Guest Author, Kylie Brant & Giveaway!
by sue on Oct.14, 2009, under Book Chat
Setting: Contemporary, the rural South, Buffalo Springs, Tennessee
Subgenre: Romantic Suspense
Hero: Renowned parapsychologist and author Devlin Stryker
Heroine: Forensic investigator Ramsey Clark, of The Mindhunters,
hired to assist with the investigation of a young woman’s brutal
murder
One sentence summary: Ramsey Clark doesn’t believe Devlin Stryker’s
talk about a century old curse, a strange red mist and deaths
occurring in three’s, but as she searches for evidence in the murder
investigation she begins to wonder if a killer is playing on local
superstition, or if a prophecy is indeed coming true, one victim at a
time.
Scene you like most and would never cut: When Ramsey walks in on the
forensic scientist manning the mobile lab to find him stark naked.
Her reaction cracks me up, every time I read it.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Whatever
you say, dear.
Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy: boxer briefs
Ancillary character you had the most fun with: Ezra T, a child-man who
has the run of the woods and happens into danger more than once
Your heroine’s favorite hobby: Work. Ramsey doesn’t make time for
anything else. At least not until Dev Stryker elbows his way into her
life.
Your hero’s favorite hobby: Separating truth from hoax in reported
supernatural events. But once he meets Ramsey, Dev spends most of his
time trying to smash through her defenses.
What you think readers will like best about this book: I had a lot of
fun crafting the rural southern setting, and many of the characters
are compilations of people I’ve met through my travels in the south.
There’s a hint of the supernatural in the book, as well as dark
suspense. Ramsey is a favorite character of mine…sort of Eve Dallas
on steroids 
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
I’m getting a lot of mail about Adam Raiker, the head of Raiker
Forensics, aka The Mindhunters. People seem intrigued by the
legendary ex-FBI profiler and the case that ended his career with the
Bureau. He hasn’t been too forthcoming yet. He’s a pretty private
sort of guy.
What’s next: I’ve recently gone back to contract for three more
Mindhunters books to be released in 2010 and 2011. There will be
visits in each from some of the characters in the first trilogy and
the last in this series will be Adam Raiker’s story.
Question for the day: How dark is *too* dark when it comes to
romantic suspense?
Giveaway: Kylie Brant is giving away five signed copies of Waking
Evil to commenters today!
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Shape-shifter Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when a Dark-Hunter, who is also an official member of the Dogs of War, sashays into his bar, he realizes he might have met his match. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, Samia realizes that Dev just might be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.
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October 22nd, 2009 on 8:54 am
Even so, a peer-reviewed paper that evaluated the Long et al. ,
October 17th, 2009 on 12:09 pm
Hi, Kylie! You have created a super suspense series! We love to be kept on the edge of our seats while we glance nervously over our shoulders!
October 15th, 2009 on 10:38 am
Hi Kylie, sorry I missed you yesterday. I didn’t get a chance to come on. I loved all of your other books. You were always a auto buy for me with Harliquien. So now I have to out and get this book. Hope I am not to late for the give away.
But, as to how dark is to dark? I don’t mind dark books so long as they come out with a HEA. The H/H and go through all kinds of stuff, I love to see how the author works it out for them to get past it. I like to see them become stronger because of it. Not to let it take them over. Right now I am reading Cindy Gerard Into the Dark. Amy has had a real tough time, she had endured unspeakable horrors while being held as a hostage. But she has worked to overcome them and is a stronger person becasue of it. I like that kind of book.
And Sharon Sala The Missing, to me I didn’t think it was that dark, but it is real good. One of my rereads when I get into a reading slump.
Off to find your new one.
October 15th, 2009 on 11:50 am
Thanks, Debra! And you’re not too late. I believe winners are announced Sunday. I agree that the h/h having to overcome their pasts help to forge a stronger bond between them and makes me believe in their future together. After all, if they overcame a trauma, they should be able to work through whatever difficulties crop up between them, right?
October 15th, 2009 on 6:07 pm
Kylie, I agree with you. If they can overcome the past that is what makes it a good read for me. I like it that it makes the H/H stronger. It also gives you one heck of a good story.
