Monday, July 21, 2014

Interview and Giveaway with Alexa Grace


What inspired you to become an author?

I've wanted to write books since childhoodI wrote a romantic suspense novel in 1985, went the traditional route and it was not published.  I made a career change that year and for the next 25 plus years, I devoted myself 100% to my corporate training management positions.  When I lost my corporate job in 2011, I did a lot of Internet research in self-publishing.  Indie authors like Theresa Ragan and John Locke really motivated me to take the Indie route. Like them, I wanted to retain control of book design, writing, marketing, etc.  Thus, my Indie journey began.


How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

The title PROFILE OF TERROR refers to the terror a community would experience if two teenaged thrill killers and an escape serial killer were abducting and killing at will.  The title also ties in ex-federal agent Carly Stone's creation of profiles that will help the Shawnee County Sheriff Team find their killers before another life is lost.

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?
I create the title of each book before I start writing.  I always have a general idea of what the book will be about.


Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

I hope I am successful in communicating that women need to take measures to make sure they are safe at all times.   In DEADLY DECEPTION, my character, Frankie Douglas, teaches a women's self-defense class.  Her message in this scene is the importance of the 'leave-me-the-hell-alone' body language” when women are out alone in public.  Here is another lesson Frankie taught: 
"Another woman asked, "What if the worst happens and you are the victim of a carjacker?"
"For one thing, you don't consider yourself a victim — ever.  Right?  My best girlfriend was abducted last year and she did what I'd do if it happened to me.  She was scared, but she kept her wits about her.  She was driving and knew she was protected by a seat belt as well as an airbag.  Her attacker was in the backseat pressing a gun to her cheek and wasn’t protected by either.  She rammed her SUV into a large tree.  The impact sent her attacker flying over the seat into the dash and knocking him unconscious long enough for her to escape."

In PROFILE OF TERROR, character Carly Stone teaches Frankie's self-defense course since Frankie has just given birth. Carly teaches how critical it is for women to be acutely aware of their surroundings at all time.  Here is a scene from the book:
"A woman sitting next to Kaitlyn raised her hand.  Carly recognized her as a waitress from Mollie's café.  "I've heard that jerks who attack women look for certain things before they make their move.  Is that true?"
"Yes." Carly said, nodding her head.  "Just like predators in the wild, human predators have a mental process for choosing their victims.  One of the things they favor is women wearing a ponytail or braid because it can be easily grabbed.  Clothing on women that predators prefer are short skirts, which can be easy for them to remove or push up, or anything with straps, like a camisole, that can be cut." 
Carly turned to write on the whiteboard behind her with a black marker.  She wrote "Don't look like a victim."  Facing the class again, she was pleased to see most of the women taking notes.
"When you are out in public, don't look like a victim.  Try to stay in areas with more people, and walk with a purpose, with confidence.  Predators go after the weak, so make sure your facial expression says, 'Don't mess with me.'"
On the whiteboard, Carly wrote "Always be aware of your surroundings." 
"That means don't allow technology to distract you.  One thing I hate to see is a woman jogging, listening to her iPod, seemingly lost in the music.  Please don't do this.  Pay attention at all times to what is going on around you.  Don't talk on your cell or listen to your iPod when you're alone in a public place.  Do a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree assessment.  Know who is in your immediate vicinity at all times."
The waitress raised her hand to ask another question.  "I usually get off work late at night.  Would you please talk a bit about car safety?"
"Absolutely," Carly said.  "Predators target places where you park your car, during the daytime as well as at night.  One thing you should do to proactively protect yourself is to have your keys in your hand."  She picked up her own keys.  "I like to thread each key between my fingers like this, so my keys become a weapon if needed.  Take out your keys and try this."

If you had to choose, which writer would you want to be your mentor?

I've never had a mentor, so if I could choose one, I'd choose a team of two: James Patterson and Nora Roberts.

What book are you reading now?

I am reading James Patterson's new book INVISIBLE which has to be his most chilling stand-alone book ever.  FBI research analyst, Emmy Dockery finds the link between hundreds of unsolved murder cases — but no one will believe her.  Add her ex, field agent Books Bookman and the two races against time to catch the prolific killer.  Lots of suspense and twists and turns.  My kind of book.



What books are in your to read pile?
Profile of Terror
Profile Series
Book Two
Alexa Grace

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Golden Publishing, L.L.C.

Date of Publication: May 2014

ISBN-10: 0985593962
ISBN-13: 978-0-9855939-6-4
ASIN: B00KAMWA7Y

Number of pages: 263
Word Count: 80,583

Cover Artist:  Christy Carlyle of Gilded Heart Design

Book Description:

A missing coed named Abby Reece.

Two clever thrill killers are committing the most brutal, public, and horrifying abductions and murders in the county’s history.  The killers, known as the Gamers, have done this before, and are now upping their evil game to a new level.  The question is — can they be stopped before they kill again?

Things get complicated.

When an ex-girlfriend goes missing, Private Investigator Gabe Chase is obsessed with finding her.  But once her naked and posed body is discovered, the investigator becomes the investigated.  His passion for the victim’s beautiful sister is a complication he doesn't need, as he helps solve the county’s most baffling, terrifying murder cases ever.

Add a sociopathic serial killer who calls himself the Master.

