Hi, Marliss! I’m so excited to have the chance to interview you! I gobbled up Time to Run and I have to say it’s my absolute favorite of your three SEAL books so far. 

When I first picked up Time to Run, my thought was ‘Wow! The book looks so thin!’ As I read it, I wondered why it was so much shorter. Were scenes cut from the book? Okay, what I really want to know, is there extra scenes of Chase lying around in a drawer somewhere that you’re going to let me read? ;-) 

You guessed it! The truth is that the first draft of TIME TO RUN read too much like a contemporary romance and my editor practically made me rewrite the whole thing. I’m glad she did and I love the way the book turned out, but there are scenes of Chase that didn’t make it into the final draft. I have toyed with the idea of posting them on my website, but when I go back and read them I can now see why my editor wanted me to cut them, so I’ve decided to withhold those scenes, after all. I wouldn’t want my readers to view Chase any differently than they see him now. 

Now that I’ve got that all important question out of the way, LOL, let’s start with a few ‘traditional’ questions. How did you get started in writing towards publication? How long did it take you from when you first got serious to when you sold? 

Some writers are blessed with innate talent, but I had to earn my skills the old fashioned way—practice, practice, practice. Before becoming a full-time author, I was a high school teacher who wrote after school and all summer long, for many, many years. I became a Golden Heart Finalist after 3 years, but it took another six years to publish my first book, DANGER’S PROMISE, which was a RITA finalist for best first book.  

You’ve written both historical romance (under Marliss Moon) and romantic suspense. Do you find it difficult switching between two genres? Are there similarities? And, do you plan to write any more historical romances in the future? 

It wasn’t tough for me to go from writing historicals to writing romantic suspense, although apparently that’s not true for all authors. Both types of books require familiarity with terminology, setting, and current events all of which translates to lots of research. I have another medieval romance up my sleeve but my publisher wants me to crank out those SEAL books as fast as I can, so my next medieval book has been put on hold indefinitely.  

Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for your SEAL series?

I had this notion back in 1999 that I would write romances featuring military heroes. My first husband was in the Army. My current husband was in the Navy and subsequently retired after twenty years. I had to decide which of these two branches to focus on. That question was resolved the moment I read Suzanne Brockmann’s The Unsung Hero and fell in love with Navy SEALs.   

When I first read Forget Me Not I was intrigued by the unique idea that Gabe and Helen were a married couple. I felt the marriage angle really added a depth to the story that would have been lacking if they had just been ‘involved’ at the time he disappeared. How did you decide to center the story around a married couple instead of just former lovers?  

In this case, the idea for Forget Me Not was inspired by a dream. And, in turn, the dream was inspired by my life. My first husband had died the year before, and in my dream he suddenly came back to life. I had just resolved myself to his death and the dream left me wondering, what if this really happened to a woman? How would she deal with the unexpected appearance of a husband she’d resolved to live without?  

I loved Hannah’s character in In The Dark. She was just so strong and self assured, even when she was battling her fear. And Luther is the perfect counterpart to her, equally as strong, but also with a quiet intensity about him that made him a fabulous three dimensional hero.  Is it difficult to create characters who could be ‘real’ people? Is there anything you do while writing to ensure that they don’t end up ‘flat’?  

To keep my characters from being flat, I determine their personality type, according to the Myers-Briggs Typology Inventory. There are sixteen types to choose from, all of which are described in detail in books and online. Characterizing this way helps me in two ways. First of all, it lets me understand how my characters perceive the world and how they react to stress. Second, I pair up personality types that are most likely to be attracted to each other, to cause sparks to fly, and/or have the greatest likelihood of staying together for a lifetime.  

Time to Run was exciting and captivating. It also dealt with the difficult issue of domestic violence. What inspired you to write this story? 

It is said that writing is a form of therapy. An author’s works are little more than an airing of their dirty laundry. Once upon a time, in a previous life, I entertained a fantasy of the best way to “disappear”. It entailed a walk in the State Park and a getaway in a silent canoe. Domestic violence is also the subject of my Christian Romance: Sofi’s Blessing (PublishAmerica). All royalties from the sale of that book have been donated to Avalon, Shelter for Women and Children in my hometown.    

One thing that struck me right off the bat in Time to Run is that Sara (the heroine) always referred to her husband by his last name. Was this intentional on your part? 

Calling her husband by his last name was a way for Sara to distance herself emotionally and physically from her abusive husband.  

Okay, and now it’s time for a moment of silent reverence for Chase, the hero of Time to Run. What more can you say about a man that rides a motorcycle, loves his dog, whittles, and is gentle and kind to an abused woman and her son? Um, sigh? He presents a wonderful dichotomy because on the outside he is a hardened sniper, yet on the inside he’s capable of so much love. I enjoyed getting to know him first in In the Dark and in more detail as the hero of Time to Run. Will readers have glimpses of him in future books? Please? 

I’m so pleased that other women love this man as much as I do. You may be amazed to know that I based him on a real person: a good friend of mine, whom I call Sunshine. Every detail from the wood whittling to the tattoo on his arm to his grandfather’s influence comes from Sunshine, a man who continues to protect his vulnerable heart. Yes, Chase will appear from time to time in future books. How could I keep him out? It was hard enough to tone him down in Hannah and Luther’s book!   

