Thursday, September 28, 2017

Today's Special - - Q&A with Nancy Northcott


Nancy Northcott joins us today not as a reviewer but wearing her author hat. I've been a fan of Nancy's writing since her debut, Renegade. Today, she's here to tell us about a different direction she's taken with her writing. I've read an early copy of The Deathbrew Affair, the book that launches Nancy's new Lethal Webs series and, I have to say, I'm very excited about this hero/heroine pairing and the adventures to come. 

Stop by her website for more information about Nancy, her books, and social media links. 






Welcome, Nancy! Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Deathbrew Affair, the first book in your new Lethal Webs series. Please tell our readers what they can expect from this series.

Thanks for having me, PJ.

The series mixes intense action, suspense, and hot romance. Many successful romantic suspense series are built on that combination, but having one couple’s romance evolve over the course of several books, as Casey and Jack’s does, is less common. Some authors are doing that but not many.

I’ve read a lot of mystery series that have the two lead characters’ romance evolving through subplots as the series continues. This is not that. In the Lethal Webs books, the romance is every bit as important as the action-adventure elements. I’m curious to see how people will react to that—and to Casey’s first-person, snarky voice.

Casey and Jack come from backgrounds as different as night and day, behave much of the time like a dog and cat trapped in the same cage, and have a simmering sexual chemistry that threatens to explode sky-high. I finished this first book confident that, eventually, hopefully, they’ll have a happy ending. What is it about these two that convinced you they had the potential to be a good match?

They both broke out of boxes set for them at birth.  Jack is an earl but always wanted more than the parties and clubs and charity functions that were his family’s world.  He yearned to make a hands-on difference, to take the advantages his birth gave him and do something good with them.  Casey was very young when she vowed to escape the mill town where she grew up, where almost everyone married just out of high school and went to work in the mill, as their parents had before them. The mill owner’s abuse of his power ignited in her a fierce resolve to stop anyone who would misuse power to the detriment of others.

That refusal to conform is something they recognize in each other, though not consciously at first. At the root of things, they share an ardent desire to see the bad guys brought down, to see justice done. And each of them secretly admires, just a little bit, the qualities in the other that they find annoying.

This first book is set in the UK. Will the others be set there as well or will Casey and Jack be globe-trotting in future adventures?

There’s a little globe-trotting.  The novels are mostly set in the UK, with occasional scenes set in other countries.  For example, the second book opens with Casey on a raid in France. Then the action moves to England and stays there. A couple of the novellas, though, will have a more international focus, and the last book will be mostly set in Casey’s (and my) native North Carolina.

The Deathbrew Affair has a 007 vibe, if Bond had a female American agent partner. Are you a fan of the franchise? Who is your favorite James Bond?

I love the Bond movies, as it happens, and I always enjoy the opening action sequences.  My favorite Bond is Pierce Brosnan.  Each of the others has his strengths and does a good job, but I really liked Brosnan.  In second place would be Timothy Dalton.

As I read this book, I kept visualizing it playing out on the big screen. If given the opportunity, who would you cast in the roles of Casey and Jack?

Why, thank you! I would cast Missy Peregrym of Rookie Blue as Casey and Richard Armitage (in his MI-5 look, not his Thorin Oakenshield one) as Jack.

The Deathbrew Affair is packed with non-stop action and suspense (which I loved!). To what authors do you turn when you want a rollercoaster read?

Thanks, PJ. I obviously love those elements, too.  You can’t go wrong with the Romance Bandits, several of whom write mysteries and suspense. Jon Land’s series about fifth-generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong is a must-buy.  I also instantly grab J.D. Robb’s In Death series, Elle Kennedy’s Killer Instincts books, David Baldacci’s John Puller, Will Robie, or King & Maxwell series, and anything by Karen Rose, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin, or Nichole Christoff.




What is the timetable for future Lethal Webs books?

That’s not firmly set yet, as I’m juggling several series.  The next book, The Runway Murder Affair, should be out this year, with the third book, The Deadly Cargo Affair, coming early next year.  After that comes the first novella, The Christmas Village Affair.  Since that will definitely miss Christmas, I’m hoping to have it out by Valentine’s Day, but we’ll see. 




Rapid-fire Q&A:

Favorite place to read?
It’s a toss-up between the couch in my study or in bed.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs. Always. I’m allergic to cats, alas.

Pumpkin Spice or Apple?
Apple.  You just can’t beat good apple anything.

Favorite place to vacation?
England.

Where can readers find you online?

Twitter: @NancyNorthcott

What’s next?

