Under Fire by Catherine Mann (Interview/Giveaway)

Crystal: Hi Catherine and welcome to Reading Between the Wines. Thank you so much for taking the time to join us today! Let’s start out by getting to know you a little better. What do you like to do when you’re not writing, do you have any hobbies?


CM: Hobbies, hmmm, my family insists I’m a type A workaholic, so I wouldn’t say I have standard hobbies.  I tend to stay on the go.  In my spare time, I volunteer at my local Humane Society, where I serve on their Board of Directors.  I also foster motherless puppies and special needs dogs for the shelter.  For relaxation, I love to read books by the pool or on the beach.


Crystal: And that brings us to my next question! I think it is wonderful that you volunteer for your local shelter; are you fostering any furry friends right now? 


CM: We had an especially exciting batch of fosters over Christmas.  A mother beagle came to the shelter in labor.  I fostered her, and her four puppies were born at my house.  They’ve all recently been adopted.  We’re eagerly awaiting the next litter of puppies.


Crystal: I bet, and I loved all the updates you posted on FaceBook about them! What are a few must-read authors for you? 


CM: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lisa Gardner, Courtney Milan, Joanna Bourne, Teresa Medieros, Jill Shalvis, Sarah Addison Allen, Tana French… my list goes on and on!


Crystal: Now please tell us about your romantic suspense series, Elite Force. What is the series about and how does each novel connect?


CM: My “Elite Force” novels focus on a team of air force pararescuemen (also known as pararescue jumpers or PJs).  The books take place all around the world as the PJs are called in to assist with military and civilian rescues.


Crystal: Speaking of those sexy PJs that I have come to love and their adventures; was the series inspired by your husband’s military experience or any real-life events, or did it come to life straight from your imagination? 


CM: My husband is an air force aviator, and many of my earlier military series focus on flyboys. In one of my “Wingmen Warrior” stories, a heroine pilot fell for a pararescueman.  The notion of a PJ series tugged at me for years, and then the perfect opportunity came up with Sourcebooks!


Crystal: Just another reason to love Sourcebooks! Congratulations on the recent release of the third book in the series, Under Fire! Can you please tell us a bit about the novel?


CM: The hero and heroine met six months prior working on rescue missions after an earthquake – the hero as a PJ and the heroine with search and rescue dogs.  The heroine refused to date the three-time divorced hero… but when she begins pairing shelter dogs w/PTSD patients, a young lieutenant reveals an explosive secret about corruption at the highest military level.  After being brushed off by authorities and with threats coming at her left and right, she can only trust the hero…


Crystal: Without giving too much away, can you share a favorite scene with us?


CM: I had a blast writing the scene when the hero and heroine are on the run and end up in a seedy hotel with some rather uh, interesting results… and I loved writing the alligator scene.


Crystal: Wow, you've definitely peaked my interest there! What are three words or statements that would describe Liam’s character best? How about Rachel? 


CM: Liam – loyal, driven, patriotic.  Rachel – compassionate, intense, firecracker.


Crystal: Was there a novel or character in the Elite Force series that was harder to write than others? 


CM: There is a character that dies in the story.  That character’s complexity surprised me and the death wasn’t planned, but it made sense in the plot. I grieved for that character.


Crystal: Killing off a character is always hard. What’s next for you? Are there any projects that you’re currently working on, and do you have any more novels for the Elite Force series planned? 


CM: Thanks for asking!  I have a wonderfully packed release schedule ahead, all with a military or secret agent hero.


“Dog Tags” in LOVE BITES, HQN, June 2012
AN INCONVENIENT AFFAIR, “Alpha Brotherhood,” Harl Desire, Aug 2012
GUARDIAN, “Dark Ops,” Berkley, September 2012
“Home for Christmas,” in RESCUING CHRISTMAS, Harlequin, Nov 2012
ALL OR NOTHING, “Alpha Brotherhood,” Harl Desire, Jan 2013
FREE FALL, “Elite Force,” Sourcebooks, March 2013


Crystal: Thank you again, Catherine, for stopping by today! 


CM: Thank you for having me here! Did you know Saturday, May 19 is Armed Forces Day.  What is one of your favorite military movies?  Or a special military person in your life?

"Riveting action, to–die–for heroes!"—Suzanne Brockman, New York Times Bestselling Author

"Catherine Mann is one of the hottest rising stars around!"—Lori Foster, New York Times Bestselling Author

No Holds Barred, In Love or War...A decorated hero, pararescueman Liam McCabe lives to serve. Six months ago, her and Rachel Flores met in the horrific aftermath of an earthquake in the Bahamas. They were tempted by an explosive attraction, but then they parted ways. Still, Liam has thought about Rachel every day—and night—since.
Now, after ignoring all his phone calls for six month, Rachel has turned up on base with a wild story about a high–ranking military traitor. She claims no one but Liam can help her—and she won't trust anyone else.
With nothing but her word and the testimony of a discharged military cop to go on, Liam would be insane to risk his career—even his life— to help a woman who left him in the dust.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today best-selling author Catherine Mann writes military suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire.  She and her military flyboy husband live in Florida with their children and menagerie of animals.

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~*GIVEAWAY*~

Sourcebooks is giving away one set of the Elite Force series (Cover Me, Hot Zone, Under Fire) to one US or Canadian readers. To enter, just leave a comment on this post answering Catherine's question and then fill out the Rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available  but not required. Good luck!

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