I love reading books with military heroes (whether SEALS, Green Beret, Rangers, etc) in them, and from what I can tell, these type of stories are very popular with readers. What do you think is the appeal of military hero stories?

Military heroes are so appealing because the ideal “soldier” should have the following attributes: 1) He should be strong, if not totally ripped, with broad shoulders, flat abs, lean hips, powerful thighs, etc. etc. etc. 2) He should be capable—with a gun, bare hands, his keen mind. 3) He’s protective (women may not admit it but we want to be sheltered). 4) He’s focused. Women love men who are intense; who can focus on the objective and will do everything in his power to attain it. (the objective being, of course, a woman!)  

I read on your website that you are a mother of six children. As a mother of two young boys myself, I can’t help but wonder in awe how you manage to find time to write. Do you have a set schedule where you say ‘Don’t bother me unless you’re dying’ or do you just try to grab snatches of writing time in between car pools, ‘I’m hungry! I’m thirsty’ screams, breaking up fights, and everything else that comes along with motherhood? 

All of the above. Last summer, while rewriting Time To Run, I nearly went out of my mind. All the kids were in the room right next to me fighting over the television. This year we have an addition on our house, so I don’t always know what they’re doing. Four of them are teenagers, none of whom drive yet, all of whom are involved in sports. I am their fulltime chauffer. The baby is an active toddler whom I have to put in daycare or I’d get nothing done. Suffice it to say that I live on the edge of insanity. No wonder my characters are crazy enough to jump out of airplanes—that’s just me going quietly out of my mind.  

Do you have a favorite hero from one of your books? What about heroine? How about from another author’s books? 

I love all of my heroes, but Chase “Westy” McCaffrey is my favorite. I love the gentle toughness that he embodies. If I could “jump” into one of my books, I’d be living on the ranch in Broken Arrow right now. As for another author’s books, I have a soft spot in my heart for Suzanne Brockmann’s Tom Paoletti, mostly because he’s bald, and my husband’s bald, too. You just gotta love those good-looking bald guys, especially ones who are up for “doing it” in a closet.  

From the information on your site, I noticed that your next book is going to be about the Commander who helped Chase at the end of Time to Run. I have an ARC of the book and in my copy the man is named Commander Morant, but I noticed on your website he’s listed as Commander Montgomery. Did his name get changed before the final printing? Or was it changed sometime later? If so, was there a reason you decided to use a different name? 

It wasn’t an “epiphany” moment by any means, but I wanted a cool code-name for Commander Morant, and I couldn’t come up with one. Then I remembered a hot-shot pilot whom I once met at the officer’s club on Langley Air Force Base. His name was Montgomery and the guys called him Monty. He was exactly like the commander in my book, so cocky and self-assured that I remember thinking, “This guy needs some serious humbling.” I changed Commander Morant to Commander Montgomery to give Monty just that: a setback like nothing he’s ever experienced.  Writing is such a wonderful tool of vengeance. J  

While we’re on the subject of your next book, can you give us a little teaser of what it will be about and when we can expect the release? 

My next book was inspired by the worst disaster in Special Forces history. Operation Redwing took place last summer. You may remember the story of the four SEALs who came under fire by Taliban insurgents and called for extraction. The Chinook helicopter bearing 16 more men flew in to provide relief, but it was blown up by a rocket propelled grenade. Three of the four SEALs died in the firefight but one of them escaped. For days he was chased through the mountains by Taliban until a shepherd led him to his village and summoned coalition forces. I was stunned by the tragedy—nineteen superlative men died in one deadly night. I thought to myself, I wonder how the survivor must feel. He inspired me to write a story—not his story—but a work of fiction based on the tragedy and the question “What if cocky commander Montgomery was the one man who survived. How would that change him?”  

And now for some completely off topic, just for fun, questions: 

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done? Or, if you don’t want to tell us, what about your most embarrassing moment?

The craziest thing I’ve ever done, huh. Well, I’m not a risk-taker by nature but I’m married to one, so I’m going to say right off the bat that it’s all his fault. He takes me out and loosens me up with a couple of martinis and next thing I know, we’re climbing over walls and sneaking into places we’re not supposed to be. I’m afraid I’ll be arrested if I admit much more than that, but all those love scenes in my books…let’s just say they’ve been inspired.  

 What is your all-time favorite movie? 

Er, this is where I admit that I haven’t been to the movies since 2003 before my last baby was born. But I have watched a handful of videos since then and my all-time favorite is UNDER A TUSCAN SUN. I love the idea of a second chance, starting all over. I love the romance of the Old Country. I love the idea that things happen for a reason and everything will work out in the long run, provided Love is in your heart.  

If you could spend a day as any animal, what would it be, and why?

I’d like to be an osprey for one day. I’d get to spread my wings and fly over the woods and the water in blissful isolation or with the mate that I’d chosen for life. I’d get to go fishing and bring my prize home to the brood in my nest. Yep, the osprey’s life is the life for me!  

Marliss, I want to thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview. I’m eagerly awaiting your next book! And if there is anything else you’d like readers to know, please feel free to add it here.