Welcome author C.B. Clark

Please give a warm welcome to author C.B. Clark, who drops in on the Reading Nook blog today to chat about their latest book, Broken Trust plus whatever else I can think of asking them. :-) So take it away, C.B....

Thank you for hosting me on your site today, Dawn. I’m thrilled to be here.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in small towns in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Yukon. After I graduated from University with an archaeology degree, I worked as an archaeologist and an educator. I’ve always loved reading romance fiction, and when I lost my voice for a year due to a botched operation, I decided to try my hand at writing. From the very first line, I was hooked. Now I have four romantic suspense novels published by The Wild Rose Press and another under contract.

What are your books about?

My books all feature a kick ass heroine and a handsome, brave, hero who must work together to overcome challenging obstacles and devious bad guys in order to save themselves and find true love.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love travelling, and in the past few years, I’ve hiked the Inca Trail in Peru, kyacked on Lake Titicaca, cycled through Central America, visited Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, toured the ancient ruins in Jordan, and hiked in Patagonia. I also enjoy hiking and camping at home. There’s no greater feeling than sitting by a campfire after a hard day’s hike through the woods.

Is there anything you would tell aspiring writers?

Don’t give up. Ignore the negatives, have faith in yourself, and keep working and improving your craft. This business is a crazy roller coaster ride, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

If you could sit down with any author, dead or alive, who would it be?

Margaret Mitchell. Gone With the Wind is one of my favorite novels. Mitchell was a strong-willed, fascinating woman, and much like her heroine, Scarlett O’Hara, she fought against the restrictions placed on women in her era.

When writing, how do you keep track of timelines, ideas, inspiration, and such?

The person who invented Post-it notes should be knighted. The walls and desk in my writing space are plastered with these multicolored notes. When an idea strikes, I jot a note on a paper and stick it on the wall.

Writer’s block—real or hype?

Real. In the process of writing my most recent novel, I struggled for months with a particularly challenging scene. I tried everything—long walks, working on another project, journaling—nothing worked. Finally I realized the scene just didn’t work, and I had to totally rewrite it. Once I completed the revisions, the ideas flew, and the book was done before I knew it.

Do you extensively plot your stories, or do you write them as they come to you?

I’m definitely a pantser. I start with the germ of an idea and go from there. The characters drive the story, and it’s always exciting to see where they lead the plot. Of course, this means I have lots of revising to do when I’m finished the first draft, but that’s part of the fun.

When and where do you like to write?

I write first thing in the morning every day. Creativity is like a muscle, and you have to work at it to keep it in shape. My favorite place to write is in my study, surrounded by my multi-colored Post-it notes, with old-time country and western music playing in the background. There’s noting like a good old ‘done me wrong’ song to get the juices flowing.

How do you like to relax after a day of writing?

I walk my old dog in the forest behind my house every day. And…you can’t beat a glass of red wine and a Hallmark movie after a hard day sitting at a desk.

Book Title: Broken Trust

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Blurb:

After five years of hell with an abusive husband, Natasha Hartford vows never to trust another man. Then she stumbles onto a murder scene and meets sexy, stubborn Homicide Detective Chase Brandon, a take-no-prisoners tough guy who’ll settle for nothing less than the truth. Sparks fly, but Chase’s suspicions and Natasha’s innate distrust block the way to happiness. 

The detective struggles with his own troubled past and is determined to find the truth behind the shadows dimming Natasha's eyes. As more murders occur and a possible connection to her ex-husband appears, Chase fears her life is in danger. 

Natasha and Chase race to find the killer before he strikes again. Their survival depends on their willingness to overcome their mistrust of one another. Will they overcome their fears and find love again?

Buy Links:

The Wild Rose Press:

http://bit.ly/2I1XB36 

Amazon:

http://amzn.to/2nECqvx

Excerpt:

The thick carpet muted the tapping of her high heels as she fled through the reception area and down the hall to the elevators. In spite of her cowardly retreat, she wanted to shout in triumph. She’d been terrified of angering the surly detective, but she’d dragged up her courage and told him what she thought. Blood buzzed through her veins, fueled by the adrenaline rush. Damn. It was good to have her old fire back.

She glanced down a short corridor on her left and stumbled to a stop. How had she missed the ropes of yellow police tape blocking the entry to one of the rooms? Her breath hitched in her throat. That must be where the grisly crime had occurred.

The shocking truth struck her like a blow—Jonas Waverley was dead. Murdered in cold blood. She staggered and grabbed onto the wall.

“Ms. Hartford, wait.”

She glanced back.

Detective Brandon strode along the corridor toward her, his long legs eating up the distance, a determined expression on his face.

Her earlier spurt of courage vanished, and she whirled and dashed toward the bank of elevators. Chest heaving, heart pounding, she hit the button for the elevator, jabbing it again and again.

“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, catching up. “I was hard on you, but I’m just doing my job. A man was murdered.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I have to examine every possible lead, question every person of interest.”

She shuddered and stabbed the down button again. Person of interest? Her? She was a person of interest in a murder investigation?

“Can we go somewhere and talk?”

She shot him a look, making it clear what she thought of his suggestion.

He lifted one shoulder. “Maybe we could grab a coffee? I have a few more questions I’d like to ask.”

The elevator pinged, and the doors opened with a hiss, revealing a middle-aged man and an elderly woman who stared at them with vague interest.

Natasha stumbled toward the elevator.

Detective Brandon grabbed her arm, holding her back. “Ms. Hartford, wait.”

Warmth from his large tanned hand seeped through the thin material of her raincoat and raised goose bumps on her arm. “Let me go.” Her voice was shrill with rising hysteria. She tugged, but he held on, his grip tightening.

About the Author and where to find them online:

Broken Trust is C.B. Clark’s fourth romantic suspense novel published by The Wild Rose Press. My Brother’s Sins and Cherished Secrets were released in 2016, and Bitter Legacy in 2017. C.B. has always loved reading, especially romances, but it wasn’t until she lost her voice for a year that she considered writing her own romantic suspense stories. She grew up in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Yukon. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Archaeology, she has worked as an archaeologist and an educator. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing with her husband and dog near her home in the wilderness of central British Columbia.

Facebook: cbclarkauthor@facebook.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbclarkauthor

Blog: https://cbclarkauthor.wordpress.com

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15029617.C_B_Clark

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbclarkauthor/