The Jade Hunter by A.B. Michaels

Posted: July 30, 2019/By: achristay@aol.com

Please welcome A.B. Michaels author of The Jade Hunter

A.B. Michael will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

The Jade Hunters

by A.B. Michaels

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

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INTERVIEW:

Who or what inspired you to start writing? Most writers will tell you they always wanted to write, and I’m no exception. But I goofed in that I worked in a profession for many years (marketing and public relations) that required me to write, and because I wrote a lot during the day (brochures, ads, press kits, etc.) I didn’t feel the urge to write when I wasn’t working. However, I read a lot during that time and learned what makes good fiction. Eventually I figured, “Hey, I can write a story like that.” So I did!

How did you come up with ideas for your books? Growing up, I lived in northern California, and I went to graduate school in San Francisco, so I know that city. After many years of living and working in Los Angeles, I moved to Marin County (just north of San Francisco), which is beautiful, especially the western part near the ocean. I imagined a heavenly little bayside town there, which I named “Little Eden.” Now, you know where there’s Eden, there’s got to be some sin, so that led to my “Sinner’s Grove” series. And once I started imagining how Sinner’s Grove came about, thatled me to begin writing my historical fiction series, “The Golden City,” about San Francisco during America’s Gilded Age.

What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?It’s not in my bio, but I do put quirky parts of myself in my books. In The Jade Hunters, for example, I give each of my protagonists a phobia that I possess: a fear of heights and a fear of enclosed spaces. They each have one, but I got saddled with both—how unfair is that?!! The good news is, I don’t have a fear of spiders (at least little ones…)

As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?I currently write in two series, one contemporary (Sinner’s Grove) and one historical (The Golden City). They are related to each other through the characters and the setting. I have ideas in mind to expand both series, but of course I can’t leave well enough alone: I’m now working on a spin-off mystery series for each time period! Half of my books contain mysteries and I love the challenge of writing them—plus I want to write a relationship story arc that extends beyond one book. So many ideas…stay tuned!

Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder your writing? I used to belong to a critique group but selfishly, I found it too time-consuming; I really just wanted to spend the time writing instead of reading and analyzing other writers’ work. Now I have a good friend (and fellow writer) who beta reads my work (as I do hers); after that I work with a professional editor. Having someone else give you honest feedback about your work before it’s published is soooo important; every writer should do it in some form or another.

Do you outline your books or just start writing? First I do a lot of thinking (in the shower, walking the dogs, lying in bed at three in the morning, etc.) about a character or a storyline that’s popped into my head. I also do a lot of reading (especially for my historicals). The reading gives me more ideas that I think about. Eventually I come up with a story that I put down in narrative form. It’s not exactly an outline, but it’s a pretty good rendition of what I think the story is about. And I start filling in the details from there. So, does that make me a “semi-pantser”?!

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? Yes, I travel a lot, and that shows up in my work. The Lair, for instance (Sinner’s Grove, Book Two) takes place in Verona, Italy, which I have visited a couple of times. I also play pinochle, which shows up in The Jade Hunters. At home I love to quilt and play golf such as with a retractable screen; those haven’t shown up yet, but I imagine I’ll work them into some story down the road!

Do you have an all time favorite book? Oh, that’s a tough one—there are so many to love for different reasons! I have several that have inspired me over the years. One that comes to mind immediately, however, is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I dearly love that novel because it is so well-constructed—everything happens for a reason that becomes apparent by the end. And the title character? A brilliant creation by the author: Owen stays with you long after the book is over.

Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book? I’ve got several irons in the fire, but one I’m working on is a mystery series that involves Dr. Leo Brunt, a professor/art broker/investigator whom the reader meets in The Jade Hunters. Leo is about to meet his match (a lovely ex-FBI agent) and embark on a journey that not only transcends geography but time. Can’t wait to see what adventures they get into!

Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series. First of all, I love it! Once you’ve created a group of characters and a setting to put them in, it becomes easier to come up with new stories because you’ve already built much of your fictional world and connections come naturally. Reggie Firestone from The Jade Hunters, for example, has a cousin Ava who is mentioned in the beginning of the novel. Ava is going through some tough times, and it’s going to get much tougher for her and her daughter in the novel I have in mind (I also know who her love interest is going to be because he was introduced in Sinner’s Grove, the first book of the series). Another reason I love to write in a series is because I hate the thought of never seeing some of my characters again—after spending so much time with them, I’ve grown to love them!

BLURB:

Award-winning jewelry designer Regina Firestone is proud to exhibit her famous grandmother’s multi-million dollar “bauble” collection at the grand re-opening of The Grove Center for American Art, known among the locals as “Sinner’s Grove.”

The fact that she’s considering modeling the jewels in the nude like her grandmother did infuriates photographer Walker Banks, a co-owner of The Grove who’s in charge of the exhibit. Neither is willing to admit the real reason for the sparks between them.

Their argument takes a back seat when Reggie discovers that one of the most compelling pieces in the collection is not at all what it seems. Tracking down the truth will take the couple into the dark heart of a quest that’s lasted more than a century, one in which destroying human lives—including Reggie’s and Walker’s—means nothing in the pursuit of a twisted sense of justice.

The Jade Hunters is Book Three of Michaels’ contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove Suspense.” The series follows the descendants of characters introduced in Michaels’ historical fiction series, “The Golden City.”

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EXCERPT:

“The Modeling Session”

“Now, if you’ll sit on the couch and hand me your robe, we can get started.”

Walker continued in that manner, directing her in a calm, dispassionate voice. She, on the other hand, was positively humming inside, titillated beyond belief that he was fully clothed and she was completely naked. What did he think of her? He had to be comparing her to the photos of her grandmother. Was she measuring up? She shivered involuntarily.

“Would you like me to turn up the heat?” he asked.

It can’t get much hotter than this, can it? Except if maybe you were naked, too. “No, I’m warm enough,” she managed… He captured several poses and then, as he’d done with the first stone, took the camera off its stand and took a series of hand-held shots from various angles. As he moved, he’d call out a running patter of gentle commands and comments like, “Look here,” “Turn quickly,” “That’s it” and “Give me sultry.”

Reggie thought back to the facial expressions her grandmother had used as a young model and tried to emulate them. A chuckle burst out instead.

Walker lowered his camera. “What’s so funny?”

“I was trying for ‘sultry’ like grandmama, but I can’t do it. I wouldn’t know how to do it.”

He paused with his camera by his side. “You really have no idea, do you?” His voice held a touch of wonder and he murmured, almost to himself, “No idea at all.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing fiction, which is the hardest thing she’s ever done besides raise two boys. She lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in in Boise, Idaho, where she is often distracted by kayaking, playing bocce, and trying to hit a golf ball more than fifty yards. Reading and travel figure into the mix, leading her to hope that sometime soon, someone invents a 25+ hour day. Her historical fiction series, “The Golden City,” explores America’s Gilded Age and its effect on characters, both actual and fictional, while her contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove Suspense,” follows descendants of The Golden City as they navigate today’s equally treacherous waters. She is currently expanding both series.

Website:

https://abmichaels.com

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/abmichaelsauthor

Facebook (Profile):

https://www.facebook.com/A.B.MichaelsWriter

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/abmichaelsbooks

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ABMichaelsBooks

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NQ186L7