~~ Nina Bruhns Spotlight Interview with Tracey West ~~ August 2004 ~~
 

The last time The Road to Romance spoke with Nina Bruhns, her SIM, SWEET SUSPICION was about to be released.  We are glad to welcome Nina back to discuss her upcoming release in September 2004, GHOST OF A CHANCE.

Welcome Nina!

Tracey – You must have been very busy the last few months since we spoke, getting ready for the upcoming release GHOST OF A CHANCE.  What promo, other avenues do you venture when you have a new release coming out? 

Nina – I try to send out ARCs to my list of reviewers, as well as doing interviews such as this one. I’ll also do a few chats online while the book is in the stores. Other than that, I think promo isn’t all that effective when one is writing for category romance. Harlequin/Silhouette has great distribution, and there is very little an author can do to influence sales on that large a scale. The Internet is a great place to do promo, but the very best way to get readers is just to write a book they want to read!

Tracey – Do you get any writing done on a next book, when promoting a new release?

Nina – Absolutely. I don’t spend a lot of time on promo. I think it’s more important to concentrate on the writing.

Tracey – GHOST OF A CHANCE is a different book than what you have written before.  This is a paranormal suspenseful romance.  What else can you tell readers about this?

Nina – It’s a fun story! I thoroughly enjoyed writing this one. The hero is so quirky. Aside from being a 200 year old ghost of a pirate (which in itself is enough!), Tyree is also addicted to EBay and has a couple other habits that annoy his loyal housekeeper to no end. Originally it was supposed to be a light, fluffy read (in opposition to my recent books SWEET SUSPICION and SWEET REVENGE which were quite dark and heavy). But Tyree kept going Hamlet on me – after all, he’s due to die (for real) in a week. So it was tough to keep him light. But he ended up being a much richer character than I’d planned for, which is good!

Tracey – Why the decision to go from romantic suspense, to paranormal? Is paranormal (ghosts) something you have wanted to write for a long time?

Nina – Oh, I don’t think I’ve really gone over to paranormal. It’s not usually my thing. This is definitely still a romantic suspense story. The hero just happens to be dead. <G>. I may do a few other “paranormal” books, but they will always be love stories first, and most likely have suspense plots in the background. The paranormal elements that may show up will never be the center of my stories. The characters’ relationship will always be what it all revolves around. That’s what I love to write about. But its fun to throw in a twist here and there and paranormal elements can be great to liven up things.

Tracey – Having read GHOST OF A CHANCE already, I can say that as a fan of yours since your first book, I am THRILLED you have written this story!  You do not disappoint with this one. Your characterization and plot are as strong as always and the tension between the characters, Tyree and Clara, is felt throughout.  This is a great addition to your list of stories.  What can you share with readers, about Tyree and Clara?

Nina – Thanks so much! Hmm. Tyree was a super fun guy to write. He kept surprising me with everything he did. He was so misunderstood, and was so amusingly grumpy about it. He was a real treat to get to know. And Clara, what a pragmatist. She was just not going to believe in ghosts for anything in the world, despite what her eyes were telling her! Sometimes I think romance heroines are too accepting of the weird things that happen to them (encountering vampires, time traveling, etc). I liked that Clara was a little skeptical of Tyree’s sanity, but that it didn’t keep her from falling for a wonderful man.

Tracey – How long did it take you to write GHOST OF A CHANCE?

Nina – About 3 months.

Tracey – Was Tyree, in all his ghostly maleness, difficult to work with? Compared to your other heroes in previous stories, was Tyree your biggest challenge?

Nina – No, actually, he was a joy. He was delightfully irritated with his plight, but never lost his joi de vivre, despite being dead. LOL.

Tracey – Where did the inspiration for GHOST OF A CHANCE come from?

Nina – Straight out of the sixties TV series, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. I loved that one!

Tracey – Will you (or do you) have more paranormal tales in the works? 

Nina -- Possibly a few. I am working on the proposal for Sully’s book right now. Sully will not be a ghost, but more reminiscent of a Heaven Can Wait type character. I have a couple other ideas in the back of my mind, which will hopefully come along in the next few years. A futuristic and a time-travel. But we’ll see.