October 15th, 2009 on 9:39 am
Interesting topic. I had to think about it since i have read some pretty dark books. Too dark to me is when it involves torturing children or graphic details of the mutilation of a victim. Since I have two young children I find the first too depressing to read. The second just won’t allow me to sleep at night because I replay it over and over in my mind.
October 15th, 2009 on 10:34 am
Cherie, I know what you mean. One of my favorite authors detailed the crucifixion and rape of the victim and it was just more than I could take. I had to start skipping those pages.
October 15th, 2009 on 6:23 am
Hi, Kylie! Sounds like a terrific series. “How Dark” depends on whether the emphasis of the story line is greater on romance or suspense. A romance story can be enhanced by some deep, dark spooky elements. A suspense story line can be “fleshed-out” by adding a love relationship. If the characters are well-developed, they can be placed in any genre, time frame, setting & etc. and still be worth the read!
October 15th, 2009 on 10:35 am
Virginia, that’s it exactly. Each of the story elements has to elevate and enhance the others. No single element can carry the story alone, and have it be a satisfying read, IMO.
October 14th, 2009 on 11:16 pm
Thanks for posting! Your series sounds great.
But how dark is too dark really depends on the story and where it is leading.
October 15th, 2009 on 10:36 am
Thanks, Donna. I like to be guaranteed that the story is leading to a happy ending, LOL! I’m a low risk kind of gal!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:10 pm
I think it depends on my mood as to how dark is too dark. I can take a lot of dark in romantic suspense since I’m pretty assured of a happy ending. A double happy ending most of the time–killer caught, romance resolved. That’s all good.
These books look great and I love, love back to back releases. Gobble them up like candy!
October 15th, 2009 on 10:37 am
Collette, back to back releases do make it nice for a series. I know readers who wait until the entire series is out before reading the books, all in a row. I’m way too impatient for that, myself, LOL. I’d cheat!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:30 pm
How dark is too dark?
I can actually go fairly dark, as long as it isn’t gratuitous.
I haven’t heard of this series before, but it sounds interesting. I’ll be looking for it.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:41 pm
Thanks, Tina! I can read fairly dark stuff too. But I admit, for one of my favorite authors I have to set the book down sometimes to get away for a bit when too much of the violence is on scene!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:09 pm
I love romantic suspense. You expect some darkness in the story because the hero is usually a tortured soul but, I don’t like rape and torture or actual physical abuse. I would love to win a copy of your book. I’ve read your Harlequins and enjoyed them very much.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:28 pm
Thanks, Linda
I tend to give both my heroine and hero tortured pasts, lol so the extra length in the single titles really helps as they work through some of their issues as well as the suspense! Good luck with the contest!
October 14th, 2009 on 8:07 pm
I’m just not sure — I do a lot of skimming if the eeevil villain gets too lurid and the descriptions are too vivid.
My biggest complaint: the lack of Romance in what is described as “romantic suspense”. In more books that I can count, the romance side of the equation seems sadly underdeveloped. And given the new’ish trend to HFN (Happy For Now) rather than HEA, I’m hoping the pendulum will swing back sooner rather than later!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:29 pm
Yes, Janet, I too like a romance I can believe in. I want to think that I could revisit that story couple (if they existed, lol!) in a couple years and they would still be together.
October 14th, 2009 on 7:19 pm
The “Mindhunters” series sounds REALLY good, and I’m sure I’d enjoy them.
There’s usually not a “too dark” for me because I LOVE dark.
Thanks for the contest!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:29 pm
Karen, you sound like you enjoy the sorts of books I enjoy!
October 14th, 2009 on 7:01 pm
The darkness has to serve a purpose in the story and not overshadow the romance.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:31 pm
The romance at the forefront. Check. And it has to feel real, not something placed in the story to broaden its appeal to readers.
