Cover Blurb For Secrets Of A Dangerous Woman
In Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, Dylan Maguire is back in his first assignment with the CIA: to interrogate recently captured Brenda Carnegie. But when she escapes again, it’s obvious she’s had help from within the CIA’s own ranks. With Vicki Boyd’s assistance, Brenda is back in Dylan’s custody. And now he must find out why some in the highest levels of our government want her dead while others are willing to risk everything to help her. And when he discovers Brenda’s real identity, his mission has just become very personal.
P.M. Terrell Talks About Writing The Black Swamp Mystery Series
One of the reviewers said of my writing in Vicki’s Key, which introduced the Black Swamp Mysteries series, “In each of her books she treats us to something new and different. Whether it’s someone’s occupation, lifestyle or dream it’s always done with an attention to detail and a thoroughness of craft.”
While I always seek to entertain readers, I also enjoy providing information that they might not have known prior to reading my books. I manage to do this through multi-faceted and meticulous research.
Secrets of a Dangerous Woman brings three main characters together who will remain together throughout the entire series, either as a result of blood or circumstance.
Brenda Carnegie is a computer hacker, a bad girl who enjoys being on the wrong side of the law. Readers first met her in Exit 22, where I took the Enron scheme involving electricity and applied it to oil. I found through my research that one of the reasons gasoline costs so much is because of what is known as the Enron Loophole, which allows oil to be traded on the stock market based on the speculation of its future value.
In Secrets, Brenda is back with yet another computer scheme: to dig up dirt on the nation’s top politicians and sell the information to the highest bidder. There have been so many scandals in recent years involving improper relationships between government officials and industries that constitute a clear conflict of interest, as well as personal scandals that have played out in the public eye. When WikiLeaks came to the front page news, it occurred to me that an intriguing plot would involve a computer genius who would not start a website to broadcast their information publicly but would instead sell the information—to a political rival or even to an opposing country.
But Brenda meets her match in Dylan Maguire, an Irishman who first made his appearance in Vicki’s Key. Dylan is now a CIA operative, one of the men on the ground whose missions involve going into areas around the world and performing jobs he can never discuss and should probably deny. For his role, I researched CIA declassified records as well as read a number of books written by past CIA employees. I noted similar themes and cross-referenced cases and then discovered new or unique ways to “spin” those missions into another industry or update them through the use of technology.
Dylan is joined in his mission by Vicki Boyd, a CIA psychic spy who also made her first appearance in Vicki’s Key. While combing through declassified records, I came upon information regarding the United States’ own psychic spy program. It began during the Cold War when Intelligence sources discovered that the Soviet Union had begun a psychic spy program; its mission was to infiltrate our nuclear facilities, tour our weapons sites, and even sit in on the highest cabinet level meetings. And because it was done through the power of the mind, we would not even know our security had been breached.
Intelligence in the United States suggested that we explore our own psychic program to determine whether these missions were possible. Psychic spies have since been used in a variety of missions, including during the Iran Hostage Crisis of the 1970’s and as recently as helping to locate Saddam Hussein.
The combination of a psychic spy, a CIA operative and a computer hacker could make for a complex series in which any one of the main characters could rise to the foreground, much as an ensemble cast does in a television series.
In Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, Dylan Maguire is on his first CIA assignment: to interrogate recently captured Brenda Carnegie. But when she escapes again, it’s obvious that she’s had help from within the CIA’s own ranks. With Vicki Boyd’s psychic assistance, he locates her and captures her again. But now his mission is changing: he must find out why some of the highest ranking government officials want her killed—and why others are willing to risk everything to help her. And when he discovers her true identity, his mission has just become very personal.
Secrets is the third book in the Black Swamp Mysteries series. The first book, Exit 22, was meant to be a stand-alone book. It was this book that introduced Brenda Carnegie as a computer hacker who was caught up in a double homicide and was trying to escape a hired assassin. Her character was so popular among fans that I knew I had to create a series.
I didn’t want to become a formula writer so it took some time for me to develop several characters who could keep the series fresh and each book surprising. I love giving my readers something unexpected.
So the second book in the series, Vicki’s Key, introduces Vicki Boyd, the psychic spy who decides to leave the CIA and start over. But when she arrives at a summer job assisting an elderly woman, she finds that Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and her nephew Dylan has arrived from Ireland to care for her. A romance quickly blossoms between Dylan and Vicki but there is something sinister going on in Aunt Laurel’s house and Vicki soon finds her past and her future are about to collide—in murder.
