Creating a Page Turner
“I couldn’t put it down!
Those words are some of the most satisfying comments an author can receive. Nothing pleases me more than a note from
someone grumbling about staying up late to finish one of my books.
It’s music to my ears.
There are lots of ways to earn those precious words. Writing a fast-paced novel is one of
them. It is certainly my goal every time
I start a new book.
My latest, THE DECEPTION, was no different. I knew I would be writing Hawk Maddox’s story. Hawk had been on my mind since he first
appeared in a previous novel, BEYOND DANGER.
I knew what he was like--strong, determined, tough as boot leather, and
at six-foot-four, two-hundred-twenty pounds, a total beefcake hunk.
He was also a bounty hunter, which made him an interesting
character with an interesting job. I
always try to find the hero’s perfect match and Kate Gallagher was just right
for Hawk. Tall, blonde, and curvy, she loved
country music and drinking tequila at the Sagebrush Saloon.
But that was her secret side. She also owned her own business consulting
firm so she was smart and hard-working.
I like to read books that draw me in and won’t let go, books
I can’t wait to pick up again to find out what’s going to happen next.
There are lots of ways to do it. Pairing down description makes the story move
faster--or as Elmore Leonard once said, “I try to leave out the parts people skip.”
A Hollywood movie trick is to jump right into the scene. Leave out the, “Hello, how are you?” “I’m fine, how are you?” and just start
talking.
I try to use hooks at the beginning and end of chapter, though some authors end a chapter in the
middle of the action to keep you turning the pages.
I’ve found I do a lot of characterization by showing how the
hero, heroine, and sub characters react in a situation, rather than telling
about their past. For instance, I don’t mention
what the heroine did in high school unless it’s important to how she’ll solve
the problem she’s facing.
These are a few of my techniques, though every author has
his own style and there is nothing wrong with any of them as long as they work.
In THE
DECEPTION, Kate
Gallagher is devastated when she learns her sister has been murdered. Determined to find Chrissy’s killer, Kate
hires lethal bounty hunter, Hawk Maddox.
Working together, they follow a trail of clues that lead them deep into
the city’s underbelly. Though Hawk warns
Kate of the danger, nothing he says can convince Kate to walk away.
I hope you’ll watch for THE DECEPTION and that you find it a
fast-paced, high-action page-turner.
Until next time, all best wishes and happy reading, Kat
THE DECEPTION
By Kat Martin
Paperback release: 4/28/20
In
my latest Romantic Thriller, THE DECEPTION, book two of the Maximum Security
series, Kate Gallagher is devastated when she learns
her sister has been murdered. Determined
to find Chrissy’s killer, Kate hires lethal bounty hunter, Hawk Maddox. Working together, they follow a trail of
clues that lead them deep into the city’s underbelly. Though Hawk warns Kate of the danger, nothing
he says can convince Kate to walk away.
THE DECEPTION, by Kat Martin
Excerpt
#3 of 5
Kate
stepped out of the elevator onto the tenth floor and made her way down the
corridor to her apartment. Her face felt
warm and her insides still quivered. One
kiss? It was impossible.
She
walked into the living room and firmly closed the door, blew out a shaky
breath. She didn't trust herself when it
came to Hawk Maddox. She had never been
this physically attracted to a man before.
Kate
sighed as she headed for her home office.
If she could turn back time, she would stay as far away from Maximum
Security as she could get. She didn't
need a man in her life. She didn't need
the complication. Particularly not a man
who drew her the way Jason Maddox did.
That
attraction had been the cause of her first mistake--seducing him at the
Sagebrush Saloon. It had seemed so safe
at the time. A one-time hookup with a
hot-bodied guy who made her stomach curl with a single kiss. And those amazing blue eyes. She shook her head. Why not?
Other women did that kind of thing.
Now
she was working with him, exposed to all that hot masculinity on a daily basis
till they found Chrissy's killer.
Another
sigh slipped out as she sat down at her computer to do a little more
research. She could handle it. She was a grown woman. Besides, she really had no choice.
As
the screen lit up, her cell phone rang.
Kate dug it out of her purse, checked but didn't recognize the
number. "Kathryn Gallagher."
"Katie...sweetheart,
it's your father."
Her
stomach instantly knotted. She could see
him in her mind, a tall, slender man with silver threads in his dark hair.
"It's
good to hear your voice," he said.
Her
fingers tightened around the phone. She
hadn't seen her father since her parents' divorce. He'd phoned while the police searched for
Chrissy, but her sister had left a note so there was no doubt she had
runaway. He had called again when her
mother got sick. She had only heard from
him twice since her mom had died.
"Hello,
Dad."
"I
should have called you when I first heard the news, but I...I just couldn't."
His
words and the quiver in his voice surprised her. Maybe he actually did care about his
daughter, at least a little.
"What
do you want, Dad?"
"I
know you and Chrissy weren't close, but she was still your sister. I want to know if you're okay."
Her
eyes burned. A lump formed in her
throat. "No, Dad, I'm not
okay. Chrissy's dead. She was murdered and the police have no idea
who killed her. So no, I'm not okay."
"I'm
sorry, sweetheart, I truly am. I wasn't
a good father to you or your sister. I
regret that. I want to make it up to
you. I'm coming to the funeral. I just need to know where and when."
"They
haven't...they haven't released Chrissy's body yet."
Seconds
passed. "I assume you're making the
arrangements. You're handling the
funeral?"
God,
she hadn't even thought about it. She
was too consumed with finding Chrissy's killer.
She
took a deep breath. "I'll be taking
care of it, yes." And now that he'd
asked, she realized she wanted Chrissy to be buried next to their mother. The spot had already been paid for, meant to
be used by her dad--which was never going to happen now. "I'd like her to have the place next to
Mom."
"Yes,
of course. I should have thought of that
myself. Are you...are you going to be
all right?"
"I've
always been able to take care of myself, Dad.
I'll be fine."
"All
right, then. Just call and let me know
what day the service is going to be held and I'll be there."
"You
don't need to do that. Rockdale is a long
way from New York."
"I
want to see you, sweetheart. It's been
far too long."
"You're
married, Dad. You have a family. I'm all that's left of your old life." The lump returned to her throat. "I understand, I really do."
"Katie,
listen to me."
"I've
got to go, Dad. I'll email the date and
time." She hung up before he could
say anything more. Fresh tears
threatened. She told herself to
compartmentalize. She had learned to do
that over the years, separate the parts of life that needed to be dealt with
now from the painful parts that could be dealt with later. At the moment, she needed to compartmentalize
the loss of her sister, separate the Chrissy of the past from the woman who had
lived on the streets and been brutally murdered, Tina Galen.
She
could do it, she told herself. Just like
with Maddox. She didn't really have any
choice.
THE DECEPTION
PAPERBACK release 4/28/20
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Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.
I’ve got a secret you don’t know.
Caiden Cavendish is under my skin. The Four have switched from being my enemies to my closest friends.
