 | 24 Nov 09 |
It’s my pleasure to welcome Karen Fenech to MurderSheWrites today. Karen writes contemporary and historical romantic suspense. Her novel Betrayal has been translated in Japanese, and her short fiction has been translated in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. Karen lives with her husband and daughter. Visit her website at: www.karenfenech.com. 
Thank you to Debra and the wonderful authors at Murder She Writes for having me here. In addition to giving up her blog today, sometime ago Debra read my recently released novel GONE and provided a quote for the book. Imagine my delight at receiving a quote from an author whose work I had long enjoyed and admired.
Debra’s kindness and generosity, and that of other writers I am privileged to know, has made me think of our community of writers as a family. In our family, a call for help when a plot stalls or a character misbehaves brings fellow writers with sleeves rolled back, ready to pitch in and solve the problem. It’s these same people who are cheerleaders and champions of our work and, when something in our writing world derails us, they are the ones who give us a much-needed kick in the butt to get up, get going, and move on. No one else really “gets” this part of our lives.
My latest release GONE explores the subject of family. My heroine, FBI Special Agent Clare Marshall, is searching for the sister she was separated from in childhood when her mother tried to kill her. Clare has known the hope of promising clues to her sister’s whereabouts and the crushing despair when those clues reveal themselves to be false leads. Now, she tracks her sister to a small South Carolina town. This time it’s for real and Clare knows that a reunion with her sister is imminent. When she arrives in town, however, she discovers that her sister is missing and that someone from the town is responsible for her disappearance. Fearing for her sister’s life, Clare launches an investigation into her disappearance. Fellow FBI Special Agent Jake Sutton offers help, but Jake is Clare’s estranged lover and has an agenda of his own.
Here’s an excerpt from GONE:
Clare left the nursing facility and stepped into bright sunlight. She shielded her eyes with the back of one hand and with the other reached into the purse dangling from her shoulder, digging for sunglasses. A man was walking across the parking lot toward her. A trick of the light, he looked like . . .
“Jake.”
She hadn’t realized she’d spoken his name aloud until she heard it.
He was close enough to have heard as well, though he didn’t speak. His eyes, narrowed against the sun, fixed on her with an intensity she remembered all too well.
Too late to pretend she hadn’t seen him. It wasn’t too late to walk away, though. She wanted to walk away, really wanted to, and because she did forced herself to stay put and meet his gaze.
Jake now stood in front of her, blocking the sunlight. Clare lowered her hand. His chin was at her eye level. He hadn’t shaved. Black beard shadowed his jaw, made his tanned skin look darker.
The last time she’d seen him, from the other side of her bed, he’d looked a little pale. Tired from working too hard. Tired from going another ten rounds with her.
That was three years ago. He didn’t look to be suffering from sleepless nights anymore. He looked rested and fit. The blue T-shirt he wore over jeans showed his hard, tough body. Was he still with the Bureau? If so, by his casual attire, he wasn’t working today.
“I could say the obvious ‘small world,’” Jake said.
It had been big enough for her until a moment ago. But in response, she said only, “Must be.”
In the awkward silence, a group of women in hospital uniforms dashed by, causing a slight breeze that smelled strongly of spicy perfume.
Jake cleared his throat. “Don’t tell me the Bureau’s sent you to make sure I’m not lazing my days away fishing?”
He said it with a smile, an obvious attempt at lightness. Clare didn’t return the smile.
“You’re assigned to the Columbia office?”she said.
“Resident office in Farley, actually.”
That surprised her. After they’d stopped seeing each other, Jake had put in for a transfer out of the New York office. They’d been members of the same squad for a time and had been paired off. Working together after things ended had strained them both. Jake was very good at what he did and had earned the commendations to prove it. He could have aimed a lot higher than Farley. She couldn’t understand why he hadn’t.
She didn’t know where he’d gone—didn’t want to know—but she would never have imagined him choosing Farley. He was a city boy. She wouldn’t have figured he would come here voluntarily. He must have been desperate to create distance between them for him to accept this post.
“Just me, one other agent, and an admin assistant,” Jake went on. “How about you? What brings you to our fair town?”
When she’d known him, she’d never mentioned Katie. On the nights he’d stayed at her apartment, she’d stored her cork board and files on her sister in a closet. She had no reason not to tell him about Katie at this time. Her being in Farley and the reason for it was likely climbing the town grapevine at lightning speed. But there was no reason to bring Katie up to him now, when she hadn’t before.
“Vacation,” she said simply.
