Category Archives: Sharon Wray
Release Day for IN SEARCH OF TRUTH!
I love release days! And I’m especially excited to announce that IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, the third book in the Deadly Force series, releases today!
“This breathless romantic suspense novel provides equal amounts of heat and intrigue.” – PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY“
“Twisty plots, fantastic characters, and pitch perfect pacing. Fabulous!”—ALLISON BRENNAN, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Sexy Green Berets, dark secrets, and sizzling chemistry!” ~ CHERRY ADAIR, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Fast-paced…intriguing, with steamy romance and forbidden love.” ~ FRESH FICTION
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The Deadly Force series is about a team of ex-Special Forces soldiers, accused of vicious war crimes and determined to prove their innocence, who are desperate to find the enemy who wants to destroy them. Before time runs out and the enemy attacks again.
As these men struggle to rebuild their lives and redeem their honor, it’s the women they love who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.
So far the stories have taken place in Savannah, Georgia and a fictional outlying sea island known as the Isle of Grace. But this story takes our hero Zack Tremaine from Iron Rack’s, the run-down, pirate-themed gym in the not-so-nice part of Savannah, to historic Charleston and then on to sultry New Orleans.
IN SEARCH OF TRUTH is about a widowed anthropologist named Allison Pinckney who inherits a key to a seventeenth-century pirate cipher that makes her the target of two brutal arms dealers. Now, to save those she loves and discover who murdered her husband, she must solve the cipher. But as this mission becomes more and more dangerous, she reluctantly seeks help from a handsome man from her past. A man who’d once been her best friend, ex-Green Beret Zack Tremaine. The problem is that if she admits the secret life she’s been living, and gives into her long-buried feelings for Zack, it could cost them their lives.
Years ago Zack Tremaine betrayed his men and lost Allison, the only woman he ever loved. Today, those regrets are destroying him. And now that his men are caught in a fierce rivalry between two deadly enemies, his only hope to fix what he did wrong is to help Allison find her husband’s murderer. When he discovers Allison holds the secret to a pirate treasure, a treasure that may help him save his men, he ignores orders and gives up everything to help her search for an infamous pirate–and the woman who’d been accused of witchcraft in 1704–who both died three hundred years ago. Despite the deadly risks, Zack has one last chance to save his men and redeem his honor. Even if the woman he loves breaks his heart…again.
This book is titled IN SEARCH OF TRUTH for a reason. It’s not just about two people who are searching for the truth about the death of Allison’s husband and the reason Zack’s Green Beret unit was dishonorably discharged. It’s also about the destructive nature of fear. Throughout the book, Allison and Zack must face the realization that the choices they made because they were afraid brought them to this place of desolation. They learn that decisions based on fear never work out. In fact, decisions based on fear make everything worse.
In this book, Zack and Allison have made terrible choices based on fear. But they’re not the only ones. And the cumulative effects of people acting out of fear almost costs them their lives. It’s only when they accept the truth of your their past choices, and then forgive themselves and others, can they find their Happily Ever After.
Click here to read Free Preview. I hope you love this book as much as I loved writing it!
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo| Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo |IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Cover Reveal for Sharon Wray’s ONE DARK WISH
Today is a celebration day because it’s cover reveal day for ONE DARK WISH!
“TENDER ROMANCE… EXCITING ADVENTURE!”—PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY
ONE DARK WISH, the second book in my Deadly Force romantic suspense series, follows the struggles of a group of ex-Green Berets determined to win back their honor and protect the women they love.
This is the second cover for ONE DARK WISH, and there may have been other renditions along the way. But I think this cover beautifully represents Nate and Sarah’s love story–a love story tinged with longing, regret, and ultimately hope.
I have to give huge credit to Dawn Adams, the Sourcebooks Art Director, for going above and beyond with this cover! It’s not easy coming up with artwork for a forbidden romance that also has a National Treasure-like plot.
