Cathy Skendrovich Writes Romantic Suspense
Do you love high action romantic suspense? Cathy Skendrovich is here today to tell you about her newest release and share her writing experiences.
Welcome Cathy Skendrovich…
How much research do you do for each book you write?
I have a love/hate relationship with researching each book I write. While I love to learn new information as it pertains to what I’m writing, I find it tedious to do. I want to get to writing the story, for goodness sake, yet I have to take the time to get everything right so that readers don’t call me out on certain facts. And writing a military novel, when you don’t know much about the military beyond TV? I’d better do it just right, or I’m going to hear it from former soldiers, active duty, or military buffs. For example, the Army calls a uniform hat a “cover.” My younger son is in the Army, and he told me in no uncertain terms, not to call it a hat. I didn’t. Likewise with former soldier vs. ex-soldier. Once you serve, you’re never an “ex-soldier.”
What other genres of novel would you love to write?
While I love to write and read romantic suspense, I do like historical romance, as well. I’d love to write a western romance and see it on bookshelves. I know a lot about the American west as well as cowboys and horses. I’ve travelled through the western states multiple times, read about the old west, and I think I could write a western that would catch peoples’ interests even now, when westerns aren’t the “in” thing to read. Maybe someday…
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
Right now I’m working on Book 2 of the In the Zone series. I still have to sell it to my publisher, so I’m polishing up my pitch. Each book will be a standalone yet be part of the terrorist threat series I started with Zone of Action. My personal tagline for this series is “Who will protect the protectors?” The second book will continue with the terrorist threat to the U.S. Army. The question is, will it be from within, or an outside source? Only I know. I hope to get Zack’s (a secondary character in Zone of Action) story out there, but we shall see what the publishing gods have to say.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Zone of Action is a book I made up in my imagination with little help from life experience. When my publisher asked for a terrorist plot novel that could work into a series, I started racking my brain for an original plotline. Having a son in the Army, I leaned heavily on him for proper military decorum and terms but did all my own research; hours of it. I loosely based Audrey’s hometown on Ferndale, in the California redwoods, but all the action, suspense, and romance came out of my wee little head. I’m proud of what I accomplished.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
My favorite chapter to write in Zone of Action was the one where Brett catches Cam and Audrey with their pants down (literally). I wanted an awkward scene where past lover meets current lover. I had some sharp lines I wanted Cam and Brett to say to each other in this scene, and I also wanted to showcase just how “badass” Audrey could be, even without a stitch of clothes on. And I’m especially proud of the opening scene to that chapter, where Brett mimics Robin Williams’s “Good morning, Vietnam!” lead-in, while cocking a shotgun. That chapter is priceless to me.
Zone of Action by Cathy Skendrovich
Former terror cell expert Audrey Jenkins has seen enough death and destruction to last a lifetime. When she uncovers her ex, Brett, a higher-ranking officer in her unit, selling military secrets, she turns him in and returns to the simpler life she has embraced since leaving the army.
CID Special Agent Cam Harris is a career military man with a strong sense of duty. When a military prisoner who once saved his life in Afghanistan escapes while in his custody, he requests the assignment to track him down.
Cam’s manhunt leads him to Audrey’s door. His prisoner—her ex—will resurface here, he’s sure of it. The feisty woman wants nothing to do with hunting down her ex, but when a terror cell she’s all-too-familiar with launches a deadly attack on army intelligence soldiers and officers, she knows it’s Brett.
Helping Cam is the right thing to do. But the attraction burning between them may be the mistake that gets her and Cam killed…
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Learn more about Cathy Skendrovich
Lover of dogs, reading, and the outdoors, Cathy Skendrovich looks for story ideas in everything she does. Recently she moved to Star, Idaho, with her real-life hero, and now they enjoy living overlooking a pond. Her favorite genre to write is romantic suspense, though she’s also dabbled in historical romance. Her fifth book, Zone of Action, blends her love of suspense with the military. Her younger son, who’s currently in the army, has stopped taking her calls because of all the research questions she asks him. Seriously.
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Great interivew Cathy. I don’t think I could pick a favorite chapter. My best for a successful run.
Thank you, C.F. Francis!