Meet Keri Patterson:)

It took some bribery begging heavy cajoling on my part, but I was finally able to hogtie wrangle get Keri Patterson to agree to an interview.  You met her in book #1 as the quiet, determined, studious girl who held her own in a verbal argument with Elicia over fashion choices; spent long hours in her Auto Tech lab; and ended up capturing the attentions of an older man.  Keri's also not too happy with me; I cut out the early chapters of how she and Kyle met and began dating, and then later cut out the final six chapters of her original story.

K:  Yes, and I'm still upset about it.  Right now, you leave us hanging with the ending!  Will they be all right?  Am I stupid enough to believe Kyle's story about still having to sneak around?  Geez, Molly; lots of people get divorced every day and don't give a damn about how their kids or ex-wives feel!

M:  Yes, but you've got to remember; you're still 21 in this book, and you're choosing to believe in your man.  You come from a broken home yourself, so you know all about blind faith and trust....

K:  You've got a point.  But why cut out the early parts?  I thought it was sweet, the way you showed his patience with me, although I admit it was a little embarrassing at times.

M:  You're right; I wanted to show how it was possible for someone to go slowly in a relationship.  Too often I've seen young girls take their clothes off without inhibitions, so I wanted to show how someone more reserved would act.  You were raised with the belief you should save yourself for The One, the man you would marry one day, and Stephanie and Elicia's antics baffle you.

K:  You got that right!  I don't get the whole casual sex thing.  I mean, I do now, but back then?  Hell no.  Jon and I were talking about this the other night, when I told him-

M:  Jon's one of your coworkers on the racing team....and be careful about giving certain details away...

K:  Oh, so we can talk about the past, but not what happens later?  And for the record, he's thrilled about the 'Jonny Joyride' line you left in.

M:  It perfectly reflects his attitude toward the opposite sex.   Your story bled into Gretchen's, and even Caty's, so that's why I had to find a nice HEAFN ending in your book.

K:  Huh?  HEAFN?  What the hell is that?

M:  Happily Ever After For Now.  And I'm sure there are people who will question your naivete.

K:  The ones who do are the ones who have a cynical view of life.

M:  Okay.  Put yourself back into that girl and tell me what you were thinking.  I know it's been twenty five years, but can you recall any emotions?

K:  Oh yes.  You forget what happened in 2003....when will that story be published?

M:  At the current rate of publication....probably 2017.

K:  I have to wait five more years?  Geez....but I guess that's job stability for you....or whatever you call it in the publishing world.  (sigh)  Okay; I love that man, and I know he loves me.  I don't understand why Lisa's trying to hang onto a dead relationship...Lisa's his ex and Rusty's mom....but I do understand a father who doesn't want to lose touch with his child.  Kyle has two little girls who live with their mom in Texas, and he hasn't been able to see them in two years, other than pictures.  He's tried to go see them, but Melinda won't let him.  And since I've been lucky to have parents who made sure their divorce was easy on me and my brother, I just don't understand parents who keep their kids away from each other.  I mean, I see it if there's abuse or something, but just to be vindictive toward the other parent....grow up already.  Put your kids first.

M:  Well said.  So are you ready for the Big Day tomorrow?

K:  I guess.  Elicia managed to have her sex life exposed for all to see and she's doing okay, and I love that you showed Amy's stubbornness to stand by her man too, though I still think she should have taken up with Jason or Troy.  Love just isn't rational, is it?

M:  Not when you're barely out of high school.

K:  I know; we all do a bit of growing up in the pages of your books.  When does Gretchen's book come out?

M:  It should be released sometime this summer.

K:  Good; I can't wait to read it.  I mean, I witnessed it firsthand, but it should be fun to see how you portrayed it.

M:  I'll be posting an excerpt of Forbidden Love tomorrow; do you have a favorite scene?

K:  I know it's embarrassing as hell, but I love the scene when Kyle and I make love for the first time.  He was so sweet, and so caring.  And I also love the scene at time trials, when he came up to see me.  Or the cake scene (blushes and looks down) after taking me out for an early birthday celebration....

M:  Okay, I'll pick one.  Thanks for being with me today Keri.

K:  You know I don't like personal interviews.  Oh, Donald Davidson said to tell you hello.  No guarantees about the Celebrity Caravan though.  You know, they haven't even invited me!  And I was the first female wrench of an Indy racing team.

M:  Did you see that Michael Andretti is going to be on Celebrity Apprentice?

K:  I absolutely love that man; I hope he does well!

Book #3, Forbidden Love, releases tomorrow, at Secret Cravings Publishing!

Blurb:

Meet Keri Patterson, a sophomore at Arbor University, pursuing a ­dream to one day be a part of an Indy car racing team.  Along the way, she meets and falls for an older man.  With the innocence of her first love, Keri tries to balance her ambition to be the first female member of a racing pit crew and her awakening femininity.  Will Keri and Kyle’s romance survive the hairpin twists and turns, or is disaster looming?

  

Kyle is not without problems of his own.  He wasn’t expecting to meet the girl of his dreams before the ink is dry on the divorce petition.  Trying to keep the two facets of his life separate, he discovers there is a fine line between love and hate, as well as deception and protection.  But life doesn’t always get wrapped up in neat packages.  Sometimes it blows up in your face.