Marie Force is in the House!

Going to the Chapel and We’re Gonna Get Maried….

By: Marie Force

Happy September, everyone, and in my house happy—or not-so-happy, depending on your perspective—first day of school. This time of year is always a little bittersweet for me. While it’s nice to be getting back to some semblance of a routine, I’m sad to see the summer come to an end, and believe it or not, I’ll miss having the kids underfoot during the day. They are going into 7^th and 11^th grades, and the great college search is beginning for my daughter. I’m soooo not ready for that, but ready or not, here it comes.

This is also a time for celebration because Sam and Nick are getting married! Fatal Series fans have been looking forward to the big day for some time now, especially since they helped me settle on the details back in February. Over the last week and a half we’ve been unveiling all the specifics that will make up Washington’s wedding of the year. Visit my blog: http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com) to participate in the daily contests and to view the choices for the wedding.

The wedding novella, Fatal Destiny, will be out on Monday, and the best part is that it’s free! Here’s a bit about the novella:

With the week of their wedding finally upon them, Washington, D.C., Police Lieutenant Sam Holland and her fiancé, Senator Nick Cappuano, are at odds. In the aftermath of a tragic loss, they struggle to reconnect as the big day draws near, but their work keeps pulling them apart. When a new clue into a cold case surfaces, Nick asks Sam not to take any foolish chances before the wedding and to leave it alone for the time being. Sam agrees, but she can't let it go entirely and winds up trapped in an explosive situation. Then an unwelcome visitor from her past threatens her future happiness… With trouble at every turn, will Sam survive long enough to walk down the aisle?

I had such a fun time writing Sam and Nick’s wedding, and I can’t wait to hear what you all think of the big day!

Next up for Sam and Nick is Fatal Flaw, coming in February. I finished Flaw in July, and we’re working through some edits now. In the next installment, Sam and Nick are just back from their honeymoon and are discovering not everyone is happy for them. They receive some menacing wedding cards that keep them on edge as one vexing murder after another has Sam, Freddie, Gonzo and the Metropolitan Police Department gang chasing their tails looking for a clever killer. In Flaw, you’ll see more of Sam and Nick’s young friend Scotty Dunlap and a blast from Freddie’s past will rock him and further test his strained relationship with his mother. Detective Jeannie McBride continues her recovery from a brutal attack and struggles valiantly to put her relationship with her boyfriend back on track. Finally, a health crisis for Sam’s dad opens the door to secrets that will resonate through the Holland family for some time to come. Oh, and one more thing from Flaw: watch for another relationship to form between a friend of Sam’s and a friend of Nick’s. Doesn’t Sam just love when their two worlds collide? Not!

One of the my favorite parts of writing the wedding novella was the relationship that develops between Sam and her wedding planner, Shelby Faircloth, who Sam calls Tinker Bell. Their dynamic was so fun that I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can keep Shelby on the canvas in future books. I think I’ve come up with a way to do that, and I’m looking forward to working that into the next book, which will be called Fatal…. something. LOL! Not quite sure yet!

Heading into the sixth book, I’m happy to report that the Fatal Series is still so much fun to write. Sam and Nick have become real people to me, and judging from the comments during the wedding planning,, readers feel the same way. We’ve gotten to know them quite well and have a handle on what they’d like and what they wouldn’t. I hope I will continue to surprise you as they continue to surprise me!

Next up from me is a contemporary called Georgia on My Mind, which I’m hoping to have out by the end of September, followed by a trilogy I’m super excited about: Treading Water, Marking Time and Starting Over. These last three are the first books I ever wrote, and they continue to be my favorites of all my books. I can’t wait to get them out to readers! Find out more about all four upcoming releases on my website at www.mariesullivanforce.com.

I’m sure all the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series fans will want to know how the next book is coming along. Well, not as quickly as I’d like, but with summer coming to an end my life will get back to normal, which means lots of writing time! I’m still hoping to have Grant McCarthy’s book, Falling for Love, out before the end of year. Stay tuned!

I have two last bits of news for you. First, I’ve done some work on my Facebook fan page at facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor where you can check out my bookshelf and gain access to exclusive content (including a first look at Georgia on My Mind) after you “Like” the page. I love what the designer did to the page, and I hope you do, too!

Finally, Christy asked me to tell you that my dog Brandy is now a singer—in addition to her many other skills (newspaper shredding, sock eating, bunny chasing, etc.) During our 50-hour blackout after Hurricane Irene, my daughter broke out her guitar and my husband (The Turnip) played his harmonica. Brandy started “singing” in a voice we’d never heard before. My daughter called it “Brandy Sings the Blues.” The blackout taught me that I wouldn’t have made for a good prairie woman—not that there was ever much debate about that—and that unplugged time with the family is priceless. A perfect end to a wonderful summer.

Some questions for you: What did you do for fun this summer? Any good wedding stories (horror stories)? And, does your dog sing like mine?

Great to be with you all today! I’ll give away a complete set of the Fatal books, so comment away!