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 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.goodreads.com/roniekendigThank 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)
- paperbackTrinity: Military War Dog (A Breed Apart) - Kindle
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