Wednesday, April 11, 2012

GFP Tours: Interview & Giveaway with Harlow Coban - Life in Death



Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today.


BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...
I was born in Kansas City, MO, grew up in Denver, CO, and relocated to North Carolina five years ago with my husband, two dogs, and 16-year old twins.  I spend my free time writing, dancing, and defending mailboxes from my 16-year-old twins’ driving.  I share a birthday with Napoleon and a surname with a former President.  


BK: Please tell us a little about your book....
When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die.  How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?


When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?


BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?
I looked into a family tragedy and learned a lot about police procedure and the case itself.  I thought I’d be able to use what I learned and spin an interesting tale.  I hope I’ve succeeded in doing that.


BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
About three years ago when I started working on my first novel, which is still unfinished.  Technically, Life in Death is my second novel.


BK: How do you keep your story flowing?
I make sure something happens in every chapter.


BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?
Thankfully, I haven’t.  I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.  


BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?
I do my best writing late in the evening with the TV on.  I don’t really have any quirks or must-haves to write, but give it time.  


BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?
I’d love to be recognized for my writing in some way.


BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
That events or a culmination of events can trigger a change in someone or compel someone to reveal their true self. 


BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.


BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?
Set realistic writing goals for yourself and reward yourself when you achieve them.  Join a writing group.  Have someone you don’t know critique your work.  Most importantly, unless you’re a copyeditor by profession, get your work professionally edited. 


BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m working on the second book in the series entitled, Apparition in Death.


BK: Where can readers find you?
Twitter: @HarlowCoban
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Harlow-Coban/174596219285270
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5345608.Harlow_Coban
Blog:  http://www.harlowcoban.com/?page_id=53




Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.



When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. She’s been targeted for death and she doesn’t even know it. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?

EXCERPT 1

Frost. Call on line one.” The voice boomed overhead and interrupted Scott Frost mid-climb. He jumped off his truck, pushed up the sleeves on his dingy green work shirt and walked to the phone mounted on the wall, his face a scowl of irritation.

He grabbed the receiver. “Hello.”

“They found Patience,” his wife, Andrea, whispered.

Mammoth garbage trucks rumbled and shook the walls as they rolled out into the street for the day’s work, their giant bellies hungry for trash. Scott strained to hear his wife over the noise.

“I told you never to call me here.”

“Do you know what they did to her?” Her voice rose an octave.

"Hold it together.” He clenched his fist and resisted the impulse to smash it through the wall. “She’s the one who ran off.”

“She didn’t deserve that. Nobody deserves that.”

The phone slipped a bit in his sweaty hand. Tolerance had never been one of Scott's virtues, and what little he did have waned with each whiny word his wife uttered. “It’ll all be over soon, you know that.”

“They won’t let us out.”

He gnashed his teeth together until the noise in his head drowned out the roar of garbage trucks. The pumping of his heart escalated and Scott imagined he could feel his blood pressure rising.

“Damn it, Andrea, take a valium. These people are dangerous. They’ll kill us if we flake out.”

  

Giveaway:

One winner at every stop will get one of the following:

Amazon Gift Cards
Book Lover Note Cards
Journals 
Kindle Cover
Book Tote
Hunger Games Trilogy

Follow the Tour HERE for more chances to WIN!

Author Harlow Coban was born in Kansas City, MO, but grew up in Denver, CO. She relocated to North Carolina five years ago with her husband, two dogs, and 16-year old twins.

She shares a birthday with the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. In keeping with his legacy, she is currently working on taking over the world. Harlow’s positive attitude and fresh take on life are her tools and conquest is certain.

She spends her free time writing, dancing, traveling and defending mailboxes from her 16-year-old twins’ driving.

Her debut novel, LIFE IN DEATH (February 2012), is a murder mystery which pulls from real-life situations from her own family history. She felt compelled to share her story with the world while offering a thrilling, entertaining, and amusing escape for readers.

In keeping with her commitment to improving the lives of children, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club in her home state of North Carolina.

She loves to connect with her readers and can be found on Twitter (@HarlowCoban), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Harlow-Coban/174596219285270), Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com) and her website (www.HarlowCoban.com).



Goddess Fish Partner

3 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thank you for hosting Harlow today.

MomJane said...

I am so glad this is the first in a series. It really sounds great, and I always hate to finish a book this good.

Catherine Lee said...

I love that thought...I often think of love as being a marathon rather than a sprint. It's a nice way of thinking about being in something for the long haul.

catherinelee100 at gmail dot com