petruzzi titled “Legacy of Love.”  In short, the article explained about how the market might be changing but romance, which I agree whole heartedly, is forever.  My curious readers and I would love to know your thoughts on what you believe are the “Legacy of Love.”

I’ve been writing romance since 1985.  I think the core of romance reading hasn’t really changed at all.  A thirst for something different set off the vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter books, but all the while we were reading Historical and Contemporary, as well.  I’ve written in several different genres, but in the end the core values, the love between two people remains the same.  Currently, I’m writing Contemporary Romantic Suspense, which I am loving, and fortunately, readers and I seem to be on the same page.  Again, I don’t think romance has really changed all that much, though the business is nearly unrecognizable from what it was back then.

You’re in the thick of your Raines of Wind Canyon series; can you tell us more about it?

I first got the idea for a trilogy about three brothers.  Since I had dabbled somewhat in Romantic Suspense and always loved writing it, I thought this would be a good place to start.  AGAINST THE WIND was the first.   I fell in love with Jackson, then Gabe needed a story and so I wrote AGAINST THE FIRE, and fell in love with Gabe.  Dev Raines in AGAINST THE LAW, the youngest Raines brother, was my favorite, such a cutie and so hard to tame.  From that point, I just didn’t want to stop.  Since Trace, Johnnie, and Jake appeared in Dev’s story, I wrote a book for Trace, AGAINST THE STORM, wrote Johnnie’s story, AGAINST THE NIGHT, then Jake in AGAINST THE SUN.  I still couldn’t get enough of the hunky guys so I am currently writing AGAINST THE ODDS, AGAINST THE EDGE, and AGAINST THE MARK.  I’m hoping readers will continue to enjoy them.

I am addicted to your books and always fall in love with your characters, Kat.  You continue to give readers, once again,  a powerful emotional love story with two of the most engaging protagonists that will rip readers hearts out all the while having them rooting for their happily ever after.  Can you tell us more about AGAINST THE SUN?

Jake Cantrell is a bodyguard.  Sage Dumont is the vice-president of Marine Drilling International.  The company hires Jake to protect Sage when a Saudi sheik and his family, his daughter and son, and their entourage, come to Houston to negotiate an offshore oil rig deal.  I have to say, at six foot five, 240 pounds, I think Jake is one of my sexiest, most capable heroes and Sage is just the woman to handle him.

It’s high-action adventure and I loved writing it.

Is there any part of your personality that bleeds into your characters while you write?

Geeze, I wish I could say there was part of me in the characters and probably on some unconscious level there is.  I definitely live vicariously through their adventures.

Did you have Jake Cantrell’s full character arc in mind when you started the Raines of Wind Canyon series?  Did you know what would happen to him in the end?

I had no intention of writing more than three books when I started.  But when you create sexy characters like the Raines brothers, they are bound to have some hunky, sexy friends and so the series grew and continues to grow, I’m happy to say.

What inspired you to start the Raines of Wind Canyon series? 

I’ve wanted to write Romantic Suspense for many years.  I had already written ten novels, spread over two decades, but nothing was connected, nothing kept pulling me forward until I got the idea for the Raines brothers.

In writing AGAINST THE SUN did you have a squeal moment?

I think I always have a squeal moment in my books,  I try to have a moment where everything falls together and it alls just seems exactly right.

Okay, I want to give a warm welcome to, Sage Dumont and Jake Cantrell (Waving franticly, trying to get the besotted couple’s attention). I know you two have gone through a lot to get to your happily ever after so I will try to be brief. (Blushes scarlet as she catches the intimate glance between the newlyweds, clears her throat).

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I’m curious. Sage what was your first impression of Jake?  Jake, I would love to hear your thoughts about the first time you laid eyes on Sage. )

Sage:  Absolutely gorgeous hunk of man, but a typical male chauvinist since he was busy staring at my ass.

Jake:  One hot receptionist.  That’s what I thought.  I asked her to get me a cup of coffee before I realized she was a Dumont and the lady I was supposed to protect.  To say we got off to a bad start would be an understatement.

Was it love or lust at first sight?

Sage:  We’re both pretty cautious.  It was lust for both of us at first.

 Sage, when was the moment you knew that Jake was for you? 

From the start I knew I didn’t dare fall in love with him, since I owed my grandfather so much and I wanted to marry someone he approved.  It took me a while to get the courage to stand up for myself and allow myself love him.

