Friday , March 29 2024
"I’m excited for romance readers to get their hands on 'Blamed,' but I also hope that anyone who enjoys straight suspense and spy thrillers will give it a shot – the love story between the hero and heroine doesn’t detract from the plot, but makes it stronger."

Interview: Edie Harris, Author of ‘Blamed’

Edie HarrisEdie Harris studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa and Grinnell College. She fills her days with writing and editing contract proposals, but her nights belong to the world of romance fiction. Edie lives and works in Chicago and is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

Her latest work, Blamed: A Blood Money Novel, published by Carina Press, is about a woman born into a long line of spies whose past comes back to haunt her.

Welcome to Blogcritics, Edie. Tell us, when did you start writing and what got you into romantic suspense?

I’ve been writing stories forever, but I got my start in authoring romance in my early 20s; my short erotic story “Shameless,” was chosen as part of an anthology spearheaded by Dear Author’s Jane Litte. I chose to veer into romantic suspense, however, because of my love of action and spy films – I wanted to see more happily ever afters in that genre.

Did you have any struggles or difficulties when you started writing?

I’m still in the early stages of my career. It’s tough to find time to write around the demands of my day job and my personal life, but I make it work. There’s nothing better than writing romance novels; it’s worth a few sleepless nights.

Who is your target audience?

I’m excited for romance readers to get their hands on Blamed, but I also hope that anyone who enjoys straight suspense and spy thrillers will give it a shot – the love story between the hero and heroine doesn’t detract from the plot, but makes it stronger.

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Did your book require a lot of research?

This series has required a ton of research from me already – studying organized crime in the United States, Russia, and Colombia; international bioterrorism; the political structure of various Middle Eastern countries; weapons of all kinds and how to use them. I also spent significant time refreshing my knowledge on several foreign languages. Doing research was one of the most fun parts of the writing process (it always is).

How do you celebrate the completion of a book?

I treat myself (think Donna from Parks & Recreation)! I have a great love of antiques, and I like scouring shops with my mother for a little decorative knick-knack to remind me of publishing a specific title. For example, with my first full-length novel, the historical western romance Wild Burn, I treated myself to a vintage cameo ring I found in a local antique store.

How do you define success?

Success is being able to support yourself financially doing what you love.

What is your advice for aspiring authors?

I think it’s very important to keep everything in perspective. It’s so easy to get caught up in industry hullaballoo and lose focus on the important things in life: your happiness, your health, your loved ones, your security – financial and personal – and then your place in the authorsphere.

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About Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Represented by Serendipity Literary.

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