WEEP IN THE NIGHT - Valerie Goree - One Free Book

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I try to make my characters as unlike me as possible. I have OCD tendencies, so I purposely allow my characters to be impulsive, untidy, or make spur-of-the-moment decisions without planning. Naturally, the traits I give each character must match the story-line.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

During the American Christian Fiction Writer’s annual conference, attendees are allowed to dress as their genre for the first evening meal. Since I write romantic suspense, I was looking for a costume to reflect each aspect. I found a cute little hat with a veil that portrayed the romantic side. But how could I add the suspense part? It was close to Halloween and I found a rubber ax surrounded by blood to insert into a slit in a T-shirt. I wore the hat and the ax and received many accolades and several odd looks. I didn’t realize that I’d have to wear the getup for the rest of the evening. I felt very quirky attending the late evening workshops with an ax sticking out of my chest. Won’t do that again!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Although I’ve always had a creative side, it took me a long time to conquer my fear of writing. I had a teacher in high school who made us read our essays in front of the class, then she would critique them. That killed any passion I had for writing. Thirty years later, I purchased a word processor 

and poured out my first romantic suspense. (It has not been published, but one day I will revise the novel and submit it.) I’ve been writing ever since.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My reading choices have changed over the years. I used to only read romances, but now I find straight romance too tame. I usually choose suspense, romantic suspense, or police procedurals.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

We live in the country, 30 miles from the big city. When I need to take a break, I sit on our back porch, and gaze over the field to the hills beyond our fence. Listen to the birds, the doves, the murmuring water splashing over the waterfall. Breathe deep and thank the Lord we have this place of solitude.

Sounds wonderful. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I keep a list of names I like, then when I’m planning a new book, I search through the list and choose names that fit the characters. I like unusual names, but stay away from ‘soap opera’ types, or names that are hard to pronounce. I also make sure that I don’t have too many names that begin with the same letter.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question. At first I was going to say my children, but in reality I had very little to do with their personalities. I only provided an environment where they could flourish. So, I’ll go back to my career. I worked with students with special needs for 25 years, from three-year-olds, to high school students. I’d like to think that I had a positive influence over all their lives, but what I’m most proud of is teaching slow leaning students to read! I remember one particular young boy who had been retained and told me he was dumb and would never learn to read. After weeks and weeks of working on phonics and figuring out what the words said – I purposely did not say we were ‘reading,’ he stopped and looked at me and said, “Hey, Mrs. Goree, I’m reading!” I often wonder what those kids are doing now.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d like to be an eagle. Soar over the landscape, take in the sights and sounds of God’s glorious creation.

What is your favorite food?

I was born in South Africa where there is a large population of people from India. So along with British foods, I grew up eating Indian curry dishes. Love mutton curry.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My problem is time management. I am a great procrastinator, and if I don’t have a deadline, I can find a dozen things to keep me occupied instead of writing. I have not overcome my problem. Anyone have any ideas?

Tell us about the featured book? 
Weep in the night.

After three years in the witness protection program, Sadie Malone’s life in Texas is bland and humdrum—until she meets a new co-worker. Bowen Boudine ignites a flame in Sadie’s long-dormant heart, but when she discovers he knows her true identity, she attempts to flee. He thwarts her escape and reveals the reason he’s been sent to locate her.

Bowen, a seasoned operative with International Retrieval Organization takes his job escorting Sadie back to California seriously, but quickly finds he’s falling for her. Can he maintain a professional relationship while he protects her from the crime boss her testimony helped to convict?

Please give us the first page of the book.

She ran her finger across the white plastic name tag. Blue letters spelled out Debra Johnson, but that wasn’t her name.

The bulb above the sink crackled and died. She hated the dark. Backing out of the bathroom, she leaned against the wall and flipped on the hall light. Shadows scuttled away, but left a trace of unease in her gut.

Tears blurred her vision as she pinned the name tag on her shirt. It took two attempts to snag the pin in place. Get a grip, Sadie. You’re safe.

Although she’d been in the Federal Witness Protection Program for almost three years, she still thought of herself as Sadie Malone. Sometimes the past latched onto her soul and yanked her down to the depths of grief like a meteor plummeting to earth. Today would have been her husband’s thirty-seventh birthday. She closed her eyes. The faces of Aaron, and Hannah, her four-year-old daughter, floated in and out of a gray mist. Gone. They were both gone.

A shiver took control of Sadie’s body as ice crystals formed in her heart.

She would not succumb to despair.                 

I can't wait for my copy to come. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: www.valeriegoreeauthor.com.

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMasseyGoree?ref=hl

I contribute to Catherine Leggitt’s blog which addresses topics that affect A Woman My Age. I write under the heading, My Mother, My child. www.catherineleggitt.com

Thank you, for sharing this mew book with us. I love romantic suspense.

Readers, here are links to the book. 
http://www.christianbook.com/weep-in-the-night/valerie-goree/9781611163872/pd/163872?event=ESRCG

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Valerie%20Massey%20Goree&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/valerie-massey-goree/weep-in-the-night/6372932.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/weep-in-the-night-valerie-massey-goree/1120501138?ean=9781611163872

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