The third book, Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, brings Brenda, Vicki and Dylan together for the first time. But what transpires between them will keep them together for the remainder of the series.
I am currently working on Dylan’s Song, the fourth in the series. Due to be released in 2013, it takes Vicki and Dylan to Ireland. Vicki’s mission is to find a CIA operative who disappeared in Ireland and Dylan’s assignment is to extract him and get him to a safe house. But while in Ireland, Vicki discovers the real reason Dylan left his native country for America—and gives us some insight on just how far Dylan has come and what his future now holds.
An Excerpt From Secrets Of A Dangerous Woman
“Who are you running from?” Vicki asked.
Brenda took a deep breath. “I am in trouble. Big trouble.”
“What did you do?”
“Depends on who you ask.” She took a deep breath. “I’m tired, Vicki. Really tired. I need to get off the street. Stay inside for a day or two. Regroup.”
“I’m living in Lumberton now. The woman who owned the house where I’m staying passed away.
Her nephew inherited it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Yeah? Where’s he?”
“I live with him. Come home with me. It’s a big house, three stories.”
Brenda frowned as if she was deep in thought. “It’s just you and him there?”
“His name’s Dylan. I’ll tell you all about him on the way.”
She half nodded. “He won’t be taken aback by you bringing me home? I’m a bit more to handle than a stray cat.”
“He’d love to meet you. I promise. He’ll take care of you.”
“He will, will he?”
Vicki blushed. “He’s got a strong sense of family. Besides,” she said as she started to rise, “it’s suppertime and you need to eat. We’ll get something in your belly and you’ll get a good night’s sleep.”
Brenda hesitated only briefly before she rose from the table. “You sure you can handle the intrusion?”
“Positive.”
As they made their way toward the door, Brenda whispered, “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
About P.M. Terrell
p.m.terrell is the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than 16 books, including Vicki’s Key, a 2012 International Book Awards finalist, and River Passage, 2010 Best Fiction & Drama winner. She is the co-founder of The Book ‘Em Foundation whose slogan is “Buy a Book and Stop a Crook” and the co-chair of Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference & Book Fair. For more information, visit www.pmterrell.com.
LINKS:
Twitter: @pmterrell
Facebook: Patricia M. Terrell
I love a book that is engrossing & entertains, but if I learn something new along the way – bonus.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I agree. I am the same about fictional shows. Though I must say I am liking the TV series LIE TO ME partly because I am learning a lot from it. The premise of the show is that there is a team of specialists who can discern whether someone is lying or telling the truth from their facial expressions and body language. They can also discern other feelings from facial expression. As a writer, one of the challenges is to describe body language so that the reader interprets the right emotion from it. I am learning a lot from the show. Though the show is entertaining in its own right the learning is a big bonus.
Wow, you really did a lot of research for this story. I am really impressed. Also, love the excerpt.
Thanks so much for dropping in, MomJane! I am glad you loved the excerpt. I am finding that I love writing this Black Swamp Mysteries series more than any of my previous books. Yes, it is a great deal of research involved – but I find it all fascinating.
The best books are those that have the most authenticity – where the author researches thoroughly on the topics the readers will encounter so that it is accurate.
As an avid reader, I commend those authors who go the extra mile to do so. I love to research!
chrysrawr@yahoo.com
Thank you, Chrysrawr! I agree with you. I once sat on a panel with an author who boasted of never having done one minute of research – and his books were bestsellers. I don’t know how that can happen, frankly. I have a lot of law enforcement fans and I know if I didn’t check all my facts, I could lose credibility. Once that happens, it’s almost impossible to get back!
I’m not sure why one would brag that they didn’t research. It seems like doing research would be a positive…and a selling point rather than the reverse…unless one came from the world of law enforcement and wrote about that world, in which case perhaps they wouldn’t need to research that…but it seems like there would be something to research – even if it wasn’t the world of forensics or procedure or whatever.
The book sounds very intriguing.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment, Rita! I’ve been very fortunate that this series has gotten such a thumbs up from reviewers. I have three more set to be released in this series over the next 18 months so I am real excited about the future of Black Swamp Mysteries.
It may be obvious to those who have read the series, but since it is a new series to me it’s not obvious to me. Where did the name Black Swamp Mysteries come from? Is the Black Swamp a setting that is common in all the stories? Is it a real place or a fictional one?
