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Researching Characters - Mission Impossible to Forget

Music is an important element in Mission: Impossible to Forget. Emily Hewitt is a professional cellist and her life revolves around music. Nick Jenkins is a former Special-Ops Marine who’s struggling with hearing loss, which has devastated his life.

I wanted to better understand Emily’s passion so I’ve been researching and listening to professional cellists, primarily Jacqueline du Pré. She was an amazing talent. You can enjoy one of her performances on YouTube by CLICKING HERE.

Part of what I’ve learned about professional musicians is how singularly focused they are on their art. As an author, this provides strong conflict between my characters. How does Emily deal with the distraction of her feelings for Nick? How does a strong, alpha male like Nick deal with an independent woman who may–or may not–want his intrusion into her life?

I’m still not sure how they will find their way to happy-ever-after, but that’s part of the fun in writing romance!

Coming February 2020

Available for preorder on Apple Books | Kobo | Nook | Google Play

Professional cellist Emily Hewitt loves nothing more than creating music. Sharing her musical gift with the world is all she lives for. Until her life is threatened. Caught up in a treacherous conspiracy, Emily becomes the pawn in an international play for power and must be assigned a bodyguard.

Former Special-Ops Marine Nick Jenkins, is out of a job and out of patience. Discharged from the Corp because of hearing loss, the last thing he wants to do is babysit someone who’s surrounded by the haunting sounds of music he can no longer appreciate.

When danger turns deadly, will Nick be able to save Emily?

Hearing Loss and Military Heroes

The road to happy ever after is never easy, especially in romance novels. The harder the struggle, the more significant the conflict, the wider the gap between the hero and heroine, the sweeter the moment they come together.

When I was plotting the story for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET, I knew the heroine would be a professional musician but what–aside from her life being in danger–would create barriers between her and the hero?

How about a man who can’t appreciate music because he can no longer hear it? To torment my hero even more, I created a story in which the hearing loss has cost Special-Ops Marine Nick Jenkins his military career.

Hearing loss may not be as dramatic as losing a limb, but experts estimate that more than 50 percent of combat soldiers suffer moderately severe (or worse) hearing loss. It’s an injury that impacts more military personnel than any other type of injury. Sometimes the hearing loss is just an inconvenience; sometimes it robs soldiers of their hearing completely.

Our military personnel sacrifice time, health, and so much more. Writing about these real-life heroes is my way of honoring them.

Here’s a short excerpt from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET, coming February 2020.

“Let me take you out for a drink. We both need it after this funeral.” Ben leaned closer, his thigh pressing against hers and squeezed her hand. Ben Massine, the successful and charismatic tenor with the voice that had the world at his feet, was seated next to Emily.

Her eyes darted to his. The compassion in his dark eyes and expressive voice would be her undoing. All she could do was nod since the grief was lodged somewhere between her chest and her throat.

Emily pulled her hand into her lap, now unsure if Ben was making his usual moves or was as upset as she was. Emily never trusted Ben’s motives in pursuing her. Was she just another notch on his bedpost? He could have any woman. He did have any and every woman if People magazine was correct.

His Sicilian roots with olive skin, black hair, and Grecian profile made him irresistible. Unlike his hordes of fans, it wasn’t his dramatic looks and powerful presence that made Emily susceptible. It was the bright warm timbre of his voice, his soulful passion for the music, his ability to transcend the music. He was a gifted artist, and Ben should be the perfect match for her.

But the heart was a contrary organ that didn’t listen to reason. It was time to wipe the memory of the dark-haired, over-loaded-testosterone male, the hardened Spec Forces Marine Nick Jenkins, who didn’t have the voice like a choir of angels but a rough bass steel drum.

Coming February 2020

Available for preorder on Apple Books | Kobo | Nook | Google Play

Professional cellist Emily Hewitt loves nothing more than creating music. Sharing her gift with the world is all she lives for. Until her life is threatened. Caught up in a treacherous conspiracy, Emily becomes the pawn in an international play for power and must be assigned a bodyguard.

Former Special-Ops Marine Nick Jenkins is out of a job and out of patience. Discharged from the Corp because of hearing loss, the last thing he wants to do is babysit someone who’s surrounded by the haunting sounds of music he can no longer appreciate. When danger turns deadly, will Nick be able to save Emily?

Remembering Henny the Fire Dog

Being a writer has introduced me to many amazing people, but one of the most memorable individuals I met was Henny the Fire Dog. An active, intelligent Lab, Henny initially flunked out of training as a seeing eye dog. The ATF recruited her to become an Accelerant Detection K9.

I met Henny and her human handler while researching arson investigation for my first contemporary romantic suspense, An Inner Fire, Book 1 in the Grayce Walters series. All of the firefighters and crew at the Seattle Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit were helpful, but Henny really made an impression. She embodied all of the qualities that make working canines true heroes: energy, dedication, drive, courage and affection.

I recently learned that Henny passed way after a quiet retirement with her handler and his family. She enjoyed trips and vacations and continued to interact with people until the end.

I wanted to share Henny’s story as a reminder than many of the elements in my stories are inspired by real people, real animals and real heroes. I hope my portrayal of working canines reflects the time, talent and commitment of the men and women who train them, handle them, and ultimately, love them.

See how Henny inspired my story, An Inner Fire. The book is currently free on Amazon.

Brainstorming with my Editor

Reader response to my recent Regency romantic suspense release, A Code of Wonder, has been absolutely heartwarming. This story is part of the Snowed in with a Rogue multi-author Regency romance holiday anthology, which is now available.

“This is a great read with many twist and turns. Be sure and get your copy, something hot to drink and be ready not to move till finished.” – Nanna, Amazon

“It has a little suspense, a little humour, and an HEA.” – lq, Amazon

“…enjoy my favorite by Jacki Delecki where Eliza is fleeing her kidnappers. Nash comes to her rescue and plays the white Knight. This is is a fun and quick novella. It continues the Code Breakers it Jacki Delecki’s wonderful style and wit.” – Simatsu, Amazon

If you’d like a “behind the desk” peek at the writing process that led to the creation of this story, visit my editor Matrice Hussey’s blog and read Brainstorming with an author.

You can read A Code of Wonder and six other romantic stories for just $0.99.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Why writing 'Mission: Impossible to Wed' was a challenge

Mission: Impossible to Wed is my contribution to the 99¢ multi-author box set, Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge (releasing 10.22.19). When I set out to write this holiday novella, I never anticipated the challenge I had created for myself.

I’ve been writing for a while. I released An Inner Fire, my first contemporary romantic suspense, in 2014. Since then, I’ve released 7 other contemporary military romantic suspense titles.

My newest story in the Impossible Mission series, Mission: Impossible to Wed, is a little different. It’s about a wedding designer and a Special Ops soldier who are thrown together for a country wedding that has them both thinking they’ll never get married. It’s pure romance–no suspense or intrigue or action-adventure.

Writing a contemporary romance without any elements of suspense was much harder than I anticipated. I had to think and plan and create outside my comfort zone. I had to construct the story using different plot devices. I had to come up with other obstacles to keep Gabe and Lauren from their HEA.

The process of writing this book was uncomfortable and laborious. It reminded me what writing romantic suspense fiction felt like when I was just starting out as a writer. I struggled for each word, writing and rewriting. Doing something for the first time makes you very aware of the process and the work. But it also makes you proud that you put in the extra effort.

My editor told me she’s very pleased with the story. I hope you’ll download a copy of this new box set to read Mission: Impossible to Wed and let me know what you think!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Apple Books | Kobo | Nook

And here’s wishing you good luck with the next new project you tackle!