“One Dark Wish … everything I love in romantic suspense…Twisty plots, fantastic characters, and pitch-perfect pacing. Fabulous!”—Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
I also want to send out a huge thank you to Allison Brennan and Cherry Adair for reading this book and giving me such wonderful blurbs. And another huge thank you to Brenda Novak for including EVERY DEEP DESIRE, the first book in the series, in her September subscription box the same month ONE DARK WISH comes out. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Her life must be forfeit for his to be redeemed
Historian Sarah Munro is not used to being shot at, but that’s just what happens while she’s poking around cemeteries on Georgia’s Isle of Grace, searching for the key to a centuries-old cipher. Her quest has unwittingly drawn the attention of two deadly enemies intent on destroying each other—and anyone who gets in their way.
Ex–Green Beret Major Nate Walker is on a mission of his own: to restore the honor of his men. To do that, he is required to stop Sarah—or one of his own men will die. Caught in the middle of a deadly rivalry, Nate can’t afford to trust the woman standing in his way. But his heart says he can’t afford not to…
Thank you all for celebrating with me today! I hope you love ONE DARK WISH as much as I loved writing it.
One final thing–it’s available for preorder (print and e-book) at these various retailers. It’s also available in audio format (both CD and Audible). AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | INDIEBOUND
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EVERY DEEP DESIRE One-Day only $1.99 Sale!
For today only (September 13, 2018), the e-book version of EVERY DEEP DESIRE is a Kindle Daily Deal! That means it’s on sale for $1.99 across all platforms!!
EVERY DEEP DESIRE, the first in the Deadly Force Series, has recently been nominated for TCK Publishing’s 2018 Reader’s Choice Awardsfor best romance. I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it!
HE’S TAKING IT ALL BACK
Rafe Montfort was a decorated Green Beret, the best of the best, until a disastrous mission and an unforgivable betrayal destroyed his life. Now this deadly soldier has returned to the sultry Georgia swamps to reunite with his brothers and take back all he lost. But his wife, Juliet, must never know the truth behind what he’s done . . . or the dangerous secret that will take him from her forever.
HIS HONOR, HIS FREEDOM, AND THE WOMAN HE LOVES
It took Juliet Capel eight long years to put her life back together after her husband’s disgrace. Now Rafe is back, determined to protect her at any cost, and it’s not just her heart in danger. The swamps hold a secret long buried and far deadlier than either of them could have imagined. . .
$1.99 BUY LINKS for EVERY DEEP DESIRE:
For the Kindle version, click here: AMAZON
For the Nook version, click here: BARNES & NOBLE
It’s also available at: Kobo| IndieBound | iBooks| Google Books
Praise for Every Deep Desire:
“EXCELLENT… DARKLY COMPELLING.” ~ RT Book Reviews
“PHENOMENAL! … Filled with action and passion that will leave you breathless.” ~ Joyfully Reviewed
“Intriguing, with steamy romance and forbidden love… You will not be able to turn the pages fast enough!” ~Fresh Fiction
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Gracealways defeats Reckoning.
Her acclaimed debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.
EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo| Google Books
And adding it to your Goodreads TBR listis also always appreciated!
The View From Cloud 9!
All nine of us are up here and the champagne is overflowing! 
Welcome, friends, as we celebrate blog-mate and close friend, Sharon Wray on her debut day. Every Deep Desire is book one in her Deadly Force series and a novel that garnered her one of eight RWA Golden Heart® nominations.
Like most things Sharon undertakes (studying wedding dress design in the couture houses of Paris, a mother of twins, a librarian and astounding photographer) she added her unique flair to the modern day romantic suspense. Every Deep Desire is a sweeping saga of haunted pasts, tortured secrets, epic yearning and a love that transcends all. K&T members thought this blog post should reflect a unique approach as well, so we’ve each participated in the interview. Grab some bubbly and join us!
Need-to-know questions from the great interviewer, James Lipton; “Inside the Actors Studio”:
- What is your favorite word? Grace.
- What is your least favorite word? Hurry.
- What turns you on? Politeness.
