Guest Blogger: Terry Odell

Terry Odell has been one of my bloggie buddies for a long time. She is very generous with her knowledge and uses her blog to share a lot of information about how she does things. On Fridays, she posts photos from different bloggers around the world ... and some from her own backyard in the mountains of Colorado.

Terry writes romantic suspense, including her Blackthorne, Inc. series featuring a team of covert ops specialists who go where Uncle Sam can't.

Her newest, Danger in Deer Ridge, is set in her new home in the mountains of Colorado. She couldn't resist using one of her locals as the cover model.


When Danger Calls: "Odell has written a story with nonstop action. There are plenty of surprises, especially when the line that separates the good guys from the bad guys becomes blurred ... Odell's writing will keep readers on their toes." RTBook reviews

Where Danger Hides: Romance fans will drool over Dalton and his fellow camo-clad helicopter-riding commandos as they look for runaways and love. Publishers Weekly

Rooted in Danger (April, 2010) "Odell is a topnotch storyteller. The dialogue is spot on, the characters are well drawn and their journey will leave you breathless!" Bestselling author Debra Webb

***

Settling into my chaise, I squint into the distance. Are those storm clouds at the horizon? I hope they stay where they are, because I have an opening scene to write. I set my Mai Tai on the small table beside the chaise and decide that the fruit in the drink counts as lunch. I'm staring at the screen, trying to decide what the covert ops team of Blackthorne, Inc. will be up to this time.

Sandpipers scurry back and forth, staying just out of reach of the surf's edge. Moments later, the gentle sounds of the surf are washed out by the whup-whup of a helicopter. I follow the sound up the beach to an area rich in tropical vegetation. The helicopter circles, then hovers, reminding me of the hummingbirds that come to my feeder at home.

What could they be doing? It doesn't appear to be a police helicopter, so I don't worry that they're looking for a fugitive. The clouds move closer. The wind picks up. The palm fronds atop the Tiki Hut rustle. I grab my Mai Tai, drinking the cool liquid in large gulps, still watching the helicopter. I can almost feel the tension as I imagine the pilot struggling to hold it steady. I don't have binoculars with me, but I swear I see a stretcher descending from the belly of the helicopter, swinging in the stiff wind. Is that another rope being lowered? Is there a person climbing down, agile as a monkey? I wait, straining my eyes to see, but the wind has intensified, and the blowing sand obscures my vision.

Before the storm hits with a vengeance, I pack up my laptop and head for my hotel. My day in the sun might be cut short, but I know exactly how my next book, Rooted in Danger, will start. 

==========

Thanks so much to Carol for having me. Right now, I'm offering a buy 1 get 1 free special. Buy When Danger Calls for 99 cents and I'll give you a download of Danger in Deer Ridge. More details here: http://terryodell.blogspot.com/p/deals-and-steals.html

To read the first chapter of any of Terry's books, visit her website, Romance With a Twist of Mystery http://www.terryodell.com and follow her blog, Terry's Place, at http://terryodell.blogspot.com

Comments

Linda Kage said…
Oh, Terry. Now you got me all jealous. I'm sitting in the moldy back room of a library, staring out the window at an empty parking lot. Eww, I think that bug crawling by is bigger than my 16-month old!

But you sure do paint a nice picture. And your Blackthorne, Inc series sounds good!
Joanne said…
I like your suggestion in this post that any passing visual, or observation, is fuel to kickstart a story. Thanks Terry!
Terry Odell said…
Linda - guess you'll have to crank up the imagination about what's really outside that window! And thanks SO much for taking advantage of my buy 1 get 1 free offer. Hope you enjoy the Blackthorne, Boys.

Joanne - stories are everywhere, aren't they?

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Elspeth Futcher said…
I can understand how that fired your imagination, Terry!
Lydia Kang said…
Definitely some imagination on fire at the Tiki Hut!
What an inspiration - and imagination to take it further.
LR said…
Mai Tai sounds great. ;)
VR Barkowski said…
Amazing cover! What an inspirational setting. And you're right, Terry, stories are everywhere. All we have to do is open our eyes. Of course if I do that, it means I'll be writing about the 'burbs. *cringe*
Terry Odell said…
Elspeth, Lydia & Alex - thanks - - we writers live in our heads most of the time, I think.

LR - Mai Tais ARE great!

VR - I've only written 2 books that took place where I lived at the time. The rest - imagination + research, although I did make brief visits which helped inspire the stories.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Ideas are everywhere, aren't they?

I could use a Mai Tai right about now...
Terry Odell said…
Elizabeth - that does sound good. It's still a tad early in my time zone, though.
Maryannwrites said…
Enjoyed the post, Terry. Maybe I need a Mai Tai and a chaise lounge by the beach to jump start my latest WIP. What a clever way to connect with Carol's setting.
Helen Ginger said…
I love the idea of a romantic suspense series starring a team of black ops!
Terry Odell said…
Maryann - glad you enjoyed it.

Helen - I hope you love the idea enough to take advantage of my special buy 1 get 1 free offer!
Carol Kilgore said…
Thanks so much for being the guest blogger today, Terry.

I hope you had fun. Everyone enjoyed having you here, I'm sure.
Terry Odell said…
Carol, thank YOU for having me. I had a great time; hope your readers did, too.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Cinette said…
Camo-clad hunks, you say? Sounds like I'll have to check this out...
Terry Odell said…
Cinette - please do. They don't mind at all.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
I'll be sure to check the novel out. I love a good romance. And the guy's name is Dalton? Swooning already. LOL
Terry Odell said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Terry Odell said…
thanks, Rachelle. Dalton appears in When Danger Calls. Where Danger Hides is his book. But he's back in Danger in Deer Ridge. And he loves meeting new readers!

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Anonymous said…
Covert ops team?! Cool. Love the cover, too.
Terry Odell said…
Thanks, Liz - hope you'll check them out. I've got 1st chapter reads and behind the scenes peeks on my website.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Julie Flanders said…
Loved your post, Terry. So creative!
I'm going to head over and check out your books now, they sound like just my taste.
Terry Odell said…
Julie - thanks. Hope you enjoy them. (They're just my taste, too!)

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Talli Roland said…
Ooh, fantastic - I love the cover! What a great setting, and the book sounds wonderful.
Terry Odell said…
Tali -- we do have some inspirational settings here, which is good, since I can't get to the Tiki Hut all that often!

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Pamela Mason said…
Love stormy suspense and danger in a helicopter! Going to check out When Danger Calls now! Thank you for the special and can't wait to read it!
Terry Odell said…
Pamela - my pleasure. Hope you'll enjoy more of the Blackthorne Boys.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Good blog Q&A, Terry. I always get benefits from your writing tips. Keep them coming.
Mary
Terry Odell said…
notesfromnadir - we love being able to have that scenery so nearby.

Mary - glad you find things helpful. I share more at my blog, too.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Tami Brothers said…
LOVE that scene! You had me the whole way, right down to the fruit counting as lunch...grin...

Thanks for sharing this story with us. Headed to your site now.

Tami
Terry Odell said…
Tami, so glad you enjoyed my day at the Tiki Hut.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

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