Terri Reed Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I’m a wife, mother, writer. I wear those labels proudly. J I was born and raised in California but moved to the beautiful state of Oregon twenty-two years ago. I have two wonderful offspring. One in college and the other a senior in high school. When I’m not writing, I love to spend time with friends or my dogs.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer ?
A. I knew when I was in junior high school that I wanted to be a writer. I had the most wonderful English teacher who sparked my love of the written word. Then in college I had a creative writer professor tell me I should write for Harlequin. Little did I know that his words would come to pass.

Q: Do you (or did you) have other career aspirations ?
A. I was a commercial and runway model for over ten years. I started out in Sacramento but was blessed to travel and to live in NYC and Chicago while working. It was a fun job but also demanding and not nearly as glamorous as it would seem.

Q: Do you find certain themes reoccurring in your books ? If so, what are they and why ? If not, what is the theme in your current release ?
A. I have many themes that run through my books. I tend to have my characters struggle with control issues, trust issues and forgiveness. All themes that I myself struggle with. I heard someone say once that writing is therapy. Maybe I’m working out my struggles through my characters.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Danger at the Border ?
A: Something is poisoning the water of a lake that flows across the international boundary line between Canada and the US. Dr. Tessa Cleary, a USDF fish biologist, is sent to figure out what is killing the fish and hurting swimmers. US Border Patrol Agent Jeff Steele must determine if the toxin in the lake is an act of terror. They must work together to uncover the deadly substance, but when they are kidnapped and taken deep into the woods, they must now fight for their lives and their hearts.

Q: Where did the idea for this story come from ?
A. This book is the first in a series about the US Border Patrol at US/ Canada border. I already had the US Border Patrol agent in mind but I wanted a unique occupation for my heroine. As I was studying a map of the international boundary I realized that several lakes cross the line. I decided to make up a fictional lake in Washington State, deep in the Cascade forest. As I was searching through the USDF website, I found the Fish and Aquactics Unit. And I decided my heroine would be a fish biologist.

Q: Tell us a little about your main character and how you developed him/her.
A. Dr. Tessa Cleary works as a field biologist specializing in fish and their environment. I developed her by studying the real fish biologists of the USDF. I read as much as I could find on their job, their schoolings, their publishing credits and their day-to-day jobs. In was interesting to learn about fish biologist and to create Tessa.

Q: Who/what has influenced your writing career the most ?
A. I was saying joining Romance Writers of America has been the biggest influence on my writing career. Without the many workshops, networking and camaraderie of other writers, I would still be floundering and unpublished.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now ?
A. I’m working on book 2 of the Northern Border Patrol series. This books features an FBI agent and a RMCP Inspector who team up to bring a serial killer to justice. It’s a bit darker and grittier than most of my books.

Q: If you were a dessert, what would it be and why ?
A. I’d be a plum and blueberry turnover. The plums give it some tartness while the blueberries give it some sweetness. That’s how I am, sweet and tart.

Q: Is there something about you most people wouldn’t know ?
A. I love scary movies. The more suspenseful the better!

Q: Is there a place you have always wanted to visit ? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc ?
A. I want to visit Ireland. My grandfather was born there as far as I can tell. He ended up in an orphanage when he was three. The records I found said his parents Irish immigrants. I hope to do some for research and discover exactly where in Ireland they came from.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet ?
A. www.terrireed.com
http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com
http://loveinspiredauthors.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/terri.reed.188