He heard the lie. The humor in Jake’s gaze vanished and in an instant his gaze grew razor sharp.
“I recall you had a preference for sand and surf,” he said.
No doubt he was referring to the one brief getaway they’d taken together—a spur-of-the-moment jaunt following a particularly gruelling assignment. They’d both been wound tight. He’d asked her where she’d like to go.
White sand beach. A pounding surf. No one else around for miles.
Her words returned to her. The next morning, she’d awakened and found he’d packed her suitcase and had found the perfect place for them to go. She didn’t care for the reminder of how perfect it had been between them once.
“Not this time,” she said. “Good-bye, Jake.”
Before he could say anything further, Clare walked away from him.
Have you read or written about the subject of family? As a token of my gratitude for being here with all of you, I’ll be drawing a name from one of the commenters to win a $20 gift card at Amazon.
© 2009 Debra Webb. All rights reserved.
Debra Webb, born in Alabama, wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron Curtain—and a five-year stint with NASA—that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set.
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Good morning, Karen! Please share with us a little of your writer’s journey related to this story? Particularly in regards to the missing sister. I find the search for family so fascinating!
by Debra Webb November 24th, 2009 at 5:31 amI can’t say I write about family, but family plays a very important part in my recent release, and again in my mystery WIP.
I don’t think you can have characters without family, even if they don’t have family-because not having family shapes them as well.
by Terry Odell November 24th, 2009 at 7:00 amKaren–As a reader, the books about families that I think of first are “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult and “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold. Your book sounds very interesting. Thanks for visiting today.
by GSM November 24th, 2009 at 7:19 amGood morning, Deb. Clare’s search is two-fold. It begins innocuously, with her looking for her infant sister who was adopted. I looked into what adoption information was available to parents and siblings searching for family members. Adoption records, at the time of the writing of this book, were still sealed. The search, however, changes when Clare discovers that her sister is missing, and becomes a criminal investigation.
At that point, the methods of the search understandably also change and intensify. There are clearly defined steps that are taken to attempt to find a person who has gone missing under suspicion of foul play. One of those steps is to look to family first. In the case of an adult who is married, the first person of interest to law enforcement is the spouse.
Of course, missing persons are not all adults. The incidence of missing children continues. From my research, Deb, I came away with the thought that law enforcement looks to family as possible suspects, and must do so. Frankly, it was heartbreaking to read of criminal missing persons cases that have made this step all important and necessary.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 7:21 amHi Terry,
You are so right. Not having family is as defining as having family. In your recent release and/or your WIP do your characters have family or do they not? If it wouldn’t give away a plot point, I’d be interested to know.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 7:27 amIn those two books, family ties are important. In When Danger Calls, heroine Frankie quits her job and moves from Boston to Montana to care for her agiing mother. When hero Ryan is accused of being a traitor, he also returns to his childhood home to figure out who the real leak was, and makes peace with his father during his efforts.
The WIP involves grandparents and grandson, plus the ward the grandparents raised as their own when her parents died.
by Terry Odell November 24th, 2009 at 9:14 amHi GSM,
All wonderful writers you cited! I’m so glad you find GONE interesting. Thank you for letting me know.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 7:29 amHi Karen, I am a reader, but I love to read books about family. Family is the most important part of life in my book. What would we do without them. I also know they can be a pain sometimes but we love the anyways.
by Quilt Lady November 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am[...] Author Karen Fenech has stopped in at Murder She Writes today. She’s guest blogging about family — family as a community of writers, and as family features in her new novel, Gone. [...]
by West Of Mars — Win A Book! » Blog Archive » Guest Author: Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 8:44 amNo need to enter me, Karen (although I’ve created a rock band as family in my own fiction). I’m dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I’ve posted about this at Win a Book.
by Susan Helene Gottfried November 24th, 2009 at 8:44 amHi Quilt Lady,
You are so right. We are fortunate to have family, with all the joys and quirks that come with them. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 9:10 amSusan, thanks so much for the posting!
A rock band as family sounds great. Family isn’t just made up of the people we’re related to by blood. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 9:12 amHi Terry,
Family plays as important a role in our fiction as it does in our “real” lives. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 9:21 amWelcome to MSW. I can’t wait to order your books. It is always great to find a new (to me) author.
Including family members lets a writer delve more into emotions, lies, secrets, betrayals, loves, losses. Good stuff – for fiction.
by HollyD November 24th, 2009 at 10:21 amHi HollyD,
Thanks for the welcome and for your interest in my books. I hope you enjoy them.
