NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

How (Not) to Interview a Black Ops Soldier








I recently sat down with "Bolt Action" Mary, the heroine of my latest romantic suspense, ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT Black Ops: Automatik #2, to talk to her about such things as her journey through the military and her plans now that she's back in the civilian world. The conversation was very interesting, as was sitting across from such a skilled covert soldier as Mary. I'd love to show you what we talked about, but I'd agreed to let her get first approval of the interview and the following are her notes:


































As you can see, Mary can be quite private and the last thing I'd want to do is go against her wishes. Luckily, the hero of ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT, former SEAL and current Automatik teammate Ben Jackson agreed to answer these same questions for her, and with her consent:

Q: What was your path into the military like?
A: Mary ran out of asses to kick while still in high school, so she had to join the Army in order to show those boys how it was really done. I’d advise you not to dig much deeper than that, unless you want a long ride in a dark van to a remote location.

Q: Was it difficult being a woman in the special forces?
A: It was probably more difficult for the cowboys in special forces to be outshot by a woman. I’m sure she had to prove herself, but there’s nothing I haven’t seen her excel at. Hotwire a car? Bang. Shadow ops? She’ll create a scenario so good you’ll believe you grew up in the same small town as her.

Q: Do you have a fitness routine now that you’ve retired from the military?
A: The woman makes yoga look deadly.

Q: Did you find that being a soldier made you choose between your emotions and your skills on the battlefield?
A: She’s one of the best shadow operators I’ve ever worked with, and she’s brave enough to bare her soul, too. That’s how I fell in love with her.

Q: What’s the one thing people don’t know about you?
A: If people don’t know it, she wants it that way.

Q: What are your plans to keep busy in civilian life? Any chance you’ll get bored?
A: We’re working in private security. Mostly pro bono. And there’s never a dull moment.

Q: Who are you wearing?
A: She has a five inch blackened dagger in her boot and at least three other weapons you’ll never know about.

Many thanks to Ben for answering these questions and giving us insight into Mary. You can learn more about both of them and how they went from teammates to lovers in ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT.

8 comments:

Anne Marie Becker said...

Hi, Nico - sounds like my kind of book! Love the interview and Mary sounds like a true Bad Ass. ;D

Nico Rosso said...

Thanks, Anne Marie! Yeah, Mary definitely has some skills.

Toni Anderson said...

Love this! Mary sounds like a blast :) And like someone you don't want to piss off :)

Nico Rosso said...

Yeah, Toni, it's best to stay on Mary's good side. Just ask the bad guys.

Maureen A. Miller said...

"Bolt Action" Mary. I want a cool name like that. But Toni and Anne Marie would probably name me, "Bad Singer" Maureen. LOL!

This looks awesome, Nico!

Nico Rosso said...

Thanks, Maureen! And for the record, I think "Bad Singer" is a pretty intimidating nickname.

CathyP said...

Love the interviews - both versions!

Nico Rosso said...

Thanks, Cathy!

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