Author Interview-#1NYT & USA Today bestselling author Brenda Novak-Take Me Home For Christmas

Today I'm welcoming another personal favorite of mine, an author whose romance is as steamy as her suspense is nail-biting and who really knows her way around a story. Today she's talking about her Holiday romance-Take Me Home For Christmas. 

• ISBN-13: 9780778315469
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Publication date: 10/29/2013
• Series: Whiskey Creek Series
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 400

 

Overview:
Christmas is a time for remembering…Too bad not all memories are pleasant! Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town's Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love she once scorned. But Sophia has paid the price for her youthful transgressions. The man she did marry was rich and powerful but abusive.

Read an excerpt:

Sophia DeBussi's husband was gone. As in disappeared. Nowhere to be found. At ninety feet, the Legacy was a sizable yacht—Skip never bought anything except the very best—but not so sizable that a full-grown man could easily be overlooked. The six-member crew had just helped Sophia and her thirteen-year-old daughter scour every inch of the boat.

Other than his cell phone, which he wasn't answering, Skip's things were where they should be, but he was not.

Holding back her long hair, Sophia squinted against the sunshine glinting off the water, trying to see the coast of Brazil a few miles to starboard. Could her husband have gone for an early-morning swim and somehow reached land?

That was a possibility, but it was a remote one. Why would he go off on his own? It was too windy to enjoy the beach today. And although he traveled all over the world for business, she'd never heard of him meeting anyone in Rio de Janeiro.

Besides, he'd planned this trip for their thirteenth anniversary because he wanted to spend quality time as a family. She couldn't imagine he was working, not when this vacation was supposed to be about starting over, about saving their troubled marriage. He'd said he wouldn't take one call. If he'd made that promise just to her, maybe she wouldn't have relied on it. He'd said such things before and hadn't followed through. But he'd also promised their daughter, and he and Alexa were very close. So…where was he?

Sophia gazed down at the water itself. Had he fallen overboard and drowned in the choppy Atlantic?

That thought led to a surge of relief. It was macabre to wish anyone dead, but only if Skip was gone for good would she ever escape him. She'd lived with him long enough to know he'd never willingly let her go. He'd said as much.

The moment Alexa came to the railing to stand beside her, guilt replaced the relief she'd been feeling. Her poor daughter might have lost her father. How could she be happy about that?

"What happened, Mom?" Lexi asked, her big blue eyes filling with tears.

Sophia put an arm around her child's thin shoulders. "I don't know, sweetheart." She kept going over the past twenty-four hours in her mind, but could point to nothing out of the ordinary. Skip had gone to bed with her last night at eleven, as usual. He'd demanded sex, as usual. If he was around, he insisted on some sexual favor at least once a day. She was pretty sure he slept with other women when he was traveling, especially since he was often gone for a week or longer. But she never tried to check up on him. She just did what she had to when he was home to keep the peace, to survive. She knew how he'd act if she refused him. Even if he didn't strike her, he'd sulk for days.

Except for the embarrassment of having to tell everyone, including their daughter, that she'd tripped and fallen into a door or slammed on her brakes and hit the steering wheel, she would've hated the sulking even more. Sometimes it lasted far longer than the bruises.

Alexa wiped her wet cheeks. "You really don't remember when he got up this morning?"

They'd already been over this. Sophia didn't remember. She didn't rise as early as he did. It wasn't as if he'd allow her to have a job. On a school day, she typically went back to bed after Alexa left, staying there until ten or so. Then she'd get up slowly, work on maintaining her beauty, which was all-important to Skip, and drink away the rest of the afternoon. Alcohol was the one thing that seemed capable of dulling the disappointment, not to mention the boredom, she lived with on a constant basis.

But it also gave him a club to use when he needed it. I thought I was getting something special when I married you. You were someone, remember? The mayor's only child. The most popular girl in school. Now look at you. You're nothing but a lazy drunk.

