BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH KATHRYN J. BAIN'S TRACY ALLEN

Today we’re joined by Tracy Allen, the protagonist in author Kathryn J. Bain’s Fade to the Edge.

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings? 

I felt like I was finally pulling my life back together after my husband left me. But no, she has to come along and terrorize me.

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself? 

How much I love my family. 

What do you like least about yourself? 

I have no self-confidence. For a while now, I’ve felt like I just don’t have much of a life without my husband or son.

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you? 

My husband had a mistress, and this crazy author thought it would be a good idea for me to break into her condominium. Me, the one person afraid of her own shadow. What was she thinking? But I’d do anything to get my son back.

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?

No, I don’t argue much with anyone. I just go along.

What is your greatest fear? 

I always thought it was Ross Ridge, but it turned out to be losing my child.

What makes you happy? 

Watching my son play baseball. He’s good, even at seven-years-old. It’s fun to watch him nod my way when he’s getting ready to steal a base. 

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why? 

I would rewrite the part where my son disappeared, then the bad things that occurred after would never have happened. 

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why? 

No question, Jenny, my sister. She has such confidence that I wish I had, yet at times she’s also very condescending.

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why? 

Definitely my best friend Vonnie. She’s a success with her boutique business. And her husband loves her so much. She doesn’t have to worry about her family ever falling apart.

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog? 

Kathryn J. Bain, my author, has a website at www.kathrynjbain.com where she has a weekly Christian blog. 

What's next for you? 

I’m thinking of moving. That might help me forget some of what occurred. I’m definitely going to get a job so I don’t have to worry about being supported by anyone. I’ve learned I can take care of myself. And I will.

Fade to the Edge (pre-order now; on sale 11/15)

Where’s DJ?

A question that torments Tracy Allen. If she hadn’t slept in, her son would be safe. Only one person could be responsible. Her soon to be ex. But when he’s murdered, and DJ’s still not found, she knows something more sinister is going on than a custody battle.

A mother should keep her child safe. But she didn’t. And now the same question slams into her soul over and over again.

Where’s DJ?

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY - GUEST AUTHOR KATHRYN J. BAIN

To survive and pay bills, Kathryn J. Bain has worked as a paralegal for over twenty years. She began writing more than ten years ago and has since published several books. Today she joins us at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers to talk about the “What if” game. Learn more about Kathryn and her books at her website. -- AP

The “What if” Game

As a writer, I am always asked where do I come up with ideas for my stories. One of the places authors find to be a goldmine is the news. Dick Wolf of Law & Order fame was wonderful at “ripped from the headlines” stories.

How did he do it? He took a news story and asked “what if”. For instance, take the election back in November. Here are just a couple of “what if’s” I came up with:

1.             What if one of the lesser known candidates won,

2.             Or no one won,

3.             Or what if a write-in candidate won?

Another recent news story was the man who kidnapped and held a five year-old boy in a bunker for seven days. Thankfully, the child is now home safe. But what’s a good “what if” for that? Here are some of mine:

1.             What if the man was the boy’s father who thought his son was being abused,

2.             Or a man who lost his son and wanted to replace him,

3.             Or an ex-boyfriend angry with the boy’s mother?

Now it’s your turn. Take the news story of the thirty-three co-workers who won a one million dollar lottery ticket and give us a “what if” on it.   

I’ll almost bet an idea just popped into your head. I’d love to hear what you thought up.

Of course, now you’ll be mad at me because every time you hear a news story, you’ll be asking yourself “what if”.

Knight & Day

A name can mean a lot. You expect a Jasper to be the CEO of a company. Name your son Phineas, well, he might get beat up a lot. However if you chose to call your daughter Trubleh (True blay), you get what you ask for.

Trubleh Lawrence makes a habit out of discovering dead bodies. When the police look to her as a suspect, she has no choice but to search for the killer. If that’s not bad enough, she has to deal with a grandmother who has visions, a co-worker who makes the Wicked Witch of the West look like Shirley Temple, and a guy who constantly reminds her that celibacy is hard when a hot male's around.

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