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Ruby Nickname:Ruby Sly Hometown: Rural, NE PA GH Year(s) 2009 Completed Manuscript(s) 7 Genre(s): Romantic Suspense & Fun contemporaries Started Writing: 2000 Day Job: Corp. Secretary For Fun: Traveling w/ DH. Sunday drive, daytrip or over the road, we love discovering new places and making new friends. |
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The Ruby Slippered Sisterhood
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Blog Posts from Autumn
Ruby Release Spotlight: ‘Under Fire’ by Rita HenuberPosted by Autumn Jordon Aug 22 2011, 12:01 am in Ruby Release
D: I’m coming. I have the bubbly on ice. Do you have the chocolate strawberries ready? A: Trays of them. They’re yummy. D: {Darynda arches a brow and offers a napkin} I see. Here. Wipe the chocolate off you face. A: Thanks. {Autumn blushes} Hi everyone. My co-hostess, Darynda Jones and I are so thrilled to host a party today for Rita Henuber. Her debut release, ‘Under Fire’, is now out from Carina Press. D: That is one SMOKIN’ cover. A: It fits the book perfectly. Guaranteed, lovers of romantic suspense and strong, smart heroines and really hot action heroes will love this fast pace read. A: I asked Rita a few questions recently. Check out her responses below. And while Darynda fills the flutes with cyber-champagne and I pass the chocolate strawberries, Rita will chat with you all. BTW Want a free copy of this action filled, smexy read? Post a comment. Rita will have Olivia pick two names, totally at random, to receive a copy of Under Fire. Good luck everyone!
Hi, Rita! Congrats on your debut release! Why don’t you start by sharing a blurb for Under Fire?
R: OMG. Hi everyone.
Coast Guard helicopter pilot Olivia Carver is on a personal mission. Her twin brother, an undercover officer, was murdered by a drug cartel and she won’t stop until she finds the person responsible for his death.
In the course of her own investigation, Olivia meets informant Rico Cortes. He’s mysterious and sexy, and despite her reservations, the two share a night of passion. But Rico turns out to be more than a one-night stand. He’s a DEA agent, deep undercover in Miami’s drug world, and possibly the one person who can help Olivia find the justice she seeks. When Rico realizes his cover is compromised, he isn’t sure whether it was someone in the cartel or an inside agent. Olivia is the only one he can trust and together they venture on a dangerous, rogue mission to infiltrate a drug lord’s inner circle…with Olivia as bait.
I was blown away by your first chapter. The situation was so realistic and drew me into the story immediately. Really, I felt like I was in the helo, holding onto my seat with my heart racing and stomach dropping to my feet. Your heroine, Olivia Carver, is such a strong personality and I wondered what connections you have to the coast guard or the military? Were you once a helicopter pilot? If not, how did you research the operations and the handling of an aircraft?
Blown away? Realistic? Wow! Thanks for the compliment. My daddy was Coast Guard and I come from a military kinda family. Extend that to a Marine Corps husband and son.
Helicopter Pilot? No. I really don’t like helicopters. The only reason they fly is because they beat the air into submission and if anything goes wrong they have the glide path of a rock. I researched flight procedures and manuals. Helo pilots have a lot to do to keep those suckers in the air. So if you are ever a passenger in one, don’t distract the pilot.
LOL. Okay, I won’t. That’s interesting you researched actual flight manuals. I never thought of using manuals in order to add that bit of realism to the story. Thanks for the tip.
Okay, that is how you added a unique dimension to your heroine. What about your hero? He’s an undercover DEA agent. What type of research did you do for this character?
It took a lot of reading Intelligence web sites and news stories from major newspapers. Amazing what is available. There are agency reports of incidents. Web sites for former and retired agents. The DEA regularly post reports of recent busts. There is a CIA Freedom of Information Act page where you can read now declassified reports. Last week I read an article that the CIA is actively recruiting more women and what they are looking for. Still, everything is a best guesstimate. I mean how would anyone really know unless they are an agent? I give few details because the more you give, the bigger the chance you have of making an error. I go with plausible not asking the reader to suspend beliefs. Everything in Under Fire can be done.
Would you mind sharing a few of those links?
Sure. There are so many. Where do I begin? Best to simply search the alphabet agency you want and then their web sites. Doing this lead me to several places like the CIA Intelligence Science Board. http://www.nndb.com/gov/019/000172500/ The mission of the Board is to provide the Intelligence Community with outside expert advice and unconventional thinking, early notice of advances in science and technology. Or The National Defense Intelligence College where you can click on recommended reading and learn about national defense, intelligence and security strategies for free. A wealth of other book titles are also offered. Search each of our special forces groups. Navy, Army and AF. This page can keep you busy for days http://www.specialoperations.com/usspecops.html. Did you know many countries have special forces units and that special ops teams from around the world train together? This page lists them all. http://www.specialoperations.com/Intelligence/foreign.html They are all more than happy to tell you what they do.
Rita’s question to Autumn; Question for you-why do you think the hero is yummy?