Tracey – When you aren’t writing, what are you doing in your spare time?  Does Nina Bruhns have any free time? <g>

Nina – Yeah, right! I have a husband and 3 kids (14, 13 and 11). Oh, and a dog. When I’m not taking care of them, I love to travel, and to read. That’s mainly what I do these days.

Tracey – What authors would we find you reading when taking a break?

Nina -- Linda Howard, Jane Feather, Jenny Crusie to name just a few of the zillions of great authors out there. I love judging contests because I get to read new authors.

Tracey – You have written many books to date, received many great reviews and awards for many of them, if not all!  Do you worry with every release, how it will be received by your readers? Does the nervousness, even for a very successful author like yourself, does it every go away?

Nina – No, it never really goes away. But I’ve learned that the books I think are going to really hit big often don’t, and the ones I think the readers will find boring are the ones they like best. It’s impossible to predict what people will like! So, in a sense, that makes it easier not to worry about it.

Tracey – What is next from Nina Bruhns? What can we anticipate from you? Do you have anything further set for release in 2004?

Nina -- I just turned in my next book, coming out April 2005, BLUE JEANS AND A BADGE. This is a spin-off from SINS OF THE FATHER, and it is Philip’s story. Philip O’Donnaugh has moved to New Mexico and is now the chief of police in a tiny tourist town. His heroine is a gutsy bounty hunter who is searching for her past. After that I’m working on REDHAWK’S IRISH WEDDING, which will be out in 2005. This one is also set in New Mexico, featuring a Native American hero and Irish heroine.

Tracey – Is there anything you would care to add Nina that we have not covered?

Nina – No, I think you got it all!

Tracey – Could we possibly have an excerpt from GHOST OF A CHANCE?