October 14th, 2009 on 6:40 pm
I love reading romanctic suspense and have been hearing a lot about your books. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of them. Thanks for the chance to win one!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:31 pm
Quilt Lady, good luck in the contest
October 14th, 2009 on 6:09 pm
I love reading romantic suspense (emphasis on the romance though!) and I don’t mind a dark read. I’m a sucker for a “rescue” and it seems to me the rescue can be “bigger” if the events the heroine is being rescued from are dark. I like to see how it works out after the initial rescue - I think there can be an element of “continuing rescue” in the healing process (if that makes sense). I also like it when the heroine rescues the hero “right back” (a la Pretty Woman) in some way - although this is usually from some emotional lack rather than a physical thing. I do like some attempt at equality in the relationship and I wouldn’t enjoy a heroine TSTL or unwilling to help herself.
So, dark works for me. That said, I really didn’t like the stuff that went on in say, Thomas Harris’ Hannibal - especially the brain eating at the end - that freaked me out and I wouldn’t enjoy a romantic suspense that had that sort of thing in it.
I also don’t like violence that doesn’t move the story forward - if it’s just there to be shocking, it doesn’t work for me.
Ms. Brant, I have the first book in your Mindhunter series (I haven’t read it yet but it’s on the list!) and I’m intrigued by the premise.It looks like just the sort of thing I will enjoy. Do your books have a strong romantic element? Would you say that the romance is equal to the suspense?
October 14th, 2009 on 9:35 pm
Kaetrin, I hope you enjoy Waking Nightmare! The books all have a very strong romance. It’s hard for me to quantify how much romance to how much suspense, because the two are developed hand in hand so much of the time. But what I wanted to write was a complex suspense with a satisfying romance in it. There’s as much romance in these books as there were in my categories…it’s the suspense that got more complex.
You said something that resonated for me…I’ve used the analogy from Pretty Woman, too. When the heroine offers something to the relationship, as well, because she rescues the hero right back.
October 14th, 2009 on 5:41 pm
I’m not sure how dark is too dark. I guess the authors I’ve read ave been able to balance everything well.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:36 pm
Calila–sounds like your authors are hitting all the right notes for you!
October 14th, 2009 on 4:14 pm
I tend not to mind when romantic suspense gets dark, because usually it can’t touch a V.C. Andrews novel (I picked one up in junior high out of curiosity and I’m pretty sure I still bear the psychological scars). It’s the redemption or the salvation aspect of a dark novel that I like reading about; several of my favorite romance novels feature abused or deeply hurt women/men that progressively come to terms or work through their past.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:37 pm
Julie–redemption. You are so right. And who doesn’t like a story where a person overcomes some personal trauma or obstacle to triumph at the end? It’s all about hope. And that hope shines through the darkness of the story, I think.
October 14th, 2009 on 3:38 pm
Too dark for me comes when the details of the crime become the focal point of the whole story. Then the story becomes sad to me no matter what else happens.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:39 pm
Maureen, for me it becomes a ‘can I go there?’ question? And sometimes the answer is no. Can’t read it. Can’t write it. A satisfying romance in the story can give you a focal point that detracts from some of the darkness of the crime elements.
October 14th, 2009 on 3:18 pm
While I agree that the things mentioned in many of the posts (rape, torture, child abuse) are repugnant, I think that for me a lot of the “when is dark too dark?” equation balances on the way the darkness is portrayed and how it relates to the context of the character’s journey. For example, I don’t enjoy gore for the sake of gore, yet I love Quentin Tarantino movies.
Similarly, I am currently reading Christine Feehan’s newest Carpathian novel, where the heroine has a lot of issues to overcome due to severe abuse as a young child. She escaped and is triumphing over that trauma and fighting to stop the abuser, so in that context I am ok with the graphic representation of the abuse. Of course, a big factor in the heroine’s ability to heal is her intense romance with the hero which, as you say, adds the positive element to balance the darkness.
Gotta have that HEA!
October 14th, 2009 on 3:25 pm
Kristan, good example! And I think the journey we see the character take as she overcomes her past is in itself a cause for hope from the reader. It gives us a reason to root for her and makes the HEA even more satisfying, in my opinion.
October 14th, 2009 on 1:36 pm
I love reading romantic suspense, and expect some darkness in the storyline, but too dark for me is excessive violence and torture scenes.