Including family in our fiction surely complicates things for our hero and heroine. So true -good stuff for fiction! : ) Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 10:28 amonce again I thoroughly enjoyed the excerpt and the promise of a great story;
by RobynL November 24th, 2009 at 11:21 amhow awful it must be to have a part of you/family member missing and the search it involves. I just shudder thinking of it. Every moment thinking of what you could do next.
Hi Karen!
Like you, family is very important. In this world today in which we live in, where the family is struggling to survive, your viewpoints and your books are so important.
by Karen Kay November 24th, 2009 at 11:22 amHi RobynL,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for letting me know.
I did exensive research into what is involved in investigating missing persons cases. One thing I didn’t need to research were the emotions one would experience in such a situation. You are so right, it would be an awful thing to have a family member go missing. A fear we can all identify with. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 11:36 amHi Karen,
At the end of the day, it all comes down to family, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 11:38 amKaren,
Your book sounds great, another to add to the growing list of books I want for read. Most of my writing has some element of family, but it is not often at the forefront of the story, but I love reading about family.
Thanks for sharing with us!
by Tiffany November 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pmHi Tiffany,
I’m so glad you liked what you’ve read so far of GONE. Thanks for letting me know. I hope you enjoy the book.
So true, “family” has a way of working into our fiction, no matter what we write. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 1:09 pmI know there are a lot of authors who incorporate their personal lives in their writing and that include their family.
by Jane November 24th, 2009 at 2:45 pmHi Jane,
I’ve heard the same. I’ve heard that some writers compile characters out of traits from several family members. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pmHi Karen nice blog!! I really enjoy it when an author writes a series with a book for different family members. I’m a LL Miller fan because of her writing within families. Thanks, Sue
by QLady48 November 24th, 2009 at 5:11 pmHi Sue,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog. Thanks!
I also enjoy a series with a book that features different family members. Yes, LL Miller has written some great ones. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 5:19 pmThanks so much for joining us today, Karen!
by Debra Webb November 24th, 2009 at 6:33 pmThank you Deb, for hosting me and, thank you to everyone who blogged with me.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pmHey, Karen, welcome to MSW. Love the excerpt! I haven’t written any family books, but! A family themed story has been calling to me for awhile now. I need to write it!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
by Karin Tabke November 24th, 2009 at 7:04 pmThanks for the welcome, Karin. I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
All the best with the family themed story on your mind. I look forward to reading it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you. Earlier today, I read your blog post on the birth of your granddaughter. Congratulations. God Bless.
by Karen Fenech November 24th, 2009 at 7:18 pmthank you! she is *the* most precious of gifts!!
by Karin Tabke November 24th, 2009 at 8:46 pmI love writing about family, especially those full of eccentrics; maybe because I’m an only child, I notice my protagonists often end up with at least one sibling. There’s something about the dynamics of blood relations, they can bring out the best and worst in people, so it makes exploring those ties in fiction a whole lot of fun.
Loved your post today. GONE is being added to my wishlist “as we speak.”
by catie james November 24th, 2009 at 9:17 pmcongrats on the book
by kh November 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pmgreat excerpt
family i s so precious and we need them now more that ever, i am thankful for mine and that they are healty and happy
Hi Catie,
So true about family. No one can make us laugh, or cry as hard as those we love.
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the post and what you’ve read of GONE so far. I hope you enjoy the book.
by Karen Fenech November 25th, 2009 at 6:03 amHi KH,
I think this time of year really reminds us just how important the people we love are. You are so right.
Thanks for the congrats. I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
by Karen Fenech November 25th, 2009 at 6:04 ami agree, those we love, can make us laugh till it hurts or cry
by tami November 27th, 2009 at 11:29 amand also cn hurt us the most yb what they say
Hi Tami,
All so true. Thanks for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 27th, 2009 at 11:35 amim trying to upload a video to my my space of my daughter, just by something i said, and wasnt paying attn, and she laughed for 6 min
by tami bates November 27th, 2009 at 11:30 amHi Tami,
I meant to add that family is also there to offer support and comfort when we need it most. And, there have been some times . . . : ) Thanks, again, for sharing.
by Karen Fenech November 27th, 2009 at 11:41 amany winner
by kh December 4th, 2009 at 9:36 amHi KH and all,
I’m not sure if Debra is planning to post this herself, but I’ll jump in. : ) Yes, a winner has been selected. It is HollyD. Congratulations, Holly!
Thank you all for blogging with me, here at Murder She Writes.
With all best wishes,
Karen
by Karen Fenech December 4th, 2009 at 9:56 am