Laura Scott answers a few questions about her latest book, Undercover Cowboy (Love Inspired): Can Logan and Kate work together to bring down a mob boss while overcoming their own grief? Will they find love and healing along the way?
Q: What inspired your latest Romance Undercover Cowboy?
I wrote Identity Crisis and Twin Peril last year and Logan, my Cowboy FBI agent, helped the hero and heroines in those stories bring down the bad guys. After I finished those books I decided Logan deserved his own story. I also introduced Kate Townsend in Twin Peril, and I thought that Kate and Logan made a great team.
Q: What do you think readers will find interesting about this story?
The theme of this story is forgiveness and sometimes it's easier to forgive others than it is to forgive ourselves. Logan and Kate both struggle with this during the story, and I think readers will be able to identify with that. I also like to write stories with a twist, and I think this book delivers on that promise as well.
Q: Who is your favorite character in this book?
Hmm, that's a tough question. I think this is more Kate's story than Logan's but of course they are intertwined together, too. Kate has the edge I guess as she is the youngest of three older brothers and has always had to work hard to stand up to them. Also Kate loses her father and since I lost my dad not long ago, I really connected with what Kate went through.
Q: How does your faith influence your writing?
I always feel God's presence when I write faith based stories, and this book was no different. There are so many great lessons to be learned in the Bible, and I love the way I get to weave a little of that through my characters and their faith journey. I especially like to write stories where one of my characters has lost his or her faith and enjoy helping them figure out how to find God again. If just one reader gets something out of one of my books I feel as if I've succeeded.
Q: Why did you feel you had to tell this story?
I always start my stories with interesting characters. somehow these people get into my head and clamor to have a book of their own. I love meeting people, talking to people and watching people. As I mentioned earlier, Logan was brought in as a secondary character but by the time I finished the story, I knew he deserved his own book. I have to be careful that I don't let my secondary characters take over a book, and knowing they'll get their own story helps me to keep them in check.
Q: What are some key ingredients for a good suspense novel?
I love writing suspense novels where the bad guy is not revealed until the end of the book. I get fan mail from readers telling me they never suspected the ending, and I feel a strong sense of satisfaction knowing that I delivered a good book. I like to keep the reader guessing! I also love to write action scenes which can take a long time to get right. I act them out in my living room sometimes, which makes my husband laugh. The key to suspense is also pacing, which can be difficult. The characters need to breathe and get a break at times, but I like to make sure my chapters end on a hook, either a suspense hook or an emotional hook.