Irene Hannon Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A. Hmm?where to begin? I could tell you some of the fun stuff I’ve done-like attending the monkey dance in the moonlit jungle on Bali, or gliding over the Alaskan glaciers in a float plane at sunset, or winging down to the Caribbean for lunch on a cruise ship with the CEO and chairman of the board of a Fortune 500 company-but I’ll stick to the basics. I have a B.A. in psychology and a master’s in journalism. I worked for the aforementioned Fortune 500 company for 20+ years in corporate communications, writing fiction on the side. After rising to the executive ranks?and finding myself on call 24/7?I left the corporate world a few years ago to write full time-and never looked back. I’m also married to my very own romantic hero, celebrating 20 years this September! Want to know more? Check out my Web site at www.irenehannon.com!

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. I can’t remember ever not writing. I really believe people are born writers. It’s a gift, just like any other talent. I did toy with the idea of becoming a psychologist, but in the end, writing won out. However, my psychology degree is a great background for writing about relationships-a key ingredient in romantic fiction!

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?

A. I’ve written for four different publishers, beginning with Thomas Nelson 20+ years ago. But it took a lot of years and a lot of rejection letters to make the initial connection-and I can thank my brother for that break. One day he happened to notice a tiny newspaper article about Thomas Nelson launching a line of inspirational romances. I sent off one of my three completed manuscripts-and a very short time later I had a contract. Although those books weren’t specifically Christian fiction, they were wholesome romances about characters with traditional moral values. But Thomas Nelson was ahead of its time, and the line folded quickly. I went on to write six books for Avalon, then connected with Steeple Hill at its inception in 1997. I’ve been writing contemporary romance for their Love Inspired line ever since. (In fact, I’m in the middle of a Nantucket-based series for them right now called Lighthouse Lane.) Earlier this year, I branched into romantic suspense with my 27th book, Against All Odds, from Revell.

My books have been honored with a number of awards, including the RITA (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction), the HOLT Medallion and an RT BOOKreviews Reviewers’ Choice award. With the success of my debut suspense novel, Against All Odds, I can now tack “bestselling” onto my name, too! It made both the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists for multiple months and has gone into its third printing. I’m ecstatic with the enthusiastic reception readers have given the book!

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release, Against All Odds?

A: I describe it as a high-action story set on two continents, in which the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team is charged with protecting the estranged daughter of a diplomat who is dealing with a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East. It’s an edge of the seat, ticking-bomb story filled with action, adventure and romance. But it also deals with issues like forgiveness, reconciliation and other difficult moral dilemmas. It’s a book that truly offers something for everyone. Case in point: for the first time, I’m attracting a significant number of male readers. (Must be all the action stuff!)

Against All Odds also received an amazing endorsement from Dee Henderson, who said, “I found someone who writes romantic suspense better than I do.” And it received a 4 ?-star, Top Pick review in RT BOOKreviews, which praised the book for its “wonderful array of believable characters, action and suspense that will keep readers glued to each page.” The review went on to say that the “extraordinary writing, vivid scenes and surprise ending come together for a not-to-be-missed reading experience.” Reader reviews have been equally positive. You can check some out at www.christianbook.com!

Q: Have you written romantic suspense before this title and if not how did you decide to add suspense to your long list of romance titles?

A. This is my first published romantic suspense novel-but the truth is, the very first book I ever wrote was in this genre. It was SO bad, however, that I stashed it in the deepest, darkest corner of my closest, where it will remain forever. But as an avid Nancy Drew reader, I guess it’s no surprise that I eventually found my way back to suspense!

Q: Against All Odds is book one in your Heroes of Quantico Series. How did you decide to write about the FBI Hostage Rescue Team ?

A. I wanted to feature a very elite fighting unit that hasn’t received much exposure in fiction. My research led me to the HRT. What an amazing bunch of guys! They are among the most highly-trained and best-equipped tactical personnel in the world. And speaking of training-theirs is astounding?and brutal. These guys are tough. Trust me-in a dicey situation, you want them on your side!

