We’ve managed to corner New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin for an interview!


What is your most current work out?

Tell us a little about Against the Storm, what inspired you to write Against the Storm?
Trace Rawlins is an ex-Army Ranger, a friend of Dev Raines who appeared in Against the Law.  Trace knows redheads are nothing but trouble but when fiery, red-haired photographer Maggie O’Connell comes to him for help finding a stalker, Trace ignores the sizzle between them and takes the case.  But Maggie has dark secrets and the police don’t believe her stalker is real.  As Trace begins to uncover her secrets he begins to think the cops might be right.  It’s a sexy read with a lot of suspense.  I really enjoyed writing these two characters.

I rarely know the inspiration for my stories.  An idea just sort of pops into my head and then starts to grow.  When Trace first appeared in Against the Law, I hadn’t planned to write his story, but he just got into my brain and I couldn’t get him out until I wrote his book.


What inspired you to write in your genre? 
I’m a very romantic person by nature.  I love Paris. I love fabulous hotels and gourmet meals,,.so writing romance was a no-brainer.  I also love movies like Top Gun, Lethal Weapon, True Grit, Iron Man.  Big action adventures.  So writing larger than life heroes and heroines and lots of suspense comes naturally to me.


Is there a genre that you love to read but don’t want to (or think it would be tough for you) write?
I love romantic comedy.  I think it would be very tough to write.  Some of my books have more humor than others (I love when that happens), but it seems to depend on the characters themselves,  Johnnie Riggs book, Against the Night, (out end of Feb) has a lot of lighter moments.  I really loved writing it


Who is your favorite character you have written?
I’m afraid I have more than one favorite.  As I said, I love Johnnie Riggs in Against the Night.  I didn’t expect to like him so much, but he has such a fun personality.  My personal sexiest favorite is Chance McLain from The Secret.  I also love Jake Donovan in Hot Rain (which is being re-issued in January).  Women favorites are tougher…I like Maggie O’Connell in Against the Storm and Sage Dumont in Against the Sun (out end of May).  Lark Delaney is a favorite from Against the Law.


What was the hardest book for you to write and why?
Probably my Christmas book, The Christmas Clock.  It was straight women’s fiction and though there was a romantic element it wasn’t what the book was really about.  Song for My Mother was tough for similar reasons.


Who was the toughest character for you to “get right” that you have written so far? 
I struggled a little with Trace in my new book.  I didn’t know him that well when I started.  I had to get to know him as the book progressed.  He’s a great guy, though, so once we got rolling it went fine.


Coffee, Tea or Soda Pop?
Coffee!  Love the stuff.


What is the most recent romance story you have read that you would recommend?
I loved Nora Roberts’s Chasing Fire.  One of my all time favs.


What author causes you to “go fan girl”/ squeal over/anticipate upcoming books?
Books that feature macho men.  I love writers who write them.  I like Cindy Gerard’s books for that reason.  I used to like the SEAL team guys in Suzanne Brockman’s novels when she was writing them.


If you could co-write with another author who would it be?
My husband.  He’s really a really talented author.


How do you pick your characters names?
I work hard at that.  It has to fit my mental image of the person.  Take for instance, Jake Cantrell, the hero of my upcoming Against the Sun.  Jake is 6’5” and solid muscle.  He totally fits his name.  Trace is a western man.  Trace Rawlins is a western-sounding name.


Do you prefer the love at first sight approach or a steady growth throughout?
I like them to be physically attracted to each other right away, but I’m not a love-at-first-sight kind of gal.  I think to really love someone you have to get to know them.


What is in the wings for your readers to look forward to?
After Against the Storm, comes Against the Night, then Against the Sun.  I’ve got more Against books coming.  I just love writing these hunky men.  Also, Hot Rain is being re-issued, one of my readers’ all time favorites.  That will be out with a gorgeous new cover in January.  For Christmas, my novella, A Song For My Mother, will be released in paperback.


Where can readers find you?
website: www.katmartin.com

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kat-Martin/322579975013

twitter: @luvromance

Linkedin:  Kat Martin