Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Cindy Gerard on the blog today to chat about life, her new book KILLING TIME and a bonus to the One-Eyed Jacks series.

Cindy, can you please share with us a little about yourself 

As I’ve told other interviewers. I’m pretty boring and lead a fairly uneventful life.  I’m a home body.  Nothing makes me happier than being with family and friends.  I love the water and treasure our family trips to our cabin in northern Minnesota where I’m generally either on the water or on the dock or in the water every day.  I love to read but rarely have time for it any more .  Adore our 2 cats and our dog who usually keep me company in my office when I work and I’ve recently added a 90 gallon fresh water aquarium to my office for those times when I need some really zen moments LOL

Have you always wanted to be an author?

No.  I was a reader.  I love to read but one day the bug to write hit me and I’ve been going full steam ever since.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I write best in my office or our screened porch.  So winter finds me inside and at my desk around 8:00 every morning until after 5:00 every day.  Weekends too if a deadline is looming.  And if I’m on a crash deadline, I’ll work 16 – 17 hours a day for several weeks and live basically on chocolate and cheetos LOL to get the job done.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Always coming up with something fresh and exciting is the most challenging.  I feel I owe it to my readers to make each book as good as or better than the last one.  And I worry, all that time, that, for whatever reason, I won’t make that happen.

Can you please tell us about your latest book, KILLING TIME?

For the seven years after Operation Slam Dunk went south, Mike Brown got drunk on each anniversary. The eighth year was no different-until he was drugged by a woman and woke up to her questions about what had happened eight years ago in Afghanistan. CIA attorney Eva Salinas has her own theory behind what happened to Mike’s team-which included her husband-in Afghanistan eight years ago, and she’s determined to prove foul play. Though she doesn’t trust him, Mike is the only person she can turn to for help. Under an assumed name, Eva convinces Mike to assemble a new team and go after the traitor who screwed up both their lives. As they track down the rogue who started it all, Eva and Mike discover they can’t live without each other. But can they stay alive while an enemy is still on the loose?  KILLING TIME is a redemption story for both the hero and the heroine.  I had so much fun writing this book  While the subject matter is grave and of a serious nature, the by play between Mike and Eva had me grinning.  I hope everyone enjoys it.

Check out Kelly’s review of Killing Time HERE

How did you come with the idea for this story?

As always, it was a process. I thought I wanted Mike to have his own story when he showed up in WITH NO REMORSE, Book 6 of my Black Ops series.  When he wheedled his way into Book 7 – LAST MAN STANDING –  too, I knew he had to have a book.  So it was all about building a story around him.  He was so irreverent and funny … and, I suspected, wounded.  And boy, was he.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Gladly!  I had initially planned 2 more books in the series – RUNNING BLIND and TAKING FIRE.  I’ve since been given the opportunity to write a 4^th book, one that will come out next December (just in time for Christmas!!) that’s a bonus book in the series.  I’m so excited about THE WAY HOME, which is what I’m working on now.  It’s a homecoming story featuring Tyler Brown (Mike’s brother) and is a little different book than I usually write.  Still romance, still suspense, still features our black ops warriors, but THE WAY HOME has a little something extra … something that  is leading me on  a very special journey as I write it.

 Who are some of your favorite authors?

That’s an impossible question to answer as I have so many, some in the romance genre, some not.  I cut my teeth on LaVryle Spencer and Sandra Brown and they remain among my favorites.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

Absolutely.  I’ve read and reread many of my favorites so many times both for pleasure and to study how they did what they did so beautifully.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.  KILLING TIME: Mike Brown (HERO) and Eva Salinas (Heroine) are racing away from a hotel where there had been an attempt to assassinate them and heading for the airport in Lima Peru to, hopefully out run the bad guys and catch a flight for the US where they hope they can figure out who is after them and why.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?  

I’m always waiting for the next Debra Webb FACES OF EVIL book!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I really appreciate the invitation to visit today and hope everyone will give this book a try.  Of all the books I’ve written (almost 50) this might possibly be my personal favorite.  Of course, I say that (and mean it) every time I finish a book LOL

Killing Time

 (One Eyed Jacks #1)

Publisher:  Pocket Books
Publication date:  January 22, 2013

Amazon | B&N | Simon & Shuster

An exciting new series featuring Mike “Primetown” Brown, a character from her popular

“Black Ops, Inc.” series.

For the seven years after Operation Slam Dunk went south, Mike Brown got drunk on each anniversary. The eighth year was no different–until he was drugged by a woman and woke up to her questions about what had happened eight years ago in Afghanistan. CIA attorney Eva Salinas has her own theory behind what happened to Mike’s team–which included her husband–in Afghanistan eight years ago, and she’s determined to prove foul play. Though she doesn’t trust him, Mike is the only person she can turn to for help. Under an assumed name, Eva convinces Mike to assemble a new team and go after the traitor who screwed up both their lives. As they track down the rogue who started it all, Eva and Mike discover they can’t live without each other. But can they stay alive while an enemy is still on the loose?

Read an Excerpt

Giveaway Time: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grand Prize: 

To enter the Grand Prize drawing CLICK HERE!

KILLING TIME Blog Tour Schedule

 1/14 – Books-n-Kisses

1/15 –  Under the Covers

1/16 –  Just Romantic Suspense

1/17 –  United by Books

1/18  – Reading Between the Wines

1/19 –  – Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction

1/20 –  Book Lovin Mamas

1/21 – The Reading Café

1/22 – Cocktails and Books

1/23 – Romancing the Book

1/24 – Ramblings From This Chick

1/25 – Sizzling Hot Books

1/26 – Bookworm 2 Bookworm (Review)

1/27 – Bookworm 2 Bookworm (Interview)

1/28 – All Things Books

1/29 – RR@H Novel Thoughts

1/30 – Romance Crush Junkies

1/31 –  Pimpin’ Reads

2/01 –  The Book Nympho