What do you mean? Rico is hot! He’s a tortured soul, dealing with hard issues from his past. I love tortured heroes, especially those who grew stronger because of their past. The scene where Rico bared his soul to Olivia was so touching. This scene added another trait to Rico. Did you have any particular inspiration for this strong hero?
No inspiration. I just knew I needed to give him a deep dark reason for being the way he is. I’ve outlined a spin off book with him coming face to face with his past.
You love dark heroes too. Awesome. Just recently, I listened to my RWA09 craft CD and Anne Stuart talks about dark heroes and how not to make them cliché’. Rico is definitely not cliché, neither is Olivia BTW. What method do you use to develop your characters and how much time do you spend getting to know them before beginning your story?
Oh lordy. I never really thought of him as a dark hero but I guess he is. He’s a guy hell bent on doing what’s right but losing himself in the process. That is until he finds Olivia. Or maybe I should say she finds him. You have to remember this was my first book and a huge learning process. Acting like a three year old, I asked why about each character until I didn’t have any more answers. This went on throughout the writing process. I can’t even tell you how many times the character arc and motivation evolved. I do not recommend this. I may not have shown all those why answers but, I knew them. I know what they like to eat, what magazines they read. What they like to drink. How many drinks they can consume before they begin to feel it. I’ve even shopped for their clothes. Even though Olivia’s a righty, when it comes to using a weapon she’s ambidextrous. She can reach out and touch you with both hands. I feel I have to know my characters to write about them.
What drew you to write romantic suspense? Are there any favorite authors who have influenced you? I write what I know and like. There are too many authors to name. I read straight fiction mystery, action adventure and thriller The same goes for romance. In fact they are my teachers. I study what works in their books and work on applying it to mine.
You have a few secondary characters in Under Fire. Will any of them have their own story? Do you plan to stay with the coast guard world or explore other areas of the suspense world? I have three possible spin off books. One with an older woman younger man relationship, another with hot young lovers. Both have a lot of sexual tension and conflict. And there is a resolution of Rico’s story that is a cross over with Under Fire and another book. Also included are doctors, Navy SEALS, action, and rescues from evil doers, oh my.
Where can readers learn about you and your books? http://ritahenuber.com
Okay I have a question for both Olivia and Rico.
Olivia, What is the one thing Rico does that drives you nuts?
Olivia That’s easy. When he winks, smiles and gives me a certain look I go under his spell. I am his and he makes the rest of the world drift away. I told him never to do that when I was flying a helo. No telling what would happen.
Rico, What is the one thing about Olivia you’d never change?
Rico. I can’t imagine changing anything. She’s a package of love, fierce loyalty and confidence wrapped up in beauty that takes my breath away. Don’t know what else to say other then she’s like air for me. I can’t live without her. Eh…is she going to read this?
A: LOL Yes. Thanks, Rita, Olivia and Rico. Now, let’s check out Olivia’s day at the office. Life Sucks Then Some One DiesPosted by Autumn Jordon Aug 11 2011, 12:01 am in Autumn Jordon, conflict, In The Presence Of Evil There is so much to learn about crafting a great book, including having sufficient conflict to carry your plot for the number of necessary pages. If you didn’t know, I’m here to tell you conflict is a necessary element in commercial fiction. No book will get published without it.Fortunately, there are numerous industry professionals willing [...] Yeah, Right! You Don’t Have Time.Posted by Autumn Jordon Jul 29 2011, 12:58 am in Autumn Jordon, Ruby Sisters Slipperhood, RWA Nationals, secrets, The Road To Novel Completetion, time management Can you believe it’s been a whole month since the NY RWA Nationals? That means only two months until the Golden Heart contest opens for entries and eleven months until nationals heads to California. Will you be ready for either? Five Ruby Sisters presented a workshop in NY entitled ‘The Road To Novel Completion’ where [...] Professionalism, Professions, and Big Girl PantiesPosted by Autumn Jordon Apr 7 2011, 12:01 am in dreams, inspirtional, motivation, professionalism Warning! This blog contains confessions, which may or may not be passed on. You be the judge. Each time it’s my turn to blog here at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood, I get so nervous. Over the past year and some odd months, my RS sisters have taught me so much about the craft of writing, [...] Not A StitchPosted by Autumn Jordon Feb 21 2011, 12:01 am in Details, Layering, Senses A good percentage of romance novels have scenes where the character’s clothes are ripped off in a passionate rush. You’ve read them. You’ve pictured them in your mind. One shoe kicked off here. Another left behind there. Jackets and blouses tossed over the banister. Skirt and jeans left mid-stairway. A bra dangling from the hall [...]
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books from Autumn
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I’m a quiet nut with the earned middle name of trouble. I've earned it. As a reporter for my high school paper, I wrote a few controversial articles concerning the teachers’ lounge, the cafeteria lunches and Mickey Mouse and thus spent a few hours speaking to the principal. Later became the editor of the paper and the story continued.
