by Lori Foster
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
You can check out these Web sites to learn more about me, MESO and storms:
Allan Detrich—www.allandetrich.com
MESO—www.mcwar.org/
Storm Prediction Center—www.spc.noaa.gov/
Interview of Allan Detrich by Donna Kauffman.
Used with permission of Allan Detrich.
Harold Hoffmaster, Aviation Survival Technician Chief, Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, talks to Jill Shalvis about what it takes to be SAR.
How did you become interested in search and rescue?
My father found an ad in the newspaper for law enforcement and search and rescue. I had no idea what the coast guard was or what they did. I was more interested in the law enforcement aspect until I graduated boot camp and realized exactly what search and rescue consisted of. While stationed and working at a small boat unit, I remember pulling two people out of the water after their boat caught on fire. I still remember the look in their eyes. Jodi, my shipmate (later to be my wife), was on that same case with me and suggested I try to be a rescue swimmer.
Do you have special training?
I trained in Oregon for my Advance Helicopter Rescue Swimmer. I’m also a personal trainer.
What is the greatest risk you’ve taken while on a rescue?
One would be when I was left on the roof of a house during a flood just south of Houston, Texas. I was deployed from a smaller coast guard helicopter, with limited fuel. They put me on the roof and had to leave to refuel. I jumped off the roof into five feet of water. I stayed with the two stranded farmers until the helicopter returned to pluck us from the floods. While we waited in the flooded area, the farmers told me of the alligators they saw earlier in the week. All I could think of was how our legs were going to be alligator bait. Another would be recently trying to retrieve a victim in heavy surf. There were large rocks close by. I kept wondering how close I was to being smacked down onto one of those rocks by a large wave. When you are in the ocean, you really can’t tell where you are. Limited visibility is also a great risk we face when searching in very inclement weather.
Have you ever rappelled out of a helicopter with a wild storm around you?
One of my first cases consisted of getting lowered down to a dive boat to retrieve an unconscious woman. The boat was being tossed around and the waves reached over twenty feet.
What recommendations can you give to someone who is interested in learning how to become SAR?
You must be willing to put your life on the line for someone you have never met! There are a few different ways to get involved in SAR:
You can volunteer to work in a mountain rescue.
You can work with dogs to find people in rubble after an earthquake or other disaster.
You can join the United States Coast Guard (the premier search and rescue service).
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would not be doing what I am today if not for my parents (especially my father for finding this career for me in the classifieds). I’d like to thank my wife, Jodi, for inspiring me to attend and succeed at Rescue Swimmer school.
With all the conflict in the world going on, it is nice to be part of a service that saves lives everyday!
Interview of Harold Hoffmaster by Jill Shalvis. Used with permission of Harold Hoffmaster.
A conversation with Lori Foster, Donna Kauffman and Jill Shalvis
Our three authors share some personal history, some challenges and some of their writing secrets in the interviews they’ve generously shared with us below. Find out in the following conversations which author married her high school sweetheart, which one hates chick flicks, and who loves to nap on her deck.
Lori Foster
Lori, tell us a bit about how you began your writing career.
I was always a daydreamer and I always had stories in my head. But I didn’t know I wanted to write until I was grown and already had three sons. Then I got sick with pneumonia and because I felt too yucky to even get out of bed, my sister brought me over a bag of romance novels. I was instantly hooked! Almost immediately, probably within two years, I went from being a reader to wanting to write the same type of books I loved to read. I wrote at least ten complete romances that never sold—and I submitted them everywhere, so I got three times as many rejections. I wrote for five years before finally selling my first book to Harlequin Temptation.
Was there a particular person, place or thing that inspired this story?
Yes. The current political climate is very different from what I’m used to, but knowing that our military is the very best in the entire world brings me great comfort. Catherine Mann is a super talented, lovely woman who not only writes some of the best military romances around, she lives the romance with her air force hero husband. Knowing her has only made me appreciate our military that much more. She’s shared wonderful stories about her husband, and that inspired me to want to thank our military men who so bravely work to keep us safe. Thank you, Catherine and Rob.
What’s your typical writing routine?
That differs from day to day, depending on what’s happening in my life. I’m usually up somewhere between four-thirty and five-thirty, depending on my husband’s schedule. I get my coffee and attack e-mails. I generally get about 250-plus e-mails a day. After that, I check out the Web sites that interest me. (I go to my own message board every day, and the Romantic Times message board and the eHarlequin message board.) Around 6:45, I see my kids off to school, then I get food (I’m a grazer—meaning I eat small amounts of stuff all the time, all day long). I let the dogs out a million times, play with the dogs a million times, do at least two loads of laundry, make beds, answer phone calls, and in between all of that, I write.
