Getting to know Author Arlene Knowell

Q: Tell us about your latest release. What inspired it?

Far From Innocent was released on August 19, 2009. In the story Rachel Kenyon finds herself heartbroken when she loses the love of her life, Green Beret, Dex McKelvy. When she learned that McKelvy was engaged, she was devastated. She’d worked for Dex’s family for a decade, but a run in with his new fiancé forced Rachel out of her job. Not however, before she found herself in a brutal tell all argument with Dex.

She found a new job with an old Army buddy of her father. Rachel packed up and moved away, and even though she wasn’t happy waiting tables in a bar, it beat the hell out of being around Dex and his new fiancé. But Blake Linden soon entered the picture. He was a smooth talking, even smoother looking Green Beret who wanted nothing more than to protect her from the world. And so he did, by sending a detective hired by McKelvy packing back to Denver.

As the plot thickens Dex comes in search of Rachel, he wanted her back and didn’t care who suffered in the process. Blake wasn’t willing to lose her, and was willing to die to keep her. But when the two realized they had served together long ago, in fact they’d shared a woman…the story takes a strange twist.

Realizing far too late that neither of them was willing to share Rachel, it became obvious that she had a decision to make. A very painful one.

This story is one that I’ve had in my mind for a very long time. I won’t say that it had a particular inspirational moment or person. I will say however that Blake Linden’s character is the very image of Marine that I once knew.

Q: Who are your literary heros and why?

My literary hero would have to be Elizabeth Lowell. I love reading her books. Hers is the talent that I wish I could wake up with the in the mornings. She has the ability to pull you into another world with her stories and as the reader you just don’t want to leave.

Q: Tell us five random things about yourself.

1. I have a deeply rooted fear of a bug I call a walking stick. (I have no idea of their real name, but they are literally walking sticks. LOL)

2. I have agility dogs that I still try and find time to work and compete with.

3. Time has taught me that being shy will only get you one things…Last in line.

4. I’m a patriot and I take my freedom very seriously. Because of that I am vigilant to send care packages to the front lines.

5. I love to travel and my goal is to disappear into the Caribbean and never return.

Q: When it comes to writing, are you an early bird, or a night owl?

I’m more often a night owl. Working a full time job and running a household doesn’t leave time for much more. So I find myself with my laptop sitting at the kitchen bar, (away from where my husband is watching fishing on television.) dreaming up something new to write about.

Q: How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?

I have one of those remarkable stories of searching for a publisher, I was blessed. I’d put off submitting a manuscript to a publisher for the simple reason that I was scared to death of failing. When I finally took the plunge and submitted something, within two months I had a novella contract.

So my best advice would be to face your fears head on, even if you fail at least you know that you tried. I wonder now how far I would be in my writings had I taken the chance long ago when I first started to consider it.

Do your research, consider the type of manuscript you have, and if you are willing to publish just as an ebook. I personally wanted to hold my first novella in my hands, therefore I found a publisher that would actually produce paperback copies.

Finally, I’ve looked at several types of query letters and one type always grabs me and reels me in. I like the ones that start with hook lines. Here is the hook line from the query letter for my first novella: Rachel Kenyon had never imagined herself the type to turn the head of an Army Special Forces soldier. She had not expected that in her lifetime she would have two handsome Army Green Berets in her bed. She certainly never dreamed they would both be there at the same time.

Q: What book are you reading now?

I’m reading BLUE SMOKE AND MURDER by Elizabeth Lowell


Q: If you were a world ruler and you were given a choice of 3 laws to enact, what would they be?

1. I would enact a Disability Reform act. I’m a firm believer that the root of our country’s problem is that we’ve gotten lazy. Facts are that if you are able to work in you flower beds, drive to town seven or eight days a week and carry cases of beer from the store then there is a job out there that you can do. We don’t necessarily need healthcare reform; we need someone to take the “easy button” away.

2. I would love to enact a law that relates to the old saying, “If it’s good enough for the goose it’s good enough for the gander.” If you are found guilty of a gruesome crime, then you should be punished by the same means. I just makes me mad to hear about some child killer in prison who is appealing his sentence because he doesn’t think lethal injections are humane. How can a person rape, bludgeon to death and torture their victims and honestly expect to be treated humanely? I say lock them in a sound proof room with their victim’s family for 10 minutes, and then humanely punish what’s left.

3. My final law would be for the protection of animals. I’m not a “fly hugger”, but I do believe that there should be a sever punishment for people who are cruel to animals. I think the Chinese fur trade that uses dogs, cats and other domestic animals is insane. I understand that fur is fur, but putting animals to death by drowning, and anal electrical shock just makes me cringe. That exists you know? They do it that way as not to harm the fur. Maybe those cruel people need a water hose down their throat, or an electrical cord up their butt.

Q: If your muse were to talk behind your back, what secrets would he/she tell?

My muse would never talk, I know just as much about her! But I’m pretty much an open book, I don’t have many secrets. But like any best friend, she knows all the trash. So she could easily name names, dates and times.

