For more, visit http://www.maryalford.net/
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Welcome to the blog, Mary. I’m glad you could join us today. Congratulations on your recent release, Rocky Mountain Pursuit.
Thanks for letting me drop by, Savanna. I’m happy to be here today.
When you set out to write this story, did you already have the ending in mind or did its secrets surprise you along the way too?
When I start out writing most of my books, I have a general idea of where I want the story to end. Rocky Mountain Pursuit was the same. But as is the case in most of my books, the characters like to write their own ending. In the original draft of Rocky Mountain Pursuit, Jase and Reyna ended up in Montana at a cabin in the mountains. In the final version, they were at an abandoned military base in Colorado.
What first drew you to writing inspirational romantic suspense?
I’ve always loved suspense and mysteries since I started reading Nancy Drew as a kid. From there, as I grew into a pre-teen, I fell in love with Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt’s books. I knew I wanted to write romantic suspense. I wrote several mainstream romantic suspense novels but still, I felt as if I hadn’t quite found my niche. Then I read my first inspirational romantic suspense and as a Christian, I knew this was the genre for me. In 2012 I entered a contest called “so you think you can write” and had the request for a synopsis from Emily Rodmell of Love Inspired Suspense. From there she requested a partial and then the full and then in December 2012, I sold Forgotten Past to Emily for Love Inspired Suspense. It was an amazing feeling. Still is every time I sell a book.
What has been the most memorable book you’ve read so far this year?
I’d have to say, Susan Sleeman’s Web of Shadows (Agents Under Fire Series). I love everything Susan writes, but this one is my favorite of them all because it features and FBI agent AND a Navy Seal. Can’t ask for more than that in your main characters.
Of all the heroes you’ve written so far, is there a particular one that has a special place in your heart?
I think most authors love all of their characters equally like a parent. I can say Faith McKenzie from my first book, Forgotten Past, has a special place in my heart because she was probably my most troubled heroine. Faith had been attacked several years earlier and it was so horrific that she couldn’t remember anything about it or her past. She moved countless times around the country to try and escape her unknown assailant. And then she ended up at Hope Island, Maine and met a private investigator named JT Wyatt who didn’t let her push him away. JT ended up helping her put a face to her enemy and get her memory back.
But I also have a soft spot in my heart for spy stories and that is what Rocky Mountain Pursuit is all about. Jase Bradford, a former CIA spy, is forced to fake his death in order to stay alive. Then out of the blue Reyna Peterson, a woman claiming to be the widow of one of his former colleagues, shows up at his door and the two of them must run for their lives in order to stay alive long enough to figure out who the bad guys really are.
Name something you love about the state where you live. 🙂
I live in Texas and we are known for our bluebonnets, barbeque, and our wide-open spaces. My husband and I live on 60 acres with total privacy. I love having campfires on a crisp fall day. Taking walks in the woods near our house, or just sitting outside at night and looking up at a millions stars above.
That sounds perfect! 🙂 Thank you so much for joining us today, Mary. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Yes, I’m happy to announce there will be two more Love Inspired Books coming in 2017. Both are based off characters featured in Rocky Mountain Pursuit. The first book, will feature Jase’s CIA commander Kyle Jennings. Kyle goes back into the field as the hunt to bring down the notorious terrorist known as the Fox continues. What he discovers in the deserts of Afghanistan will destroy what he believes he knows about his past. So stay tuned.
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 Have a blessed 2016!
GIVEAWAY!!
Mary has graciously offered to give away one digital copy of Rocky Mountain Pursuit to one lucky reader! Enter below and it could be YOU!
Thanks for entering! Contest ends April 26, 2016. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
In the suspense genre, I love Paul Falcon in Dee Henderson’s “Full Disclosure. His patience, his loyalty, his intellect and his latent romantic tendencies were wonderfully crafted by the author.
Sounds like a hero I would enjoy reading about too. 😉 Thanks for sharing, Rebecca! Good luck in the giveaway!
Rebecca, Yes, That was one of my favorite Dee Henderson books.
I really enjoyed this interview and look forward to reading many books by Mary Alford. Winning one would be great!
So glad you could join us, Charlyn! I’m glad you enjoyed our interview. Hope you get to read Mary’s book soon. 🙂
Thank you, Charlyn. Fingers cross for you.
I shared on Facebook & Twitter but couldn’t find URL to put in form. Oh, well, maybe someone will find info helpful.
Oh, sorry you had a problem pasting in the URL. I’ve added 2 entries for you. Thanks for letting me know!
Thanks for sharing, Charlyn. I appreciate the support.