- What turns you off? Bad breath.
- What sound or noise do you love? Garden water fountains.
- What sound or noise do you hate? Barking dogs.
- What is your favorite curse word? Damn.
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Home organizer.
- What profession would you not like to do? Anything where I have to drive.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “I missed you.”
When did you know you wanted to write novels, and when did you actually begin writing?
When my dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 (my twins were four), I started reading romance novels again to help offset some of the grief. After reading Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dark Prince by Christine Feehan, and Letters to Kelly by Suzanne Brockmann, I decided I wanted to write a novel myself. Except I had no idea how so I joined RWA in March 2, 2004. My debut novel comes out March 6, 2018.
This modern retelling of Romeo and Juliette is fascinating. How did Shakespeare influence you to create your strong heroine?
It was a trip to Verona and a guide took us to see the city’s most famous celebrities: Romeo and Juliet. We went to Juliet’s courtyard and Romeo’s palazzo, and she told us the history of this famous story. A history that included six earlier sources of the love story, including a mention in Dante’s Divine Comedy. But the detail that caught my attention was that she kept calling the story Giulietta and Romeo.
Apparently, in all of the prior source material that Shakespeare used, Juliet was the protagonist. The story belonged to the heroine!
Juliet’s statue in Juliet’s courtyard in Verona, Italy
When I got home, I read translations of all of the source material and studied the literary criticisms. Shakespeare had not only made Juliet the main protagonist, but that it was the first time in all of his works that a woman was the hero of a play. The reason why deserves a blog post all its own, but when you study the text you can see that Juliet is given half of all of Romeo’s sonnets. She makes plans and follows through while the men can’t control their tempers. She even kills herself like a man while Romeo uses poison—a woman’s weapon.
Mailbox where people leave their letters to Juliet in Juliet’s courtyard in Verona, Italy
Up until this time, within my own work, I’d assumed that the men in my Deadly Force series were the protagonists. The men had suffered terribly—violence, combat, POW camps, etc—so why wouldn’t they be the ones who had to change the most? But when I looked at the story emotionally (like I’d studied Romeo and Juliet), I realized that my heroines had the harder journey. They might not have undergone physical suffering, but their emotional journeys came with higher risks. Once I made my heroines the protagonists, the stories came together in a way I’d never expected. And Juliet, in Every Deep Desire, took me on a journey that left my breathless and exhausted. And all of the work to rewrite the books has been worth it.
Do you believe in serendipity? 
Your career (and how massively busy you are writing, editing and promoting the 3-book deal) is taking off just as your kids headed off for college. Is this the perfect time or do you wish you were well into your publishing career?
While part of me would like to already have ten books on the shelf, the truth is I wouldn’t have been willing to give up the time with my family that that would’ve required. I do think that God’s timing is perfect. Now that my twins are in college, I have the freedom to work, each day, as long as want. For the first time in 18 years, my time is my own and I’m spending almost every waking hour writing or with my husband.
What authors have been your greatest influence? And why?
I know the Bronte sisters are a clichéd choice, but clichés don’t become what they are for no reason. When I was in sixth grade I started Jane Eyre on Thursday morning and finished it on Friday at one a.m. When I woke up at noon on Friday, I started Wuthering Heights and stayed up all night, not finishing it until almost four a.m. Then I crashed. When I woke up later on Saturday, I remember going downstairs and feeling . . . different. I felt awake. I realized that life was much larger, and far more dangerous and exciting, than I’d ever thought possible. And the realization that I, too, might grow up and fall in love filled me such wonder and joy, I could barely breathe.
Tell us a bit about the overall story line for the series.
The Deadly Force series: Where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines redeem Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.
The series is about a team of ex-Special Forces soldiers, accused of vicious war crimes, who are desperate to prove their innocence and find their enemies before they attack again. As these men struggle to rebuild their lives and redeem their honor, it’s the women they love who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.
What is the tentative schedule for deadlines and publishing dates?
