I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Cheryl Norman this month to discuss her latest release Reclaim My Life.If you enjoy suspense with twists and turns and a satisfying romance, you won't want to miss this next installment in Cheryl's Mustang Sally series.
Drake Springs Sheriff Wilson Drake thinks Elizabeth Stevens is the one woman who can fulfill him. When a murderer targets his peaceful county, he worries that she could be the next victim. Or is she the very reason for the trouble in his town?
Elizabeth Stevens underestimated the sacrifices made when entering the Witness Security Program. She's warned to trust no one, not even the local sheriff with whom she's fallen in love. She knows their romance is doomed because sooner or later Wilson---or the contract killer on her trail--will figure out she's a fraud.
"Perfect . . . one of the best parts of this book is the mystery. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. Can I say more than this? No, not without giving away a clue or two, and that's not happening!" ~ Terri, NightOwlRomance.com (July 2009)
Cheryl's debut with Medallion Press, Restore My Heart, earned her a mention in Publisher's Weekly as one of ten new romance authors to watch.
In addition to romantic mysteries, Cheryl has combined her passion for writing and healthful cooking by publishing two cookbooks. Her favorite activities--jogging, hiking, sewing, cooking, reading, classic car exhibits, and motor home travel--figure prominently in her stories. Having visited all fifty states, plus parts of Canada and Mexico, Cheryl and her husband have settled in northeastern Florida with their spoiled poodle, Ginger. Their modest home is surrounded by pines, oaks, and magnolias, and they're often visited by deer, raccoon, rabbits, and hawks. It's a perfect writer's retreat.
How much of the locale in this book have you drawn from where you live?
All of it. I live in the Suwannee River valley of north Florida, not far from the story's setting. This is the first book I've written set in my own locale, although I fictionalized the town and county. The area's peaceful, rural countryside is one of Florida's best-kept secrets.
That French Toast sounds amazing and I want some -- is it real?
It's real, but I "borrowed" it from Perkins Restaurant. They offer the best French toast of any chain restaurant, and I always order it if I am fortunate enough to have breakfast there. But my closest Perkins is fifty-five miles away, so I added it to the menu of my fictional Boyd's Diner.
How much research went into understanding how the local law enforcement works in rural Florida?
I interviewed local law enforcement, plus watched every truTV episode of Bodies of Evidence: from the case files of Dayle Hinman, who was a profiler for FDLE; but much of my research came from the book WITSEC - Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program, co-written by the program's creator Gerald Shur.
The fire and hurricane threats pop off the page. Have you suffered much from the forces of nature while living in northern Florida?
Oh, yes. I wrote Reclaim My Life during and immediately following the Bugaboo Scrub Fire of 2007, which claimed 600,000 acres in southern Georgia and north Florida. We'd had drought conditions and dry winds, and several fires merged into one nightmare of a blaze in the national forests. Tropical Storm Barry finally extinguished the fire in early June. Never did I welcome the start of hurricane season as much as I did that year!
I gave my fictional town the one-two-three punch of drought, fire, then hurricane as a reflection of actual events at the time I was writing Reclaim My Life. Fortunately, the hurricane turned out to be downgraded to just a tropical storm--but in the book it remains a hurricane. I make my characters suffer.
What can we expect next -- will you give us a peek as to the characters for Part 3 of the Mustang Sally series?
Just as Reclaim My Life picks up with the hero's sister (Sofia Desalvo) from Restore My Heart, so Rebuild My World will pick up the hero's sister (Taylor Drake) from Reclaim My Life. Also you find out more about his brother, the college dean Samuel Drake. Like all my romantic suspense stories, Rebuild My World was inspired by a crime taken from real-life events but given my own spin. I like to show characters who overcome crippling emotional or physical injuries, or in the case of Running Scared, both. Sally, in Restore My Heart, learned to walk again against overwhelming odds. Rebuild My World carries on that tradition with a character battling agoraphobia after a traumatic and brutal attack.
Is there anything in particular you want to impart about the creation of this book or future works?
I write each book as a stand-alone story, so they can be read independently or in any order. Yet I love connecting stories; it's like a visit with old friends. Although Running Scared wasn't part of the "Mustang Sally" stories, one of its characters is connected to the Drake family as will be revealed in Rebuild My World. I suspect there's another book (or two?) developing in the dark room of my mind that will unite these two fictional worlds.
"The suspense begins with page one. I am impressed with Ms. Norman's writing ability. She is able to keep the reader interested, and her characters are so strong and personable. This is an incredible tale filled with secrets and intrigue. I recommend adding this one to your collection. I do not believe you will be disappointed." ~ Kimberly, CoffeeTimeRomance.com (July 2009)
Great reviews! Great story! You won't want to miss kicking your feet up, pouring a tall glass of ice tea and delving into Sofia Desalvo's convoluted world. Although I warn you, Cheryl's French Toast will have your mouth watering and taste buds itching for a touch of sweet.
Julie Korzenko is a senior paralegal at a boutique domestic law firm in Atlanta. Her first book DEVIL'S GOLD hit the shelves in March of 2009. Publisher's Weekly stated that "Fans of Alex Kava, Shannon, McKenna, and Suzanne Brockmann will hope to see more of Cassidy and Jake." She is currently wrapping up its sequel ANGEL FALLS.
