There’s something special about introducing my readers to a debut author! Maybe it will be a book match that will last a lifetime 🙂 Natalie Walters’ debut novel, Living Lies, the first in a new romantic suspense series, Harbored Secrets, released last month and is garnering some great reviews. A military spouse and mum to three, Natalie lives and writes in Hawaii, creating dangerous scenarios for her characters! I hope you enjoy ‘meeting’ Natalie as she shares about her debut novel and provides some book recommendations!

Thanks to the generosity of her publisher, Revell, we are giving away a copy of Living Lies, so be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form below!

Bookchat with Natalie

Please share a little about your characters, Lane and Charlie

Lane is a single mom, who returns to her hometown after the death of her husband, with her little boy, Noah. Struggling to manage her depression, Lane is introvert by nature. She is compassionate, considerate, and even though she’d never consider herself this, she’s also courageous.

Charlie is the son of a career Marine officer who had planned for Charlie to follow in his footsteps. When Charlie doesn’t, it causes Charlie to wonder if he made the right decision leaving the battlefield to protect the citizens of Walton. He’s kind, loyal, reliable, and tender.

Describe your book in 5 adjectives

Intriguing, suspenseful, entertaining, hopeful, genuine.

What are the major themes in this story?

Hope and purpose. Mental health plays a strong role in this story but it’s hope and purpose that I really want readers to remember most about this story when they turn the final page. Mental health can be so isolating for those dealing with it personally and for those supporting others as they face the challenge. I want anyone dealing with mental health to know there’s a hope and purpose for their lives.

Natalie’s writing space

Which character did you enjoy writing most?

I loved writing my hero and heroine, Charlie and Lane, but I’ll admit that I really, really enjoyed writing the minor characters like Ms. Byrdie, Sheriff Huggins, Wilbur, and Pops. Over the course of my writing career, I’ve lost all but one grandparent and I was able to put little pieces of their characteristics into my fictional characters and now I feel like I can read my story and spend time with them even though they’re no longer here.

Which character gave you the most grief?

I’d say it was Lane’s family as a whole. They come off really, really poorly in this story and it was hard for me to write them that way but I needed to be genuine to the reality behind why some people keep silent about their mental health issues.

What emotions did you experience while writing this story?

My personal connection to the story made it hard not to get emotional. Writing Lane’s scenes took me back to actual experiences our family went through and it was heartbreaking all over again. Writing Miguel’s scenes were sad because I have uncles who served in Vietnam and suffer from PTSD. I REALLY needed Deputy Frost’s good nature, quirkiness to bring the mood up and I love him for that! Also Bane, the dog!!

Why do you write romantic suspense?

I think it gives readers the best of two incredible genres! I’m a huge fan of thrillers and love the thrill of adventure but I’m also a sucker for the kind of romances that are filled with humour, witty banter between hero and heroine, and the kind of unexpected gestures that make my heart swoon.

Has your experience publishing your first novel been what you expected?

No. It’s been better! And a lot more work than I imagined. I love all of the amazing people I’ve met in this journey. So many have embraced me and offered loads of encouragement, help, and advice that have made my experience amazing. I had no idea how much work goes into publishing a book and am in awe at all of the people behind the scenes who work so diligently to make sure our bookshelves are filled with wonderful stories.

Love looking at bookshelves! I spy a number of Ronie Kendig and David Baldacci books – you have great taste in authors, Natalie!

What genre do you like reading most? Any recommendations?

A piece of writing advice that I was given and have taken to heart is to read outside your genre. I try to read something out of every genre, if possible and am currently loving:

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner (Contemporary Romance)

Romanov by Nadine Brandes (YA Historical)

What is in your writing pipeline now?

I just turned in the edits for book #2, Deadly Deceit, in the Harbored Secrets series, which releases in November 2019. Readers will return to Walton and get to know Deputy Ryan Frost a little bit better as he tries his best to reign in the tenacious Vivian DeMarco in her search for the next big headline, even at the cost of her safety. I love this dynamic duo and hope readers will too!

Thank you, Natalie!

Natalie Walters is a military wife of 22 years and currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. She writes full-time and has been published in Proverbs 31 magazine and has blogged for Guideposts online. In addition to balancing life as a military spouse, mom, and writer, she loves connecting on social media, sharing her love of books, cooking, and traveling. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their past.

Relz Reviewz Extras
Visit Natalie’s website
Buy at Amazon: Living Lies or Koorong

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