Black Swamp Mysteries came from the real area in southeastern North Carolina where the black waters of the Lumber River meander through town. It’s the area where Blackwater (the firm who worked in Afghanistan and Iraq) got its name. So we didn’t want this series to be confused with them. When the water recedes it turns to black swamp, hench the name. It’s a real place: Lumberton, NC is just 20 miles from the SC border along Interstate 95. One of the exits is 22 – which also inspired the name of the first book in the series, Exit 22.
Thanks for dropping in and leaving a question!
Fresh from having watched Homeland last night, I’m wondering if it’s a show that you also watch. Since it’s about spies and the CIA it seemed like the kind of show that might appeal to you. Do you watch it? What other shows do you watch? Have any of the TV programs you watched inspired ideas that have later worked their way into your books?
What new fall TV shows are you watching this season? Which yet to debut shows are you excited about?
Thanks for such great questions, Laurie!
I don’t watch Homeland; some CIA and FBI agents have told me not to watch those series if I want to keep things “real” but I usually don’t watch them because I don’t want to subconsciously pick up any of their plotlines.
However, I do watch various series shown on the Military channel, History channels and Discovery about the inside workings of the CIA and FBI. Those involve real cases and show real tools that are used, real methods followed, so they help me quite a bit. Then I always verify with my technical advisors inside those agencies that the information I have is correct.
When I watch TV, I want something completely different from the plots I am working on. I’m a “True Blood” and “Grimm” addict! Love the originality in both those series. I also love romance and wish they’d show more romantic movies on TV.
I can understand not wanting to watch the shows because some things in them are inaccurate. My husband and I were just talking at dinner about all the things you’d have to buy into to believe last night’s Homeland episode.
There is a lot that stretches credibility quite a bit…but the show still drags you in and keeps you engaged.
We watched the early episodes of Grimm. Still have them recorded but haven’t got around to watching them yet. Hubby is a True Blood fan, though I never got into it.
I am looking forward to the new fall show. I can’t remember what it’s called. Something like Beauty and Beast. It’s a take off of Beauty and the Beast in any case. I’m also looking forward to the Chicago Firefighters. We liked Rescue Me which was about NY firefighters.
It took me several episodes to get into Grimm because it is so unique. Now I am hooked. And I wish True Blood had longer seasons!
I am especially interested in whether Sookie will have a relationship with Alcide.
I’ll have to watch Rescue Me. Sounds good!
Thanks so much for being such a fabulous host.
Rescue Me is a series which was on sometime back and which has now run its course through several seasons.
We seem to discover new shows quite late into them sometimes…and so end up watching them on DVD or via streaming after the season has ended. That was the case with Rescue Me and also The Shield which we also liked and watched via Netflix streaming after the season ended. Now we’re watching Lie to Me which is quite an education in micro facial expressions…great for the writer in me.
Interesting interview.
Thank you for dropping in and leaving a comment, Wilma! I’m glad you found the interview interesting.
Thank you so much for having me here today! I’ll be checking in throughout the day and answering any questions readers might have for me.
Thanks for dropping by to chat with us today. I’ll wake up a little bit and then I’ll post some questions for you. In the meantime I am intrigued by the psychic spy research. What you seem to be saying is that the US used psychic spies to gather information.
Can you expand more on your research in this area? Did your research contain any information about people who actually did this work or are there books about the people who did this work?
How much reality did you use vs. imagination when crafting Vicki Boyd’s character?
Hi, Laurie! I have been intrigued by the psychic spy program, also. One of the best books that chronicles the history of the US’s spy program is Remote Viewers by Jim Schnabel. I also read The Secret History of the CIA, Inside the CIA, Blowback, and other books as well as the declassified CIA and Department of Defense documents.
Vicki’s side effects from the remote viewing sessions (which is really astral travel but our government calls it remote viewing) stems from the real side effects that psychic spies have reported. Even her ability to pinpoint the longitude and latitude of a target stems from fact.
Interesting stuff, isn’t it?
Yes, it is very interesting stuff. I had no idea that we used pyschic spies in the CIA. It is fascinating stuff, particularly as a lot of the time the debate in the mainstream seems to be about whether psychic phenomena is real.
I’m guessing if the CIA is using it it must have some credibility within those circles.
Do you have a set number of books for the Black Swamp Mysteries series or are you still working…planning to let stories evolve in the series as you come up with ideas for them?
How much romance is in the series as a whole? Curious.
Thank you for hosting today.