Kelly Underwood’s favorite things are reading, writing, and drinking coffee. She was born in New Hampshire, but don’t ask her about snow, because she’s been a Florida girl since she was twelve. Her debut novel with Sunrise Publishing gave Kelly the opportunity to work with Lynette Eason as her mentor and lead author. Defending Honor, part of the Elite Guardians series, was published in October 2022. Defending Honor placed third in the Romantic Suspense category for the Selah Awards, and recently became a finalist in the Carol Awards. Her next writing project is a novella in the Elite Guardians universe that was published in the Christmas in the Crosshairs collection.
She also writes book reviews for her blog, Best in Suspense, and is an active member of the Central Florida chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She’s a sucker for a good suspense novel, the kind you have to read cover-to-cover until the mystery is solved and the bad guys are in handcuffs. If you’re looking for her, she’s probably on her back patio with her golden retriever, a Kindle in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Visit Kelly Underwood online
She also writes book reviews for her blog, Best in Suspense, and is an active member of the Central Florida chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She’s a sucker for a good suspense novel, the kind you have to read cover-to-cover until the mystery is solved and the bad guys are in handcuffs. If you’re looking for her, she’s probably on her back patio with her golden retriever, a Kindle in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Christmas in the Crosshairs
Billionaire Preston Whittaker and bodyguard Laila Rabbinowitz just can’t get a break. Not only are their schedules so crazy they’ve put their relationship on simmer, but on their way to the mountains for much-needed togetherness…yep, their plane crashes. Suddenly they’re stranded on a remote mountainside in freezing temperatures, minimal food, wildlife, and no hope of rescue.
And then, the real danger starts. Someone deliberately caused the wreck, and that person is hunting them through the wilderness.
Now, it’ll take more than togetherness to survive…
- ISBN: 1953783562
- Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Interview with Kelly Underwood
When Kelly isn’t googling chickens on a leash, or taking care of her golden retriever puppy, you can find her sitting on her patio with a good book. Thankfully, the Defending Honor author took a few moments to chat with us about her recent release as part of the Christmas in the Crosshairs novella collection!
* * * * *
What made you want to become an author?
I started writing for the fun of it. I loved reading and had a million story ideas running through my head. One day, I took a day off from work, went to a coffee shop with a laptop, and let the words and caffeine flow. And once I started, I told myself to finish, even if it was the worst thing ever written or if it took me twenty years. I finally finished a draft—it wasn’t the worst and only took me five years. With a draft in hand, I took some classes to fine tune my manuscript and saw the opportunity with Sunrise. I submitted a proposal and was chosen to write in the Elite Guardian story world.
What did you learn while writing Christmas in the Crosshairs?
I love working with other authors. Kate Angelo, Sami A. Abrams, and I had to do a lot of coordination to keep our stories consistent. I learned how to write with the continuity of other stories in mind, which can be challenging at times. Especially when I don’t remember my own character’s names but have to remember Kate’s and Sami’s! They put up with my frequent messages as I tried to get all the details right, but it was a blast to work with both of them.
What was the best part about working with Sunrise Publishing?
I love the community! Sunrise has fabulous authors from multiple genres, from all over the country (and internationally). I love meeting new people and we really have become a family. It’s been great to know other authors are praying for me and encouraging me. But also, I’ve been blessed with some fantastic mentors. I’ve learned so much and my writing has improved in just a few years.
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
It would be a random assortment of things! I just checked my history, and apparently I wanted to see pictures of a chicken on a leash, mainly because I didn’t think it was possible. Who’s walking a chicken on a leash? But according to Google, it’s a thing! I’m a visual person, so if I’m writing, I’m always Googling pictures of things or places so I can better describe them. Maybe someday I’ll add a chicken on a leash into a story. You never know when that info might come in handy.
What do you want readers to take away from Christmas in the Crosshairs?
I hope readers enjoy the opportunity to check in on characters from the prior Elite Guardian novels. Laila and Preston are back and find themselves in trouble again. I love to entertain with lots of suspenseful plot twists, but also spiritual twists to get readers thinking.
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
I’d love to sit down with someone like Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle – the great classic mystery and suspense writers. Their works have withstood the test of time, and their characters still resonate with people. How many of Christie’s books have been made into movies? She’s still the queen of suspense. I’d love to see what she thinks of modern day suspense and if she thought 100 years later people would be still reading her books and keeping her legacy alive. And I love all things Sherlock! It would be awesome to have coffee with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, just to get his take on modern society! Maybe we can watch the BBC version of Sherlock (the one with Benedict Cumberbatch) and see what he thinks of it.
What’s your go-to drink(or snack) while writing?
Coffee coffee coffee. I like to get out of my house to write and find myself at coffeeshops quite a bit.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t give up! Keep going. You never know what’s around the corner, so keep moving forward and keep writing.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
I love spending time with family and friends when I’m not writing. Game nights, cookouts, or just hanging out. I live in Florida, so there’s always the occasional trip to a theme park or hanging out by the pool. I also have a golden retriever puppy who’s about to turn one year old, which might as well be a full-time job. She’s adorable, so I love dog parks and playing with her. Of course, I love to read. I’ve got a nice patio (with A/C!) and I love to sit in the backyard with a good book.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
I’m currently reading Ronie Kendig’s latest release in the new A Breed Apart series, Havoc. I love the action and suspense of military working dogs and I love all things Ronie. I tend to always have a book on my Kindle and an audiobook going at the same time, and my next audio book in the line-up is Jaime Jo Wright’s The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater. I love the spooky vibe, perfect for the fall season. But I’m impatiently waiting for the latest release in Lisa Phillip’s Brand of Justice series – Dust and Ashes. The last book in the series was a cliff hanger and I don’t do cliff hangers. I need to know what happens next.
