Interview and tour: Capturing Karma

I’m so excited to be part of Goddess Fish’s tour for Capturing Karma, by K. M. Daughters 

I had a chance to interview Pat and Kathie about their latest book, Capturing Karma.

Why did you begin writing?

We have written since we were children. We entered essay contests in elementary school, wrote plays for the neighborhood kids to perform while bored during the summer, and wow, some of those exam, “blue books” in college were total fiction, made to sound authoritative, and factual. Becoming a published author has been a life-long dream.

What inspired you to write Capturing Karma?

Capturing Karma is the third book in the Sullivan Boys romantic suspense series. Actually, a person inspired the series, rather than an event or headline, etc. NYT best selling author, Joan Johnston, coached us at an RWA chapter conference, prior to our first agent pitch, after listening to what we had planned to say. When we mentioned the hero’s family’s composition – five siblings all involved in law enforcement careers – she declared, “You don’t have one novel to pitch. You have at least four or five.”

How did you come up with the title?

Matty’s (our heroine) psychic gifts relate to a missing youth’s karma. Our hero, Brian Sullivan, is a homicide detective who has considerable difficulty accepting Matty’s “truths”. Intent on apprehending criminals, how does he capture karma - or whatever Matty’s visions represent?

What books or people influenced your writing? Was it positive influence, or negative?

A virtual library of books influenced our passion to write. Our dad, a fabulous storyteller, captured and nurtured our imagination.

How do you go about researching for your books?

Several wonderful people in our lives consult on our romantic suspense books—a  police Captain and four medical professionals working in diverse specialties. We just completed and contracted on the 4^th Sullivan Boys book, entitled, All’s Fair In Love And Law and we consulted with an attorney to research that book. We research via the Internet frequently. Our inspirational romances are set in a fictional village in Croatia, and involved travel to that part of the world. We didn’t realize we were researching while visiting Bosnia Herzegovina. We were inspired to write those books while there, so that’s a case of backwards research.

Did you base any of your characters on real people?

No we didn’t. Occasionally we’ll compare physical attributes while envisioning characters to people we know, or in the case of celebrities, we’d like to know.

What advice can you give to young writers who want to publish their books?

To us it’s all about story and voice. If you have a unique story, tell it, hone it, and craft it as professionally as you can. Research publishers and be a stickler for details conforming to each publisher’s, or agent’s, submission requirements. Have faith, no matter what. Don’t give up, no matter what.

Just for fun: What are your ten most favorite things?

1. Spending time with our children and grandchildren.
   
2. Dates with our husbands.
   
3. Walking together – preferably on the Illinois Prairie Path.
   
4. Developing our stories together.
   
5. Holding our book in our hands.
   
6. Fan mail from readers.
   
7. Reading.
   
8. Performance reality shows. We love Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol.
   
9. Our annual Oscar parties. Just us, dressed in swank pajamas, eating pizza.
   
10. Sister trips to anywhere in the country or the world.

Do you have any pets?

Kathie has a Boston terrier named Marty (crazy Marty Feldman eyes). We both adore her.

What are your favorite (and least favorite) foods?

Pizza is our fav – liver, whether you smother it with fried onions or not, a vehement least favorite.

Is there a specific place in the house (or out of the house) that you like to write?

We each have offices in our homes where we write and enjoy hanging framed K.M. Daughters book covers on the walls. Hopefully someday it will make for unusual wallpaper all around.

Do you have a specific snack that you have with you when you write?

No, ma’am. We keep both hands on the keyboard and away from our mouths.

Thank you so much!

 

About Capturing Karma: Veterinarian Matty Connors’ visions lead her to homicide detective Brian Sullivan once again despite her resolve to remain anonymous the past four years.  Her official work with the police in California resulted in the brutal murder of her fiancé, and since, a recurrent nightmare she barely survives.  Brian, the reputed ladies man of the Sullivan family, has yet to give his heart to a woman until Matty lays claim to it.  His black-and-white approach to solving crimes doesn’t jibe with Matty’s spooky pronouncements or her reputation for alleged infallibility.  A wild goose chase searching for a murder weapon casts doubt on Matty’s “truths” and threatens their smoldering romance.  Is Brian her nightmare slayer and ultimate truth?  When the puzzle pieces fall in place for Brian, will it be too late to save Matty?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now,
the giveaway!

 

Pat and Kathie will be giving away a signed copy of the first book in the series, Against Doctor’s Orders and a silver charm for a charm bracelet to a random commenter, and to the blog with the most comments! Leave a comment for a chance to win!

~Haleyknitz