DEADLY INTENT (I-Team #8) is OUT! Author Q&A




Deadly Intent (I-Team #8), the first I-Team full-length I-Team story since Seduction Game in 2015, is out! It tells the story of Pulitzer Prize-winning I-Team photographer Joaquin Ramirez and former US Army Captain Mia Starr, whose paths cross one night at a crime scene, changing their lives forever.

Here’s the blurb:


Secrets buried in the sand…

Former US Army Captain Mia Starr has built a new life for herself in Denver, far away from camel spiders and sand—and the terrible secrets of her first deployment to Iraq. She isn’t looking for a relationship, especially not with an intrusive photojournalist. Joaquin Ramirez might be sexy, but in her experience, photojournalists only want to make a buck off other people’s suffering. Still, the universe must have a sick sense of humor because it keeps throwing her together with Joaquin, making the desire she feels for him harder and harder to resist.

An undeniable attraction…

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning news photographer, Joaquin has everything a single straight guy could want—except the right woman. When he meets Mia while shooting a crime scene, he immediately sees beyond her cold exterior to the vulnerable woman beneath. Though the police consider her a suspect, he’s sure she’s innocent. Someone is killing soldiers—and trying to pin the blame on her. Unable to resist the pull between them, Joaquin stands by her only to find himself snared in the killer’s net as well. 


A twisted soul hungry for revenge…

Mia can’t help it when the heat between her and Joaquin melts away her preconceptions. As their passion explodes, danger draws ever closer. When it becomes clear that Mia is the killer’s true target, she must trust Joaquin with a secret that could ruin her … or risk losing the love of a lifetime.


The story is available at all major ebook retailers. It will be out in print next week. At this time, I have no plans in motion for an audiobook.


Kinde: http://amzn.to/2FhEfWS

Kindle UK http://amzn.to/2C9EX9Z

Kindle CA http://amzn.to/2okk02C

Kindle AU http://amzn.to/2GsViEP

Kindle DR http://amzn.to/2BE8wPB

Nook: http://bit.ly/2C9Lfq4

iBooks: https://apple.co/2C9RmdJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2sIq1LP

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2ETVcso




Q: I thought you said Dead By Midnight was the I-Team finale. 
A: At the time, I thought it was. I was unable to write romantic suspense because of contractual limitations. I terminated my contract last year, leaving me free to write romantic suspense again. Joaquin's story hadn't been told, and there were so many I-Team fans who wanted him to get his HEA that I knew I had to give him a story. 
Q: Does that mean the I-Team series is going to continue?
A: Yes, though I'm not sure how many more books there will be. I have several novellas in my head, and then there's Matt Harker. He needs a story. Alex Carmichael, too. And now there's a new I-Team member, introduced in this story, Anna Hughes, who will need an HEA as well.
I will be launching a spinoff series this year focused on Cobra International Solutions, Javier Corbray (Striking Distance, I-Team #6) and Derek Tower’s security and black ops business. Derek will get his story first. We'll see beloved I-Team characters in that series. Holly and Nick (Seduction Game) work there now. There is a major shake-up coming in the life of one I-Team hero, and he might end up there, too.
Q: Oh, a new romantic suspense series!
A: Yes! I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.
Q: What can you tell us about Joaquin’s story?
A: Joaquin has changed tremendously from the first book. By the time we get to Breaking Point (I-Team #5), he's already starting to go through some big transitions. The Joaquin we meet in Deadly Intent is the Joaquin who survived the cartel attack and the hostage crisis in Dead By Midnight. In real life, you don't go through violent, traumatic events without changing. He is not the kid brother kind of character any longer. Also, we learn things about him we didn’t know before.
Qualities he has always had — the ability to see deeper into people, empathy, etc. — become clearer in this story. We know where they come from.
He is the perfect man for Mia, who doesn't like him at first. She has a hard-earned grudge against photojournalists from her time serving in Iraq.
Q: Are characters from the other I-Team stories in the book?
A: Yes. We see everyone, even if some of the appearances are more like cameos. It's hard with such a big cast of characters to have everyone play a meaningful role in every story. I try to make the connections realistic. We are not in touch with all of our good friends or family every day. We move in circles that overlap. Today, we're in this circle. Tomorrow, we shift to that circle. I try very hard to make any appearance by a character from a previous book meaningful, and not just “fan service.” 
The couple known as Marcangelo have prominent roles in the story, as does Holly, and the entire West clan at the Cimarron. (If you don’t know what the Cimarron is, you've missed the I-Team After Hours novellas — Skin Deep and Soul Deep — and need to catch up!)
Q: Can this book be read out of order?
A: Yes, this can be read as a stand-alone. But I highly recommend you read Seduction Game and Dead By Midnight first. There are events and characters in this story whose lives are deeply impacted by those two books. If you haven't read them, Deadly Intent will be full of spoilers.
Q: What about your straight contemporary series — the Colorado High Country series?
A: I’m going to keep writing that series. There are so many characters whose stories we haven’t heard. I can’t just drop them and leave them behind. Writing straight contemporary has been a challenge for me. My heart is more romantic suspense. But there are some suspense elements that leak into these stories. (I can't seem to help it.) So we'll be back in Scarlet Springs soon! 
In fact, I have a novella planned for this year that will bring some of our favorite I-Team heroes together with the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team crew and Hawke’s crew of firefighters. That's going to be a very high-octane story.
Q: That sounds exciting! So, what's next?
A: I'll be starting the next Colorado High Country story next. I need to bring poor Conrad home from Nepal, where he lost his climbing partners in a summit bid for Mt. Everest. Megs is going after him. He will connect with search-dog trainer Kenzie Morgan, who will wisely give him a puppy to train. That puppy, and Kenzie's love, will ultimately save our hero from his crushing grief.
After that, probably the novella, and then Derek’s book in the new Cobra series.
Q: That's a busy year you have planned for yourself.
A: Yes, it is, but also exciting. I love these characters as much or more than my readers do. 
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add about Deadly Intent?
A: I think Joaquin will surprise you. He is one of my most sensual heroes. Anyone who thinks he isn’t really hero material is in for a shock.
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Published on February 21, 2018 08:44 Tags: i-team, pamela-clare, q-a, romantic-suspense
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message 1: by Poppy*Reads*Romance (last edited Feb 21, 2018 09:41AM) (new)

