NBtM: Interview & Giveaway - Eclipse Lake by Mae Clair

Eclipse Lake

by Mae Clair 

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BLURB: 

Small towns hold the darkest secrets. 

Fifteen years after leaving his criminal past and estranged brother behind, widower Dane Carlisle returns to his hometown on the banks of sleepy Eclipse Lake. Now, a successful businessman, he has kept his troubled past a secret from most everyone, including his seventeen-year-old son. 

But memories in small towns are bitter and long. 

Ellie Sullivan, a nature photographer for a national magazine, has a habit of ping-ponging across the map. Her latest assignment leads her to Eclipse Lake where she becomes caught up in the enmity between Dane, his brother Jonah, and a vengeful town sheriff. When freshly-discovered skeletal remains are linked to an unsolved murder and Dane’s past, Ellie is left questioning her growing attraction for a man who harbors long-buried secrets.

 

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EXCERPT:

Ellie stopped walking and turned to face him. “Why are you here?” 

Dane picked up a flat stone. With a flick of his wrist he sent it skimming across the lake. It danced effortlessly across the surface as if he’d done the same thing a thousand times before. “You know that skeleton they found?” 

She nodded. 

“I’ve got more skeletons than a graveyard. I can’t pick up and go to another place…to the next photo shoot.” He turned to face her. “Half of my life is here and half’s on the west coast. I have to make them fit together.” 

The revelation reminded her of the family she’d left behind in Idaho, reawakening a familiar tug of homesickness. In an effort to find more comfortable ground, she changed topics. “You told me you’re from San Diego. I did a photo op there four years ago. What do you do for a living?” 

“I get by.” He took her hand and started walking again. 

She sent a speculative glance in his direction, recognizing evasiveness when she heard it. He was wearing a Rolex, and though dressed casually, clearly had expensive taste. Yet he’d booked an ordinary cabin rather than one of the exclusive chalets higher up the mountain.

She liked the feel of his fingers around hers, warm and firm. The contact sent a pleasant tingle up her arm. What the hell was wrong with her, getting caught up in his touch as if it were magic? As if she’d waited her whole life for that sensation. He had skeletons in his past, a brother who couldn’t stand the sight of him and a sheriff who wanted to run him out of town. Eccentric, or just plain trouble?

 

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Let's learn a little about author Mae Clair!

 

What is your writing environment?

I have a den/office in my house my husband and I recently remodeled. I love it because it’s the one room in the house that is completely mine, set aside solely for my writing. We added a lot of nice touches, including an electric fireplace, and a flat screen TV. In the winter, I love sitting at my desk with the fireplace lit and soothing music playing on the TV. I usually tune to Soundscapes, as I can’t have anything with lyrics in the background when I write.

Who is your perfect hero/heroine and why?

I don’t think I have a “perfect” hero or heroine as I tend to fall in love with each character I create, and others I discover in books. My favorite types of heroes are generally conflicted (for one reason or another) but inherently noble of heart. They usually make a lot of mistakes along the way, but in the end, always do what is right. I like heroines who are smart, inquisitive, and not afraid to take risks for the people they love.

 

What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

I recently finished Lynn Austin’s CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS series. It’s a fictional/historical account of three Judean kings who lived during Old Testament times. I love how vividly she breathed life into the era, and the strength of emotion she gave her characters.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

That’s an easy one—a thriller. All of my releases have elements of mystery and suspense intertwined with the romance, but at some point in the future I would love to attempt a straight thriller. I’d also like to write a gothic mystery/romance. I love those genres!

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

Retire. Write full time. Celebrate! J

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

I was visiting my sister and her husband at their lake-house, which is set in a mountainous area, when I saw a Park Ranger making his rounds in the woods. And I thought . . . what if he found a body? That was all it took.

What is your favorite scene in your new release?

There’s a scene where my hero’s teenage son, Jesse, challenges his Uncle Jonah to an archery match. They’ve only recently met, and neither is very fond of the other. Jonah (my park ranger) grew up in the woods and is skilled with a bow. He’s sure it’ll be a breeze putting his opinionated nephew in his place. What he doesn’t realize is that Jesse in a National Archery Champion. It was definitely a fun scene to write!

What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?

My next release, MYTH AND MAGIC, is about ghostly occurrences that take place at a secluded corporate lodge. My heroine manages the lodge, and my hero is the private investigator who is hired to get to the bottom of what’s going on. The novel is set during the month of October and has a strong Halloween theme. It will release on June 9^th, but is already available for pre-order at Amazon.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Read! I devour books. As soon as I finish one, I start another. I am never without a book on my Kindle or a paperback in my hand. I read everything from non-fiction to fiction and love multiple genres. 

What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?

Two years ago, I took a trip to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to research the area and the legend of the Mothman (a winged humanoid that was rumored to haunt the town in the mid-1960s) for a book I planned to write. It’s the first time I ever researched an area in person, and I had a blast! I just finished that novel and submitted the story to my publisher. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share more news about it in the months ahead. 

Thank you so much for having me as your guest today! ~ Mae Clair

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back.  Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.  

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

 

You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts: 

Website and Blog - http://maeclair.net/

Twitter (@MaeClair1) - https://twitter.com/MaeClair1

Google+   - https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MaeClair/posts

Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mae-Clair/219356774828949?ref=hl

Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Mae-Clair/e/B009I61ND0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1397572548&sr=8-1

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6468716.Mae_Clair   

 

Purchase ECLIPSE LAKE from: 

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Eclipse-Lake-Mae-Clair-ebook/dp/B00L78GM60   

 

Amazon Print - http://www.amazon.com/Eclipse-Lake-Mae-Clair/dp/1502859157/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Add ECLIPSE LAKE to your Goodreads List - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22483412-eclipse-lake

 

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Giveaway:

 

Mae will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.  Follow the tour HERE

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway