For the Small Press Treasures Blog Hop Giveaway, click here!
Welcome guest author
P.J. O'Dwyer
to the blog today!
See below for her giveaway!
Welcome, P.J.! Please share a little about yourself, your genre, and any other pen names you use.
Laura, it’s so wonderful to be here with you today! I write romantic suspense as P.J. O’Dwyer and have loved reading romance ever since my mother gave me my first historical as a teenager. Back then, the voice that said “you should write” was ignored, unfortunately. Instead, I opted to travel the world as a travel counselor. But the yearning to put words to paper resurfaced years later.
My choice of genre was a given after I met and married my husband. It seems his dreams and aspirations had always been focused on law enforcement. Twenty-five years later, married to a state trooper, it was hard to avoid hearing about the day-to-day police work he was involved in (very exciting stuff), not to mention the camaraderie and hilarious stories, especially the interactions cops have with each other. So it was inevitable I would combine both of our passions: romance and murder. (Not that murder is his passion, only solving them.) It also helps to have a go-to guy (my husband) to assist me on the law enforcement side.
That’s awesome! I love the way your personal life has informed your writing! So, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
This is a very exciting time for me. My debut novel
Relentless will be released April 15. This is the first book in the Fallon Sisters Trilogy where we meet Bren Ryan who is widowed, jaded, and searching for her husband’s killer by herself. That is until she meets up with sexy cowboy Rafe Langston who seems quite interested in her theory of murder—maybe a little too interested.
As an author, what surprised you about this story?
Well . . . I’d have to say, as in every story, it’s the characters themselves. It’s interesting, but as a writer you find the characters take on a life of their own, most times they dictate what’s going to happen next, and sometimes they even surprise me.
That’s so true! What would readers be surprised to know about you?
This is embarrassing. I don’t count sheep when I’m trying to fall asleep at night. I make up stories—all with hot to-die-for guys and strong-willed, feisty women who give their men a workout in and out of the sheets.
It’s quite entertaining and has the desired effect—I fall asleep. Only frustrating. When I wake up, I never know the ending.
LOL That’s awesome! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
On a serious note, Relentless centers round a very controversial topic—horse slaughter. As a writer, there is a lot of research involved in any story, and this one was no exception. But I owed it to every horse rescuer and animal advocate to get it right.
The hardest part for me was watching the barbaric slaughter of healthy, intelligent, majestic horses on YouTube and interviewing horse rescuers. They made me cry with their loss, and laugh at their wit and the lengths they will go, especially, to outsmart their nemesis “the kill buyer.”
OMG! I admire you for this so much. The heroine in my third Anemoi book runs a horse farm with mostly rescue horses, and the research that led me to that characterization was similar. Good for you for tackling that storyline! So, what are you working on right now?
The second book in the series Defiant, which is Kate’s story, will be released in September. Gorgeous as she is idealistic, she wants more than just horse pastures. Only she gets more than she bargains for with the man who charmed her, because now he controls her.
But she’s a Fallon and resourceful. She’ll find a way to escape multi-millionaire husband Jack Reynolds, even if he is the U.S. Attorney for Maryland.
Currently, I’m working on the third and final book of the series Forsaken. Dani is the sister neither Bren nor Kate know about, yet. That is until the beautiful Irish barmaid Dani Flynn finds her homeland just a spec on the horizon behind her and open seas dead ahead.
She’s poised to change everything Bren and Kate believe to be true. And they’re not the only ones.
There was no way I couldn’t write a book about Bren’s best friend Kevin Bendix. More like the brother Bren never had, eventually, they would become family—even if it was by law.
I loved writing Kevin. Maybe it’s because I have one just like him at home. It was fun to ruffle this guy’s serious exterior.
