Monday, November 28, 2011

Suzanne Hartmann's "Peril"

Title:  PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1
Publisher: OakTara Publishing

Cover blurb: A top secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments from the White House to NASCAR tracks. When unwanted publicity threatens to expose her, she herself becomes a terrorist target, with danger surrounding her on all sides. “Plenty of action and unexpected twists.”  Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

1) How did this story come to you?
The Fast Track Thrillers began as stories I created to entertain myself during my children’s music lessons and sports practices. It didn’t enter my mind to write a book until a thought popped into my head while I was taking a walk: “Why don’t you write them into a novel.” For a while I considered whether I was having a premature mid-life crisis, but finally decided that it was truly a nudge from God. The NASCAR aspect of it filtered into my stories after my daughter decided she liked watching stock car racing. I started paying more attention to the races (instead of taking a nap), and after a while, I realized that a NASCAR driver would make an exciting addition my story.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I followed a fairly traditional route towards publication, in spite of having no clue what I was doing when I wrote the first draft of PERIL. I joined a critique group, polished up the manuscript, then spent a year and a half looking for an agent. After another serious revision pass, in which I reduced the wordcount by twenty-five percent, and rewriting the opening chapter, Terry Burns offered me a contract. He diligently queried editors for a year and a half before Ramona Tucker at OakTara offered a contract five months ago. Along the way, I’ve learned a ton about how to write a novel, which I share in my book Write This Way: Take Your Writing to a New Level, and I have made many wonderful friends.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) I wasn’t a NASCAR fan when I started writing PERIL.
b) Like one of my main characters, I was in a very serious car accident years ago.
c) I touched the Berlin Wall when it was still standing in Berlin.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
CONSPIRACY: Fast Track Thriller #2 and REVENGE: Fast Track Thriller #3 The ideas have been rattling around in my head for several years, but so far I’ve only got a narrative outline. Now that Book #1 is out, I’m getting serious about writing the further adventures of the protagonists in PERIL.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet
Website: Fast Track Thrillers (http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com)
Blog: Write This Way (http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com)

13 comments:

  1. Another book I would love to have! These books get better! And I just want them all. Uffda selfish. Sorry Jesus, I certainly don't expect to win them all!
    Blessings
    Judi. mrst72443@yahoo.com

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  2. thanks for the chance to read this fascinating novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  3. Thanks for a great interview and a chance to win this wonderful book!
    Blessings....Joy
    ibjoy1953(at)yahoo(Dot)com

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  4. Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway!

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  5. I think this is a book my teenage daughter would love thanks for chance to win

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  6. I think the whole Fast Track Thriller series is going to be terrific. Thank you for the chance to win.

    Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com

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  7. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway. This sounds like such a great book.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  8. I know little about NASCAR racing. I will enjoy reading & learning.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  9. Wow, a thriller with a female top secret agent! I can't wait to read.
    Thanks for opportunity to enter giveaway.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  10. This story sounds very unique. What a great idea. I would love to read your book.
    Linda L.

    dlarock(at)wolfenet(dot)com

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  11. I so enjoyed your interview and am impressed by your persistence in getting this book published. Though we live near Texas Motor Speedway, I know very little about NASCAR, other than headlines I've glanced at in the paper. Sounds interesting, though! workamper2530@yahoo.com

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  12. Congratulations Suzanne on your new book! I am enjoying your book 'Write this Way' that I won - I don't expect to be entered in this giveaway, since I recently won your last book. Just would like to wish you and your family a truly blessed Christmas Holiday! :O)

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  13. Thank you, Dawn for your kind words about Write This Way. May it take your writing to a new level.

    And thank all of you for entering. I have put your name in the had (a cool looking racecar-shaped box) and am about to draw the winning name. I will e-mai the winner in just a few minutes!

    ReplyDelete

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