Perfect cover and perfect title, I so want to read this.

The Jade Hunters by A.B. Michaels released in June in the Romantic Suspense Genre.

Award-winning jewelry designer Regina Firestone is proud to exhibit her famous grandmother’s multi-million dollar “bauble” collection at the grand re-opening of The Grove Center for American Art, known among the locals as “Sinner’s Grove.”

The fact that she’s considering modeling the jewels in the nude like her grandmother did infuriates photographer Walker Banks, a co-owner of The Grove who’s in charge of the exhibit. Neither is willing to admit the real reason for the sparks between them.

Their argument takes a back seat when Reggie discovers that one of the most compelling pieces in the collection is not at all what it seems. Tracking down the truth will take the couple into the dark heart of a quest that’s lasted more than a century, one in which destroying human lives—including Reggie’s and Walker’s—means nothing in the pursuit of a twisted sense of justice.

The Jade Hunters is Book Three of Michaels’ contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove Suspense.” The series follows the descendants of characters introduced in Michaels’ historical fiction series, “The Golden City.”

Barnes & Noble/Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jade-hunters-a-b-michaels/1131011538

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-jade-hunters

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/A_B_Michaels_The_Jade_Hunters

By the time he made it to the room, Regina was standing at the opening of what looked like a submarine hatch.  Of course.  They were near the water.  She was catching her breath and waiting for him.

“Come on,” she said. “She’s getting away.”

“Where does that lead?”

“To a cave,” she said. “It’s got to be an exit; otherwise they would have boarded it up.” She held out her hand. “Please, we can’t lose her. Let’s go.”

“I can’t,” he said.        

“You can. Come on.  We’re losing time!”

The panic that was never far away at times like this reared its ugly head.  “I can’t do it. I told you I can’t handle small spaces. I can’t …”

Regina placed her hands firmly on the sides of his face as she looked deep within him. “This is not a long cave; it can’t be, because it’s very close to the water and is subject to the tides.” She pointed to the other side of the hatch. “You can see the tide is coming in. We must go and I need your help.  You have always been there for me and I know you’ll be there for me now.  Just as I’m going to be there for you, every step of the way. I will not let you go, I promise.”

Walker stared at Regina’s beautiful, earnest face. It had all come down to this. It was too important for her to stop, and too dangerous to let her go on her own. She needed him, and he wasn’t going to let a crippling phobia stand in his way. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing fiction, which is the hardest thing she’s ever done besides raise two boys. She lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in in Boise, Idaho, where she is often distracted by kayaking, playing bocce, and trying to hit a golf ball more than fifty yards. Reading and travel figure into the mix, leading her to hope that sometime soon, someone invents a 25+ hour day. Her historical fiction series, “The Golden City,” explores America’s Gilded Age and its effect on characters, both actual and fictional, while her contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove Suspense,” follows descendants of The Golden City as they navigate today’s equally treacherous waters. She is currently expanding both series.

Hi A.B., and thank you so much for being here today.

What was your job before you started writing full time?

I worked in the marketing and public relations fields for several years where I wrote press releases brochures, video scripts, etc. Then I struck out on my own as a freelancer and have written and edited for clients ever since. I cut back in order to raise my kids and now that they’ve flown the coop, I can concentrate on what I love writing more than anything else: page-turning fiction.

What do your friends and family think of you being a writer?

Ironically, one of the reasons I didn’t start writing fiction sooner was my stupid fear that a dear friend would think I had “sold out” by not writing literary fiction.  Eventually I realized it was more important to do what I felt was right for me rather than worry about others judging me.  It’s a valuable lesson that applies to many aspects of one’s life. I’m happy to report that my family is very proud of me, and most of my friends are, too.  Those who perhaps think my fiction isn’t highbrow enough are wise enough not to say anything, which is fine by me.

What does your writing space look like? 

I have a “woman cave,” which is the only upstairs room in our house.  It’s big enough for my desk, bookshelves and large bulletin board which I use to pin up random thoughts and reminders. Plus, I have lots of goofy things I’ve collected over the years. I also quilt, so I have all my sewing-related equipment in there, too.  With my own bathroom, mini fridge, hotpot, and microwave, I could just live up here all the time, except that I’d miss my husband too much!

