Today, in cooperation with GRL 2014 and their extensive blogger listing, I'm hosting Author Jamie Lynn Miller for a Spotlight & Giveaway! Words from the author...
{NOTE: this is NOT a GRL official blog tour stop, Jamie and I found each other through the overflow listing on GRL's site for bloggers wanting to host authors at the event this year}
How my real-life law enforcement
experiences inspired a romance story
Thanks so much, Tammy, for having me here
today, the next stop on my GRL 2014 blog tour. I'm Jamie Lynn Miller and I'd
like to talk about my book Out of the Shadows and my inspiration for writing
it.
My tagline says it all: "Men in
uniform...and out". Give me a cop, a fireman or a paramedic and I'll write
a story about them.
I've been interested in law enforcement
since I was a kid and had aspirations of joining the FBI after college. But
that's another story for another time. Instead, over the past many years I've
taken six different citizen police and fire academy classes, spanning over 72
weeks in total.
I've gone on ride-a-longs with the police
department and fire department. I've been inside a live burn tower. I received
the marksman award on the firing range. I worked with the SWAT team. I sketched
a crime scene and collected fingerprints and other evidence. I learned how to
find my way blind in the dark in a smoke filled room wearing an oxygen tank and
mask and full turnout gear. I learned self-defense moves the police use to
subdue suspects. I used the Jaws of Life to pry a door off a car and used an
axe to break out a windshield.
And during all this, I took notes. Lots
and lots of notes. Notebooks full. Because I knew someday I was going to write
a story. Or four. :-)
Then two things came together that gave
me the inspiration for Out of the Shadows - I spent time working with two
separate K-9 units and I attended a lecture on domestic violence. Being a pet
lover I was instantly drawn to the K-9 teams and I was fascinated with how they
worked and how they trained and the bond between human officer and canine
officer. Part of the lecture on domestic violence and how the police handle
such cases was the fact that men are abused, too, but it's hardly ever
reported. That just really stuck with me and I began to wonder how to write a
story about a man who found himself in an abusive relationship and how he would
find the strength and courage to leave. Then suddenly a handsome K-9 officer
worked his way in and Out of the Shadows was born.
So here it is, the story of Shane and
Tyler and how they found their Hollywood happy ending. I hope you enjoy reading
it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
BLURB: For K-9 Officer Shane Walker,
transferring from the Tulsa police department to the elite L.A.P.D. was a dream
come true. He nearly forgets he's in Hollywood until he responds to a 911 call
that brings him to the home of actor Tyler Donovan.
It appears that
Tyler has it all - a career that's on fire and a loving, long-term relationship
with his partner, Alex. But then Shane uncovers the truth that Tyler had been
trying to hide, and the illusion comes crashing down.
Can Shane help
Tyler break free of a life he's convinced he deserves before it's too late, and
in the process help them both find love?
EXCERPT:
Shane arrived at
Tyler's house hours later, after being reamed out by Nick, still no less
furious with the other man. He could've called, like Tyler asked, but what he
had to say needed to be said face-to-face.
Tyler must've
heard his truck pull up, for he was standing with the front door open as Shane
walked up the steps. He brushed by Tyler and stood in the living room, hands on
his hips.
"Shane - "
"What were
you thinking?!" Shane yelled, cutting Tyler off.
"I
wasn't!" Tyler yelled back, fire in his blue eyes. "I just reacted!
You needed help!"
"That's why I've got Chase!"
"He's not a
human, Shane!" Tyler countered. "You needed another pair of hands! I
couldn't just sit there and watch you wrestle with him!"
Shane took a step
toward Tyler, his body vibrating with anger and suppressed fear. "He had a
gun, Tyler! What if he'd have had it on him and turned around and started
shooting? What if he would've shot you? I can't -" his voice broke and he
felt himself start to shake. "I can't lose you!" He swallowed thickly
around the lump in his throat, taking another step toward Tyler as the other
man did the same. They met halfway and Shane crushed his mouth to Tyler's,
pouring out his fear and love in the demanding kiss.
Things started
escalating in the blink of an eye. Tyler's arms wound around Shane, holding
tightly, hands gripping Shane's t-shirt, trying to get their bodies even closer
together. One of Shane's hands cupped the back of Tyler's head while the other
went around his waist. Shane was still shaking, the fear being replaced by
desire and anticipation now, like everything was about to change.
Tyler must've
felt it too, his mouth demanding against Shane's, his tongue sliding hard
against Shane's own. This was by far the most aggressive, passionate kiss
they'd ever shared, Shane's head dizzy with it as their mouths crashed together
again and again.
"Ty..." Shane whined into the
kiss, pleading. "Need you..."
Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing
fiction since childhood and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008,
finding to her amazement that people truly enjoyed her love stories. She’s a
romantic at heart, and her tales reflect the desire we all have to find “the
one,” persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.
Jamie has a degree in fine arts
and has spent the last twenty years working as a graphic designer, though she’d
much rather be writing. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today
with her husband and their two furry, four-footed children, er… cats. If she’s not brainstorming story
ideas, you can find Jamie at a sci-fi convention, in front of a furnace doing
glass blowing, or on a mat twisted into a yoga pose.
~~~~~
CONTEST: To win a $10.00 Amazon gift
card, leave a comment in the rafflecopter with the answer to the following question: “Who is
Shane's 'non-human' partner?” Contest
ends Tuesday, August 12th. Winner will be randomly selected on August 13th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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