John peered through the tilted mini-blinds into the lieutenant’s office. He studied the woman inside who sat on a couch, sandwiched between two kids.A mental checklist ticked off in John’s mind. She was small, maybe a hundred-twenty-five pounds. Her arms and legs were scratched and bruised. If he had to guess, he’d say she was about five-six. A few light brown strands had pulled free from her ponytail and framed her tan face. The way she held her head, watching her children sleep, he couldn’t tell the color of her eyes.
Suddenly the little girl woke and scrambled into her mother’s lap.
Mesmerized, John watched the woman Zohara identified as Stephanie Boyd cradle her daughter, smoothing her hair and whispering into her ear—just like Julie had done with Katie.
Fury, as familiar as the air he breathed, flickered fresh in John and he fingered the rubber band he’d worn on his little finger for the past two years.
He punched the anger away.
He couldn’t deal with his demons now.
“They watched while their father was murdered,” Zohara said, pulling John back to the conversation.
You just read an excerpt from:
EVIL'S WITNESS
by
Autumn Jordon
Buy Link: The Wild Rose Press
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Autumn: Hi, Linda. First, thank you so much for hosting me on this most special day for lovers, and romance writers. I write true romantic suspense novels. What I mean by that is my novels are nearly fifty percent romance and fifty percent suspense. The romance occurs because of the suspense plot and suspense heightens and moves the romance.
Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
Autumn:Well, even though it won several awards, it still hasn’t found a home, but I’m hopeful.
Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?
Autumn:Obsessed By Wildfire was my second contracted book and my first published. I had a ball writing it. OBW is a fun contemporary western written for The Wild Rose Press’ Wayback series. I wrote this novel on a bet, and I’m so glad I did. WINK
Evil’s Witness was my 2009 Golden Heart entry, then titled His Witness. It is a romantic suspense, and I’m proud to say it has received many great reviews and won the 2010 Golden Leaf award for ‘Best First Book.’ GRIN
What’s next? In The Presence Of Evil. I’m so excited and my stunning new cover is now up on my website http://www.autumnjordon.com/. This romantic suspense has just gone to production and I should have a release date very soon. YEAH!
Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?
Autumn: Let’s talk Evil’s Witness available from The Wild Rose Press. Here’s a blurb.
********************BLURB********************
EVIL'S WITNESS
by
Autumn Jordon
Witnessing a blood bath crashes Stephanie Boyd’s world. To escape the wrath of the Russian Mafia, she has to help the FBI uncover the mafia’s mole inside the U.S. Treasury. While on the run with the handsome agent who is willing to die for her, Stephanie learns the meaning of love.
Agent John Dolton’s break in solving the case that cost him everything is a couple of kids and a beautiful widow. But keeping them safe seems impossible when their every move is foreseen by their enemy. Stephanie and her children soften the loner’s heart and John vows not to fail to protect the family he loves.
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Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?
Autumn: I’m going to say R. There are a few love scenes between Stephanie and John that are hot! Steph and John are really made for each other..
Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?
Autumn:The themes of Evil’s Witness are underdog can whoop big dog’s ass, and if you open your heart, love will find you.
Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit Evil's Witness under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?
Autumn:I think Evil’s Witness is unique because of my voice. I’ve been told my writing is very easy to read and that my characters are so real. And the plot is based on two real life scenarios. We say we live in adventure valley.
Kage:What was the easiest part to write?
Autumn: dialog…) Why? The characters. I felt like I knew them for years. Each had their own agenda and dreams. Often they took me by the hand and led the story in a direction I hadn’t thought of.
Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?
Autumn: I loved Stephanie’s character growth and how she finds courage.
John, I loved his compassion and how he keeps it hidden under his hard shell. There wasn’t a thing about them I didn’t love.
Did I learn anything from them? Yes. Believe in yourself and you can do anything.
Kage: Autumn, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?
Autumn: I’d like to share John’s back story, and I hope it peaks your readers interest enough that they will visit my website www.autumnjordon.com and learn more about Evil’s Witness
********************John's Back Story********************
John Dolton fell to his knees knowing the inferno in front of him consumed his life. His heart pumped but his brain felt starved for oxygen. The heat gnawed at his skin. He gulped the roasting air and it fumed into his lungs, expanding them until his chest as if were about to explode.
He didn’t care.
“Damn. John, snap out of it.”
Fingers clinked inches away from his nose.
“Come on, man. You’ve got to get back.” He heard his partner’s cry but Luke’s voice was diffused, coming at him from several directions.
Something looped under John’s arms and yanked him upward, lifting his dead weight off his knees—the ones that had given way when he’d seen his life gone.
The heels of his boots marked the tarmac with duel tracks as he was drugged away from the wreckage. He didn’t fight. His gaze remained on the windows of what once was his SUV.
Staring beyond the flaming bizarre tongues licking at the vehicle’s roof, he saw his wife and little girl as he had left them only ten minutes ago. Happy. Laughing. Anticipating a long overdue family vacation.
“Why?” A screamed like that of a savage, wounded animal rivaled sirens.
He searched the faces staring at him. Wide-eyed, brow ceased, sad faces stared back.
Had the horrendous cry come from him?
Julie.
Katie.
He had to save them.
John pulled. Luke’s grip tightened.
“Let me go.” He twisted and swung a fist at his partner’s jaw, but Luke ducted in time. Luke grabbed John’s arm and twisted it behind his back.
“They’re gone, John. You can’t save them.”
The agency’s emergency response team raced around the inferno.
They were too late.
With the dousing of the flames, John caught a glimpse of a charred human arm lying on the sidewalk. A silver band encircled the tiny wrist. Julie.
John grabbed his ribs and hurdled his breakfast.
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If you're still curious about Autumn, here are other places to find her on the web:
Website: http://www.autumnjordon.com/*
Blog: http://www.autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Autumn Jordon
Twitter: AJordon
MySpace: Autumn Jordon
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Jordon
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/autumnjordon
Sounds like an excellent read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, Linda.
Happy Valentine's Day to both of you.
Thanks, Carol for stopping by. I hope you have Great Valentine's Day too. Any special plans?
ReplyDelete