Every Deep Desire, March 6, 2018 (today!)
One Dark Wish, (book 2) is currently in revision and I hope to finish soon. This book is tentatively scheduled for publication January 2019.
Deadly Force 3, (book 3) is due September 1. (Yikes!!!!) Title and publication dated TBD. I just call this one DF3. (Poor, untitled DF3. LOL.)
You, of all people, know what patience and perseverance means in this business. Do you have any advice for writers still waiting for ‘the call’?
Two things in particular: I wasted so much time wondering “if” it would ever happen that I wish I could go back and tell myself to worry less and laugh more. If you begin as you wish to proceed, things will work out eventually. Maybe not the way you expected, or in the time frame you wanted, but usually even better than you’d hoped. So write every day as if you’re published. Take classes, learn your craft, and build your network of writing friends. That way, when the time comes, you’re ready.
The second thing is an order from Winston Churchill. And for our purposes, the enemy is our own self doubt:
“Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
All of K&T (except Manda!) at Lena’s booksigning
Sharon, we all wish you an unforgettable debut day and a bestselling series!
Thanks so much, Sarah, for hosting me today. It’s such an amazing thing to celebrate my debut with my Kiss and Thrill sisters.
He’s taking it all back
His honor, his freedom, and the woman he loves
Rafe Montfort was a decorated Green Beret, the best of the best, until a disastrous mission and an unforgivable betrayal destroyed his life. Now, this deadly soldier has returned to the sultry Georgia swamps to reunite with his brothers, and take back all he lost. But Juliet must never know the truth behind what he’s done…or the dangerous secret that threatens to take him from her forever.
It took Juliet Capel eight long years to put her life back together after her husband was taken from her. Now Rafe is back, determined to protect her at any cost, and it’s not just her heart that’s in danger. The swamps hold a secret long buried and far deadlier than either of them could have imagined…
BUY LINKS: (Please don’t forget to help a debut author out by leaving a review!)
Carey, Lena, Diana, Sharon, Gwen, Sarah in NYC, 2015
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram Pinterest Goodreads BookBub Amazon Author Page
Diana, Rachel and Sharon
Rachel, Diana, Gwen, Sharon and Sarah
Sharon, Gwen, and Sarah before the 2013 GH/RITA Awards in Atlanta.
YA’LL Fest 2016: Where All the YA Fans and Authors Meet Up!
Last week my daughter, my mother, and I held fast to one of our favorite traditions: Going to Charleston, SC for YA’LL Fest, the largest annual Young Adult Book Festival and book signing. With over forty authors and their publishers, publicists, and book store owners running the show, the event is geared to thousands of avid YA readers.
with Sarah Dessen
with Jay Asher
One of the things I love about this festival is that although you run from signing to session to signing, the authors have one goal in mind: to meet and spend time with their fans. The authors are accessible to their readers, showing up at ice cream parlors for chats about Harry Potter and sponsoring cupcake socials where the fans and authors play YA book trivia games. The authors even put on a variety show at the end of the festival where they sing (badly), dance (terribly), and read from their middle school journals (hilarious).
with Kiera Cass
The event is sponsored by the Blue Bicycle Bookstore in Charleston, SC and Epic Reads. And it takes place in various historic buildings throughout the city. We caught Jay Asher in a tiny brick courtyard that was so quaint it looked like a movie set, then we saw Kiera Cass at the library society in an antebellum mansion south of Broad street.
with Leigh Bardugo
We dragged a rolling suitcase filled with books everywhere we went and that was in addition to our two backpacks. My mother and I took turns standing in long book signing lines so my daughter could stand in a third. Between texting and begging people to hold our spots, my daughter was able to get over thirty books signed. Not bad considering many authors limited how many books they’d sign. There were even publisher tents set up with famous authors, like David Leviathan, running carnival games and handing out ARCs and cookies.
with Sabaa Tahir
We spent time with authors such as Veronica Roth, Maggie Stiefvater, Kiera Cass, Victoria Aveyard, Sarah Dessen, Jay Asher, Eoin Colfer, Scott Westerfeld, Alexandra Bracken, Leigh Bardugo, Renee Ahdieh, Lauren Oliver, and many, many others. By the time we were on our way home, we had two suitcases and two backpacks filled with signed books, a dozen ARCs, and a “Library Card” bag covered with autographs.
