TRINITY: MILITARY WAR DOG - Ronie Kendig - One Free Book

Oh, goody, another series by one of my favorite authors. Welcome, Ronie. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

A Breed Apart came about through an email from a dear friend. Turns out the email story was a hoax, but the idea of military war/working dogs captivated me. Very quickly the series was born. My publisher snatched it right up and, here we are—launching Trinity: Military War Dog, the first in the series. Each book in the series will portray a different type of military working dog (MWD). We’re only doing three, but I believe I’ve heard it said that there are over thirty variations in specializations with the MWDs.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Most likely, I’d want to select six authors with whom I am not “best friends” with, so that I could get to know them better—with one caveat: I’d want their families to be there, too, because our families tend to define us and the picture would not be complete without seeing the person “in context,” if that makes sense.

Robert Liparulo, author of the Dreamhouse Kings YA series (which my twins LOVED and read all six books!), Germ, Comes a Horsemen, Deadlock, and Deadfall - I’ve found his writing to be adventurous and thought-provoking. He writes what I love, and I think there is a very unique individual behind those stories.

Kellie Coates Gilbert, author of Mother of Pearl – Kellie is truly one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met. She’s hilarious, gracious, and compassionate. Though I’ve spent time with her, I feel the time is never enough.

James Rubart, author of Rooms, Book of Days, The Chair, and Soul’s Gate – The guy is just a genius when it comes to fiction. I’ve briefly met his wife, and I would love to have more time to hang out with these two amazing people.

Kathy Tyers, author of the Firebird series and a few Star Wars books – this woman is one of my literary heroes. She is a beautiful soul, but she’s also brilliant when it comes to fiction. If it weren’t for her Firebird series, I would never have discovered that it is possible to write Christian speculative fiction and that the genre is my secret passion. 

Ted Dekker – okay, I almost didn’t list him because it feels cliché to do so, but his mind is so deep. I’ve read his books since The Circle and have even read his nonfiction that left me with some pretty intense ponderings about the way his mind works, about his beliefs. I’m so not into the fame thing, but his writing makes me think and ask questions.

Bob Hamer, author of The Last Under-Cover, Enemies Among Us, and Targets Down – I could not resist listing this former Marine and veteran undercover FBI agent. I have so much respect for this man, and he says his wife loves my books? Why wouldn’t I want to meet him?

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

This is a smidge more challenging, since I do not read very many historical fiction authors anymore. But here are some:

Lisa Bergren – her The Gifted series captured my heart nad made her one of my favorite authors. Then she wrote the YA series, Waterfall. . .Lisa’s a beautiful soul and I’m so grateful for her since she entranced my daughters with her fiction!

MaryLu Tyndall – oh my! Have you read her books? The lady is a genius and her stories are to die for.

Sandra Byrd – I’m so envious (oddly enough) that Sandra is writing about England in the time of Henry VIII—one of my favorite periods. And her covers are gorgeous!

Tracy Higley – I absolutely adore her and her stories—and that they’re often set in ancient cities or among ruins of legends—Pompeii, Shadow of Colossus, City of the Dead. Tracy transports you to those amazing places in history!

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Perception is a tricky thing because it’s based on our projected ideals. I still feel I’m very much at the beginning of my game and in terms of this industry, even with six full-length novels out and four novellas. I am still growing and striving to be a better author. Right now, the most difficult thing is the same as what it’s always been: maintaining and remembering my identity, not as an author—I feel we shouldn’t let that define us—but remembering who I am in Christ. Success is fleeting. Fans can lose interest. God is faithful. I want to be where He is, no matter what.

Authors shouldn’t ever stop learning their craft. Tell us about the featured book.

Two years ago, an ambush high in the Afghan mountains shattered Green Beret Heath Daniels’s career and his faith. Saved by his military war dog—a beautiful Belgian Malinois named Trinity—Heath and the dog are forced into retirement. But suffering the side effects of traumatic brain injury, Heath feels lost without his military identity; now that he can no longer serve his country, he has no sense of self-worth. . .until he becomes involved with a facility to train and equip canines and their handlers for rigorous, dangerous service work.

Thousands of miles away in Afghanistan, military intelligence officer Darci Kintz is secretly tracking the Taliban in the Hindu Kush. A shocking discovery leaves her team dead and Darci a captive. Now only a team with mountain-tracking experience—like Heath and Trinity—can save her. But can Heath overcome his disability in these treacherous wartime conditions? And is he really willing to risk the life of the loyal animal that saved his own?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Body rigid, ears trained on the sound coming from the dilapidated structure, she waited. Breaths came in staccato pants, the heat of a brutal Afghan summer beating down on her. While the Kevlar vest provided protection, it also created a thermal blanket that amplified the heat.

She panted again and strained with resolute focus on the building. This wasn’t her first tour of duty. It wasn’t even her second. She’d completed three tours and outranked the Green Berets huddled behind her on the dusty road. Trinity lowered herself to the ground, waiting.

            When she took her next breath, drool plopped onto the gritty sand.

            “Easy, girl.” Staff Sergeant Heath “Ghost” Daniels knelt beside his Special Forces-trained military war dog, his M4 aimed at the building where three men had disappeared. This so-called security mission for the sweep team in prep for an HPT convoy had taken a turn toward

interesting. So much for intel that said the area was clean.

            “Ghost, what’s she got?”

            At the sound of team leader Dean “Watterboy” Watters’s voice, Heath assessed his sixty-pound Belgian Malinois again. “Nothing,” he called to the side, noting Trinity’s stance and keen focus.

            With the sun at high noon, they would blister out here if they didn’t get this road cleared before the general’s pack came through at thirteen hundred.

            Trinity came up off her hindquarters, muscles rippling beneath her dark, silky coat.

            Heath’s pulse kicked up a notch as his gaze darted over the nearly monochrome terrain. What had she detected? Sometimes he wished he had the sharp hearing inherent in dogs.

            Having taken cover behind a half-blown wall, Heath peered around the peeling plaster and stared down the sights of his weapon. He let the crosshairs of the reticle trace the structure in which the rebels had taken refuge, but he didn’t see anything. No trace of the men who’d scurried away from the sweep team. Men who’d raised the hackles of every member of the team, including Trin.

            Snapping and barking, Trinity lunged. For a split second, her paws rose off the ground as she bolted forward. A plume of dust concealed her movement.

            In a bound-and-cover movement, Heath and Watterboy hurried after her, making sure they didn’t expose themselves to gunfire or RPGs.

            As they came up on the house, Heath flattened himself against the sunheated

wall.

            A scream hurtled through the now-dusty day.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love connecting with readers! I can be found online in several places

www.roniekendig.com

www.roniekendig.com/blog

www.twitter.com/roniekendig

www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction

www.goodreads.com/roniekendig

Thank you, Ronie, for sharing this series with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. Trinity: Military War Dog (A Breed Apart) - paperback
Trinity: Military War Dog (A Breed Apart) - Kindle

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