She tried to shove those hateful words into the back of her mind, where they resided. They made her crave a gin and tonic, but it was too early for that. She couldn't have one, anyway, she reminded herself. Not only had she just spent thirty days in rehab, she'd promised Skip, as part of their "starting over," that she'd really quit the booze this time. He'd threatened to have her committed to a mental institution like her mother if she didn't.

She wasn't sure what he'd use to make her seem crazy, but he'd figure it out. Her mother's condition, the fact that there was mental illness in the family, definitely wouldn't work in her favor. "Mom?" Lexi said.

Sophia pulled herself out of the whirlpool of her thoughts. "He didn't wake me, honey. I'm sorry. He didn't tell me he was leaving, either. I would've remembered."

"Are you sure? He says you forget a lot. That you'd live in a bottle if you could."

He often criticized her to Lexi. He was the dazzling father who swooped in bearing outlandish gifts. The parent who'd promised her a Porsche for her sixteenth birthday. He never had to raise his voice to insist she do chores, finish her dinner or improve her grades, because he wasn't around long enough. "I've quit drinking," Sophia said softly. "That's why I went away, remember? Why you had to stay with Grandma and Grandpa."

Alexa didn't pursue the old argument. She was too bewildered by her father's disappearance. "This is just so. weird."

"It is weird." Sophia could tell that the captain and his mates agreed. She'd heard them asking each other if anyone had seen Mr. DeBussi on deck in the wee hours. No one had. No one had heard him, either. But with the engine chugging away and the waves splashing against the sides of the boat, would anyone notice if he fell overboard?

"I keep thinking he has to be here somewhere.." Dressed in cut-offs and a white tank, Alexa leaned on the railing as her troubled eyes ran over the deck, the bar, the stairs going below. "I'm so worried."

Sophia didn't want her to have to accept the worst quite yet. She didn't want her to suffer at all. Alexa was the only reason she'd remained in her loveless marriage. Skip had told her she'd never see her daughter again if she left, and she believed him. He had the support of a rich and powerful family who lived in the same small town they did. With her own mother diagnosed with schizophrenia and her father dead, she had no one. "He might turn up."

A fresh tear rolled down Lexi's cheek. "But you heard the captain. He said there's no way Dad could've reached shore. No one could swim that far."

The captain would've been right had he been talking about anyone else. But he didn't know Skip, not like she did. Skip could do anything he set his mind to. Sophia had never met such a strong-willed individual. Or such a controlling one.

She pulled her daughter into a hug. "We've contacted the U.S. Consulate, and they've called the police. We'll be docking at Rio to wait while they check the city and the beaches. We won't leave without him. Let's not give up hope too soon."

Alexa's head bumped against Sophia's chest as she nodded, but she was obviously struggling to believe those measures would do any good. She couldn't picture her father jumping over the side in the middle of the night and swimming for shore—and neither could Sophia.

The captain approached. "I've secured a slip at Marina de Gloria, Mrs. DeBussi," he said. "We should be in port in less than thirty minutes."

"Thank you, Captain Armstrong."

His nod had the same effect as a salute. He turned away, but then he paused.

"Is there anything else?" she asked.

"I just—" he faced her again "—I wanted to warn you."

A sense of foreboding chilled her despite the ninety-degree weather. "About."

"The police. When I spoke to them on the radio, they…they asked me if…" He cleared his throat as his eyes flicked to Alexa, and she nudged her daughter toward the stairs.

"Lexi, why don't you go below and check our bedroom one more time, okay? Make sure everything of Daddy's is there, even his shaving kit."

"We know it's there," she protested.

Sophia gave her another little push. "Check again, will you?"

Reluctantly, her daughter headed to the stairs, casting a frown over one shoulder before she disappeared from view.

"What is it, Captain Armstrong?" Sophia asked. "They had questions about your marriage, Mrs. De-Bussi. If I've ever seen the two of you fight, that sort of thing."

