Q. how did you come to write Now You Die?

A. My latest release, NOW YOU DIE, wasn't at all the book I imagined it would be when first proposed. As the third in a trilogy and the sixth in the Bullet Catcher series, it was intended to be the story of Jack Culver and his romantic adventure with the third of a missing set of triplet sisters. I never intended the heroine to be Lucy Sharpe, the controlling head of the Bullet Catchers organization.



But Lucy is known as "Ms. Machiavelli" to her elite force of bodyguards and security specialists and, as it turns out, she has a little control over me, as well.



From the beginning of the series, I had created a dynamic between Lucy Sharpe and one of her best men, Dan Gallagher. Their easy banter and close friendship led many readers (and me) to expect that ultimately they would share a story and end up as a couple. However, when I started to write the trilogy within the series (First You Run, Then You Hide, Now You Die), I introduced a brand new character by the name of Jack Culver and the moment he hit the page with Lucy, the sparks burned hot enough to singe my fingers on the keyboard.



Apparently, Lucy had a different story in mind. From his first smart mouthed comment, Jack torqued Lucy. I finished that scene, stared at the screen, and thought...what just happened? Those two have chemistry.



These are the beautiful moments in a writer's life. Except...my editor was expecting an entirely different story for book three of the trilogy. I barrelled on, determined to ignore the pull of Lucy and Jack. But as I wrote the first book, Lucy kept nudging my muse and getting more scenes with Jack. Their turbulent backstory began to take shape in my imagination. They demanded more page time together.



Halfway through the writing of the second book in the trilogy, I couldn't sleep. Not because the main characters of that book weren't cooperating - they were and that book was probably the easiest of the three to write. But Lucy and Jack...



Lucy and Jack? No! It's Lucy and Dan, right? Sometime, some day...but not Lucy and Jack. But Lucy kept whispering in my ear.



How would Dan feel, I wondered. More important - how would the readers feel who'd come to expect Lucy and Dan? They're such good friends.



And that's when I realized the problem. They are good friends. True, life-long, trusted friends. A romance between Lucy and Dan lacked the one thing I love and need most in a book -- conflict. Lucy and Jack? Oh, boy. Conflict galore.



I stopped fighting the voices and proposed an entirely new book for Now You Die. I stayed true to the trilogy concept, but changed the main characters who were to make it all happen. The result is definitely one of my very favorite books in the series, and I have been gratified by the response from readers.



Don't worry, Dan Fans! His story is up next in September, 2009, called HUNT HER DOWN and I promise he gets all the conflict and romance he so richly deserves! Stay tuned!