Jake, name one thing about Sage that you believe changed your outlook on love.

She wasn’t the spoiled sophisticate I thought she was.  She was kind and caring and she was one brave lady.

I have become addicted, lately with books about time travel.  This got me to thinking.  If I handed you my time traveling piece would use it to go back in time to change anything. (Sheepishly pleads) Jake and Sage, please, I beg, just chuck this question up to an inteviewer's inquisitive mind.

Jake:  I’d get rid of her fiancé a helluva lot sooner so I could get her into bed.

Sage:  I’d let myself trust and love him sooner.

Sage did you have any apprehension about getting involved with Jake?

Absolutely.  The man was a major heartbreaker.  I didn’t want to be one of the women whose heart he broke.

Jake, what about you?  Did you have a sliver of doubt about becoming involved with Sage?

In the beginning, I wouldn’t have minded a one night stand, but I thought she was spoiled and self-centered and I wasn’t interested in that kind of woman.

Do you, Sage and Jake, believe that love conquers all?

In a word, ABSOLUTELY.

One more thing before I let you go.  Do you believe that everything you two went through to find one another, fall in love and finding your happily ever after was worth the price you had to pay?

Same word, ABSOLUTELY.

Now back to Kat.

How did you mark the occasion of finally finishing AGAINST THE SUN?

I started working on AGAINST THE ODDS!  I’m on a very tight deadline.

What do you hope readers walk away with after reading AGAINST THE SUN?

I just hope they have fun with the story and that their heart feels a little fuller when they reach the end.

You’re clearly very busy.  What do you do in your limited spare time?  Are you reading anything right now?  Any reading recommendations while we wait until your next release in your Raines of Wind Canyon series?

I’m a big reader myself.  I just finished a Laura Griffin Romantic Suspense and loved it.  I read Loretta Chase, Silk Seduction, great book. ( I hope I got the name right.). 

Kat, please share with desperate readers where they can connect with you in cyber world.

I’m on facebook and twitter.  My webpage is www.katmartin.com.   I always answer my personal email at katmartin@katbooks.com.  If it actually reaches me through cyberspace.  If I don’t reply, I never got it.  Love to hear from you.

Kat, you rocked RCJR eZine blog and its readers.  Thank you so much for stopping by to dish about Sage and Jake from your new Mira romantic suspense release AGAINST THE SUN.

Thanks for having me and I hope your readers will watch for AGAINST THE ODDS, out the end of December.  Warmest wishes, Kat

BOOK SUMMARY

It's not in bodyguard Jake Cantrell's job description to share his suspicions with his assignments. Beautiful executive Sage Dumont may be in charge, but Jake's not on her payroll. As a former special forces marine, Jake trusts his gut, and it's telling him that there's something off about a shipment arriving at Marine Drilling International. His instinct is aroused...in more ways than one.

A savvy businesswoman, Sage knows better than to take some hired gun's "hunch" as gospel. And yet she is learning not to underestimate the man her grandfather hired to protect her. Determined to prove Jake wrong, Sage does some digging of her own and turns up deadly details she was never meant to see.

Drawn into a terrifying web of lies and deceit—and into feelings they can't afford to explore—what Jake and Sage uncover may be frighteningly worse than  they ever imagined.

BOOK TRAILER VIDEO

http://katbooks.com/againstthesun.htm#VIDEO

AGAINST THE SUN CONTEST

http://katbooks.com/Contest1.htm

ORDER LINKS

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-sun-kat-martin/1107460610

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Sun-Raines-Wind-Canyon/dp/0778313506/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336166766&sr=8-1

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780778313502

 

EXCERPTS

Excerpt #1 http://www.katbooks.com/AgainsttheSunExcertp1.htm

Excerpt #2 http://www.katbooks.com/AgainstheSunExcerpt2.htm

Excerpt #3 http://www.katbooks.com/AgainstheSunExcerpt3.htm

Excerpt #4 http://www.katbooks.com/AgainstheSunExcerpt4.htm

Excerpt #5 http://www.katbooks.com/AgainstheSunExcerpt5.htm

 

CONTEST 

THE PRIZE: Two (2) lucky readers will win a copy of AGAINST THE SUN by Kat Martin. 

 

TO ENTER: Leave a comment for Kat Martin including your email address (Email address are required for ALL entries.) 

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*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

 

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Contest is open to ALL

It will runs until July 14,2012

I will contact the winners directly on July 15, 2012

HAPPY READING! =)