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Hi guys! Thank you all for joining me today--I'll get to your questions in a few minutes and will stop back during the day to answer any more, but I wanted to let you know about the FREE ebooks I'm offering.

Right now you can get my latest book, EDGE OF SHADOWS, for free on Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, or, if you're a Nook user, Smashwords.

All the download links are here:

AND, if you buy now, the first two books in the series are on sale for only 0.99 each—own the entire trilogy for less than the price of a single book!

Plus, if you sign up for my mailing list at you can get a second book for free as well.

Happy reading!
CJ

How many of your book ideas come from real life incidents, or do you just come up with the scenarios completely yourself? Because some of them are pretty ummm--extreme? LOVE your books, especially Lucy.

Karen wrote: "How many of your book ideas come from real life incidents, or do you just come up with the scenarios completely yourself? Because some of them are pretty ummm--extreme? LOVE your books, especiall..."

Insert wicked cackle here, lol! Thanks Karen, that's such a nice thing to say to a thriller writer!

I work very hard to keep my books as real as it gets--but still entertaining. It's a fine line to walk!

All the medical scenes and most of the crimes I use are based on real life cases. For instance, the kidnap/rape/murders in BLOOD STAINED were based on several real life criminals (all now convicted)--one of them did release his victims, he was that sure he couldn't be touched!, and the first time he went to trial, despite having victims testify against him, the jury didn't convict!

Yes, real life is stranger than anything I can come up with. Often the hardest part for me is taking what I know happened in real life and dilute it to make it credible for my readers.

Like the radioactive alligator in HOT WATER--there have been many incidents of radioactive critters causing havoc, although the general public isn't aware of them.

Or the nefarious ways child predators stalk their prey--don't even get me started there!

What amazes me is that I get some reviews on the Lucy books complaining that she's some kind of "superhero" when the only physical injury she had was a cut that needed stitching--good grief, if Jack Reacher took a break after a few stitches his fans would rebel! but somehow because Lucy is a woman people don't think that's realistic, when I and so many female colleagues have worked through much more serious/painful illness/injuries, and hello, childbirth anyone?

So, to answer your question, there's a lot more of reality in my books than people realize (or want to realize!) but then I twist it to fit the needs of my characters.

I kind of thought that might be the case--we always hear truth is stranger than fiction!! But you have such a wonderful way of sharing it with us :). Thank you!!

Karen wrote: "I kind of thought that might be the case--we always hear truth is stranger than fiction!! But you have such a wonderful way of sharing it with us :). Thank you!!"

You're very welcome! Thanks for reading!
CJ