Poppy*Reads*Romance So much exciting news, thank you for sharing this with us! I love your work - especially the I-Team - and am looking forward to your new releases. It sounds like we're in for a lot of treats! I have this coming weekend reserved for Joaquin's book; no commitments this weekend other than to savor Deadly Intent!

By the way, that cover is HOT! It's not how I had imagined Joaquin in my mind, but I'm flexible... :-)


message 2: by Beanbag (new)

Beanbag Love All good stuff! Thanks for the update!


message 3: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Poppy*Reads*Romance wrote: "So much exciting news, thank you for sharing this with us! I love your work - especially the I-Team - and am looking forward to your new releases. It sounds like we're in for a lot of treats! I hav..."

Thanks, Poppy! I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy Joaquin's story. I'm excited to share what's in my head with all of you and am so grateful for your enthusiasm. :-)


message 4: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Beanbag wrote: "All good stuff! Thanks for the update!"

You're so welcome! <3


message 5: by shhzbooks97 (new)

shhzbooks97 Omg I didn't even know this was happening. I'm so happy right now!!!!


message 6: by Pamela (new)

Pamela shzbooks97 wrote: "Omg I didn't even know this was happening. I'm so happy right now!!!!"

YAY! I'm so happy that you're so happy. :-)


message 7: by Macaron (new)

Macaron Oh, that’s funny. I wrote my review on Deadly Intent before reading this interview and I realised I wrote about the same thing you said about the story and the characters, Joaquin and Mia and even the other I-Team characters.
So much good news ! I can’t wait. And I am curious to see what will happen to all the characters you mentioned. But I am excited about Derek’s story most.


message 8: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Macaron wrote: "Oh, that’s funny. I wrote my review on Deadly Intent before reading this interview and I realized I wrote about the same thing you said about the story and the characters, Joaquin and Mia and even ..."

There's a group of readers in the I-Team group who are already calling themselves "Team Derek," so he has a lot to live up to already! :-)

I'm so glad you enjoyed Joaquin's story, and thank you for taking time to post and to write a review. I really appreciate it.


message 9: by Ellen (new)

Ellen Goodman I have loved all of your I-Team novels, and am always excited and grateful to find another in the series. Joaquin is a different hero from the others, and Mia is a different heroin. They were an unexpected, but welcome departure. All the same, I look forward to your spin off series. I love the Zachs and Marcs and Julians of this series. Your unique combination of journalism and artistry are a rarity in romance writing. I have loved all your characters like they were flesh and blood friends of mine. Thank you for the distraction from my all too real every day and for the journey.


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