Nemesis, the next Light Mage Wars book, is about half done and begging to be finished. I’m also working on Christmas on Outcast Station, a collaboration with Jeanne Adams. Then will be The Runway Murder Affair.

Sounds like a lot of good reads on the horizon. Thanks for visiting with us today, Nancy. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Thank you for having me, PJ.  The only thing I want to add is that I’m having a blast writing these books, and I hope readers will enjoy them, too.

Would you like to ask our readers a question?

Sure.  Who’s your favorite spy in books or movies? Have ever read other action-adventure series that place equal emphasis on the romance?

One randomly chosen person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, September 29 will receive a signed copy of The Deathbrew Affair. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE DEATHBREW AFFAIR: LETHAL WEBS # 1
September 30, 2017
HES THE KING OF CONTROL FREAKS.
I’M THE QUEEN OF WINGING IT.
TOGETHER WELL SAVE THE WORLD...
UNLESS WE KILL EACH OTHER FIRST.

I’m Casey Billings, an American operative in the London office of a covert, multinational agency. I’m working with an MI5 officer, Jack, Lord Bainbridge, to bring down a bioterrorist who plans to unleash a pandemic. We’re posing as newlyweds to infiltrate the community that’s a cover for the bioweapons operation. Unfortunately, we don’t play well together, and not only because of Jack’s distracting, off-the- scales hotness.
I grew up poor in a mill town, and he’s an aristocrat with more money than a third-world country. Besides that, I fly by the seat of my pants while Jack lives by his plans for every contingency and takes charge of everything. Including me. Or so he thinks.
Basically, we’d like to strangle each other. But we have a pandemic to stop first.
Then all bets are off.

#






47 comments:

  1. The Scarlet Pimpernel comes to mind.

    A great post thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Mary. I love The Scarlet Pimpernel, too. I have a copy of the old movie with Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon, and I have the book, though
      i haven't read it lately. Glad you enjoyed the interview. PJ came up with great questions.

      Delete
    2. The Scarlet Pimpernel has always been a favorite of mine. I especially enjoyed the 1982 TV movie with Anthony Andrews.

      Delete
  2. Hey, Nancy! Sounds like a great series. Looking forward to reading it. As for favorite spies -- I wasn't really a Bond watcher but have liked the Daniel Craig movies. I also really enjoyed the first Kingsman movie and want to go see the second one. I also like the Bourne movies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Trish! I enjoyed Daniel Craig as Bond, too. We missed the first Kingsman movie and have been wanting to check it out. We like Bourne, too. Lots of action!

      Delete
    2. Trish and Nancy, I loved the first Kingsman movie, and can't wait to see the second!! Daniel made a great Bond, didn't he?

      Delete
    3. Hi Trish! *waving*

      I haven't seen the Kingsman movies (yet) but I do like the Bourne ones.

      Delete
  3. The spy that comes to mind that I absolutely love is James Bond. For me, Sean Connery is the only "Bond". I also enjoyed Shana Galen's spy book, i.e. Love and Let Spy, the husband and wife team. Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane, I have many friends who share your loyalty to Connery. Didn't Shana Galen write several books with spies? I think I've read a couple by her. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
    2. Sean Connery was my first Bond but I'm also a fan of Pierce Brosnan in the role. Well, let's face it, I'm a fan of Brosnan in any role! ;-)

      Delete
  4. Hey Nancy! Hey PJ!! I got a chance to read Deathbrew as an arc and LOVED it! It's so amazing!! Great story, great romance, and incredible pace. Love, love, loved it!! :> As for spies, I love Kingsman, Bond, Bourne, and Nora's Eve Dallas. Steve Berry's Cotton Malone is cool, thought not exactly a spy. Anyway, Congrats and YAY! on releasing this great book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Duchesse!, I had a lot of fun writing this book and planning the series. I like all the series you mentioned, including Cotton Malone. Berry weaves history into those books so nicely.

      Delete
    2. Hi Jeanne! Isn't Deathbrew terrific? I'm eagerly anticipating more Casey and Jack adventures!

      Delete
  5. I would say Bond, Shana Galen's books and Nora Robert's just off the top of my head lol.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Patricia Bennett BarberSeptember 28, 2017 at 4:19 PM

    Hi, as I was growing up my mom and dad lived the James Bond movies :-)
    So I seen all Bond men growing up :-) :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Patricia--Your parents sound like my husband's. They saw all the Bond movies. Do you have a favorite Bond?

      Delete
    2. I was introduced to them through my parents too, Patricia.

      Delete
  7. I like the way that Mary Jo Putney combines adventure and romance in some of her historical novels but don't really have a favourite author for this combination in contemp novels though I do like the J D Robb 'In Death' series for an occasional read.