October 14th, 2009 on 2:10 pm
Yes, Cathy, it’s difficult to write a complex story that inspires fear on the part of the reader without the plot being, well, dark. There has to be real danger and real reason to suspect that the hero and heroine might not triumph in the end.
October 14th, 2009 on 1:16 pm
As long as the darkness doesn’t take over the book I usually enjoy the story. It also depends on my mood.
October 14th, 2009 on 1:29 pm
I agree, Chey. The mood I’m in impacts what sort of story I feel like reading, too.
October 14th, 2009 on 2:11 pm
That romance balances out the darkness if done well, doesn’t it?
October 14th, 2009 on 1:00 pm
Relationships are so key for me in any romance I read — especially in suspense.
Brenda Novak is good at doing that; Tara Janzen; Cindy Gerard; & Lisa Jackson has escalated the emotion in her more recent books that now has me going back for more.
October 14th, 2009 on 1:33 pm
Sue, I’m always trying to put a romance in the straight thrillers I read, too, lol, simply because I think it would make them better. Lee Child will sometimes have a ‘for now’ romance in his books, but we know it won’t last beyond the cover of the book. I guess, for me, a satisfying romance makes the suspense better.
October 14th, 2009 on 12:46 pm
Like some of the earlier commenters, I’d prefer to skip terrible crimes against children and animals. Darkness is fine, in the vein of the story–nothing gratuitous. The description of your heroine—Eve Dallas on steroids—that is intriguing. Now I have to read it!
October 14th, 2009 on 1:38 pm
I’m a bit of a wuss myself, so I don’t want to linger too much on torture or horrendous acts inflicted on others. Ramsey reminded me of an early Eve Dallas–before Roarke and her friends softened some of those edges. It’s left to Dev in this book to do the softening!
October 14th, 2009 on 12:20 pm
I don’t mind the dark…I suppose if the book had something like detailed torture in it that would be a bit too much though. As others have already mentioned my main thing in romsus is I actually want the romance! Oh and a happy ending! (Hmmm, I am being a bit demanding this morning).
October 14th, 2009 on 12:42 pm
No, not so demanding
I tend to like the same things in my RS reads!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:55 am
I like my books pretty dark, except when it comes to books that have children in them. I won’t even pick up a suspense that has kids involved, getting hurt, kidnapped, etc.
October 14th, 2009 on 12:43 pm
Hmm, thinking you won’t like the book I’m writing then, lol. But she doesn’t get hurt!
October 14th, 2009 on 12:56 pm
As long as there is a happy ending for all it’ll work for me.
October 14th, 2009 on 11:35 am
In a romantic suspense with a spell-binding romance there is very little that would translate to too dark for me.
However, that being said, children taken and/or killed causes all kinds of palpitations. Too, as Caitie mentioned, repeated rape would definitely be too much.
But a lot of suspense and danger linked to a combustible attraction, for me, equals a story in which love (and trust) conquers evil and wipes the floor with it.
And frankly, I like my fiction to have a bit of that ‘unrealness’ to it because really, real life has more surprises of the good kind than we expect. And, darn it, I LOVE happy endings. *grin*
BTW Kylie, I’ve been a fan of your books for years; you’re one of my favourites in the genre of romantic suspense.
October 14th, 2009 on 11:38 am
Thanks, Kathy
I’m so glad you like the books! I, too, am a sucker for a happy ending. And you know…I like that ‘guarantee’. I happiest knowing I’m reading a book that I’m going to like the ending!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:33 am
I recently read WAKING NIGHTMARE and cannot wait for this one - congrats on such a great series! I think “too dark” is probably one of those “matters of opinion” - I don’t mind intense intrigue and suspense that brings you to the edge of your seat in anticipation, but don’t care for drawn out scenes of brutality or gore. I also want the romance elements to remain strong and not be overshadowed by the suspense.
I’m planning a blog post in the near future about romantic suspense and the “Waking” series is on the list for discussion!