What can we look forward to next?
More Elite Guardians! Another season of Elite Guardians is coming next year, and I’m introducing a new bodyguard. And we’re moving the story to Savannah, GA. I can’t wait to share this story with readers!
____________________________
Jessica Baker loves sharing her passion for reading with others and connecting readers with authors. In addition to blogging at A Baker’s Perspective, Jessica is a virtual assistant, proofreader, and runs her own business. Though she wishes she had a library like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Jessica realizes the importance of sharing her books with the world to tell the story, and donates many books to her local library. Jessica Baker lives Central New York with her husband, teenage daughter, beagle, three cats, and four ducks.
* * * * *
What made you want to become an author?
I started writing for the fun of it. I loved reading and had a million story ideas running through my head. One day, I took a day off from work, went to a coffee shop with a laptop, and let the words and caffeine flow. And once I started, I told myself to finish, even if it was the worst thing ever written or if it took me twenty years. I finally finished a draft—it wasn’t the worst and only took me five years. With a draft in hand, I took some classes to fine tune my manuscript and saw the opportunity with Sunrise. I submitted a proposal and was chosen to write in the Elite Guardian story world.
What did you learn while writing Christmas in the Crosshairs?
I love working with other authors. Kate Angelo, Sami A. Abrams, and I had to do a lot of coordination to keep our stories consistent. I learned how to write with the continuity of other stories in mind, which can be challenging at times. Especially when I don’t remember my own character’s names but have to remember Kate’s and Sami’s! They put up with my frequent messages as I tried to get all the details right, but it was a blast to work with both of them.
What was the best part about working with Sunrise Publishing?
I love the community! Sunrise has fabulous authors from multiple genres, from all over the country (and internationally). I love meeting new people and we really have become a family. It’s been great to know other authors are praying for me and encouraging me. But also, I’ve been blessed with some fantastic mentors. I’ve learned so much and my writing has improved in just a few years.
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
It would be a random assortment of things! I just checked my history, and apparently I wanted to see pictures of a chicken on a leash, mainly because I didn’t think it was possible. Who’s walking a chicken on a leash? But according to Google, it’s a thing! I’m a visual person, so if I’m writing, I’m always Googling pictures of things or places so I can better describe them. Maybe someday I’ll add a chicken on a leash into a story. You never know when that info might come in handy.
What do you want readers to take away from Christmas in the Crosshairs?
I hope readers enjoy the opportunity to check in on characters from the prior Elite Guardian novels. Laila and Preston are back and find themselves in trouble again. I love to entertain with lots of suspenseful plot twists, but also spiritual twists to get readers thinking.
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
I’d love to sit down with someone like Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle – the great classic mystery and suspense writers. Their works have withstood the test of time, and their characters still resonate with people. How many of Christie’s books have been made into movies? She’s still the queen of suspense. I’d love to see what she thinks of modern day suspense and if she thought 100 years later people would be still reading her books and keeping her legacy alive. And I love all things Sherlock! It would be awesome to have coffee with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, just to get his take on modern society! Maybe we can watch the BBC version of Sherlock (the one with Benedict Cumberbatch) and see what he thinks of it.
What’s your go-to drink(or snack) while writing?
Coffee coffee coffee. I like to get out of my house to write and find myself at coffeeshops quite a bit.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t give up! Keep going. You never know what’s around the corner, so keep moving forward and keep writing.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
I love spending time with family and friends when I’m not writing. Game nights, cookouts, or just hanging out. I live in Florida, so there’s always the occasional trip to a theme park or hanging out by the pool. I also have a golden retriever puppy who’s about to turn one year old, which might as well be a full-time job. She’s adorable, so I love dog parks and playing with her. Of course, I love to read. I’ve got a nice patio (with A/C!) and I love to sit in the backyard with a good book.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
I’m currently reading Ronie Kendig’s latest release in the new A Breed Apart series, Havoc. I love the action and suspense of military working dogs and I love all things Ronie. I tend to always have a book on my Kindle and an audiobook going at the same time, and my next audio book in the line-up is Jaime Jo Wright’s The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater. I love the spooky vibe, perfect for the fall season. But I’m impatiently waiting for the latest release in Lisa Phillip’s Brand of Justice series – Dust and Ashes. The last book in the series was a cliff hanger and I don’t do cliff hangers. I need to know what happens next.
What can we look forward to next?
More Elite Guardians! Another season of Elite Guardians is coming next year, and I’m introducing a new bodyguard. And we’re moving the story to Savannah, GA. I can’t wait to share this story with readers!
____________________________
Jessica Baker loves sharing her passion for reading with others and connecting readers with authors. In addition to blogging at A Baker’s Perspective, Jessica is a virtual assistant, proofreader, and runs her own business. Though she wishes she had a library like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Jessica realizes the importance of sharing her books with the world to tell the story, and donates many books to her local library. Jessica Baker lives Central New York with her husband, teenage daughter, beagle, three cats, and four ducks.
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