I’m delighted to welcome Jerri Drennen to my blog today to answer a few questions about herself and talk about her latest book, Her Man Flint.

Jerri, tell us a little about yourself.
Here’s the short version. I was raised on a farm in a small town in Minnesota. I met my husband and moved to Southeastern Missouri where we live today with 2 of our 4 children and an array of furbabies.

I’m sure there’s lots more to tell 🙂 You have two new releases coming up. Care to talk about them?
Well, I have a romantic suspense, Hook, Line, Murder coming out at the end of October with Crimson Romance. Here is the tentative blurb for the book.

Homicide detective Steve Morgan is at Crane Lodge on forced sabbatical, hoping to overcome the guilt he carries from a convenience store robbery gone bad. Day one of fishing at the resorts lake has him casting his line straight into a crime scene, reeling in a dead woman from the murky bottom. Thinking the murderer must be a local, Steve offers the small town police help in the investigation. What he doesn’t count on is the gorgeous housekeeper at the lodge resembling the victim in the lake and her survival becoming more important than finding the killer.

Whitney McAllister is raising her daughter on her own, working long, grueling hours at the local resort cleaning guest cabins. Police siren’s pique her curiosity, and have her rushing to the lake. What she finds is the sexiest, yet pigheaded man alive. The detective may be just doing his job, but after their run-in, she intends to steer clear of him. Until someone breaks into her house and she’s forced, for her daughter’s sake, to stay at the cabin with the man. Her attraction is overpowering, yet she refuses to give him her heart. Not when she knows once the murder is solved, he’ll be gone, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart exactly as her child’s father had.

When a string of unsolved murders from across the country, all matching the same description, single mother’s with dark hair and green eyes are unearthed, tension mounts. Steve knows he has to find this serial killer fast, before he commits the only woman he’s ever loved to a watery grave.

My next comes out June of next year. Dark Moon Magic, which will be released by Ruby Lioness.

Here is the blurb for the book.

Practicing wiccan Regina Moon is starting over in the tiny town of Groves, Arkansas, hoping her New Age shop will succeed despite her friends objections. A ritual-type killing of a local man transforms the quiet little community into 1692 Salem, with all eyes on her, and has the sheriff, Trace Langston not only trying to solve a murder but disbanding a mob of angry townspeople hell-bent on burning her at the stake. In all the upheaval, a cold case, sealed within a circle, is unearthed and an evil no one knew existed revealed.

They both sound great. Margery: Where do your best ideas come from?
I’d have to say dreams. I’ve written a number of books after having had a dream to trigger it.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a panster all the way. I’ve try to write with an outline before but I never finished that book. I like to learn as I go, just like the reader.

Complete this sentence: When I want to kick back and relax, I ___________
Watch mindless hours of television.

I’m so with you there. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do to combat it?
All the time. At least once or twice a book anymore. I really struggle with writing a satisfying ending–so I usually stall at writing them. As far as getting past them, I just force myself to write. Having someone to push me works well.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading A Little Slice of Heaven by Gina Ardito. Loving it so far.

Jerri’s latest romantic suspense novel, Her Man Flint, is available on Amazon and will be FREE on August 11 and 12, 2012. Be sure to get your copy.

Blurb:
If James Bond and Cleopatra Jones had a daughter, Adriana Kent would kick her ass.

Everything Adriana knows about being a top-notch, undercover agent she’s learned from her partner, Flint Morgan, in and out of the sheets. That is, until he’s caught between those same bed linens with another woman. Heartbroken, Adriana refuses to forgive him. But when ‘the other woman’ is found dead in Flint’s apartment, she steps up to prove his innocence–he might be a womanizer, but he’s no killer.

As Adriana closes in on a suspect, she’s kidnapped and sent overseas to a sadistic prince who collects women like priceless pieces of art. Now this tough as nails agent finds herself playing the helpless courtesan to a man hell-bent on breaking her spirit. Flint arrives in the nick of time, dressed as a harem girl, fighting off randy guards and surly camels to rescue Adriana so they can fly back to the states to find a way to exonerate him for murder.

Excerpt:

Adriana swatted Billy’s hand away. “Stop it. I’m fine.”

Billy nudged her down. “You’re not fine, you have a concussion. The doctor said you have to stay in bed.”

“Nonsense, it’s just a little bump. I feel okay.” She tried to sit up straight, but a wave of dizziness hit and sent her back to the pillow.

“See, I told you. You need rest.”

“Maybe you’re right. But I’m not staying here all day. I have things to do. I’ve already missed my session with Antonio.”

Adriana pounded the mattress with her fists, which sent a sharp, knifelike pain through her head.

She sighed. More than anything, she hated feeling helpless.