YA’LL Fest is a great experience, and it’s hard to tell who’s more excited to be there, the authors or the readers. So next November 10 & 11 we hope you’ll join us in Charleston, SC for YA’LL Fest 2017. It’s sure to be a blast!
Oatlands Plantation: A Halloween Tea & Haunted History
Oatlands Plantation, Leesburg, VA
If you ever find yourself in Leesburg, VA, head south on Route 15. A few miles down the old Algonquin and Iroquois route, turn left into Oatlands Plantation. Oatlands Plantation was founded in 1798 on 3,408 acres. Once owned by the Carter and Eustis families, it’s now operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It’s also listed on the National Register for Historic Places. The mansion, which wasn’t completed until 1804, is one of the best examples of Federal estate architecture in the country.
Statue in reflecting pool garden.
Now claiming 417 acres of farmland and gardens, it’s a refuge in one of the fastest growing counties in Virginia. Besides the mansion which can be toured daily, there’s a carriage house with a gift shop and a wonderful open area where they serve weekend teas. The estate also houses one of the country’s oldest, still-in-use greenhouses and a sunken, walled garden in the Colonial Revival style (including a bowling green, rose garden, kitchen and herb garden, reflecting pool, and numerous dependencies) that rivals anything in Charleston or Savannah.
Carriage House with the gift shop and tea room.
There’s so much history that I won’t even try to put it into a blog post. But I will say that my favorite things about the property are the interpretive tours and weekend seasonal teas. The annual Witches Brew Tea and the nighttime Paranormal tours are two the things my daughter and niece look forward to every year in the fall.
Parterre garden and late autumn hydrangeas.
This year, due to the stress of my book deadline (Dec 1) and my kids’ college application deadlines (Nov. 1), I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to make either of the these events. But this past Sunday, we put away our computers and books and headed west. One of the best decisions I’ve made in months.
So instead of boing you with more history, I’ve included a photographic tour of our weekend at Oatlands. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Oatlands Plantation, back of the house.
Memorial garden.
Kitchen garden and dependencies.
Entrance to the sunken garden.
Pump house.
Reflecting pool.
Reflecting pooi statue.
Autumn touches.
One of the original wells in the parterre garden.
One of the many water features found in the sunken gardens.
Front exterior of the mansion.
Entrance to Oatlands Plantation.
Late autumn herb garden.
Fish pond.
Mrs. Eustis’s tea garden.
Bachelor’s cottage.
Entrance to the kitchen garden.
Entrance to sunken gardens.
One of the many sets of staircases leading down to the rose gardens and reflecting pool.
Witches Brew Tea at Oatlands Plantation.
Last of the hydrangeas in the parterre garden.
I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween with few tricks and lots of treats! And remember, if you’re ever in Northern, VA, try to make time for Oatlands. You’ll be so grateful you did!
All about Sharon Wray.
KaT member, Sharon Wray supplied all these photographs…take a look at them…aren’t they SO Sharon Wray?! She’s the most optimistic, genuinely kind and considerate friend/fellow writer I know.
I believe the entire romance writing world knows her because of her eight RWA Golden Heart nominations in six years, because she’s always volunteering for chapter positions or cheering others on through yahoo loop emails, and because of the hundreds of poignant photographs and heartfelt blogs she’s posted over the years.
We were hugely ecstatic but a bit confused when we learned her most important moment in being a writer (getting the coveted book contract offer from a publisher) was communicated in a Publisher’s Weekly announcement. (The rest of us usually type the news in all caps all over social media.) Sharon was in the middle of a hectic summer and getting ready for the RWA national conference, so she hurriedly told the overall story, but promised to tell the nitty-gritty details when she returned. And here she is:
Can you tell us about the moment you realized your publishing dream had just come true?