He hadn't seen them fight. No one had. Skip kept up appearances at all costs. His reputation as the man who had everything meant more to him than something as malleable as the truth. He never grew violent when someone else was around, and that included Lexi. If he got upset, he simply punished Sophia later.

But anyone who was astute could no doubt feel the tension. Sophia was terrified of him. Even when he wasn't overtly abusive, she endured many small but vicious reprisals.

"And you told them…what?" Her heart thumped so loudly she was afraid he could hear it. Skip wouldn't like this intrusion into their personal lives, so why had he left her vulnerable to it?

"That I don't know anything about your private life. But…I want to reassure you that even if I did, I wouldn't speak of it."

She found his loyalty comforting, especially because she would never have taken it for granted. She barely knew him, had hardly ever spoken to him. It didn't matter that he was old enough to be her father, or that he was married himself. Her husband was too jealous. Any interaction would've risked the captain's job. "Thank you, Captain Armstrong."

"You're welcome. I have the utmost respect for you, Mrs. DeBussi. But…"

She pulled the gauzy white scarf she'd paired with her summer sheath dress tighter. "Yes?"

He lowered his voice. "You should be prepared. They will ask you the same thing."

Suddenly she grasped why he was telling her this. "You don't mean… They don't think I might've harmed Mr. DeBussi?" The irony of anyone suspecting her of hurting him almost made her laugh.

"They have to rule out that possibility."

She could understand why, of course. But how would she convince them? Although the U.S. Consulate was acting as a liaison, she'd be dealing with foreign police; she couldn't even speak their language. What if they arrested her?

Her face must've betrayed her panic because the captain took her elbow and led her to a chaise. It was nothing he'd risk doing in her husband's presence, but she was grateful for his kindness.

"They won't be able to prove anything, Mrs. DeBussi," he said. "You just need to remain strong and insistent."

They won't be able to prove anything? What did that mean? That he suspected her—but didn't blame her? She dared not ask him to clarify. Forcing a smile, she said, "Of course."

If only "strong" felt like a possibility. She'd been strong once, even willful and rebellious. She regretted a great many things about those days, had been paying for her sins ever since. She considered living with Skip to be part of her penance. But the one attribute she'd lost that she wished she'd retained was her fighting spirit.

Maybe it was there, somewhere. But having a child had completely disarmed her.

2 ia slipped out of Alexa's room. She was finally asleep, and Sophia was grateful. It had been a long, hard day. Although she could scarcely believe it, there'd been no word from Skip. As promised, the police had met them at noon, when they docked at the marina. While a handful of crime-scene techs went through the boat, searching for blood or any other clue, an investigator had spoken to her. In a heavy Portuguese accent, he'd asked all the questions one might expect under the circumstances.

And Sophia had lied in response to almost every one of them.

What made you decide to take a trip to Rio?

Where better to celebrate our anniversary? We've been meaning to get away for months.

Do you consider you and your husband to be a happy couple?

Oh, yes. We've never been more in love. Is there anyone, maybe a member of the crew, who might've been angry with your husband?

I’m so pleased to welcome a personal favorite author of mine NYT and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Novak.

I’m so happy to be here, Debbie! Thank you for having me!

Brenda welcome to The Reading Frenzy, tell us about your holiday Whiskey Creek novel
Take Me Home For Christmas.

This novel is a story about overcoming the past, and it involves one of my favorite themes in literature: redemption. Sophia has made some serious mistakes, and she’s screwed up her life as a result. But she is basically a good person who yearns for the love and happiness we all hope for. In order to achieve that, for herself and her daughter, she has to overcome some formidable obstacles (not all of which are her fault). Although she has her work cut out for her, as the book progresses the reader sees Sophia building the strength and determination she needs, and I think that makes the ending far sweeter.

Brenda, Whiskey Creek is a relatively new series. What led you here?

I had already written my eight-book Dundee series, another small town contemporary series that was released as part of Harlequin’s Superromance line and was very popular, so I was familiar with the genre. I had just veered away from it to do some romantic suspense, which I also love. I think I missed the sweetness and the simplicity of this type of novel, which also allows more room for depth in some regards, and I wanted to do something similar to the TV series FRIENDS, involving a group of both male and female besties.