Cork O’Connor is an anti-hero hero in a whole series of books that I got sucked into…and loved every one of them. The first of which was The Red Knife
Awww, sometimes the anti-hero hero is the best kind! 😉 I’ll have to look up those books, Joanne. Thanks!
Joanne, Anti-heroes are my favorite. I love flawed characters. None of us are perfect after all.
I loved Inman in the book Cold Mountain!
I haven’t read that book, but I’ve heard of it. I’ve even seen the actual Cold Mountain itself. Need to add that one to my list now. 😉
Cold Mountain was one of my favorites as well, Joanne.
Not particularly, but there have definitely been some I would love to meet in person. I enjoy Dee Henderson’s books and especially enjoy Quinn and Marcus.
Haha! I’d love to meet several myself, Ellen. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Ellen, me too. I’d love to meet Dee’s characters. She writes such compelling heroes and heroines.
I fall for almost every one! Isn’t that the idea?
Yep, pretty much! 😉 I know, it would be hard for me to choose just one. Thanks for visiting, Joan!
Ellen, I do too. I loved Jase Bradford in Rocky Mountain Pursuit until I started writing the sequel. Now I love Kyle Jennings. I’m sure after that it will be whatever book I read or write next. So fickle.
Love your books Mary Alford. Keep up the wonderful writing.
We’re glad you could join us, Cheryl! Good luck in the giveaway too.
Thank you, Cheryl. More to come. Stay tuned. I’m currently working of Kyle Jennings story. Kyle was Jase Bradford’s boss. After that, it’s Liz’s turn from Rocky Mountain Pursuit.
They all steal my heart.
The sign of a good book! 😉 Thanks for stopping in, Kim! Have a great week.
Love hearing about everyone’s favorite writers. Keep them coming. There are a lot of good Christian writers out there. Dee Henderson is one of my favorites too.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary! It’s been great having you here. 🙂
Sounds great. I love the Rocky Mountains.
Hi Kim! Yes, I do too. 😉 Hope you get to read Mary’s book soon.
Thanks, Kim.
Kim, I fell in love with the Rocky Mountains the first time my husband and I visited. I truly think it gets in your blood. I’d love to retire there one day.
Alexander Bane, who first appeared as a bad guy in The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden, and then got his own story in Against the Tide! 🙂
Awww, I so want to read those books. I’ve heard a lot of good things about them. 😉 Thanks for sharing, Anne!
Anne, I haven’t read those book. I’ll have to add them to my pile that’s growing as I read through your posts. Reading is good for you, right? It keeps your eyes exercised.
Not really. I like a lot but none have stolen my heart.
Hmmm, well I encourage you to keep reading, Virginia. You’ll find the “perfect match” in one of these books. 😉
Virginia, I get what you’re saying. Sometimes you like the characters but you’re really not in love. But when you find that one book that won’t let you go long after you’re finished, then, you’ve found love.
I fall a little bit in love with every romantic male character I read!
You sound like a lot of us, Diane. There are certainly some memorable male characters from the books we read, aren’t there? 🙂 I’m glad you stopped by!
Diane, that’s me. Still, there are some characters that stay with me. Those become my all-time favorites.
With each new book I read, if the book truly grabs my attention, I will fall in love with the characters. There’s nothing more satisfying than to finish a book and want more. I usually turn back around a read it again.
I loved reading what Gideon O’Riley in My Hope Is Found by Joanne Bischof did for love.
Oh, you have me intrigued now, Merry! 😉 I have that book on my reading list. Can’t wait to begin reading it!
Merry, I had to look that book up because I wasn’t familiar wit it. It blurb sounds intriguing. I’ll have to add that to my pile as well.
My hero would be Jack from the Tradd Street series by Karen White.
That’s a new one to me as well. Thanks for sharing, Dianne! Good luck in the giveaway!
Dianne, that was another one I wasn’t familiar with. Sounds good as well. There are so many new authors I’m learning about. I love that.
I most usually like best the character in the current read. Have to say that Dan Blackwell in Seaside Secrets by Dana Mentink is currently right up there. I loved this interview. Thank you for sharing!!!
Thanks for dropping by Robin.
I’m glad you enjoyed our interview, Robin. I hope you get to read Mary’s book real soon. 😉
It sounds like we have similar tastes in fiction! Now I need to find “Forgotten Past”. Thanks for the giveaway!
I hope you enjoy Forgotten Past, Janice
Awesome! I’m glad you could join us, Janice. Happy Reading!
To answer the question, I liked the guy in “A Rose in Winter”.
Hmmm, now I’m intrigued. I must go look him up now. 😉
Looks like a terrific book!
Good luck in the drawing, Megan!