BBB: What’s the spookiest thing that has happened to you while writing a book?
DM: I was writing a book in which the heroine broke her collarbone, so I was asking around what that would feel like. As I headed out the door that day to go riding with a friend, my husband said, “Now don’t you break your collarbone for research!” Sure enough, the horse threw me and I ended up with first-hand knowledge of the subject.
BBB: What character was the toughest for you to get onto the page, and why? How did you finally crack it?
DM: I always have the hardest time with beta males. A nice, laidback hero is the most difficult for me. I’m struggling with that right now in Broslin Bride. Chase is such a laidback guy. It’s much easier to write men who burst into action and take charge and just plow ahead, consequences be damned. A thoughtful man requires, well, a lot of thoughtfulness to write. It’s easy to solve a problem with a fist or a gun. But defusing a situation and handling confrontation in other ways takes a lot of skill and intelligence. So my easy-going heroes do challange me.
BBB: What were you like in school?
DM: Total nerd. I read every free minute. I was seriously obsessed with books. I slept with books under my pillow. When the flashlight battery ran out, I read under the covers with a candle. (Fire safety tip: NOT recommended!) I’m sure I gave my mother gray hairs.
BBB: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing versus being traditionally published or the other way around?
DM: I love traditional publishing for all the things I’ve learned from it. It taught me a tremendous amount about being a professional in the publishing world. Also, the opportunities are amazing. I had some books published in Japan in comic book format–you have to read the book backwards! I love indie publishing for the freedom. The deadlines are what I say they are 
BBB: Please tell us more about Deathblow and the storyline that drives it.
DM: Former small-town football hero turned cop, Joe Kessler never met a linebacker, perp, or a woman he couldn’t handle. Then a troubled single mom walks into his life, and the only place this hot jock will ever see ‘easy’ again is in the dictionary.
Hiding out in Broslin, PA was working pretty well for Wendy Belle until Cop Casanova took her under his protection. Now she’ll either lose her life to one man, or her heart to another.
BBB: How many more books will there be in the Broslin Creek series?
DM: Four more books; Broslin Bride–Chase & Luanne (coming mid-June), Deathwish–Hunter (Captain Bings brother) & Gabi (coming this fall), Deathmarch–Harper & Jane (2015), Deathtoll–Kate & Murph coming back to close off the series!!! (2015) I might also add in a Christmas novella at the end of the series as a bonus.
BBB: What sets Deathblow and Broslin Creek apart from other books in the same genre?
DM: I try to write about real people and not stock characters. Wendy is a single mom, Joe is a small town cop. Wendy’s outer perfection is just a mask for her scars. She wants nothing to do with Joe, but he’s the man she desperately needs. A lot of my books revolve around women who find their strength. My themes tend to be growth and redemption.
BBB: What types of characters can readers expect in your world?
DM: Strong men and women who find their strength and overcome adversity.
BBB: What advice would you give to your younger writing self?
DM: Relax, for heaven’s sake. It all turns out a million times better than you expect.
BBB: Is there a message in Deathblow that you want readers to grasp?
DM: If there’s a message, it’s that every terrible situation has an out. Trust yourself, trust the ones who are trying to help. Freedom and love are possible.
BBB: What has been the toughest criticism you’ve been given as an author?
DM: I’ve been very lucky to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback. Every once in a while, I’ll have an online review that tells me that my book is terrible. Everybody has different taste. I’m writing for my readership, a specific group of people who keep me going, are friends with me online, and are eager for my next story. I recently received a bad online review because my book was romance and sexual. Well, it’s clearly marked as a romance. The cover has a half-naked guy embracing a woman. LOL How was the content a surprise?
BBB: Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published? If so, can you tell us more about the storyline?
DM: I had a book like that for a very long time. Ten years. I finally self-published it under the title The Third Scroll. It’s an epic fantasy, very different from all my other books. The feedback has been tremendous. I received more reader mail about that one book than my 40 other books put together. So I have that now and my heart is happy.
BBB: Please describe your current writing area? Is it perfected or what do you want to do to make it that way?
DM: I work at a very small desk, facing a white wall. Since the desk is small, I have to process paperwork in a timely manner. No room to pile it up. And my small corner is void of distractions. At our previous place, my desk was stuck in a tiny hole between the fridge and the staircase. I could reach into the freezer for ice cream bars while sitting at my desk. VERY bad idea!
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Books in the Broslin Creek series in the order they should be read:
Deathwatch - FREE on Kindle Deathscape Deathtrap Deathblow
About Dana Marton
10 Quick Things About Dana
Favorite Food? Chocolate
Favorite Color? Robin’s egg blue
Favorite Movie or TV Show of all Time? Groundhog Day
Favorite Drink? water
Favorite Book? changes daily
Favorite Season? spring
Favorite Online Hangout? Definitely Facebook. I love how many new friends I meet there.
Favorite Animal? My goldendoodle, Toby. He’s my writing partner.
Favorite Band or Musician? changes daily
Mode of Travel? (Trains, Planes or Automobiles) Writing 3-4 books/year, who has time to leave the house?
Favorite Vacation Destination? Anyplace with a beach and palm trees, but Curacao stands out as my best vacation memory.
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Dana Marton has thrilled and entertained millions of readers around the globe with her fast-paced stories about strong women and honorable men who fight side by side for justice and survival.
Kirkus Reviews calls her writing “compelling and honest.” RT Book Review Magazine said, “Marton knows what makes a hero…her characters are sure to become reader favorites.” Her writing has been acclaimed by critics, called, “gripping,” “intense and chilling,” “full of action,” “a thrilling adventure,” and wholeheartedly recommended to readers. Dana is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Readers’ Choice Award, and Best Intrigue, among other awards. Her book, Tall, Dark and Lethal was nominated for the prestigious Rita Award. Deathscape reached the #1 spot on Amazon’s Romantic Suspense Bestseller list.
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