BooksChatter: ℚ Flawless Danger: Spencer & Sione [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Rachel Woods to talk about Flawless Danger (2 August 2016, BonzaiMoon Books LLC, 431 pages), a Romantic Suspense, book one of Spencer & Sione series.

If you like heart-stopping romance, shocking plot twists and breathtaking action, then you’ll love Rachel Woods’ tale of treachery, passion and murder!

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Rachel Woods; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Flawless Danger?

"The concept of a woman who drugs men to steal from them is based on real-life stories of women who have done just that. The idea was sparked by an article I read about a young, beautiful woman in Washington, D.C. who met a man in a bar and took him to her hotel for a nightcap, which she drugged. When the man woke up the next morning, his $50,000 Rolex watch was gone. I was intrigued by the life that woman may have led, what caused her to do those crimes and what would happen if she made a mistake when trying to commit the crime. This was the catalyst for the creation of Spencer Edwards and the telling of her story in Flawless Danger."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Not much of myself is reflected in this particular book. As I have continued to write, my focus has been on how to avoid “author intrusion” into my characters and storylines and allow them to have the personality and storylines that they demand. And, yes, I’m one of those writers whose characters can dictate or change the flow of the story."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Flawless Danger - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Flawless Danger is set in two locations in Belize – San Ignacio and San Pedro/Ambergris Caye – mirroring a vacation that I took to the country. Having experienced the beauty of Belize first hand and choosing it as the setting for this novel, I knew that I wanted to capture the jungle elements on the cover in a way that was attractive but alluded to danger as well. I also wanted this cover to really showcase Sione since his role in this novel is more prominent than it was in the prequel, Flawless Mistake. Combining these elements with my own sexy dangerous brand, I knew I hot guy in a jungle element would work best for the book cover and the results far exceeded my expectations."

Why should we read Flawless Danger and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Flawless Danger and The Spencer & Sione Series aims to add diversity to the romantic suspense genre, bringing characters of various nationalities and races that may not typically get the spotlight as the main characters, but are relatable to everyone regardless of their own race or nationality. The books provide a unique dynamic of complex characters that aren’t always good and aren’t always bad, characters that will make the reader oscillate between loving and hating them or their actions. This is all topped off with thrilling action sequences where the characters are placed in unexpected situations that they don’t always get out of and there are twists and turns that no one will anticipate or expect."

Can you tell us something quirky about Flawless Danger, its story and characters?

"Many years ago, I fell in love with the sport of rugby, which is very popular in Australia and New Zealand. My favorite team was the All Blacks of New Zealand and Sione Tuiali’i is named after two of the famous rugby players from the early 2000s – Sione Lauaki and Mose Tuiali’i! They were both of Tongan descent and so is my character Sione."

Who would you recommend Flawless Danger to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"This book is for the reader who likes to be kept on the edge of their seat when reading a book, one who loves surprise twists and unexpected turns. There are steamy love scenes and some moderately graphic violent acts, but nothing more extreme than what is in most movies today."

If you could / wished to turn Flawless Danger and the Spencer & Sione series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"This is a very tough question for me! If Flawless Danger was made into a movie, that would be pretty wild! Ideally, I would like casting for Sione to be done in New Zealand or Australia, so a person of Polynesian descent could get the part. However, technically, the Sione character has a Tongan father and a Belizean mother. Belize is a very ethnically diverse country and the people have varying complexions and skin tones. I suppose, in a pinch, I might go for Dwayne Johnson, even though he’s Samoan. And if he agreed to the part, I would definitely cast myself as Spencer! Ha!"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I really love to write mysteries, but because of my penchant for trying to plot extremely complex storylines to outsmart even the savviest reader, they end up being too long and unwieldy for publishing. So, I found a nice balance writing romantic suspense, which I also enjoy and having to balance the romance with the suspense elements helps me to reign in the plot monster that lives in me. I read basically all genres and find them all interesting in their own ways -- you’ll find Love in the Time of Cholera on my bookshelf right next to The Lost World."

What is your writing process?

"Usually, I like to be very organized, detailed and methodical with plotting the storyline, so I can have an idea of how I want the story to unfold and come up with some of the broader themes I’d like to explore. I’m more of a plot-based writer, so I generally come up with a story first, and then I’ll find some characters interested in playing along—or, taking over, as characters tend to do!"

What is in store next?

"Currently, now that Flawless Danger has been released, I’ll be promoting the book and continuing to work on two books, both of which will kick off two new series. One of the books, which is still untitled, features two characters from Flawless Danger: Sione’s cousin, David Jones and Spencer’s sister, Shady. As her name implies, Shady is not exactly the good girl she seems to be. The other novel is called, tentatively, Deception Island and I’m really excited about it because it has a more mysterious tone, and I really love mysteries. In Deception Island, a woman finds herself the target of a malicious plot as she engages in various naughty escapades."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?