Irene Hannon Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A:  I have bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in journalism, worked for many years in corporate communications in a Fortune 500 company, have been married to my own hero for 25 years, love to perform in community musical productions, and have a weakness for Fanny May truffle petites!

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A:  I think writers are born, not made. You don’t decide to be a writer. One day you just realize you are a writer. That came early for me—though I like to tell people I made my professional debut at the age of 10 when I was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest sponsored by a national children’s magazine.

Q: Do you (or did you) have other career aspirations?

A:  I worked for many years in the corporate world, rising through the ranks in corporate communications until I reached the executive level. It was a dream job—but when I left it behind for my other dream job, I never looked back!

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:  Forgiveness, making peace with the past, finding the courage to start over…those are themes that frequently appear in my books. I also try to infuse every book with hope. To leave readers with a belief that no matter how bad things get, there’s always the possibility of a happy ending…and with an appreciation for the tremendous power of love to transform lives.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release, Buried Secrets?

A: Here’s the blurb from the back cover: After seven years as a Chicago homicide detective, Lisa Grant has hit a wall. Ready for a kinder, gentler life, she takes a job as a small-town police chief. But the discovery of a human skeleton by a construction crew at the edge of town taxes the resources of her department. A call for assistance brings detective Mac McGregor, an ex-Navy SEAL, to her doorstep. As they work to solve the mystery behind the unmarked grave, danger begins to shadow them. Someone doesn’t want this dead person telling any tales—and will stop at nothing to make certain a life-shattering secret stays buried.

This is Book 1 in my Men of Valor series, which features three brothers with special forces backgrounds. (Though each book can be read as a stand-alone novel.) I was thrilled to have Suspense Magazine call it “a terrific romantic suspense read,” and Booklist says, “Irresistible characters…an ideal blend of romance and intrigue.”

Q: Where did the idea for this story come from?

A:  I wish I knew! As with most of my books, I can’t pinpoint the impetus for this story. In general, the seed of an idea is planted by an article I read, a conversation I overhear, a situation I observe. The wheels start turning, one ideas triggers another, and a plot is born.

Q: Tell us a little about your main character and how you developed him/her.

A:  There are three main characters in this book. Detective Mac Macgregor, the hero, is an ex-Navy Seal. He’s the oldest of the three brothers in the series and so he has a lot of “oldest-child” traits. The heroine, Lisa Grant, has attained success in a world long dominated by men. As a result, she’s strong and she’s a survivor. The villain is the third main character…and this particular one was fascinating to develop. Definitely not your typical villain. But if I say any more, I’ll give away too much of the story!

Q: Who/what has influenced your writing career the most?

A: My high school English teacher was the first influencer. She radiated an inspiring passion for literature and language that I soaked up like a sponge (she’d hate that trite analogy!). Beyond that, I’ve been influenced by and learned from the many wonderful writers whose work I’ve read.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A: I recently finished the final edits on my next contemporary romance/women’s fiction novel, Hope Harbor, which will be out in July. I fell in love with this little fictional seaside town in Oregon and will be writing more stories set there. I’ve also just turned in Book 2 in my Men of Valor series, Thin Ice, so now it’s on to Book 3!

Q: Is you were a dessert, what would it be and why?

A:  A rich chocolate confection that tastes as good as it looks and has a delightful surprise inside. Of course—that’s also the kind of dessert I’d pick from a pastry case!

Q: Is there something about you most people wouldn’t know?

A:  I’ve done quite a few interviews over the years, so my life is kind of an open book at this point. But I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone that in my teens, I was an avid figure skater. I still like to get on the rink when time permits—and the world of skating plays a role in Men of Valor Book 2, Thin Ice.

Q: If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?

A: Eating dinner with strangers is never my first choice. It can be stressful. My favorite people to enjoy a meal with are my family and close friends. Those meals are always fun, laughter-filled and relaxed.

Q: Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?

A:   I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to travel a great deal, so I’ve crossed most places off my bucket place. I would enjoy going back to Italy, though. I also spent a few magical days in Paris that I’d love to recreate. And because I have so much family in Ireland (my dad was born there), that’s always a fun place to visit. My favorite trips these days are off-the-beaten-path vacations that include a fair amount of hiking. And I always prefer warm climates to cold.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

A:  www.irenehannon.com. I’m also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Irene-Hannon/426433004084567) and Twitter.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A. First, I’d like to thank all the readers who’ve chosen to give my books a try and then recommended them to a friend…or two…or three. There’s no better advertising for an