It was surreal. After I hung up on a Skype call with my agents (Deidre Knight and Kristy Hunter), having accepted Deb Werksman’s offer from Sourcebooks, I sat at my desk shaking. After all these years (11!), I’d actually sold a book. And two more! I couldn’t even call my husband. I was so afraid to say anything to anyone because I was worried someone would tell me it was all joke.
But now that I have a deadline, I know it’s not only not a joke, it’s a dream come true. I’m so grateful to my agents and editor, and I’m determined not to let them down.
Explain ‘auction’ for those readers who’ve never heard the term associated with novels.
An auction is when a novel has two or more offers for publication from different publishing houses, and a literary agent negotiates the best deal for his or her author. Negotiations can include (but aren’t limited to) advances, subsidiary rights, marketing plans, release dates, etc. For the author, it’s very exciting and a crash course in all things publishing. Here’s a great article by Rachelle Gardner who explains it much better than I ever could!
What was your family’s reaction after you sold?
Donut the Dog whose lack of interest keeps Sharon humble.
They were all so excited, including the dog, and they gave me hugs and we all cried. Then we went out to dinner to celebrate! And while at dinner, the kids asked about going to Disney World to really celebrate. Still thinking about that one. 🙂
When did you you know you wanted to start writing novels?
In 2004, my four-year old twins and I moved to Savannah, GA from Fairfax, VA (temporarily) to take care of my father who was dying of cancer. Taking care of my dad and the twins, while my husband was still in Virginia, was one of the most stressful things I’ve ever had to do. There was little free time and lots of stress involved.
It was during this time that my sister-in-law Kieran Kramer (now a USA Today Bestselling author for St. Martin’s Press) suggested I keep track of everything going on in my journal. Kieran had always been a writer and was actively pursuing a romance writing career. And I’d always admired her talent and perseverance.
During the summer of 2004, I found that writing helped me find a place for all of my emotions and I slowly moved from non-fiction into fiction. I realized that all the stories I’d always had in my head needed an outlet. In 2005, after my dad’s death, I finished my first manuscript, joined RWA, and entered the Golden Heart (and didn’t final!). After that, although I was in the early stages of learning how to write, I was hooked!
In those 11 years, you’ve done an incredible amount of research and learning writing craft. What “Ah-Ha!” craft resources do you recommend?
There are so many, but here’s a list of my favorites:
Laura Baker & Robin Perini’s Discovery Story Magic
Laura Baker’s Turning Points (DSM part 2)
Michael Hauge’s Identity to Essence
Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat
Alicia Rasley’s Emotion without Purple Prose
Kathleen Baldwin’s Scene & Sequel
Suzanne Johnson’s Plot Quilting 101
Margie Lawson’s Rhetorical Devices & Empowering Character’s Emotions
Tiffany Lawson Inman’s Madness to Method & Writing Authentic Choreograph
Back to your contract details! Do you have tentative titles and publication dates?
The Series title is The Deadly Force Series which I love. I honestly don’t know yet about whether or not I can keep my original titles. I also don’t know my publication dates, but I hope to know soon.
Right now the first three books are titled:
When Next We Meet
Hope Craves an Execution
Pale in Her Anger
I thought this saga was planned for 6 novels. Are you cutting the series short or planning on another multiple book deal?
For now I’m writing the first three books in the series for Sourcebooks. Hopefully, if things go well, I’ll be asked to write the next three.
Can you give us the overall story line for the series?
The Deadly Force series is about Colonel Torridan and his group of elite ex-soldiers who operate a self-defense school while seeking the truth behind an operation gone wrong.
These men are devoted to each other, determined to seek the truth instead of justice, and willing to risk their honor, their lives, and their souls to save themselves and the women they love. And, in the process, protect the world.
Do you believe in Serendipity?