I write for however many hours it takes to get all the scenes out of my head. That might be two hours or ten, or not at all. I do everything fast. I’m not a person who does well with idle time, unless I’m watching a movie. I love movies. My brain always seems to be on Mach speed, so my fingers try to keep up. Every author does things differently. For me, I write fast, when the mood strikes me, and when I don’t have anything else taking priority.
How do you research your stories?
I hate researching books. Boring! I prefer to ask someone who has the information I need. I like to talk with cops and firefighters and forensic experts. I like to chat with coroners and school teachers and vets. I like picking a doctor’s brain and bugging my friend who is a nurse. Talking with someone and getting their personal take on careers and experiences is always more interesting than reading it in a book.
Could you tell us a bit about your family?
I’ve been married twenty-six years, and I have three sons—twenty-two, eighteen and seventeen. The boys are very nice, independent and motivated. They’re into sports and fitness, and I’m very proud of them. My husband is a great guy, super funny, and incredibly supportive of me and the boys.
When you’re not writing, what are your favorite activities?
I love watching my sons in any of their sporting activities. When they’re not in sports, I love going to the movies. Kick-butt movies, action flicks and monster movies are my favorites. I detest chick flicks. And of course, I like to read!
What are your favorite kinds of vacations?
I like to be near water, but not in it. Like on a beach, but not swimming. (Fear of things in the water!) I like any place that is warm, while my husband loves the mountains. Actually, any place we go together is always a lot of fun.
Could you tell us about your first romance?
My first serious romance was with my husband. We dated all through high school, then got married when we graduated. Through good times and bad, he’s kept me smiling.
How did you meet your husband?
The third day of our sophomore year of high school, he got transferred into my history class. And ironically enough, the rest was…history.
I’d like to give a giant thank-you to everyone who generously send me e-mails and letters, and who post online reviews and share their enthusiasm with other readers. Readers make this business even better than it already is. They’re the icing on the cake, and I appreciate them all.
Donna Kauffman
Tell us a bit about how you began your writing career.
I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing stories, but it wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first child that I decided to tackle writing a novel. I was certain this obvious dementia had been induced by my being in my third trimester during the hottest summer on record. After my son was born, I quickly stuffed my effort under the bed, never to be seen again. It was only when I was pregnant with my second son a year later that I uncovered that dusty legal pad while searching for a tossed pacifier. Cringing, and certain I was in for a good laugh, I read my dementia-induced efforts. Perhaps it was because I was once again in my third trimester (during the coldest winter on record—are you beginning to detect a pattern?) that I thought the story had merit. After my second child was born, I signed up for a writing class at the local college and my instructor noticed my interest in romance. She happened to be a member of RWA and pushed me to join both the national and local chapter. My local group was a wonderfully talented bunch and they encouraged me to finish that story. I was soon involved in learning all about the industry I was now determined to be part of. Eighteen months (and untold revisions later) I sold that first book to Bantam Loveswept. Thankfully, I had discovered by then that I could actually write books without being pregnant. Thirty published books later…well, it doesn’t really bear thinking about, does it?
Was there a particular person, place or thing that inspired this story?
I became fascinated by tornadoes as a child when I saw the Wizard of Oz for the first time. Even at six, I knew Dorothy and the munchkins were pure fantasy, but I soon made the discovery that there really were twisters that could actually lift a house off its foundation and spin it around in the sky! I was immediately entranced (not to mention terrified) by the very notion. Growing up on the East Coast, we didn’t have many tornadoes. This fueled my imagination (and more than one nightmare) for years to come. So it’s been exciting to finally find the time and place to indulge this particular interest and write about the kind of hero and heroine who are doing something I’ve always dreamed about doing myself.
What’s your writing routine?
My sons are in high school, so I am fortunate enough to have peace and quiet during the day (well, if you don’t count the constant chatter from my three parrots). I generally work from around eight-thirty in the morning until four in the afternoon. Weekends and evenings are for family. Unless I’m on deadline, then all bets are off. But everyone gets pizza and soda, so they don’t complain much!
How do you research your stories?
