Beverly and Tamara: Welcome to SSLY. Thanks so much for joining us today. So first why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you for hosting me. I worked for over twenty years in management in the not-for-profit industry. I loved my career but knew that I wanted something different and it was time to take the leap. So I quit my job, polished off my manuscript and published my first novel Captured Lies, October 2012. And my second novel, Tainted Waters April 2013. I am currently working on my third novel, Deceitful Truths to be out late 2013. I’m a mom to teenage twins and married to my best friend. Life is good but it took some work to get here.

Tamara: What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?

I like to have music playing. I like being left alone when I write but I like having the music, it seems to help motivate me. I also like a glass of water, it keeps me from snacking. I’d make it wine but then I’d never get anything done.

Beverly: When did you start to write, who influenced you?

I’ve been writing since I was at least nine. I think my uncle, one of my favorite people, was someone who influenced me a lot. He used to write music and songs on the piano and it really inspired me to want to write and since I’m not musical, stories seemed the next best thing.

Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?

Hot and hunky? I think a hero has to be someone that knows his own mind, can appreciate when he’s wrong, own up to his mistakes, see a woman as his equal, be open to change, be willing to let others take charge but know when to step in to stop a train wreck. Hot and hunky does help.

Beverly: Can you describe your favorite character? And which of your books is he/she in? How do you come up with your characters?

You want me to choose a favorite? Oh no that’s like asking a mom to choose one child over another. 🙂 I have a few favorites but I think Bailey, from Captured Lies is my favorite. Probably because she came to me at a time when a lot was going on in my life. So even though my life sucked at the time, hers was worse. And if she could get over hers than I could get over mine.

I try to make my characters that are fresh and different. So when I’m thinking up a story, I try to think what kind of character best fits this story line. Who would they be? How would they act? What’s their background? But I have to tell you that as much as I try to plan who the characters are sometimes they just walk into the story as I’m writing it.

Tamara: What are the hardest scenes for you to write? Suspense? Sex? Dialogue? And why?

Great question. I think it varies depending on the book but in truth probably the sex scenes. Why? Because I don’t want them to be cliched and I don’t want them overdone or underdone really. And to be honest, I think what if my mom reads this. 🙂

Beverly: What is your favorite scene in your favorite book?

It’s the scene where Travis jumps through a fire to save Shannon after she’s been beat up and left to die by her ex-husband. Fatal Burn By Lisa Jackson

Tamara: Who would you choose as your “book boyfriend/girlfriend”? From what book? Author?

Travis from Fatal Burn by Lisa Jackson. He’s a great father, hot and knows how to treat a woman.

Beverly: What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done? Or would like to? What? We are all about the love!

Be brazen enough to be part of the mile high club?

Beverly: LOL! Maybe in first class…

Tamara: What are your favorite types of heroines? Do you like the damsel in distress who needs saving or the kick-ass variety? Why?

I like the strong, independent, kick-ass women. I like a woman to take charge of life and her issues and make things happen. I think it’s time for women to show their strength and what better way than in the pages of a book.

Beverly: What was your worst date ever?

This was many years ago. The guy was fifteen minutes late, so not too bad, right? Well then we left and went to a restaurant that looked like a truck stop. Not impressed as he’d told me to dress up we were going to a nice place. The food took a while so he proceeded to explain to me in full detail how everything in the oilfield works – from choosing a sight, to drilling wells, to the pipeline…. – my eyes crossed about five minutes in. The food was actually pretty good. So one thing about the evening was okay. He kept telling me how much he liked me and drank like there was no tomorrow. So I called a friend to pick me up. I left him there. I’m not sure when he figured out I wasn’t coming back from the bathroom.

Tamara: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you? (You have food, water, shelter, all the necessities, so nothing mundane)

Books for sure – maybe some paperback and a tablet that never needs recharged 🙂

Music – so I can belt out the tunes without anyone cringing

A Lamborghini because the odds of me getting one in real life are pretty slim.

Beverly: What is your “guilty pleasure”?

Even though I really can’t eat chocolate I do sneak white chocolate once in awhile.

Tamara: What dream or goals have you yet to realize?

One of my dreams is to be a motivational speaker. I’ve done some but I am looking forward to doing more of this. Especially empowering women to step into their dreams.

Beverly: What was your most embarrassing moment or the craziest thing you’ve done? C’mon dish!

I got off a city bus once, just to grab something. As I got off I caught my pants on a newspaper stand and ripped them from waist to knee. So rather than get back on the bus, I walked the twenty blocks up a long hill, holding my pants together. I got a lot of honks and catcalls. Not sure why I just didn’t get back on the bus, it would have made more sense and probably less embarrassing. Oh and did I mention it was raining and windy?

Tamara: If you were a color what would you be and why?

I think I’d choose to be orange because it’s so vibrant and alive. It’s a color that makes you feel good by looking at it.

