An Interview with Tracy March, Author of A Shot of Red

I’m so excited to have Tracy March here today! Her latest book, A Shot of Red, came out last week and I can’t wait to read it! 

 

 

Welcome, Tracy! What five things should readers know about you?

1. I’m always up for travel and adventure—it’s awesome inspiration for settings and stories.
2. I love baseball. Really. Love. Baseball. (And hot guys in baseball uniforms!)
3. I’m interested in science and politics and that influences the romantic thrillers I write (think House of Cards meets a medical drama).
4. My own happily-ever-after with my swoony NASA guy inspires my contemporary romances. <3
5. I rarely go a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its!

 

Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? What one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle?

My heroine is Mia Moncure, biotech company heiress who’s more interested in doing the right thing than protecting the bottom line. When she falls for a guy, she falls hard, but she keeps her feelings to herself.

My hero is Gio Lorenzo, a super-sexy communications director for a high-ranking senator. Gio rides his BMW motorcycle to work on Capitol Hill. He’s torn between his job and his desire for Mia, since her mother is his boss. The senator has a no tolerance policy for staff romances with members of her family.

If Mia and Gio were stranded on a desert isle, the one thing they’d need to have with them is each other!

Perfect answer!

 

If your book were being cast as a movie, who would you want to play the main characters?

Physically, Gio was inspired by my baseball boyfriend Michael Morse—left fielder for the San Francisco Giants, so it’s difficult for me to think of him as anyone else. Maybe Michael can act? 😉

I’d say that Brooklyn Decker looks a lot like I imagine Mia.

LOL! I’m sure he’s multi-talented. Plus, of course he’d try…for you 😉

(Momentary break while I do a quick Google image search. I’m a hockey girl…

Ah. I see your point. Very nice.)

 

How long have you been writing, and what inspired you to start?

I’ve been writing for about ten years now, but I studied and practiced a while before I submitted work for publication. I read a lot of mystery and suspense and I wanted to see if I could write a puzzle and a romance that readers would enjoy.

 

 

What do you like best about being a writer?

Plotting my stories. And I love it when I’m writing and all of a sudden an awesome plot point or twist occurs to me. It’s as if the characters are tapping me on the shoulder and asking, “What if this happens?”

Hang on. I’m momentarily distracted by an imaginary Michael Morse tapping on my shoulder…hmmm. 😉

 

What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

Balancing marketing with writing.

 

 

What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?

I’m currently finishing up the final book in my Suddenly Smitten sweet contemporary romance series that will come out later this year. It features sexy Caribbean resort tycoon Trent Hawthorne. After that, I’ll be working on some more contemporary romance stories.

Yay! The Suddenly Smitten books are adorable! Can’t wait 🙂

 

What authors/books have inspired you?

I’ve been influenced by so many talented writers, but I’ve been most strongly influenced by Sandra Brown. She writes incredible romantic thrillers and contemporary romances. I think I’ve read every one of them. Her career has been long and amazing, and she continues to put out highly anticipated, satisfying novels. I had the opportunity to meet her once at Thrillerfest. She was so kind and gracious, and treated me just like a friend. It was a total fan-girl moment for me!I have got to get to those Sandra Brown books in my TBR. Soon!

 

What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts about it so far?

I’m rereading one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors—The Likeness by Tana French. It’s a literary mystery and I’m amazed again by Tana French’s incredible talent. There are so many passages I read that make me pause—her writing is so vivid and thought-provoking. I always tell my friends that if an angel could write, she would write like Tana French!

Aaand adding to my TBR…again…

 

Please share a favorite scene from your book with our readers.

Here you go! This is a sexy motorcycle scene from A Shot of Red. 🙂

 Mia tentatively grabbed two handfuls of Gio’s leather jacket as he veered onto the parkway and picked up speed, easing the motorcycle through the graceful wooded hills and valleys of Rock Creek Park. The night air was cold and invigorating, much of it blocked from her by Gio’s sheer size and his broad shoulders. Mia wrapped her arms around him and tucked her hands in his coat pockets. She scooted up close and rested against his back, enticed by the scent of leather, leaning in and out of the curves with him, exhilarated by speed and adventure. Exhilarated by him. He felt strong and sturdy in her embrace, raw power emanating from him and the rumbling motorcycle.

At this late hour, they were often alone on the parkway, encountering only an occasional passing car. The surreal thrill of it all swirled through Mia, and her blood tingled. She couldn’t help but wonder what other enticing adventures she’d been missing out on. If any of them were half as exciting as this, she was totally game.

After a good twenty minutes, he pulled onto Wyoming Avenue in Northwest DC. Mia’s quiet, upscale neighborhood practically vibrated with the noise of the motorcycle. She squeezed Gio’s biceps and pointed up the block to the house where she lived, disappointed her time on the bike was nearly up.

Gio eased the bike into her driveway, stopped, cut the engine, and set the kickstand. He stood and took off his gloves and helmet, his dark hair wild and tousled. Mia’s stomach fluttered at the sight of him, his dark eyes glinting in the moonlight. She fussed with the chin strap of her helmet just to have something else to focus on.

“Let me help you with that.” He hung his helmet on the handlebar, hoisted one of his long legs over the bike, and sat facing her.

Gio had been magnetic, even with his back to her. But facing her, he was irresistible. Her insides were a knot of nerves and excitement…and expectation? Was he experiencing the raw chemistry she was feeling?

He tried to unclasp her chin strap, but had difficulty with the catch. Leaning in, he took a closer look. “Enjoy the ride?” he asked, his lips mere inches from hers.

“More than I even imagined I would,” she said softly.

The strap loosened and she tipped her chin with the shifting weight of the helmet. Her lips brushed his ever so lightly and he drew back.

Mia’s heart clamored as he captivated her with his questioning gaze, and she willed herself not to look away. He gently swept his fingertips along her jawline, threaded his fingers through her hair, and pulled her toward him. Her helmet fell to the ground as his lips met hers—strong, supple, and searching.

Mia melted into his kiss, alive with anticipation and overcome with an aching need she hadn’t realized was there. A cool night breeze rustled the shrubs in the nearby hedge, and she shivered. Gio clutched her waist, lifted her onto him as if she were nearly weightless, and wrapped his jacket around her. His lips never left hers, each slow sweep of his tongue seducing her senseless.

He braced his feet on the ground as she straddled him, one hand around his neck with a fistful of his silky dark hair, the other stroking his sandpapery cheek. She’d never pictured herself in a position like this—but that made her even more into it. Her blood ran hot, pulsing through her as if it carried sparks. She shifted on his lap and his breath hitched—maybe the sexiest sound she’d ever heard.

“Gio,” she said breathlessly, liking the sound of his name on her lips. “Let’s go inside.”

Wow! Thanks, Tracy–great excerpt!

Don’t forget, A Shot of Red is currently on sale for just 99 cents–get yours now, and see for yourself what happens when they get inside! 

AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE

(And enter her tour’s giveaway if you haven’t already 🙂

 

Author Bio:

Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.

Look for Tracy’s romantic thrillers GIRL THREE and A SHOT OF RED. Her Suddenly Smitten contemporary romance series includes THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL, TEMPTED IN THE TROPICS (both selected by RT Book Reviews as Top Picks), and a third title releasing in summer 2014.

Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.

Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. Visit Tracy online at www.TracyMarch.com.

Website: http://www.tracymarch.com/

Blog: http://tracymarchbooks.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tracy_March

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracy-March/151834621538910

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575285.

Tracy_MarchNewsletter: http://oi.vresp.com/?fid=211c093ead