Thanks, Kylie and Sue!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:40 am
Hi Laurie–so glad you enjoyed Waking Nightmare! And you’re right; how dark is too dark is very much in the opinion of the reader. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help with the blog discussion!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:25 am
I will admit right now that I haven’t read any of your books, Kylie, but after reading this interview I want to now. Especially after your description of the scene you would never cut!
I like dark, so I don’t really think you can get too dark.
October 14th, 2009 on 11:42 am
Admittedly, I have a warped sense of humor
but I do like some humor in my books to break up the suspense. Usually this takes the form of dialogue, or in the instance of the scene mentioned, a situation that occurs in the story. The first thing that drew me to my husband was his sense of humor. No, wait. It was his biceps, lol. But *second* was his sense of humor!
October 14th, 2009 on 10:53 am
Hi Kylie — Thanks for being on Borders True Romance.
Although I’ve not read WAKING EVIL yet it sure is selling in our stores! Everyone is telling me if you like Cindy Gerard you’ll love this book so I know I’ve got to put you on the top of the TBR pile.
ALl the best & Happy Romance!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:14 am
Hi Sue! Thanks for the kind words about Waking Evil
and for the opportunity to appear on the blog!
October 14th, 2009 on 10:50 am
For me, as long as there’s strong characters who have a strong connection with each other then any level of darkness works for me. I like gritty stories and I don’t like anything sugar-coated, so the evilness in the real world should be in the stories I read.
October 14th, 2009 on 11:16 am
There is certainly enough in the news nationwide to pluck any number of gritty plots from! I like my suspense realistic so there’s going to be a certain level of darkness in my books. But I also insist on a real romance to believe in!
October 14th, 2009 on 10:41 am
Ooooh - I soooooo want to get my hot sticky mitts on this series - but Amazon have boobed and have the publication dates all mixed up, so they have book 2 first, then 3 and then 1. Ack!
So - can they be read out of sequence?? (I am so anal about reading in order!)
Oh - and I like them dark . . (no harming of animals & children) but mowing down 50 bad guys . . O.K!
October 14th, 2009 on 11:16 am
Yes, each of the books stand alone so they can easily be read out of order. You won’t miss anything
October 14th, 2009 on 12:57 pm
Try Borders.com, we’ve got them in the right order — Romance is our biz
October 14th, 2009 on 9:21 am
Have to agree, for me it’s when there’s more darkness than romance!!! I’m a romance reader so there better be plenty of romance involved in a book. I’ve put down approx. 3 books that I just couldn’t read. I’m not a fan of abuse of women, kids or animals. I have to say I haven’t read any of your books, yet. If I win this book I’ll read the series. I LUV a good series. Thanks, good luck on your new release!! Sue
October 14th, 2009 on 9:31 am
Thanks, Sue! Good luck with the contest
October 14th, 2009 on 9:08 am
The scariest romance suspense I ever read was a Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall book about a drug ring on a mountain. I have blocked the title from my mind because it scared the beejesus out of me. Granted, I am a chicken, but this was particularly terrifying. I finished the book because it was excellent reading, but pretty sure I had a few nightmares then. I also find books that detail animal torture and violence against children particularly hard to deal with. There was one book I read, again can’t remember the title, where the heroine was fleeing from an abusive husband with her child. She’s telling the hero about her past with the abuser and there’s a short paragraph on what he did to the kid’s pet rabbit.
It’s hard to draw the line about these things. They happen, on a daily basis in reality, but I think this is one of the reasons I tend to shy away from romantic suspense. I am aware of how much darkness exists in the world in reality; I like to hide my head in the sand in fantasy.
With regards to the Mind Hunters series, I’ve only read Waking Nightmare so far, but I plan to use it as a gateway romance. A friend of mine is earning a Masters in Forensic Psychology, so I’m going to pass my copy along to her in the hopes she gets hooked. I have to say, romantic suspense is an excellent way to convert new readers. An old co-worker started with Allison Brennan (she didn’t realize it was romsus) and I gradually guided her along. Before I knew it, she was hooked on Jacquelyn Frank & absolutely loves Nina Bangs’ dinosaur series.
