Diving In: Contemporary Romance

Posted: September 4, 2017/By: achristay@aol.com

Please welcome Kristina Mathews author of Diving In.

Kristina author of Diving In will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Diving In

by Kristina Mathews

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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INTERVIEW:

What or who inspired you to start writing?

Just like I can’t remember a time before I could read, I don’t remember a time before writing. Bad poetry about teenage crushes, a really bad country song about becoming lifelong friends over a shared college love interest, or English papers that were good enough to be read aloud in front of the class, I’ve always been a writer. But it wasn’t until I turned forty that I really took the steps necessary to become published. I joined Romance Writers of America and found a chapter in nearby Sacramento in 2010. My first book came out in 2014.

How did you come up with ideas for your books?

What expertise did you bring to your writing?

The original idea for the whitewater rafting series came about after my husband and his brother rescued someone from the river while they were out fishing. The story just grew from there. My husband was a raft guide when we met. He had these really funky tan lines on his feet and impressed me with tales of his adventures on the river. Our first trip together was a long weekend on the Tuolumne River with his brothers and their friends. He bought me a lifejacket long before he ever bought me jewelry. He bought be a second lifejacket for our 21^st wedding anniversary.

What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

I am truly grateful and often amazed at the support I’ve received about my books. I still remember how good it felt to hear my English teacher read one of my papers aloud and hearing the feedback before anyone knew who wrote it. Getting a message from readers, reading a review, or hearing someone say they enjoy my books is like that only a thousand times better.

As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans

I’m working on a new small town romance series. There will be a billionaire handyman, a world-class skier, a fly-fishing feminist, just to name a few of the characters. Throw in a castle, some crystals, and a not-so-haunted hotel in a small town experiencing growing pains as they become more well known for their recreational activities and tourist attractions.

If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

In many ways I wish I was more like Fisher Jones. She’s a stud on the river. Strong, confident, and ready for anything. She’s comfortable in her skin, and can keep up with any man in the great outdoors. Yet she has to learn how to come to terms with her femininity and vulnerability when she’s behind closed doors.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

I’m afraid all the actors I could name are too old to play the parts.

When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

I went on a four day river trip with my family and read all the books I’d packed on the way up to Oregon. Our last stop before getting on the river was a Rite Aid, and they had a limited selection of bestsellers. I picked up a book by a super famous author I’d never read before since there was only a glamourous author photo on the back cover, not a blurb about the story. But I was desperate. I wanted to throw the darn thing in the river so many times after reading “he was charming, yet irresponsible” and “He was irresponsible, but so charming.” Over and over and over. It was the kind of book that made me wonder how in the world had she sold so many millions of copies. I decided I needed to write the kinds of books I wanted to read.

What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

The best advice is to find what works for me. And to keep writing. The worst advice was that I wouldn’t make any money until I published my third book, then it was the fifth, or maybe it’s the tenth. The truth is that no one really knows what will make a book/series/author take off.

Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I am trying to have more of a general outline, and my publisher asks for a short synopsis of the whole series before they send a contract. I usually start with a goal, motivation, and conflict for the two main characters, but I don’t really know the story until I start writing it.

Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?

My biggest hobby is probably reading, but it’s more of a necessity, like food or water or sleep.

I enjoy whitewater rafting with my family. We did a five day river trip this summer, and we take friends down the American River on the weekends. My oldest son has followed his father’s footsteps and works as a guide. He comes with us on his days off. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and exercise.

I am learning to ski. After almost 30 years, my husband has finally convinced this Tahoe girl to hit the slopes. He’s a ski team coach and my youngest is still on the high school team. My oldest graduated but helped out with the training and races. If I’m going to spend time with my boys before they move on, I’d better get used to riding a chair lift.

I am a huge baseball fan, even when my team has gone from the best team in world to the worst. But I still wear my San Francisco Giants hats with pride and strike up conversations with random strangers about how well our team is or isn’t doing at the moment.

All of these passions make their way into my books at some point.

BLURB: DIVING IN

The sweetest revenge . . .

He’s the Swift brother who got left behind, the son abandoned by his father. Now Kyle Swift is a man determined to destroy the whitewater rafting empire built by the half-brothers he never knew, the Swift sons who got the life—and the love—he was denied. Seducing Fisher Jones isn’t part of his revenge, but sharing a bed with the beautiful whitewater instructor is the one bright spot in his otherwise dark plan. That is, if he manages not to fall for the sad-eyed beauty . . .

Fearless when it comes to facing even the most daunting river rapids, Fisher never takes chances with her love life—until the night she gets swept away by a sexy stranger. But when her one-night stand unexpectedly shows up in her whitewater class, Fisher faces her greatest challenge yet: keeping her heart safe from a man determined to put an end to the family business—and the life—she holds dear. . .

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EXCERPT: DIVING IN

Life is good.

At least that’s what it said on the front of Fisher Jones’s T-shirt. Standing in the parking lot of the American River Grill—the Argo to the locals—she accepted congratulations and hugs from her friends and co-workers. They had been celebrating her recent promotion to river operations manager. She’d be in charge of the rafting part of the Swift River Adventure Company and Resort.

No one knew she’d been crafting a letter of resignation. One she’d been working on for weeks. No, months. But she didn’t have the courage to hand it in. She loved life on the American River. Taking visitors down the river was always a thrill. Whether it was someone’s first time or they were return customers, they always had a blast. She especially enjoyed helping people rise to the challenge of stepping outside their comfort zones.

Fisher loved her job. That wasn’t the problem.

The problem was she loved her boss. Her married, with children, boss. Four years ago, at this very bar, Cody Swift had hit on her. It being her first night in Prospector Springs, she had brushed him off. A good thing, since the very next morning she’d started her first day as his assistant guide.

Although she’d seen dozens of women floating in and out of his bed, she’d come to know the real Cody. The man behind the fun-loving, life-of-the-party persona. They’d developed a friendship. And somewhere along the line, her feelings had deepened.

She had hoped, after his twin brother, Carson, met and married Lily, Cody might consider settling down and sticking with one woman.

And that’s exactly what he did. Only it was Miranda who had managed to capture his heart. And then she gave him two beautiful, perfect twin daughters, Ava and Addy.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kristina Mathews doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t have a book in her hand. Or in her head. But it wasn’t until she turned forty that she confessed the reason the laundry never made it out of the dryer was because she was busy writing.

While she resigned from teaching with the arrival of her second son, she’s remained an educator in some form. As a volunteer, parent club member or para educator, she finds the most satisfaction working with emergent and developing readers, helping foster confidence and a lifelong love of books. She proudly tells her students that she writes romance novels that they can read when they’re older.

Kristina lives in Northern California with her husband of more than twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A veteran road tripper, amateur renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one day travel all 3,073 miles of Highway 50 from Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD, replace her carpet with hardwood floors, and throw out the first pitch for the San Francisco Giants.

Social Media Links

www.kristinamathews.com

www.facebook.com/kristinamathewsauthor

https://twitter.com/KristinaMathews

https://amazon.com/author/kristinamathews

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7870884.Kristina_Mathews

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristina-mathews

Buy Links:

Diving In

https://www.amazon.com/Diving-Swift-Romance-Kristina-Mathews-ebook/dp/B01LJKU4TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489941503&sr=8-1&keywords=9781601839244

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/diving-in/id1153378960?mt=11

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kristina_Mathews_Diving_In?id=jqX4DAAAQBAJ