Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason-- Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sixteen lucky commenters on this tour will be winners: Kristine will be awarding $5 Amazon gift cards to six randomly drawn commenters during the tour as well as print books to ten other randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Five will be of Pick Me, a contemporary romance; and a gnome will come with the five copies of Shadow of Danger, book one of the suspense series. [US ONLY on the books]. To see the other stops on the tour, click the tour banner.

We LOVED this book. Please see our review, here. 

Thanks for visiting with us today, and answering all our burning questions!

Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I love suspenseful romantic thrillers, especially if it’s on the dark, gritty side and leaves me guessing until the end. Give me three-dimensional villains who have powerful motivation, and well-developed heroines and heroes who I can fall in love with while trying to figure out all the pieces to the storyline puzzle. I write romantic suspense because it gives me the freedom to go dark and go big. By going big I mean I’m able to write larger stories. I can add subplots and points of view from secondary characters that add more twists and turns to the overall mystery. What I really love about writing romantic suspense? My bad guys. I love trying to get into their heads and see what makes them tick. When I was writing the first book in my Shadow trilogy, Shadow of Danger, my bad guy actually visited me in a dream. He knocked on my door and when I saw him, I slammed the door in his face. Bad guys aren’t allowed to invade my sleep. With four kids, I don’t get enough as it is!

What research is required?

I’ve created my own agency (CORE), which gives me the license to write things I might not be able to if I were writing characters who work with, for example, the FBI. BUT, I still have to be accurate. There are certain procedures and protocols that must be followed to make the story believable, so I do plenty of research on law enforcement. Each suspense book I write requires different types of research. In Shadow of Perception, I did a lot of research on plastic surgery, child beauty pageants and even coyotes (if you read the book you’ll know why!). In the book I’m currently writing, Shadow of Vengeance, I had a scenario that I wasn’t quite sure about. I tried to find the answers I was looking for online, but came up empty. So, I sent a text to my neighbor, who’s married to a cop. The text began with, “I have a dead body tied to a tree…” My neighbor texted back, “Please tell me this is for a book.” After I had a good laugh, I assured her I didn’t snap and that I don’t currently have a dead body tied to a tree in my backyard. By the way, her husband did come through for me and answered my question. It’s a good thing they know me. Otherwise I might be on his radar!

Name one thing you learned from your heroine.

My critique partner loves to use Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s quote, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” I kept that quote in mind as I wrote my heroine. Not only to enhance her character, but also to remind myself that I need to continue to take risks and challenge myself.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a bit of both. Before I begin a book, I always know the basic plot, who my characters are and where I plan to take them. But, I don’t sit down and write out all the story details before writing them. I just write. When I reach a certain point in the book, usually around two thirds of the way through, that’s when I force myself to create a detailed plot for the rest of the book. My method might not be the best, but it works for me!

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A glass of vodka & Fresca and a sippy cup. The vodka is mine and the sippy cup is my two-year-old daughter’s, who is thankfully asleep. It’s Friday night as I write this. My husband took our three sons to the local, high school football game and the house is blessedly quiet. For now.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I’m almost finished with the third book in my Shadow trilogy, Shadow of Vengeance. In this story, CORE agents have to stop a serial killer who has been kidnapping and murdering male college students pledging Hell Week. I’ve had a lot of fun writing this book and am totally in love with my hero!

What happens when negligent plastic surgeons receive a taste of their own medicine…?

Chicago investigative reporter, Eden Risk, receives an unmarked envelope containing a postcard ordering her to watch the enclosed DVD…or someone else dies. No Police. After Eden watches the DVD, a gruesome, horrifying surgery, she turns to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, for help. Only she hadn’t expected that help to come with a catch. Her former lover, Hudson Patterson, has been assigned to the case.

Hudson would rather have another CORE agent handle the investigation. Two years ago, he’d screwed things up with Eden…bad. And as more DVDs arrive, Eden and Hudson find themselves not only knee-deep in a twisted investigation, but forced to deal with their past, and the love they’d tried to deny.

Enjoy the following excerpt:

AUTHOR'S NOTE: BAD GUY'S POV

The alarm on his watch beeped, reminding him what he’d already known. His patient would be waking soon, and by the low moan from the other room, he would have to act fast before the bastard regained full consciousness. Sure, he’d strapped the man down, but he didn’t want to miss the look on the shithead’s face when his eyes fluttered open, only to discover he’d just woken up in hell.

As he was about to exit the office, though, shame suddenly clouded his judgment. What he’d spent seven long years preparing for went beyond immoral and had his conscience battling with his anger and need for revenge. Sweat coated his skin and trickled down his back. His heart quickened and his head grew dizzy with the onslaught of a panic attack. Until he glanced at the letter he had framed and hung on the wall. The final contact he would ever have from his beloved daughter. While he’d memorized Eliza’s words, each bold and bubbly stroke of her script, he honed in on one line in particular for encouragement.

Make them listen, Daddy.

Another moan, this time even louder, filtered into the office. His head cleared, his heart slowed to normal, and an eerie calm settled over him.

“They’ll do more than listen, baby,” he whispered, rage suddenly sweeping away any thoughts of immorality or ethics or principles. Screw those things. Screw those quacks who had destroyed his daughter’s life.

Without hesitation he left the office and entered the main section of the thirty-by-fifty steel garage. He hadn’t needed the entire space and had chosen to fulfill his plans in the west corner of the building, where the lighting was best and the bathroom and utility sink were closest. Things would become messy after all.

I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good had come from writing it. I realized my passion, and had found a career that I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

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