Here’s a sneak peek into the life and times of Mr. Law-and-Order:
Sheriff Kevin Bendix’s life is orderly and free of complications. That’s the way he likes it. But that’s all about to change with one gorgeous, blue-eyed brunette who can’t prove she’s in the U.S. legally. It’s his job to have her deported. Only his attraction to Dani Flynn is clouding his judgment. She isn’t your average law breaker. All of about five foot two with a face of an angel and a body of a sinner, she will be his undoing. It’s not only his heart she’ll steal. Loving this woman could cost them both their lives.
Oh, very intriguing! What a great premise for a series! Whose head do you like being in the most when you’re writing, the heroine or the hero?
I enjoy the heroine. I get to live out my hopes and my dreams with her. But I find the hero is the most fun.
Let’s face it, when do you get to be in your man’s head? Well . . . you hope he’s always thinking of you. But to know those intimate thoughts they don’t normally share is a rush.
I love writing heroes, too. So . . . you’re debut novel is about horses. Why horses?
I fell into that by accident, or so I originally thought. I love animals. But writing suspense something bad has to happen. And with Bren it had to be about the horses. I wanted my reader to care about Bren and her life’s work. I also wanted to expose the hidden truth about something so hideous. When I learned of horse slaughter, I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the senseless murders that happen every day to such a noble companion we know to be the horse.
On a lighter side, I’ve been told I couldn’t avoid writing about horses if I wanted to. They tell me, those who have researched our Irish heritage, horses are in our blood. My father bet on them, my cousin and uncle own them, and back in Ireland they stole them.
I guess the sparkling shores of freedom looked a might safer than an Irish jail cell.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about RELENTLESS?
I’m so glad you asked. As a writer, I believe we are entrusted to entertain as well as educate. Relentless gave me the opportunity to do both. Relentless became a reality for me due to the gracious nature of horse rescuers who took a call from a stranger, listened and agreed with enthusiasm to read Bren’s story, and offer their insight and knowledge.
As a way to thank them for their kindness and because their fight has become mine, I am donating 5% to horse rescue for every book sold in the trilogy and any other future works.
The only catch—you must purchase the books on my website at
www.pjodwyer.com. There is a list of rescues to choose from including most states, a fair amount of provinces in Canada, and a few in the UK to include my homeland of Ireland, as well as, Australia and New Zealand.
That’s awesome! Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Sweet not bitter
Salty or sweet? Actually, both.
Bed or Kitchen table? Bed. I like the feel of satin.
Beach or mountains? If it has a lake—mountain.
Give or receive? Definitely give. You get more in return . . .
Headstrong horse rescue director Bren Ryan has been a red-headed streak of trouble for more than one man in Clear Spring. She’s grown up needling local “kill buyer” Wes Connelly, and since the sheriff ruled her husband’s sudden death an accident, Bren’s been investigating things herself. She’s certain Tom was murdered, and she’s hell-bent on cornering his killer the only way she knows how—by tempting him to do it again. And she’s the bait.
Rafe Langston came to Maryland looking for land and a fresh start. Or so he says. The sexy cowboy isn’t generous with details, but Bren couldn’t care less—until he buys half her farm at auction and moves into her childhood home. Suddenly, the last man she should befriend becomes her only ally in solving her husband’s murder.
Soon their cozy stakeouts sizzle with unexpected desire neither one can ignore, threatening his mysterious plans and her promise to never fall in love again—especially with a handsome stranger whose secrets could shatter what family she has left.
Thanks for coming on the blog, P.J.! Where can we find you on the web?
Giveaway!
Two commenters who leave their email address AND whether U.S./Int'l in the comments will win a prize! P.J. is offering 1) an autographed copy of the hardcover edition of RELENTLESS (open to U.S. only) and 2) a $25 Amazon gift card (open to U.S. & Int'l). Contest open through midnight EST on Sunday, April 1! No fooling! *winks* Winners to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!
Now, leave P.J. some new release love and, if you were like me as a kid, fess up if you had a childhood love affair with horses, unicorns or pegasuses! *grins*
Thanks for reading,
Laura & P.J.
