Deadly Memories
WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST Amnesia may be keeping Ella Weiss from remembering her past—but not from saving the little boy who's been her fellow prisoner the last seven years. After managing to escape her cell, all she wants is to find where little Joseph is being kept. Instead she runs straight into CIA agent Kyle Jennings. Kyle isn't sure if Ella is actually a kidnap victim or if she's working for the gunrunner he's been after. One thing he is certain of is her uncanny resemblance to the wife he thought he'd buried. To save a child's life and stop a terrorist from slipping through his fingers, he'll need to uncover the secrets of Ella's past—and whether or not she's really the woman he's never stopped loving.
- ISBN: 0373457154
- Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Interview with Mary Alford
Mary, what is the setting for Deadly Memories and how did you research it?
The story starts out at the prison where Ella and Joseph are being held in Afghanistan, then it goes back to the States where CIA Agent Kyle Jennings our hero takes Ella to her hometown of Mountain Song, West Virginia to try and help her remember her forgotten past.
I’ve never been to either Afghanistan or West Virginia so I relied heavily on online researches for both the areas. It’s amazing what you can learn just from a simple click of the mouse.
Which part of Deadly Memories was the hardest to write?
The hardest part for me was writing about Joseph, the little boy who was held captive with Ella. The boy was just a baby when he came to the prison. Ella’s captors used her love for Joseph to try and get her to do what they wanted.
When you sit down to write, do you use aids, such as dramatic music, to help you attain or maintain the right mood for your story?
Sometimes it’s hard to be in the right frame of mind to create a story, but I’ve never really been one to use aids to write. I have my trusty laptop that allows me to write just about anywhere.
Are you a plotter or pantser when it comes to writing romantic suspense as opposed to sweet romance?
I’m definitely a pantser. It’s just who I am. I’ve tried to be more organized and plot out everything before I start writing, but it’s not me. I do usually let the story simmer in my head for a few days before I begin writing it down.
Do you use beta readers to gauge the level of suspense in your story before you submit to your editor?
I do use beta readers from time to time. I have a great group of ladies on my street team that are always willing to pitch in and help in any way.
Where's your favorite place to write?
My favorite spot is my living room in a comfy chair where I can tune out the distractions around me and just focus on the story, but occasionally when the weather permits, I go outside and write in the great outdoors.
Do your stories include animals?
I do love to include animals when it fits with the story. For instance, there was a Pug in my first Love Inspired Book, Forgotten Past, and in my upcoming 2018 Love Inspired Book there will be another dog, a Golden Retriever named after my dog Callie. I also love cats. I have three myself. They find their way into my stories as well.
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Anita Mae Draper is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada with her hubby of 30 plus years and their youngest of 4 kids. She writes historical romance set in Canada and the United States.
Romantic Refinements, Novella 2 in the Austen in Austin Volume 1 collection by WhiteFire Publishing released in January 2016. This 4-novella collection of stories set in historic Austin, Texas is based on the novels of Jane Austen.
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