Any number of ways. I gather information online, read research texts, interview people, and if I’m fortunate enough to have the time, travel to the locations in which my stories are set. I try to choose professions, locations and other plot hooks that interest me. So the biggest challenge isn’t gathering enough information, it’s forcing myself to stop reading everything I get my hands on and get on with writing the book!
When you’re not writing, what are your favorite activities?
My family is very sports oriented, so weekends and evenings usually find me sitting in the bleachers watching a ball. Hobbies, when I have the chance to indulge them, range from gardening, to cross-stitching, to scrapbooking. And of course, I read every chance I get.
What are your favorite kinds of vacations?
As I said earlier, I try to travel to locations I want to set future books in. Sometimes business opportunities arise—giving workshops, etc.—that take me to new places I’d never thought of using as a setting, but quickly find all kinds of interesting tidbits that draw me in and get the juices flowing. My family both snow skis and enjoys the beach, so family vacations are usually in the mountains or on the shore.
How did you meet your partner?
I met my husband while doing research on a book. He was commanding a SERT team at the time and after numerous phone conversations he eventually invited me to meet him by coming to watch a SWAT competition at the Quantico marine base, where his team was competing. We went out afterward (ostensibly so I could ask him more questions, but by then my “research” had taken on a decidedly personal slant) and well…that led to other dates and a lot more “researching.” Three years later we were married!
Any last words to your readers?
Men of courage come in all kinds of packages. It’s not always an obvious one. His uniform could include a flak jacket or a hard hat, a pocket full of pencils, or a sword strapped to his side. I like writing about all kinds of heroes.
Jill Shalvis
Tell us a bit about how you began your writing career.
I began my writing career as a journalism major in college. A few years later, making less money than I would have made slinging burgers at a fast-food joint, I switched hands and tried fiction instead of nonfiction. I started with what I love to read, romance, and never looked back. When I sold my first romance, it was a true dream come true, and though I’ve branched out a bit now, I still love what I do with all my heart.
Was there a particular person, place or thing that inspired this story?
First, I’m attracted to a bigger-than-life hero or heroine, one who puts their life on the line willingly to save others. My husband used to drive an ambulance. In fact, some of our closest friends are firefighters, cops, doctors, nurses, search-and-rescue experts…so they all inspired me to write a story like this.
What’s your writing routine?
Brutal, as it starts before the crack of dawn. With three children I don’t have much choice. Getting up before everyone else (not easy with my youngest being an early riser) is the best way for me. I get a few pages in, then have to take a break to do the roundup on the family. Once I get everyone out the door, I have a few hours of peace again, and spend all that time writing so that by the time they come in looking for food and homework help and everything else, I’m done. And if I’m not, well, then, it’s time for pizza takeout.
How do you research your stories?
In this story’s case, all my research was done with real people. Live interviews, telephone calls, e-mails. I was lucky to have plenty of friends with experience to help me. I really wanted to jump out of a helicopter for “research” on this one, but I recently had shoulder reconstruction surgery and no one would let me. Next time, I hope. But with other stories, and other research needs, I use the Internet and the library.
If you don’t mind, could you tell us a bit about your family?
I have three lovely daughters, all of whom are a bit baffled by my job, which is willingly putting words on paper. I have an equally lovely husband who hardly bats an eye at his wife who talks to herself and hears voices inside her head.
When you’re not writing, what are your favorite activities?
My favorite activity is taking a nap on my deck in the Sierra sunshine. But I also do a lot of skiing, hiking, reading, and shall I admit it? Eating. Eating is a big favorite.
What are your favorite kinds of vacations?
Traveling isn’t something we do a lot of. First of all, three kids. Need I say more? But if we go anywhere, it’s often up and down the California coast, or Mexico or Hawaii.
Could you tell us about your first romance?
My first romance…I was working as an accountant in Southern California, in the offices where the emergency dispatch for that city was. There was this certain ambulance driver, who had been injured on duty and put to work in the offices filing for me. He asked me out, and I, having heard of the reputation of these guys, turned him down flat. He asked again. And again. Four months later, long after he’d been put back in the field, I finally ag
reed. And we’ve been together ever since.
Any final words to your readers?
I just hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5318-0
MEN OF COURAGE II
Copyright © 2005 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
AN HONORABLE MAN
Copyright © 2005 by Lori Foster
BLOWN AWAY
Copyright © 2005 by Donna Kauffman
PERILOUS WATERS
Copyright © 2005 by Jill Shalvis
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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