Q: If you were a Superhero, would you wear tights and a cape?

If I wore tights, I’d need a cape! No seriously, I think I would. Then I would set my sights on Superman and we’d find out once and for all if he is really faster than a speeding bullet because I could certainly leap his tall building in a single bound.

Q: You are told you have to meet one paranormal creature, no safeguards, what do you choose? What do you bring with you?

Oh Gosh, I really don’t get into all the sci-fi creatures, vamps, werewolves and such. I will say however, that I’m fascinated with true paranormal activity in forms of haunting and possessions. My grand parent’s house was haunted when I was a little girl and it fueled my interest in those things. (There is nothing like doors opening and closing of their own accord.) So If I had to meet a paranormal creature it would be Sara Winchester. (Creator of the bizarre Winchester mansion.) I’m not sure what I’d like to have with me, maybe a cardiologist to revive me from the heart attack I’d have from seeing her. Maybe a Bible or a medium to help her escape whatever is keeping her in that mansion.

Q: You have to ask a fictional character out on a date—who would you ask and what would you do together?

I think I would like the meet the character Bobby Lee Swagger, who is the leading character from the movie “Shooter” starring Mark Wahlberg. He’s just a sexy kind of guy; he’s reserve, brilliant and a force to be reckoned with if you piss him off.

What would we do? Well let’s see, on a date with a Marine sniper, who is drop dead gorgeous, sexy to the bone and likes to be “away from the hustle and bustle”. I’d first want him to teach me to shoot. I’ve learned that those kinds of guys like to showcase their skills. Then I’d like to hear a few of those amazing shot stories that all snipers have. If I know me, and I do….I’ll be all “hot and bothered” by the stories. So I’m hoping and praying that next part of this date would not be welcome on a PG blog!

Sneak Peek into FAR FROM INNOCENT
Buy at Carnal Passions
http://carnalpassions.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=24


“Tell me soldier, do you do that to all the girls or am I getting special treatment?”


Her body’s reaction to him was confusing. She squirmed slightly, wishing the sudden wetness between her legs would evaporate. It did not.

He teasingly snapped his very white teeth at her. “You have no idea how special I can treat you.” She didn’t budge. She’d learned from the other girls that the tips got bigger if the dicks got hard. She looked slowly down toward the bulging package between his legs. Searing heat shot through her body, a feeling of demand, and an overwhelming desire to touch him. An audible breath escaped him as if he noticed that she’d held a steady gaze far too long to just be working toward a tip.

She looked back to his eyes. “Oh, I have a vivid imagination.”

“I bet you do.”

“What can I get you to drink?” she asked. “Something tells me that you could easily get me into trouble.”

“You’re a tease,” he laughed.

“You caught me.” She laughed along with him as she lightly rested her hip against his arm and scanned the faces of his buddies. “What can I get for you guys?”

His friends wanted a pitcher of beer but his reply didn’t shock her—he wanted a Jack and Coke with her as a chaser.

"Straight up?” she asked with a wide, teasing smile.

“Absolutely.”

She ordered up the pitcher of beer, mugs and a Jack and Coke and danced her way back with their drinks. She noted Linden never took his eyes off her. She had a hard time keeping hers off him. What were the chances that this big hunk of sexual lure would be a Green Beret? It seemed that there would always be something to remind her of Dex. As a desire to be near Linden coaxed her back around to his side of the table she drew his hat from where he had it tucked and looked at the insignia on his uniform.

“5th Special Forces Group.”

He smiled. “You know your insignia.”

“My dad was an Army guy. We actually lived here for a while when I was a little girl.”

His eyes flowed over her body, touching all the sultry spots as he admired her.

She laughed and spun his hat around the tip of a finger. “May I?” she asked as she held it forth in question.

“Be my guest. My cover’s gotta look better on you than on me.”

She pulled it on over her braided hair and gave him a mock salute.

“You grew up in the Army and you’re going to tell me that some Hooah didn’t snatch you up?”

“There was one,” she said with more ease than she’d expected. “But he preferred platinum blondes with big… eyes.”

He nodded in confirmation. “Was he blind or just stupid?”

She carefully adjusted his beret on her head, intentionally avoiding his question. “It’s a little big, but I like the color. Excuse me, someone just called me.”

His eyelids went to half-mast. “Can I do that too?”

“Sure thing, guys. Just call my name if you need something before I get back to your table,” she said, looking straight into Linden ’s green eyes though she addressed all the men at the table.

“What if you are what I need?” he asked with a sexy smile as she walked away.

She looked back. “Do you think you need me more than the other men here say they need me?”

The smile on her face was evidence that she certainly hoped he did. Even if he wasn’t the staying kind of guy, and she suspected he wasn’t, he would be a wonderful way to cover the recurring memories of the last sexual experience she’d had.

He pivoted his chair around on the hardwood floor, “What do you think?” he asked glancing down at his hard shaft.

Rachel looked down at the bulge and mentally noted that it occupied a great length of space. She swallowed hard but her clit throbbed harder. She sauntered back. “That could take a while.”

“Show me,” he begged.