Way back in the stone ages (AKA: my
twenties), my then-husband wanted a Harley.
He began growing a goatee and quizzing me on the differences between a
Panhead, a Shovelhead, and an Evolution.
We bought a Harley Sportster and painted it cherry red. I wore a helmet and jacket with red flames
and he made the unfortunate mistake of wearing a head bandana with tomatoes on
it. Guess what his riding name became?
We had a local hillbilly bar that
served free lunch on Sunday. I’m talking
corn beef and sauerkraut, fried chicken, or beef stew. It was a weekly tradition with us and our
little riding community. One Sunday, as
we’re sitting around enjoying free food and pitchers of beer, in walks a group
of tatted up men and women, wearing denim vests. My husband and his friends froze, leaned over
to us and told us to get up and get the hell out of the bar. Quickly.
The Pagans had just walked in.
I didn’t
know the Pagans from Adam and only later did I learn they were an outlaw biker
gang, as notorious as the Hells Angels.
And little did I suspect that I would draw upon that experience as I
decided to write motorcycle club romance.
Where did the inspiration for Unbroken come
from?
I loved the television show Stalkers, which unfortunately lasted only
one season. It always made me think
about these stories you would hear in the news that always seemed like they
were too unbelievable to be true, but somehow they really were, which is what
made them terrifying. I wondered what
lengths I would do to stay safe from someone threatening, and thus, Piper was
born.
Tell us something about the novel that doesn’t
appear on the blurb or the excerpt.
The original name for this series was going to be Stalkers, because I
wanted to create my own version of the show.
But after talking it over with my editor, we switched it to Forgotten
Rebels MC, because I do plan for other stories in this world. The next book will feature Wick and Abbott’s
story.
Please share an excerpt from your book that totally spoke to you when you
put the words down on paper.
“Piper stared up at the tall walls, a virtual fortress behind concrete
and barbed wire. A small sign declaring
the building was property of the Forgotten Rebels Motorcycle Club let her know
she was at the right place. She wasn’t sure if the people
inside thought the zombie apocalypse was going to happen, but if she could get
behind the fortification she knew she’d be safe.”
…I think all of us, at one time or another, wants to feel safe.
For Piper, her safe house is actually the club’s house, behind fortified walls
that would keep out any and all bad guys.
What is the signature song for Unbroken?
“Unbroken” by Demi Lovato. The lyrics really defined who Piper was.
Locked up tight
Like I would never feel again
Stuck in some kind of love prison
And threw away the key, oh, oh
Terrified until I stared into your eyes
Made me start to realize
The possibilities
Like I would never feel again
Stuck in some kind of love prison
And threw away the key, oh, oh
Terrified until I stared into your eyes
Made me start to realize
The possibilities
No need for me to run, run, run
You're making me believe in everything
No need to go and hide, hide, hide
Gonna give you every little piece of me
I'm gonna love you like I've never been broken
I'm gonna love you like I've never been broken
You're making me believe in everything
No need to go and hide, hide, hide
Gonna give you every little piece of me
I'm gonna love you like I've never been broken
I'm gonna love you like I've never been broken
Excerpt:
The
afternoon flew by and she knew the men in the church had to be getting hungry,
so she went into the kitchen and began organizing food into sandwiches. It was something she’d done a hundred times before.
After the platter was finished, she sent a quick text to Wick. He replied almost immediately that it was
okay for her to enter with the food.
Picking
up the platter, she carried it to the church door and one of the men let her
in. Wick smiled his appreciation when he
saw the pile of food she’d made. She quickly set it down and made a beeline
for the door, knowing to get out as soon as possible.
“Wait,” came a deep voice. “I thought I met all the club girls.”
Piper halted and glanced over to the opposite
end of the table. Her gaze met a pair of
eyes so green it made her think of emeralds.
They were framed with the type of dark lashes that women would kill to
have. His black hair flopped a little
over his forehead and scruff outlined a strong jaw. Next to his left eye was a small tattoo, a black
diamond. The man was big, muscular, and
he stared at her like he wanted to devour her.
Butterflies swarmed through her belly and her mouth went dry. She tried to wet her lips with her tongue but
didn’t have enough saliva to do the job.
“She’s not club pussy, Kix,” Wick said evenly.
Kix flicked his gaze toward her brother. “Is she your old lady?”
Wick shook his head. “My sister.”
Kix visibly relaxed. “I see.” He looked at her once more.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Sissy,” Piper said.
“I take care of the house.”
“Sissy,” he repeated, then frowned. “That name doesn’t seem to suit
you.”
She cleared her throat. “It’s what I’m called.”
“And we’re all called something, aren’t we, sweetheart?”
The men of The White Death chuckled and Sissy
pulled her gaze away from Kix to look at the newcomers. Parky had been correct. Each man was gorgeous, a far cry from the
current Rebels stock. The Brothers might
be family, but some of them had a face only a mother could love.
“Whose old lady are you?” Kix asked.
She lifted her chin. “I’m no one’s old lady.”
He gave a wicked little grin. “Good,” he murmured.
****To celebrate the
release of Unbroken (Forgotten Rebels MC #1), which coincides with Halloween, I
am giving away this amazing Walking Dead give-a-way! Who doesn’t love a little Darryl Dixon? To enter, leave a comment from 10/29 to 10/31! One winner will be chosen at random on Nov. 1st!
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