Yes. I also believe in God’s timing. And in my case, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. I have three books to write in the next two years, but the kids go off to college next summer. I was already worried about how I was going to handle that (I suspect I won’t be handling it well) but now that I have three books coming out, I know I’ll be too busy to cry or feel lonely.
The timing of Sourcebook’s offer isn’t an accident and I’m so grateful that when the twins do go off to school, I’ll have plenty of work to focus on (besides my husband and dog!). I’m also grateful this didn’t happen earlier. I wouldn’t give up the time I’ve spent with my family for anything in the world.
Three Books you’d take to a deserted Island?
JR Ward’s Dark Lover (Paranormal Romance), Stephen King’s The Shining (Horror), and Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me (YA)
Favorite foods you can’t say no to?
Oreos. Perfection in a small, round cookie.
Yummy. 🙂 Do you have any advice for writers still waiting for the call?
Never stop writing. But Winston Churchill said it best in his October 29, 1941 speech at his childhood school (he almost didn’t graduate).
“. . . never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
This quote–this speech–has never failed me in my darkest moments of self-doubt and worry.
Sharon, I think you know how much we’ve looked forward to celebrating your publishing contract, and how excited the eight of us are for you! Thanks for the pictures, and even formatting this for me, because that’s just the kind of friend you are!! –Sarah
You can find Sharon here at Kiss and Thrill and DON’T miss her own blog www.sharonwray.com (it’s what a blog SHOULD be!)
She also loves to connect with readers on: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads
All photographs courtesy of Sharon Wray.
A Writer’s Dream-Come-True!
We, Kiss and Thrill authors, are ecstatic to announce that one of our own has sold a 3-book deal AT AUCTION to Sourcebooks! Sharon Wray has always been one of the greatest supporters and cheerleaders of other writers, all while steadily toiling at rewriting/revising her own work. She is a multiple award winner, whose superior stories have stood out for so long that we’ve screamed ourselves breathless at this prestigious acknowledgement. Sharon is attending the Romance Writers of America conference this week, but feel free to post your celebratory comments, we’ll make sure she gets them! Here are ours:
Sharon, it may be a cliche to say it couldn’t happen to a nicer person, but in this case it’s true. No one is more deserving, more talented or has worked harder than you. I am beyond thrilled for you, and I know this is only the beginning of a fabulous career. Congratulations and much love!-Carey.
I’m so excited for you, Sharon. All of your hard work and persistence are paying off. Can’t wait to read your books!- Gwen.
Congratulations Sharon! I’m thrilled that your book is receiving the attention it deserves. You’ve researched every detail of this, rewritten, reworked, and caressed every line. I’m so proud of you and will be the first one up on my feet cheering when you win the Rita someday soon! Big proud hugs–Diana.
Sharon! I am so thrilled for you! Knowing how hard you’ve worked for this and how many ups and downs you’ve gone through in this process makes this moment that much sweeter. Your success is well deserved and I can’t wait to see your successes on the published side of the curtain! Much love, Manda.
Sharon, Congratulations on your debut sale! A series, at auction, no less! How cool is that? You’ve worked so hard for this. I’m so thrilled for you. Enjoy the ride. -Lena.
I am as excited about your news as if it were my own! For years I’ve been in awe of your amazing talent and your generosity towards other writers. Now it’s your turn. And I can hardly wait for the rest of the world to read your sensational romantic suspense stories. Your career hasn’t just started- it’s already racing down the success highway. Buckle up! -Sarah.
Sharon is an amazing talent and a generous, caring friend. I’m so thrilled that the world is going to discover a shining new star. Congratulations, Sharon! I cannot wait to see how bright you shine! xoxo Krista
Sharon, from the moment we met in 2011 I’ve known you would make a huge entrance onto the romantic suspense stage! I’m so happy for you, but I’m more happy for *me* because now I finally get to read your amazing books which I’ve been dying to read since I judged you in a contest (just weeks before our first meeting) and knew without a doubt you would win. And you did. See, I’m right about everything.
Kiss and Thrill 