    Combining Bond like action packed adventure with a strong romantic theme looks like a winner to me. I will definitely take a look at 'The Deathbrew Affair'

    I liked the early Bond films best,especially those with Sean Connery. The gadgetry with Q as the back room inventor added a lot to the entertainment I think .... do you have a Q lookalike in your Lethal Web series Nancy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quantum, thanks for the kind words! I've also enjoyed the combination of adventure and romance Mary Jo Putney offers, and I love JD Robb. The gadgets are one of my favorite elements in the Bond movies. I have no Q lookalike, alas, though I thought Desmond Llewellyn was great in the role.

      The early Bond films had more humor--some of it groanworthy, but still there--than the more recent ones. I enjoyed that aspect of them along with the action bits.

      Delete
    2. Hi Q! I also enjoyed the gadgetry, especially in the earlier Bond films. And I agree with Nancy regarding more humor in the earlier films too. I enjoyed that.

      Delete
  8. Hi Nancy and PJ! Nancy still loving your books and anxiously awaiting your new release. Sounds like lots of good books in the works!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Debbie! Yes, a lot of books are in the works. The last couple of years were slow for various reasons, so I'm trying to generate some momentum as the year comes to its close.

      Delete
    2. Hi Debbie! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  9. Hi Nancy and PJ! Nancy, I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a long time! The rain is coming tomorrow. Looks like a perfect weekend to indulging myself.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shana Galen of course and Sean Vconnery but also The Saint's Roger Moore.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catol, I've read some of Shana Galen's spy books and enjoyed them a lot. Many of my friends are also Connery fans.

      Delete
    2. Carol. Not Catol. Sorry for the typo!

      Delete
    3. Shana's spy goods are good, aren't they?

      Delete
  11. Favorite Spy: James Bond, but also Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Pollifax.
    I've found that Kat Martin writes action-adventure with a good dose of romance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Di--I haven't read Mrs. Pollifax, but I bet Angela Lansbury was great in the role. I think it's hard to top Bond in the spy department. Thanks for the suggestion on Kat Martin.

      Delete
    2. Okay, I'm going to have to check out Mrs. Pollifax. I'm not familiar with that character. I'm with you on Kat Martin's contemporary suspense books. Great mix of romance and action-adventure.

      Delete
  12. James Bond has been my favorite forever.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love Joanna Bourne's spy series. It's a toss-up between William Doyle and Adrian Hawkhurst.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alina, those are on my Need to Read list. Thanks for the reminder. And I love the name Adrian Hawkhurst.

      Delete
  14. I'm so excited about your new series, Nancy. It sounds fabulous and right up my alley. Congratulations on venturing into first-person voice. Was that particularly hard for you?

    I'm a Bond girl favorite too, but my youth was all about Sean Connery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jo! I hope you'll enjoy the book. pFirst person wasn't hard for me, at least not for Casey. I don't think I could do Jack in first person. I'm not sufficiently up on British vernacular to feel comfortable trying that.

      Connery seems to have way more votes thsn anyone else so far.

      Delete
  15. I was there while this series was plotted and can attest to its hi-rev action and hot romance. Love these characters! I'm thrilled to see them coming out in the world.

    Spies? Definitely - I grew up with Man from U.N.C.L.E (LOL). Love James Bond in all of his actor changes, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne...Gee, all those "J" first names. Is that a prerequisite (grin).

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks, Donna! I loved UNCLE, too, and all those other guys. I'd forgotten about Jack Ryan, though.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations Nancy. Gotta go with James Bond. Although I have NEVER read one of the books , who doesn't like to watch all of the Bond movies come to life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sandy! I've read a couple of the Bond books, but I admit I prefer the movies.

      Delete
  18. Hi PJ! Lovely to see you and Nancy together today. Ooh, Nancy, I can't wait to read Casey and Jack's first book. I have been waiting for this for a Looong Time!! My absolute favourite thing at the moment is spy stories. I love Le Carre's Smiley for being so understated and intelligent and of course there are so many real life spies I've discovered through research. One of my favourites is the character played by Rupert Penry-Jones in Spooks. He is hot, reckless and smart and he absolutely adores his wife and son. Great combination, in my book. I feel they could do a lot more than they're doing with James Bond. There was a glimpse of a 3-dimensional man with Daniel Craig's Bond but the promise of Casino Royale has never quite been fulfilled. Still, Never Say Never, right? Anyway, The Deathbrew Affair is coming out just when I will have finished my book so it will be a lovely reward to read it!

    ReplyDelete