Billy sat in the chair next to her bed. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Adriana turned to face him. “A black sedan rear-ended me twice. I tried to keep the Porsche on the road. Oh God, how’s my car?” She gnawed anxiously at her bottom lip. “Is my baby okay?”

“It’ll live. But it’s going to need some grill work.” Billy raised a questioning eyebrow. “It wasn’t an accident, was it?”
Adriana clutched his arm. “No. But for Heaven sakes don’t tell Flint. He’ll make a big stink about it. Promise me.”

“He has a right to know.”

“Who has a right to know? And what?” Flint asked from the doorway.

Adriana’s gaze flew to him, now leaning against the open door in a pair of cut to fit blue jeans, and a black sweater that clung to every muscle and contour of his chest and shoulders. He looked incredible.

She caught herself before she audibly sighed.

Memories of his naked, wonderfully toned chest against hers stirred her senses.

For a year and a half she’d gotten used to having Flint around—a year and a half spent cohabiting. And in that time, she’d fallen in love, even when most of the time he’d been a conceited horse’s ass. Now she desperately wished she hadn’t lost her heart to him because it hadn’t mended the way she’d hoped it would.

It had been six months since he moved out. Long, agonizing weeks of missing his toothbrush in the cup next to hers, his dirty socks scattered on the floor, or waking to his latest baritone rendition of some Barry White tune he knew. She missed that most of all. Hell, she missed everything about the man, including his inflated ego, and at times it hurt so bad she couldn’t even look at him. But their relationship was over, and she had to move on.

“The doctor told me you took quite a blow to the head. I’d say you’re lucky. We both know how hard it is.” Flint’s words brought her attention back to him.

“Right!”

“So what happened?” He looked to Billy for the answer.

“She ran off the road.”

“You ran off the road? Where you putting on make-up again? I told you, you should never do that while you’re driving.”

“I know. I wasn’t thinking.” Adriana turned away. She couldn’t look him in the eye and lie. He’d always been too good at reading her.

“How’s the Porsche?” Flint asked.

“Leave it to you to ask about my car before asking how I’m doing.” Adriana snorted, then looked at Billy, her eyes thanking him for not telling Flint the truth.

Flint’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “You know how much I love that car.”

Adriana’s stomach tightened. Right. He’d loved her car, but never her.

“What do you want, Flint? Did you come here to see if I’d died so you could have my baby? If so, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Wait, I thought you were in D.C.”

“I was. I flew back when I heard you were in an accident.”

She frowned. “Why? I should warn you now that I’m leaving the Porsche to Billy.”

She gently fingered the huge bump on her forehead. What she wouldn’t give for a mirror. She was sure she must look a mess, and with Flint standing just inches away, looking like he’d stepped off the cover of GQ, she felt a little self-conscious.

“Billy wouldn’t know the first thing about handling a car like that and you know it. He’d kill himself.” Flint stepped over to the bed and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

“Thanks.” Billy glared at Flint.

“Hey, just trying to keep you alive.”

Adriana pushed Flint’s hand away. “Right. You’re just itching to get your hands on my car, but let me tell you this, Flint Morgan, I’m not going anywhere for a long time. So you needn’t worry about the Porsche.”

“Calm down. I don’t want your damn car.”

“How’s the patient?” a handsome, dark-haired man in a white lab coat asked, as he made his way into the room.

“I’m fine.” Adriana smiled demurely at him. “Can I go home now?”

He smiled down at her. “That depends on whether you’re planning to rest or not. If you’re not, then no, if yes, then we’ll see what we can do about getting you discharged.”

Adriana’s heart skipped at beat. The man definitely had a winning smile, with his straight white teeth and deep inset dimples on either side of his mouth.

“Thank you, Dr–?”

“Terrell. Mike Terrell.”

“Nice to meet you, Mike. So, will you let me go home if I promise to stay in bed?” She batted her lashes at him. “You’re welcome to come over and check on me if you’d like.”

His smile widened. “Is that an invitation?”

Beside her Flint snorted.

Adriana scowled at him, then returned her attention to the doctor.

“That depends.”

“On,” Mike asked.

“If you’re married or not?” She glanced at Flint and caught him rolling his eyes.

“No, not married, or dating anyone right now.”

“Really?” Adriana’s gaze held the doctor’s for what seemed like minutes. “How nice for me.”

Flint cleared his throat. “Before the two of you go down on each other right here, I gotta go.” He turned and bolted out the door, leaving everyone in the room looking dumbstruck.

“What’s with him?” Dr. Terrell asked, obviously confused by Flint’s outburst.

Adriana shrugged. “He’s just mad I didn’t die and leave him my Porsche.”

Thanks so much for visiting today, Jerri. Please come back any time.

You can learn more about Jerri and her books on her website and her blog, and follow her on Facebook, and Twitter