Interview with mulipublished novelist Rachel Carrington

Author Rachel Carrington is here today. We’re talking about her 52^nd novel, a suspense called Last Showing.

Welcome, Rachel. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I started writing years ago, and my first attempt was a contemporary romance that will never see the light of day. I think I may even have thrown it away by now. It was absolutely horrific as I knew nothing about, well...anything to do with writing. So I tossed it and tried again. And again.

I finally started writing fantasy romances about wizards and witches, and once those caught on, I segued to paranormal romances, mostly vampires and ghosts. Now, I write romantic suspense, suspense with light romance, and most recently, young adult.

I also write articles for various magazines, including The Writer's Journal, The Writer, Funds for Writers, Freelance Writing.com and more.

I'm fortunate to make my home in historical Charleston, South Carolina, a beautiful city filled with beautiful people. My cat, Temperance, is my roommate...or mortgage holder, depending upon who you ask.

When I'm not writing books, I love to read paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and young adult, create videos, shop, work on crafts, write posts for Movie Pilot, talk on the phone, listen to music, and spend as much time as possible in downtown Charleston. 

Please tell us about your current release.

Two killers. One target. Both with different motives.

With the breakup of her marriage, Sophia Reynolds’ mind isn’t completely on her job. Maybe that’s why she didn’t listen to her husband’s previous warnings. Showing a house after dark shouldn’t have been dangerous, but she’s viciously attacked, becoming a target for a sadistic serial killer.

She escapes him barely alive, and when her estranged husband, Detective Levi Reynolds, sees the damage that’s been inflicted, vengeance becomes his best friend. He’s willing to do whatever he has to do to track down Stefan Greenwald, the man who almost took his wife’s life.

As the evidence unfolds, it becomes clear Greenwald isn’t working alone, and the fight to save Sophia’s life gets harder by the minute. Levi may have to lay aside his badge to protect his wife the only way he knows how.

What inspired you to write this book?

The idea came to me when I was looking to buy a house. I had a wonderful real estate agent, and she and I talked about my writing and what type of books we liked. As she showed me houses, I asked her if she'd ever had any scary showings with potential buyers. Were there any creeps she had to deal with? Fortunately, she said no, but my brain started spinning. I got the idea for a real estate agent who shows a house to a serial killer. I told Jennifer (my agent) about my idea, and she wanted to be in the book!

Excerpt from Last Showing:

I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

His lips were so warm against hers, his arms so snug around her waist. Sophia didn’t want the moment to end. She held onto Levi, drinking in the scent of him until he lifted her chin gently, and blood dripped from his fingertips.

He didn’t seem to notice, but the crimson stained the front of her dress. “Levi, you’re bleeding.”

“Am I?” His voice sounded far away, and it was fading.

“No, come back. I need to make sure you’re okay.” She reached out to him, but she couldn’t touch him.

“Sophia,” he whispered her name then his eyes went wide. A trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth down to the front of his snowy, white shirt. His gaze dropped to the blade sticking through the front of his chest.

Then a familiar figure stepped from behind him with a face that would haunt her. He grinned at her. “I always finish what I start, Sophia Reynolds, and I’ll stop anyone who gets in my way.”

“No!” She screamed as Levi fell to his knees.

“Sophia, it’s okay. You’re safe. Wake up now. You’re safe.” Warm hands tapped her cheeks and dragged her from the nightmare.

She tried to open her eyes, but they were so heavy. And the dream was gone. All she heard were beeps, clicks, and whirrs. Machines. Soothing voices talking in the background. And someone telling her she’d just had surgery, but she’d be fine.

Fine? She couldn’t be, not until she saw Levi. She had to warn him.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I just finished up a women’s fiction novel, and I’m back to working on my 3^rd YA novel about a teenager whose mother shoots and kills her stepfather.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Probably when I was 16. I wrote a poem that got published in the school newspaper, and that was it for me.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I don’t write full-time, but from about 9:00 p.m. at night until about 3:00 a.m. in the morning I’m writing or working on writing-related things like marketing. During the day, I run a publishing company (Vinspire Publishing).

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know that I have any quirks other than I have to write at night. Can that be called a quirk?

Yes it can!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An English teacher. I was that specific at six years old.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon author | Amazon buy page

Thanks for taking a few minutes away from your writing projects to be here today!