Music or silence?

I must have silence when I write; otherwise I’m way too distracted! However, just about everyone else I know, whether they’re writing or focused on something else, love to have music playing while they work.  I must be weird.

Pen or computer. 

Computer 99 per cent of the time, but I just bought an electronic writing tablet that will let me take written notes easily wherever I am that I can convert to text.  I’m hoping that will help me get rid of the gazillion Post It notes I have stuck everywhere in my office!

How do you keep from resenting your duties when you have to stop writing to take care of them?

I don’t resent having to do other things; in fact, often I will come up with things to do to avoid writing! (“Oh, I really must get more dog food” … even though there’s enough left to last a week.). When I’m in the thick of writing a draft and truly want to be in front of the computer, I tell myself it’s a reward for doing the other things on my list.  I’m very reward-oriented (in fact, I think I’ll give myself a cookie for finishing this blog post!)

The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer?

I’d say actually finishing a novel and having others love reading it!  Writing is such a personal endeavor that I wondered if anyone else would feel the way I felt about my characters and what happens to them. To know that others share my opinion about what makes a good story was a surprise and continues to bring me joy.

Is there anything about the writing life that you think is misunderstood by the public?

My guess is, many people think of writers as more or less tortured souls who pour their angst into their work, and that their words flow from their hearts and brains onto the page. So, when aspiring writers try to do the same thing, they realize it’s a much more involved process than simply emoting through a keyboard. Those moments are present, but only for a small part of a given project.  The rest of the time is spent shaping a lump of an idea into something coherent, entertaining, and hopefully thought-provoking. By the way, this applies to all genres including literary fiction. Writing a book is occasionally inspiring, but usually time-consuming and often downright tedious.  One really has to enjoy the process because it is a long one, at least to produce something of quality.

Which kinds of scenes are the hardest for you to write? 

I’d say describing the setting.  I am usually so focused on what my characters are thinking and saying that I forget to put them in a real environment that the reader can picture. I mean, they aren’t just floating in space doing nothing!  So, it’s a challenge for me to come up with realistic but interesting ways to show the characters doing something physical while they talk that helps define them, indicate their feelings, or move the story forward.

Outline or just write?

Bit of both: I like to know the general structure of the story, so I’ll write it out in narrative form, then start breaking that out into scenes.  I use a very basic first draft writing program that helps me see the Big Picture as I’m working my way through “what happens next.” Wouldn’t it be great to have a detailed outline that you could just fill in one scene right after the other?  Uh, that’s not going to happen for me, I’m afraid; I have too many moments of “Ah, okay, that’s what made her do that, so now this has to happen,” which take the story in a different direction than I originally intended.

How did you come up with the idea for your book? 

I introduced Regina and Walker, the main characters of The Jade Hunters, in Book One of my Sinner’s Grove series (aptly titled Sinner’s Grove 😊). I know something about gems and jewelry, so I knew they’d be involved with an item I introduced in The Depth of Beauty, Book Two of my historical series, The Golden City.  That’s because Regina is the granddaughter of the heroine of that book. Both of my series, the historical and the contemporary, are connected through characters and geography. Each book is a stand-alone read, however.

What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?

I want them to be entertained, first and foremost.  But after they finish, I hope some thoughts linger, such as how they related to one or more of the characters (e.g. Walker trying to learn quickly how to parent a teenage son).  Also, what would they do if put in the same position as Regina, the female lead: how far would they go to preserve a family legacy?

Website: https://abmichaels.com

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/abmichaelsauthor

Facebook (Profile): https://www.facebook.com/A.B.MichaelsWriter

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abmichaelsbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ABMichaelsBooks

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This post is part of a Tour. The dates can be found here:  https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2019/07/standard-tour-jade-hunters-by-ab.html

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

• $30 Amazon/BN gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3102/

On Tour with The Jade Hunters by A.B. Michaels and Meet the Author #booklover #amreading #romance #bookworm #bookboost #ebooks #fiction #read #mustread #goodreads #greatread #whattoread #vivimackade #suspense

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