I’m interviewing the fab Jaime Rush and she’s chatting about the latest book in her Offspring series, TOUCHING DARKNESS. Please extend Jaime a warm welcome and don’t be afraid to ask questions or comment because Avon Books is generously giving 3 (three) copies of her book.
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Hi Jaime, TOUCHING DARKNESS (which has an awesome cover by the way) is the third book in your Offspring series. Can you tell us a bit about the series and then specifically, TOUCHING DARKNESS?
I know, I love the covers Avon has given me. 🙂
The series is about a group of twenty-somethings who live ordinary lives but possess extraordinary psychic abilities. They are the Offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment gone awry. Sexy…dangerous…outcasts… They are being hunted by the government and others like them. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them.
In A PERFECT DARKNESS, and OUT OF THE DARKNESS, we get to know two couples and watch their personal and romantic journeys. The Offspring are putting together the clues, but they need to take a chance and contact Nicholas Braden, an Offspring who is working for the enemy. TOUCHING DARKNESS is Nicholas’s story.
Nicholas has been contracted by the government to use his psychic skill for finding things to rescue hostages. But first he’s been tasked with finding these terrible Rogues (who are actually the good guys). As he begins to doubt his boss, he’s also falling for his boss’s assistant, Olivia, who is loyal to the program. Maybe a bit too loyal. She’s in the way of finding the truth, but can he convince her to see beyond her blind faith? And what will it cost her when she does?
Your hero, Nicholas Braden in TOUCHING DARKNESS is a psychic spy? Would you consider him an alpha or a beta hero, or perhaps something in between?
He’s probably more beta than the other guys in the series, at least in the beginning. He’s all anti-violence because of his work finding the remains of murder victims. But the truth about his father’s death is at stake, and then his life and the lives of the Rogues, and then Olivia’s, and he discovers he’s willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to protect his own. He was interesting, because he was a very black and white guy in the beginning. You’re either good or bad, right?
The Rogues, though, aren’t totally either, and neither is his boss. At Nicholas’s heart, he realizes that he, and all mankind, are shades of gray, and that’s all right.
The heroine, Olivia, you describe as naïve and obedient in the beginning into a woman of her own. What’s the appeal about writing that kind of character growth?
I love to watch someone grow into their own. She’s been manipulated into believing that family loyalty is the most important thing in the world. Facing the truth about her father means losing everything, especially when that father raised her single-handedly. That she grew into her strength and independence, despite the stakes, was a lot of fun for me to witness as I wrote her story.
You wrote 18 novels as Tina Wainscott. Why did you decide to write under a new name?
My last Tina Wainscott novels had moved away from both romance and paranormal. I was in need of change in my career and I thought that was it. Ultimately, though, I love writing paranormal and romance into my suspense plots, and I parted ways with my former publisher and let my muse run wild with new ideas. She came back with a very sexy, paranormal series, and when I sold it to a new publisher, they felt it would be best to bring me out under a fresh new name.
Will you ever write under the name Tina Wainscott or is that name retired for good?
I had run out of romantic suspense and suspense ideas, but I’m open for writing more when my muse is ready. For now, though, I’m happy to grow the Jaime Rush name.
Who and what kinds of books did you read growing up?
I loved the short story compilations of Alfred Hitchcock. I also loved V.C. Andrews’s gothic tales. I always tended toward the dark and paranormal types of stories.
If you had to pick one, which author or books most influenced your decision to become a writer?
Reading fed me, but I’ve always been a storyteller, even as a child, so I’m not sure there was an actual book or author who inspired me from the beginning.
What’s coming up for you next? Will there be more books in the Offspring series? Can you share any part of the story’s plotline with us?
Book Four in the series, BURNING DARKNESS (January 2011), features Eric Aruda. Readers have been clamoring for his story, and I had so much fun writing it. He’s sort of been the bonehead alpha in the group, angry and reckless, with no problem killing those who deserve it. He can start fires with his mind, which is both his light and dark side. But he grows a lot, as all my characters do. This book wraps up the government arc. I think that’s long enough for readers to follow, and thus, they get satisfaction at seeing an ending to the arc but not the series. The mystery of what they are is solved, and they face their most lethal nemesis yet. As for the romance … let’s just say he gets a heroine who is more than his match. There will be at least two more books in the series, both of those more stand alone.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about you or your book?
For every book release, I host my Kick Butt First Line contest with cash prizes. Shocking, suspenseful…make us want more! For aspiring authors, it’s a chance to get your name out there and add a “win” to your bio. For readers, it’s a chance to play at being a writer, and everyone has at least one good line in them, right? The entries are a lot of fun to read! For details, go to www.JaimeRush.com and click on the Contest link. This contest runs from through June 1, 2010.
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Thanks for dropping by today Jaime and I hope you’ll come back when BURNING DARKNESS releases!
Hello! I love this series, and although I didn’t read Touching Darkness I’m sure it’s great and I will enjoy reading it.
Hi Jamie,
I have got to read this series so I ‘ll have to get the first one to start at the beginning.
I enjoyed reading your post.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Hi Jamie,
I haven’t gotten to read any books in your series yet, but this book sounds wonderful. I would love to read it. ^^
Melissa
Wow, a new series that sounds really interesting I hadn’t heard of…! I love it when that happens. Would love a copy of the book to get me started.
Hi Jamie! I really look forward to reading your book. I love a heroine who kind of comes into her own. Thanks for sharing with us.
