I am pleased to end 2018 by welcoming my special guest, award-winning author Nike Chillemi, who recently released her new romantic suspense novel Courting Danger. She's going to share the answers to a couple of questions that intrigued me about the book. I think you'll find the background to this novel interesting too.
I've so enjoyed developing a friendship with Nike on social media over the years. Even though we've never met in person, she is one of those people who I would count as a good friend. She has also consistently published page-turning detective fiction with great romantic threads. Here's what her newest release is all about:
Newly installed Pelican Beach, Florida detective Katerina "Kat" Andruko fears the prime suspect will get off in the murder of a teen with the help of the department's forensics psychologist, a man she's just started to trust.
This case has national security implications that gives former US Army Ranger, Dr. Dimitri Garmonin a chance to work with the FBI. The case could give him the chance to obtain the funds needed to expand his small Behavior Analysis Unit. He's unmoved by the chic FBI agent sent to assist but is intrigued by Kat with whom he shares a Slavic heritage.
Kat and her partner detain two wrong suspects, giving the department negative press. The predator turns his anger on Kat, targeting her. Can Dimitri use his profiler skills to catch this killer before he hurts the woman he's growing to love?
Q: I find this set up intriguing. The shared heritage angle is unique. Please give us some more insight into your main character(s). What does he/she do that
is so special?
A:
In COURTING DANGER, both Det. Katerina "Kat Andruko and forensic psychologist
Dimitri Garmonin have a Slavic background and so do I. This gave me an opportunity
to draw from what I know (culture, food, religious attitudes), what I grew up
with. Though parts of my psyche are imbedded in each of them, neither of them
are me…not even close. They are defined personalities I created. They both
share a few very special attitudes and values. They both live and thrive in
modern America but have deep respect for old world Slavic values. In the modern
world they live in and work in professionally, each wants to protect the innocent,
find justice for victims, and keep Pelican Beach, Florida (the fictitious city
they live in) safe.
Q: This sounds like a pretty intense story too. How did the idea come to you?
A: A while
back the invasion of Crimea by Russia was 'the story' on all news television
channels, and it flooded the internet. The image of Ukrainian Orthodox Priests
in their robes standing in the war zone became seared in my memory. They defied
Russian tanks holding Bibles and wooden crosses. It's like they were saying,
"You have to come through us to get to our towns and the people." My
heritage is Slavic. I know the culture, the foods, the religious values. Out of
this COURTING DANGER evolved. Kat is an American girl who spent two years in
Ukraine as a teen is now a detective in a Florida beach community. She teams up
with Dimitri a Russian-born forensic psychologist who came to America as a boy.
She initially distrusts him, still they must catch a killer.
About the Author:
Nike
N. Chillemi writes contemporary detective and/or suspense novels with a touch
of wry humor, and there's often a national security twist to them. She likes
her bad guys really bad, her good guys smarter and better, and a touch of the
comedic. Her newest endeavor is COURTING DANGER.
Nike is the founding board member
of the Grace Awards and its Chair, a reader's choice awards for excellence in
Christian fiction. She has been a judge in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016,
and 2017 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense
categories; and an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery
category. Her four novel Sanctuary Point series (out of print), set in the
mid-1940s has finaled, won an award, and garnered critical acclaim. The first
novel in the Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels/Dawson Hughes series HARMRUL
INTENT won in the Grace Awards 2014 Mystery/Romantic
Suspense/Thriller/Historical Suspense category. She has written book reviews
for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She is a member of American Christian
Fiction Writers (ACFW) and John 3:16 Marketing Network. https://nikechillemi.blog/
Thank you for dropping by, Nike!
