Today I am lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for Deep Blue Blitz by Kristy McCaffrey. The book is out now and you can click here to order a copy. I have an interview with the author to share with you today. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour for more exclusive content and reviews.
Here's what it's all about...
Don’t miss this first book in a suspenseful new series!!
In the deep blue ocean lives an ancient predator…
Dr. Grace Mann knows great white sharks. As the daughter of an obsessed shark researcher based at the Farallon Islands, Grace spent her childhood in the company of these elegant and massive creatures. When a photo of her freediving with a great white goes viral, the institute where she works seeks to capitalize on her new-found fame by producing a documentary about her work.
Underwater filmmaker Alec Galloway admires Dr. Mann and jumps at the opportunity to create a film showcasing the pretty biologist. As he heads to Guadalupe Island in Baja California Sur for a three-week expedition, it’s clear that his fan-boy crush on Grace is turning into something more serious. But even more pressing—Grace’s passionate focus on the sharks just might get her killed.
And now please enjoy my interview with the author. Thanks so much to Kristy for stopping by today!
First question-bit of a cliché - how did you get
into writing?
As a child, I was always writing – diaries,
stories, a list of every movie I’ve ever seen – but in college I studied
engineering because I wanted to make my dad proud. Two engineering degrees
later, however, all I really wanted to do was write. So that’s when I got
serious about learning the craft.
Do you write full time & if so, have you always
done this?
When I started writing with more intention, I was a
stay-at-home mom with four young children, so I wrote part-time for many years.
It wasn’t until they were older that I started working full-time at it.
Do you have a particular writing style or genre
that you prefer?
I write both historical western romances and
contemporary adventure romances, and I enjoy them both. As for my style, the
only thing I strive for when writing is to be as invisible as I can as the
author. Not sure I always succeed lol.
How do you develop your characters as you write,
are any of them based on real people?
Sometimes I use real people as inspiration, but
ultimately I develop the character that I need for my story. Character and plot
go hand-in-hand for me.
What was the inspiration behind your book?
Like many people, I’m both frightened and
fascinated by sharks. It was my curiosity that led me to create a story with
sharks as the backdrop. The more I studied the work of several biologists, it
became clear that sharks are much more complex creatures than we give them
credit. I knew that I didn’t want to write the typical shock-and-awe drama that
most people have come to expect from movies like Jaws and The Meg. (And please
don’t get me wrong, I enjoy those films as much as anyone.) But instead, I
wanted to show the sharks as they really are, as seen through a woman who’s
passionate about them and their existence. I’m proud to say that no sharks or
people were killed in the making of my book.
What is your writing process-do you plan it out
first? Write a bit at a time?
A little bit of both. I plot, I write, I plot, I
write. If it goes off-course (and it always does), I plot again to
self-correct. It’s a bit maddening, to be honest. And I can become a bit
neurotic and peevish when I’m struggling with a storyline. My poor husband.
How much of you is reflected in your writing?
Probably more than I realize, since my own
perspective must certainly infiltrate my writing voice. And the direction I go
in my novels is based solely on subjects that I’m curious about.
What kind of research did you have to do
before/during writing your book?
For DEEP BLUE, quite a bit. I read a lot of shark
books to get a feel for research, human-shark interaction, and the biology of
sharks. I’m never comfortable writing about something I don’t understand, so
I’ll research for as long as it takes for me to feel that I can do justice to
the material. I did want to go cage diving with great white sharks at Guadalupe
Island, but I’m having trouble getting my husband on board with the idea lol.
Maybe next year.
How much attention do you pay to the reviews that
you get?
I always appreciate reviews, both good and bad.
That being said, I don’t look at them often, because I feel they are the domain
of the reader who should feel free to share their opinion as they like. Also,
I’m only human and bad reviews can drag me down a bit and make it difficult to
write, so I need to be careful and protect my own head space. Reading is a
subjective experience, and I respect that not everyone will like my work.
Are friends and family supportive of
your writing?
Yes, very much so, and I’m very
grateful.
How do you feel leading up to your publication day?
Honestly, sick to my stomach haha. The closer I get
to release day, the more I worry whether it’s good enough.
Which other authors inspire you or are there any
you particularly enjoy reading?
I’m a fan of Susan Casey’s nonfiction books: The
Devil’s Teeth, The Wave, Voices In The Ocean. Books on my keeper shelf are
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ masterpiece on the female psyche, Women Who Run
With The Wolves; the classic novel The Eight by Katherine Neville;
and of course the best romance of all time, Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice. I also love the Deadwood mystery series by Ann Charles, a blend
of humor, romance, and paranormal mayhem. Ann is my critique partner and good
friend, and not only do I get to read her books in draft form, but I’m
privileged to have a front row seat to a great writer at work. I’ve learned
quite a lot from her.
Finally, what are you working on right now?
I’m working on Book 3 in my Pathway Series, ANCIENT
WINDS. This will feature Brynn Galloway and Dr. Tristan Magee as they search
for an ancient artefact. It will be a mix of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘The
X-Files.’
Thanks so much for letting me stop by and chat. Readers can find me at the following places:
Kristy McCaffrey has been writing since she was very young, but it wasn’t until she was a stay-at-home mom that she considered becoming published. A fascination with science led her to earn two mechanical engineering degrees—she did her undergraduate work at Arizona State University and her graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh—but storytelling has always been her passion. She writes both contemporary tales and award-winning historical western romances.
With the release of Deep Blue, Kristy is launching The Pathway Series, a project she’s been developing for years. Each book will combine her love of animal conservation and environmental awareness, while also shining a light on unique and diverse locations around the world. Come along for high adventure with honorable heroes, determined heroines, and Kristy’s trademark mysticism.
An Arizona native, Kristy and her husband reside in the desert where they frequently remove (rescue) rattlesnakes from their property, go for runs among the cactus, and plan trips to far-off places like the Orkney Islands or Machu Picchu. But mostly, she works 12-hour days and enjoys at-home date nights with her sweetheart, which usually include Will Ferrell movies and sci-fi flicks. Her four children have nearly all flown the nest, and the family recently lost their cherished chocolate Labrador, Ranger, so these days a great deal of attention is lavished on Ranger’s sister, Lily, and the newest addition to the household—Marley, an older yellow Labrador they rescued in early 2018. Both dogs are frequently featured on Kristy’sInstagram account, so pop over to meet her canine family.
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” – John Muir
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