Q: Your depiction of FBI Special Agents is so realistic. How did you go about researching the FBI ?

A. I have to tell you-I have zero background in law enforcement, so the research challenge for this series was VERY intimidating. I started by reading books and doing lots of online research, but in the end you have to talk to real people who can answer specific questions about your story. So through a police detective who sang in the choir with me a few years ago, I connected with a just-retired FBI agent. He was invaluable in tweaking my story to give it the final ring of authenticity. Many readers have commented on the realistic depiction of the FBI, which is very gratifying, since I’m such a stickler for accuracy.

Q: What inspires you to write?

A. Writers write. They have to write. It’s almost a compulsion. I can’t imagine my life without writing in it. As for what compels me to sit down every day at my computer-I like how one well-known writer once responded when asked if he waits for inspiration to strike before he writes. He said (and I’m paraphrasing), “Yes, I do. And I make sure I’m inspired every day at nine o’clock.” Which is a great lead-in to the next question!

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?

A: Being a published novelist is fabulous, and I’m deeply grateful to have the luxury to write full-time instead of trying to juggle my fiction career with a demanding corporate job. But being published does change the complexion of writing. When you’re seeking that first contract and writing for the pure joy of following your muse, all you have to worry about is creating your best story. Once you’ve landed that contract, however, you realize that publishers don’t want one-book wonders-they want authors who can produce regularly. In addition to being expected to continually create new books, you now also find yourself with a bunch of other commitments. You have to do self promotion. Create and maintain a Web site. Answer reader mail. Keep good accounting records. Proof galleys. The list continues. So the pressure is on, and writing becomes a business as well as a passion. It’s often a shock to newly published authors when they realize that their first sale is just the first step. It’s not the summit; it’s the start of a whole new journey. Now, when there are days you’d like to kick back, slough off a bit, you can’t. Because writing has become a job. A great one, true, but a job. With deadlines. So you have to treat it like one and have the discipline to plunk yourself in front of the computer even when you’d rather be doing something else.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A. Absolutely. I’m thrilled to say that because of the success of Against All Odds, I will be writing a second three-book romantic suspense series for Revell. This is amazing to me, since Book 2 in the Heroes of Quantico series, An Eye For An Eye, won’t even be released until September, and Book 3, In Harm’s Way, won’t be out until next April. But I’m already at work on Book 1 in the as-yet-unnamed new series, which will revolve around three siblings who are involved in justice-related professions. It promises to be another exciting ride!

Q: Would you name three of your favorite fiction books you read in 2008 or 2009 and tell us why you enjoyed them?

A. Much as I love to lose myself in a good book, my publishing schedule leaves me little time to read for pleasure. I always judge a contest or two each year and have to read multiple books for those, so that consumes most of my discretionary reading time.

Q: What is something your readers might be surprised to learn about you?

A. While researching my Heroes of Quantico series, I enrolled in the local Citizen Police Academy. As part of that experience, I did a heart-pounding ride-along with a patrol officer that included a tense domestic violence call and a high-speed burglary response. The poor guy had to practically peel my fingers off the dashboard when he finally stopped. What I quickly learned is that I prefer to experience my suspense vicariously-safely tucked in the pages of a book!

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

A. I love to sing and have appeared in many community theater musical productions. I’m also a soloist at my church. Beyond that, I enjoy gardening, cooking, hiking and travelling.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A. Yes! I just saw the RT review for Book 2 in the series, An Eye For An Eye, which releases September 1, and I’m thrilled to report it got another 4 ?-star, Top Pick rating! The reviewer said, “The long anticipated sequel in the Heroes of Quantico series does not disappoint. Hannon continues to bring her own special brand of suspense and romance in this genre. This winning recipe provides readers with characters that are engrossing, a plot filled with unexpected twists and a love story that will melt your heart. The only downside to this terrific novel is that you won’t want to put it down.” It doesn’t get much better than that!

Finally, I invite readers to visit my Web site at www.irenehannon.com for more information. And please drop me a note-I always respond to e-mails personally, and I love to hear from readers!