Are there a planned number in the series?

I have twelve books planned, with the option to do fifteen or more, so it could be quite long-running.

Brenda you write in several genres and sub-genres. Is there one you prefer writing over the others?

Actually, no. It’s as hard for me to pick a favorite as it would be if you asked which of my children was my favorite. LOL! Sometimes I’m in the mood to write dark thriller type of suspense, which I’m currently doing with a manuscript called HELL BENT. That’s probably the most difficult, because it involves juggling both the suspense plot and the romance plot and weaving them together. But at other times I want the strong community, the familiar characters and the drama of Whiskey Creek. These books aren’t so difficult plot-wise, but they are very emotional, and that provides it’s own set of challenges. There are even times when I’m craving the tone and feel of a rich historical like Jane Eyre or Oliver Twist and I set out to re-create that type of world in one of my historicals (like THROUGH THE SMOKE, which will be released October 15^th).

Brenda, take a look back to when it all started. And I know the catalyst to your becoming an author is not one I’d wish on anyone (having found out your childcare worker was doping your kids to keep them behaved).
Do you ever feel the need to pinch yourself to make sure it’s real?

I feel very grateful for the fact that I’ve been able to write so many books and make a living as an author. I would not have been able to stay home with my children otherwise, and I would not have known the creative fulfillment that makes me excited to go to work each day. When I look back over the nearly fifty novels I have written to date, I can’t believe I have managed to produce so much in what feels like a very short time (I still feel twenty even though the mirror lets me know I’ve matured far past that age! LOL). I have been very blessed.

Brenda your annual charity to benefit diabetes has gained national attention and is very dear and near to your heart. The generosity of your fans and peers must astound you.
How much has the research moved forward since you began?

Debbie, the research has come a long way. We are currently awaiting the DRI’s new Biohub, which is supposed to go to human trials this year. From what I’ve seen so far, this is our best hope for a cure, and that is why I have donated the proceeds of my annual auctions to this particular research facility. Other advancements include developing insulin that is faster-acting (which will help stabilize the blood glucose levels of those with diabetes—as much as they can be stabilized) and insulin that doesn’t need to be kept cool in order to be effective, just to name two.

So it’s finally you time and you’ve just settled in with a good book.
What book is it?

It’s usually a research book. I love history--American and European history, in particular. If I get tired of that, I really like true crime. It gives me ideas for future thrillers. J Fun reading would include whatever is at the top of the bestseller lists for genres outside my own, usually literary (with a commercial twist) or women’s fiction.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing three different books. The first (and most important since my deadline is looming) is A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN. This is a historical novel that will be coming out from Montlake (Amazon) in September 2014. It revolves around a gang of grave-robbers (something that was quite common in 1830 London) and the daughter of the surgeon at Aldersgate Medical College, so it’s a bit of a historical romantic suspense, like THROUGH THE SMOKE. The second novel I’m working on is my next Whiskey Creek book. It’s called THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS and will be out November 2014. The third novel is the first book of a series of thrillers. I’m currently calling it HELL BENT. It’s set in Alaska and revolves around a psychiatrist who has established an institution where she studies serial killers. (Scary one!)

Brenda thank you so much for sharing with my readers and myself a bit of yourself.
Good luck with the new novel.
Will there be any signing/events for this novel?

There will be no in-person events for this one, but my Facebook page and my website will be very active with giveaways, excerpts and other fun things. Also, my fan club will be open to new members for a limited time, and it has some fun advantages.

https://www.facebook.com/BrendaNovakAuthor

www.brendanovak.com

Thanks so much for having me!

Connect with Brenda - Website- Facebook - Twitter 

Take Me Home For Christmas is one of
the novels being offered in my Harlequin Holiday Giveaway
Come back on Friday and enter to win it and a whole lot more