Nina – Sure!

~~~~

 
From chapter 2...

"So, tell me about this dream. I need the vicarious thrill," Mrs. Yates said.

Clara cleared her throat. "I dreamed I met a pirate."

Mrs. Yates glanced up from her plate. "A pirate?" A sudden frown creased her forehead. "I suppose that’s natural," she said slowly, "considering where you are and what you're doing here. What happened with this...pirate?"

Clara blushed. "What didn't? He was unbelievable.” And from the tight, barely leashed desire in his expression to the musky, slightly mysterious scent that floated to her senses on his body heat the man had seemed vividly alive. “Handsome, sexy as hell, and a body to die for. He literally swept me off my feet."

“Indeed.”

She blew out a breath. "Oh, Mrs. Yates, you just wouldn't believe how incredible he was! He made me feel like an enchanted princess being awakened by her true prince. We spent the entire night in the cottage—-“ She caught sight of the older woman’s expression. “What?"

Not curiosity, suspicion. "The cottage was in your dream? Rose Cottage?"

Clara nodded. "The bungalow was so realistic,” she said with a sigh. “I could even smell the roses and the salt marsh."

Mrs. Yates looked at her sharply. "Clara dear, did this pirate have a name, by any chance?"

Clara brushed aside a spurt of unease at the unexpected change in demeanor. Her hostess appeared almost...upset.

"As a matter of fact, it was Tyree St. James."

A crash resounded through the kitchen as Mrs. Yates' knife and fork clattered onto her fine china plate.

"Tyree St.--" Her forehead wrinkled in consternation. "He didn't! He simply couldn't! Oh, dear, this is all my fault."

"What is? Mrs. Yates, is something wrong?"

"Why, the old scamp! I would never have believed it of him!"

"Who?"

With a rattle of dishes, Mrs. Yates rose from the table and paced the uneven kitchen floor, clearly distraught. "This is unforgivable!"

Clara stared in astonishment as her hostess suddenly called out in a reedy, but surprisingly loud voice, "Captain! Captain St. James, you come here this minute!"

Okay, this was now officially weird. Had the old lady completely lost her marbles?

"At once, do you hear me?"

"What did you expect me to do when you install a sweet young thing like Miz Fergussen in my bedroom?" drawled a deep, honeyed voice directly behind her.

At the all-too-familiar accent, Clara whipped around in her chair.

No! It wasn't possible!

"What the--" She froze at the sight of her dream pirate lounging against the kitchen door frame as though that were perfectly plausible and possible.

Which it wasn't. Because the man wasn't real.

She had to be hallucinating.

"Hello, sweeting. I trust you slept well after I left?" His gaze prowled over her like a wolf sizing up his prey.

Her chair crashed to the floor as she rocketed to her feet. "You!"

He bowed slightly. "As you see."

Omigod.  

"You can't be here!"

One black eyebrow rose in that knowing way which had been so arousing last night, but now set her teeth on edge. There was something very, very wrong here.

He was real.

But...how?

Clara clenched her fists at her sides, anger coursing through her. She'd obviously been played for a royal sucker. "Very clever. How did you do it? Smoke and mirrors?"

"Do what?"

"Don't even try." She raised an accusing finger. "Just who the hell are you, anyway, and what's with that ridiculous outfit?"

Blandly, he glanced down at the pirate get-up from the night before, which he was still wearing—-except for the hokey eye-patch. 

"I gotta say, it loses its effect the morning after." She grimaced at a sudden thought. "God, don't tell me, you work at the museum, right? What was the plan? Thought you'd get a big laugh playing dress-up for the gullible Midwestern hick?"

"Oh, dear," Mrs. Yates mumbled from the corner, wringing her hands.

"I assure you, I do not work at the museum, and was not--"

Clara held up a palm. "Never mind. I really don't want to know. Just get out of here. Now."

The pirate leaned back on his heels, folding his arms over his broad chest. The broad chest she'd collapsed on in exhaustion more than once the night before--

"That could be a problem," he said in those smooth molasses tones, thankfully interrupting the memory. "Since this is my house."

"What?" Clara sliced a disbelieving glance at Mrs. Yates. "This guy lives here?"

"Well, in a m-manner of s-speaking," the old woman stammered.

Great. Just great. "And you didn't think to tell me about him?"

"Or me about her?" the faux pirate chimed in.

Mrs. Yates looked thoroughly flustered, but Clara was too embarrassed to feel sorry for her. She wanted to sink straight through the kitchen floorboards and never come up again. How could she possibly face this man after the scandalous way she'd behaved with him last night? After the things they'd done together?

Damn.

"This isn’t happening." She covered her face with her hands and groaned. "You told me you were a dream."

"It was the only thing I could think of."

She heard him take a step toward her and she jumped away, tearing her hands from her eyes. "How about the truth?"

A peculiar expression came over his face and his mouth quirked. "The truth?"

"Oh, dear," Mrs. Yates echoed again, wringing her hands even harder.

"Well?"

He assessed Clara with narrowed eyes. But his words were obviously for the other woman. "Shall we tell her the truth, then? It seems you had that in mind all along, or you would never have invited her to stay here. Isn't that so, Mrs. Yates?"

"I just thought... You only have a week left, and she seemed so nice." Mrs. Yates drew herself up. "But frankly, Captain, I expected you to act like a gentleman, not a--"

"Pirate?" His expression was mocking, but Clara thought she detected an odd sadness to it. Then he sighed, the sound spiced with weariness like salty air from the sea.

"Captain?" Clara questioned, picking up on Mrs. Yates' words. "You're a captain? Of what?" She'd absolutely die if he was a cop.

He leveled his near-black eyes on her. "Believe me, you don't want to know."

A tingle of foreboding trickled down her spine. "Oh, but I do," she said, despite the growing certainty that she really, really didn't. Mrs. Yates looked like she was about to expire, and the pirate's expression was growing more stormy by the second. "Just who are you?"

"You know who I am," he murmured quietly. "I'm the man you spent the night--"

"Captain!" Mrs. Yates exclaimed.

"Captain who?" Clara asked with dawning dread.

"I told you before. My name is St. James. Captain Tyree St. James."

She just stared. First at him, then at Mrs. Yates, praying a rational explanation was forthcoming.

It wasn't.

Her heart sank. Oh. My. God.

Not only had she slept with him, but the man was a certifiable fruit loop.

~~~~ 
To pre-order your copy of GHOST OF A CHANCE, due out in September 2004, visit Amazon to get yours soon!  It is definitely worth it.

Nina would love to hear from you.  Readers can visit her site at http://www.NinaBruhns.com . There is a link to her email will get readers in touch with her!

Thank you Nina, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit with us.

The Road to Romance congratulates you on your upcoming release and wishes you much success!

Nina – Thanks so much!!! It’s been fun visiting :D.