Beverly: How do you know you’re in love?

Uuhhh the love question. I would say that you know you’re in love when it’s not only the giddy, butterfly feeling you get when you’re around the person you love but you know that they like you for who you are, you like who you are and you feel empowered when you’re around them.

Tamara and Beverly: Okay. We are SSLY so we have to ask. Who loves you?

Aaahhhh, my hubby of twenty-five years. Yikes, not sure how that much time passed.

Now for some quick fun questions:

Boxers or briefs? ooohhhh tough one – tight boxers?
Coffee or Tea? Herbal Tea, I’m allergic to caffeine
Tall, dark and handsome or Blond and buff? Hhhmmmm tough question but I think the tall dark and handsome does it for me
Hairy chest or smooth? Hairy
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla – I can’t eat chocolate
Kinky or Sweet? Sweet
Fast or slow? Slow
Public or private? Private
Top or bottom? Wouldn’t you like to know. 🙂

Tainted Waters
By Maggie Thom

Publication Date- April 30th, 2013

Book Blurb-
He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her…

Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been since her dad committed suicide there twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offense to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up, may be false. Keegan who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was murdered? The descendants of the four families who own the land around the lagoon are dying off. Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from their deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed… including them.

Excerpt:
“You got hurt.” She turned and gave a fierce look at the man who was silently standing off to the side.

Sam reached out and took DD’s hand, which she let her clasp. She sighed before turning to see who was responsible.

“You!” It was the guy she’d run into in the stairwell of her apartment building.

“Me! You!”

“What? WHAT ASAAAAMMMMMMMMM?”

Jerking out of her shock, Sam pasted on a smile. “Nothing, DD. This is someone I met earlier.” She glared at him but made sure her niece couldn’t see it. “I was just surprised to meet him here. I’m just wondering what he’s doing here? Or how come I ran into him yesterday and again today?”

“Oh, cool. He’s a friend Aunt Sam. Meet me. Aunt Sam, who is he?”

“Uh, DD, I’d like you to meet…”

“Tim.” He reached out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, DD. Sorry to frighten you.”

“I’m not scared. You say sorry to Aunt Sam.”

He dropped his hand before turning to look at Sam. The brilliance of his blue eyes jolted her. “It would appear I owe you an apology.” He quirked up his left eyebrow and the left side of his mouth. It took her a few moments to realize that DD was tugging on her shirt.

“Uh. Right. Thanks. We really have to be going.”

“Now we shake.” She thrust out her hand towards him. He took it without hesitation and shook her hand. She beamed. “You’re my friend now. Bye.” With that she turned and started walking back to the cabin.

“I don’t know what you’re doing here and I don’t know if you’re following me but stop. Stay away from me. Stay away from her. Got that?” She spoke in a harsh whisper, not wanting her niece to hear, especially now that she’d crowned him as her friend. She jammed her fists onto her hips, her face contorted with a fierce look.

He held her gaze for several seconds before responding, “I could say the same about you. I’ve never seen you before in my life and three times in one day you mow me over.”

Sam straightened, a twinge of guilt raising its head, although she didn’t let him know that. “Three? You mean two.”

“Yeah. Well I guess at the newspaper building doesn’t really count. And I would never hurt–” he looked past her, “DD.”

Sam looked over her shoulder and realized that she wasn’t walking at her usual snail pace, she was at the clearing.

“This is a book that will have you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think the story is over, think again.” Read Your Writes Book Reviews

Links-

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17735762-tainted-waters

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Waters-ebook/dp/B00CJGTSME/ref=la_B009WSTDG8_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369969892&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tainted-waters-maggie-thom/1115218781

Kobo- http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Tainted-Waters/book-se9nvVVuZkWUbmak9OQyrQ/page1.html?s=j_-B1SkgJ02NpjxtXMcx2w&r=1

Smashwords- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/305785

About The Author-

Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a full time twenty year career in management, to write full time. After her initial panic that she might need a straight jacket, she published her first book Captured Lies, October 2012. And now is excited to release her second novel, Tainted Waters, April, 2013. Her third book, Deceitful Truths (sequel to Captured Lies) available fall of 2013. An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years.

Her motto: Escape to read and Read to escape. “Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!” InDtale Magazine

Author Links-

goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549592.Maggie_Thom

Amazon Author Page- http://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Thom/e/B009WSTDG8

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggieThom

Twitter- https://twitter.com/maggiethom2

Website- http://www.maggiethom.com/

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/maggiethom2/

google +: https://plus.google.com/102887579832939598896/posts

Author is Giving Away-

a $15 Gift Card to either Amazon, barnes and noble or kobo – winners choice

– a signed ecopy of her first ebook Captured Lies

Rafflecopter Code-

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Facebook Event- https://www.facebook.com/events/499564193446244/