A serial killer so deadly, the FBI’s behavioral analysts want to know when and why he began killing, as well as the identification and location of additional victims.  He will speak only to former federal agent, Carly Stone, a woman he blames for his capture.  When the profiler finds herself at the mercy of this ruthless killer, his becomes the most terrifying profile of all.

Profile of Terror

Three chilling villains, two passionate love stories, and pulse-racing suspense with startling plot twists keep readers on the edge of their seats from page one of this heart-pounding and unforgettable romantic suspense.

Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/wZKSJmrHrRM   

Available at   Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon CA   Amazon AU   BN

Excerpt #2
Going down the stairs, Kaitlyn felt a little ball of need that burst to life in the pit of her stomach that could only mean one thing — she was physically attracted to Gabriel Chase, Private Investigator.  Seriously?  She gave herself a little shake.  No way.  She could not be attracted to this man.  Sure, the man was hotter than hot, and had a body designed purely to give a woman hours and hours of female pleasure.  But if he dated her sister, like Dr. Ramsey told her, he must be operating on less than half his brain power, and have no sexual scruples.  Why?  Because that was Abby's kind of man — eye candy on her arm on campus, no pressure from him for a real relationship, and like her, only in it for the sex.
Gabriel Chase was an amazing specimen of masculinity, who could undoubtedly get any woman he wanted.  She wanted a man who only had eyes for her.  And if he were the least bit attracted to her, it was probably for a one-night-stand.  And if there was one thing Kaitlyn didn't want, it was a fling.  She wanted to settle down with a man who was both a lover and a best friend — someone who was in it for the long haul.  She wanted happily ever after.
Compared to her sister, Kaitlyn was a Girl Scout with a badge in chastity.  Okay, she wasn't completely chaste, thanks to Mitch Bargo, her no-good ex-fiancé, who'd turned her world upside down.  And not in a good way.  Just the thought of Mitch sent her stomach swirling and her teeth gritting.
Kaitlyn got into her car, plopping down in the driver's seat, slamming the door, and then locking it.  As she turned the ignition on, a thought sizzled through her brain.  Knowing Abby as well as she did, she was convinced that Abby dumped Gabe.  As if she enjoyed it, her sister always had to be the one who broke up the non-relationship.  Abby didn't have relationships.  She hated the thought of being with any man more than a couple of weeks.  So if Dr. Ramsey was correct and Abby dated Gabe for a month, it was highly unusual.  For Abby, boredom always set in, and it was time to say good-bye.  Abby had a way of breaking up with a man that didn't include sensitivity or empathy.  The harder they took the break-up, the more she enjoyed it.
Her mind raced with all the possibilities, and one of them went on repeat.  She couldn't get rid of the thought, fear, or whatever it was.  What if Abby used her typical lack of finesse to break up with Gabe and she angered him so much that he made her disappear?  If a private investigator specialized in finding people, he could be a master in knowing how to make people vanish.  Right?




About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Alexa Grace began her writing journey in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she'd held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her childhood dream of writing books. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels.

Alexa Grace is consistently listed in top twenty of Amazon's Top 100 Most Popular Authors in the categories Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural.  In 2013, she was named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review. A chapter is devoted to her in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway.

Her books Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception, and Deadly Relations are listed in e-retailer's Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural Books.  Deadly Offerings has not left the top ten bestselling free mystery romance and police procedural books since 2011.

Deadly Holiday, published in November 2012, is her holiday-themed romantic suspense novella, featuring all her Deadly Trilogy characters.

Alexa Grace's book Deadly Relations is included in the bestselling book set The Perfect Ten along with Dianna Love, Norah Wilson, Nancy Naigle, Andrienne Giordano, Misty Evans, Sandy Blair, Mary Buckham, Tonya Kappes and Micah Caipa.

Profile of Evil, the first book of the Profile Series was published in May 2013. Profile of Terror was released in May 2014  and Profile of Fear will be released in 2015.

Earning two degrees from Indiana State University, Alexa currently lives in Florida. She's a member of Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate and emails from readers.

You can visit her website at - http://www.alexa-grace.net/

Subscribe to her newsletter at - http://eepurl.com/sJ-Df


Tweet her - @AlexaGrace2






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12 comments:

Unknown said...

I 've read all of Alexa Grace's books and I loved them all! Cannot wait for Profile of Fear to be released.

Trin said...

I love Alexas books I have read them all and can not wait for the next one !!!

kandy said...

Alexas books are very interesting and addictive they will keep you up at night just finishing the last chapter because you can't put it down

Lynne Costa said...

Just started reading Alexa's books and am hooked.Can't wait to read more.

Books Books and More Books said...

I have read every Alexa Grace multiple times but these excrepts make me want to read them again.

Jackie said...

I love reading Alexa's work! She weaves some awesome magic with her words.

Anonymous said...

Alexa is a great writer!! Cannot wait for her next book!!

Alexa Grace said...


Thanks so much for your kind comments about my books. And thanks to Roxanne for inviting me to be a guest.

Martha Lawson said...

I have not had the pleasure of reading your books yet! This one looks awesome and I will be picking it up. Thanks for the chance to win.

Debbie Oxier said...

Love the books.

Unknown said...

Great romantic suspense novels! Love all of them. ..especially Deadly Offerings and Profile of Terror! !

Serena S. said...

I don't know this author nor the series but I'd lke to have the chance to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!