Sounds like a great read! Adding first in series to TBR list. 🙂
Enjoyed reading the comments. I am always looking for new authors to read and I have added this one to my TBR list.
It sounds really good.
Hi, everyone!
Thanks for the comments! We’re having one of those weird rainy but sunny days here in Florida. I remember hearing an old expression that it means the devil is fighting with his wife. Don’t know where that comes from!
I’m having a great time writing this series. I’m working on book 5 right now, just starting it (page 38!). I’m in that awkward getting-to-know-the-story phase 🙂
Great interview. Touching Darkness sounds amazing. 🙂
I like it when I discover a series that’s into the first few books. The reviews are in and when they’re as good as yours I know it’s not a gamble and if I pace myself the next book should be coming out when I’m ready for it.
Great interview. Thanks for sharing!! Really looking forward to reading it and glad to hear there will be more.
I haven’t read your books yet. Am looking forward to reading them. Sounds good. Thanks for the great interview.
You had me at ‘beta’…it seems all my favorite heroes fall into the beta catagory. Thanks for the great interview, I am new to your work.
I haven’t read any of this series, but I’d love to start with this one! Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
I have to read this series. It sounds great.
I also have not heard of this series, but I love the whole premise, would love to give it a go!!
Hi, Jamie!
What an interesting interview. Thank you for it. I am new to you as an author, but the books mentioned are begging me to read them. Thanks for the giveaway! I love book contests.
Thanks for coming by to comment, and love to hear that the series intrigues you!
Scorpio, that’s interesting about you like beta heroes. It seems in para romance, readers want seriously alphas.
My heroine was beta, too, especially in the beginning. Then I discovered her secret hobby and it really made her more interesting to me. In the first draft, she needed more spunk, and then this wild side to her gave her much more dimension.
The books sound very exciting – physic spy sounds like a new genre 🙂 Are the books stand alone? I also enjoyed the interview.
great interview. I have the first book in this series and need to start it soon. I have read so many great reviews on this series.
Congratulations on the book. Checked out your website and congrats on the new book deal too. I think alpha personalities are highly overrated (though I’ll still read them). I like characters, especially that don’t always have to overwhelm their female counterpart.
Jaime, thanks for the interview. I hope the book does really well for you. 🙂
Hi Jaime,
I’m so happy to discover another paranormal series! I’m reading Christine Feehan’s latest Ghostwalker book and love these types of paranormals. TOUCHING DARKNESS sounds like a great read and I’ll be on the lookout for it. I’m looking forward to checking out the first line contest. Thanks!
I can’t wait to read more about Nicholas… and all his gray ways. 🙂
Hey Jaime 🙂
i’m still following you around the blogs . Hope i will get ‘lucky’ this time.
I’m so wanting to read this book !
Hi, Catlady! The books thus far are tied into a series arc, though I’ve tried hard to make them so new readers catch up quickly without an info dump. After book 4, the books are pretty much stand-alone.
Mariska, I was wondering if you’d won a book, you dear thing 🙂 Good luck! Avon’s giving away THREE books, very generous! Better odds.
Thanks you all for your kind words and enthusiasm! I hope you love the books, and feel free to email me thru my website. I offer signed bookplates for a SASE.
Have a great week!
Hi Jamie,
Awesome Interview!!
Love this series and have been waiting for this book.
I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read your interview. It really made me even more excited about the series and I can’t wait to start reading it!
Will you be doing any book signings in the Pittsburgh area in the future?
Jaime,
Oh my !! I purchased the first book the day I met you at Borders! I could not put it down until I finished(all of 3 hrs).I had to read again. lol. The suspense nearly killed me waiting on book two. Not once but two times. I have yet to get this one. I am sure I will not be able to put it down either. The first two had my heart pumping at every turn! Jaime, you have a made me a fan of your books. Thank you!!
I have loved all the books I’ve read of yours so far! I know these will be just as enticing!!!
Hey Jaime!
I find your book absolutely amazing. You are definitely my favorite author. I love book contest even though I’ve never won one, but hopefully I can get lucky. It’s worth a shot, right? I can’t wait to get my hands on the new book and read it!
♥ You’re amazing! Have a great day!
You talk about there being two more that will be stand alone. Please tell me we will getto read Cheveyo and Petra story or will they get finished up in eric’s book?
Always love to find new authors! This series sounds great from the interview! I’ll be sure to check it out!
Jamie,
It is nice to find new authors and a new series. This sounds like it is a good, suspenseful series with an interesting story arc. Government agency/employee conspiracy theory plot lines are always good. They provide so many avenues for the story to develop. Best of luck with the release of TOUCHING DARKNESS and with the rest of the series.
Hi, Jamie,
The book sounds great. I think a beta hero is a nice change of pace from the usual alpha.
This series sounds fascinating. And I love the sound of this book in particular. Love it when the bad boy goes good!
Would love a copy.
I’ve been waiting for this one to come out, I can’t wait to read it. I enjoyed your interview very much.
Looks like another great series to add to my TBP list. Great interview and I’m looking forward to reading your stories.
Hi Jaime Rush! I never read anything by you but after reading the glowing review in this blod, I think I have give a try.
Great interview! This sounds like a very exciting read! I have not read your books before but they sound really good!
Another good book in the series, thanks for featuring Jaime Rush here!
Your characters sound like they’re more than two dimensional, which is great. I like characters to undergo growth as the pages get turned and with best reading experiences I often feel that I’ve grown too.
Thanks for the interview! Jaime Rush is a new author for me & I think I will really enjoy reading her books.