The Sharon Sala book, by the way, is ‘Missing.’ I looked it up, just for you!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:15 am
Thanks for looking up the Sala title! I will have to go searching for that one. I’ll admit, there are places I can’t go, either when reading or writing suspense. I suspect that line differs for all of us!
October 14th, 2009 on 8:51 am
I have to agree with you Laura (in PA) - so many new authors I want to try!
My biggest problem with romantic suspense is when the suspense is 90% of the book, with only a smidge of romance. I don’t usually mind dark, as long as the romance is there. That said, I read a romantic suspense a while ago where the heroine got repeatedly raped before the hero came to her rescue…that one fell into the “too dark” category for me!!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:17 am
Hmm, that reminds me of the old historical romances from the eighties–which I stopped reading for just that reason! It would be difficult to have a heroine that traumatized and then believe in a happy-ever-after ending because she’s going to need therapy!
October 14th, 2009 on 8:41 am
I really need to stop reading this blog. I keep finding out about new books I want to read, and my house is already in danger of tipping over from my book collection.
These books sound awesome.
As far as too dark goes in romantic suspense, this may sound odd, but I find it hard to take when the dark plot is so dark, you find it hard to believe in the romance element at all. If people are going through some really scary or intense circumstances, I find the romance part implausible, because how could they be thinking of hooking up when they’re in danger of death or whatever? Afterward, sure - but while it’s going on?
Does that make sense?
October 14th, 2009 on 9:19 am
I know a reviewer who espouses those same feelings about RS. But as Leslie Wainger was always fond of saying, “It’s all in the execution” for me, LOL!
October 14th, 2009 on 7:21 am
I agree, Darkness, just for the sake of Darkness is no good, it does need to have a place in the story. And it should not take over the story or the romance involved.
Pat L.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:21 am
Pat, totally agree on the darkness having a place in the story. I tend to see the romance as the ‘hope’ in the story…when things look dark the possibility of the couple’s happy ending keeps me rooting for them to pull through the adversity!
October 14th, 2009 on 5:07 am
It’ll be *too* dark when I can’t see where’s the romance in this suspense story:)
All suspense genre need something dark that can drag the attention of the readers. Not too dark coz if it’s *too* dark that can make me completely Lost.
Hi Kylie, when i’d finished reading Waking Nightmare, I just knew that I need to HAVE your Mindhunters series! Looove it.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:24 am
Thanks! Hope you enjoy them all! I love reading straight suspense as well as RS, but when it becomes too dark it gets depressing. I guess that’s why I like romance with my suspense because it brings a flicker of light to the darkness of the story.
October 14th, 2009 on 3:40 am
Hi Kylie,
Congrats on the new release. I enjoy the darker themes in romantic suspense. I think it makes the story more realistic.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:26 am
Yes, there is a ‘torn from the headlines’ feel with the darker RS, isn’t there?
October 14th, 2009 on 2:40 am
I agree with Chelsea, if the darkness completely overshadows the romance that’s bad.
I also think it is important that the “darkness” serve a purpose to the story. I don’t want to read a lot of violence and gore just for their shock value.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:27 am
Good point. And I find that ‘how dark is too dark’ sometimes depends on my reading mood at the time I’m reading the story, as well.
October 14th, 2009 on 2:00 am
Ohh, tough question. I guess when the darkness completely over shadows the romance, then its to dark.
This sound like a great book! (and another is marked onto my TBR list….;)
October 14th, 2009 on 9:28 am
I like a satisfying romance in my suspense. I’m one who watches a thriller or reads one and when it ends I’m thinking, “That would have been so much better if there had been a romance in it!”
October 14th, 2009 on 1:56 am
Nothing is too dark in romantic suspense!
October 14th, 2009 on 9:29 am
LOL!
October 14th, 2009 on 1:48 am
I don’t know about how dark is too dark because I have just recently gotten into romantic suspense but I think dark would be good.
October 14th, 2009 on 9:30 am
The crime or the overall suspense elements bring the darkness with them. And it’s hard to get a realistic plot that really provides threat to the couple without getting some darkness.