An Interview with Terri Reed

Hey, friends! You're going to love getting to know Terri Reed. Be sure to like and comment on the post to be entered to win a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card and one of Terri's backlist books--in either ebook or print! 

Hi Terri, and welcome to the Suspense Sisters. I'm glad to have you here. Let's dive right in. 

Robin: What has being published taught you?

Terri: Being published has taught me discipline and to do the hard thing, which means to write even when I don’t feel like writing. 

Robin: That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from my publishing journey, too. What is your favorite part about writing? Least favorite?

Terri: My favorite part about writing is brainstorming the story premise and developing the characters. My least favorite thing about writing is when I take a wrong turn in the story and have to do some twisting and turning to get the story back on track. 

Robin: I hate it when I write myself into a corner. It can be so frustrating. So, would you call yourself more of a panster or a plotter?

Terri: I’m both a plotter and a punster-meaning I plot out the turning points, the characters, and the scene and sequel, but then I let the characters do their own thing within the parameters I’ve set. I’m frequently surprised by what the characters say and do.  

 

Robin: That’s a good system, Terri. What have you researched that makes you think the FBI might be interested in you?

 

Terri: Recently, I was searching for quick-acting poisons that mimic food poisoning. Definitely, something the FBI might wonder about. 

Robin: I love it. What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

 

Terri: When not writing, I’m spending time with my dog. We do agility training. It’s great exercise and builds a strong bond between me and my dog.

 

Robin: Agility training? That's so interesting. I'm sure that both energizes and exhausts you. How about writing? Does writing energize or exhaust you?

 

Terri: Writing both energizes and exhausts me. LOL. I love to create stories and I enjoy seeing them come to life on the page. The actual act of sitting at a computer and pouring out the story can be draining, both physically and mentally. I do my first draft of my books with dictation and usually from the comfort of the bathtub. 

 

Robin: That's a great place to write. Would you tell us about your current book release?

 

Terri: Upcoming this fall is Undercover Christmas Escape, which is the third book in my US Marshals series from Love Inspired Suspense. This book follows Deputy US Marshal Sera Morales and DEA agent Duncan O’Brien as they go undercover as Santa and Mrs. Claus to bust a criminal ring in Dallas Texas. And in the process, Sera discovers a family secret that spins her world on its axis. Duncan must balance his drive to succeed with his priority of having his partner’s back. 

 

Robin: Sounds really good! What’s next from you? 

 

Terri: I’m working on the last book in the Mountain K9 Unit continuity series from Love Inspired Suspense. This book, Search and Detect, features an elite K9 Unit made up of various law enforcement K9 officers and their dogs, who track and ultimately bring a serial killer to justice. Along the way, there are various other mysteries, people to protect, and hearts falling in love. 

 

Robin: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?

Terri: Best advice: You can fix a bad page, but you can’t fix a blank one ~Nora Roberts

 

Robin: Great advice! Thanks for joining us today on Suspense Sisters. 

Friends! Be sure to like and comment to be entered to win a $10 B&N gift card and one of Terri's backlist books in ebook or print. Terri and her dog do agility training--a unique hobby to be sure. Do you have any unique hobbies? Or run-of-the-mill hobbies you love? 

 

ABOUT UNDERCOVER CHRISTMAS ESCAPE 

An undercover mission has deadly consequences...

The assignment was simple: infiltrate an office Christmas party, gather evidence and take down a drug cartel. However, DEA agent Duncan O’Brien and deputy US marshal Sera Morales encounter more than they were expecting when masked thieves crash their undercover operation and abduct Sera, who narrowly escapes. Can Duncan and Sera work together, despite their competitiveness and hidden attraction, to capture a merciless drug lord—before this Christmas becomes their last?

ABOUT TERRI REED

Award winning, multi-published author Terri Reed found solace from a chaotic childhood in the pages of books that took her far away to different realms and realities. When she discovered Christian fiction, she also discovered her own story telling voice. Now she writes books of heart-warming romance and heart-pounding suspense infused with faith. Her romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher's Weekly top ten and Nielsen BookScan top hundred lists, and have been featured in USA Today. She's a member of the Honor Roll of Romance Writers of America. Her books have finaled in Romance Writers of America RITA contest, National Readers' Choice Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. One of her romance novels was adapted into a Hallmark movie for Christmas 2019. Terri resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and running the agility course with her Australian shepherd.