Dr. Brigit Kent is Michael’s new love interest in PROOF OF LIFE, Super Agent Series Book 3. She’s also his newest enemy. Writing a heroine who could grab Michael’s attention was challenging. Writing one that could keep him on his toes was extra tough. I was halfway through the first draft before I understood Brigit and all her secrets. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t focus. Her elusiveness drove me crazy, but in the end, it helped me keep Michael guessing about her as well. I had to give in and stop trying to figure her out while I was writing before I could uncover all her secrets. Luckily, it all worked and my editor loved how Brigit kept Michael and the reader guessing about her true identity and her past.

Knowing your characters backwards and forewords typically makes for the best storyline. Especially in a romance, where the characters must grow and change and come together in the end. Once in awhile, though, you get a character who refuses to divulge everything up front. That’s okay. Whether you’re a writer or a reader, give that character a chance. He or she just might surprise you and be the perfect hero or heroine for your story.

Misty Evans loves her heroes tough, her heroines tougher and her stories full of action and fun. Visit her at www.readmistyevans.com and chat with her on Twitter @readmistyevans .

I’m currently working on LAUNCH, Super Agent Series, Book 4. This story takes place in Russia and features CIA Chief of Operations Ryan “Smitty” Smith from OPERATION SHEBA, SAS Book 1. Ryan must help Anya Radzoya, the missing princess from the last of the Russian Imperial houses, who steals the launch key to a nuclear missile In order to stop the Russian president from starting a second Cold War. 

Every Super Agent book requires massive amounts of research. I’m only a hundred pages into the story and already I’ve had to learn about the following: 

Russian history, beginning with Nordic founder in 862 AD

Russian foods

Common Russian phrases

Nuclear launch keys

The architecture, layout and history of the Great Kremlin Palace complex

Russian Imperial houses

Imperial jewelry 

Since Anya is a genetic scientist, I’ve also had to research and study genes, DNA and genetic counseling. While I managed a B+ in Biology 101 and never blew up the chem lab in school, I still failed to grasp much of the science surrounding genes. Thank goodness for the Internet and good old fashion text books. I’ve crammed a lot of hefty scientific facts and theories into my overloaded brain in the past few months and constantly double check them on occasion to be sure I’m correct. 

In the third Super Agent book, Proof of Life, Brigit, the heroine, made this observation: “The intelligence community considered information only as reliable as its source. If the source was bogus, so was the intel.” 

I believe the same thing holds true for authors and readers. Readers consider stories only as reliable as their authors. While I make up some elements in my stories, I put as many facts in them as I can. I want to be accurate and trustworthy as an author while still spinning a fun, over-the-top adventure for my readers. Doing my research is a critical part of that process and one I hope readers enjoy. 

Misty Evans does her research in her pajamas with a giant mug of coffee within arm’s reach and her favorite playlist blasting in the background. For more information about her Super Agent Series, visit www.readmistyevans.com and come chat with her at www.twitter.com/readmistyevans. Her latest print book, PROOF OF LIFE, Super Agent Series, Book 3, is now available for preorder http://www.amazon.com/Proof-Super-Agent-Misty-Evans/dp/1605047937/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277494700&sr=8-2 .

I believe many readers think romance authors channel themselves into their heroines. Me, I like to channel myself into my villains. When I’m reading my finished books, I truly believe there’s little of me in my heroines (though my heroes are always somewhat like my husband).

Right now I’m writing about Daphne Farnham in the early 19th C. To get the right feel for Daphne I’m trying to channel Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday, Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, Alicia Silverstone in Clueless and every ditsy, screwball heiress from the classic comedies of the 30s and 40s.

I’ll know more if this is working for me when I run the manuscript past my beta readers, but I have to say that writing about women pirates (Pirate’s Price) and tough con-artists (The Bride and the Buccaneer) was a snap compared to Daffy Daphne, and I’ve never been a con artist or a pirate!

Writing about an airhead whose life revolves around fashion and parties is difficult because I occasionally find her saying something cutting and sarcastic, and I have to stop and say, “No, that’s not Daphne, that’s Darlene.” Daphne is sweet and likes to draw rainbows in the borders of her correspondence. Darlene, not so much. Daphne thinks the key to happiness in life is having the proper accessories. OK, Darlene likes the proper accessories too, but she doesn’t obsess over it!

When I’m writing scenes in Daphne’s POV it’s a challenge, but I have to admit, it can also be fun trying to think to myself, “What Would Daphne Do?” I want to push myself to do things differently, to make each of my novels stand out. If I can pull it off with Daffy Daphne and Dr. Murray in Castaway Dreams, then I’ll feel like I’ve succeeded.

And to celebrate, I’ll make a big bowl of popcorn and watch Bringing up Baby.

I can say, with no false modesty, that my fears are generally unwarranted. I don’t always get an A+, but so far the reviewers seem to agree that they find my stories entertaining, my characters engaging, my dialogue snappy. Some even say they enjoy getting a little does of Florida history fed to them, which thrills my history wonk soul. You can read for yourself what the reviewers are saying at my website.

Are all reviewers created equal? No. I find a comment from a reader saying “I couldn’t go to sleep last night because I had to stay up to finish your wonderful book!” every bit as grand as the most detailed analysis of my craft. I will say though that for me as a writer some reviewers are worth paying particular attention to because they understand writing. Their comments will be on point, and can be helpful.

On the other hand, there are some popular reviewing sites where you wonder if the author of the review was having a bad day, or ever read historicals, or was actually reading the book you wrote. When I get one of those reviews, I let it bother me for about five minutes. Then I remember the reader who said, “I read your books when I was undergoing chemo, and it took me away from everything for a few hours. Thank you.”

And then it’s all right again, and I’m reassured my baby is every bit as pretty as I think it is.

I was born in the middle of the 20th C. and sometimes I stop and marvel that I’m now living in the second decade of the 21st C.

Of course, it’s not perfect. I don’t have a robot to clean my dishes, and I’m still waiting on my jetpack and flying car, but there are plenty of aspects of life in 2KX that I find exciting. Too many to list, but one’s certainly connected to this blog and my writing world.

Ebooks. The latter part of 2009 saw a record surge in ebook sales and the sale of ereaders. The options out there are many and the buzz continues–Kindle, Sony Reader, Nook and soon, the much anticipated iTablet. Without ebooks and ereaders I would have far fewer readers than I do. While my books are available in print, much of my sales are electronic, and they’re worldwide. My readers can download all of my books in a few minutes, adjust the font size for comfortable reading, and store them on a device the size and weight of a paperback.

If you have not yet made the commitment to an ereader, now may be the time to consider it. There are plenty of price ranges and options for the various machines, and the blogging world can offer advice to make it easier to choose. The well-read blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books has recently done analysis of the more popular models and continues to test drive ereaders and review them for the romance reading community.

Talk to people who are using ereaders. Get their advice and their feedback before making a decision. And as always in this age of quick turnaround on electronics, remember that yes, there will be a snazzier model out at some point after you make your purchase. Don’t let that hold you back. As a reader who’s gone over to the electronic side for much of her reading, I can assure you that it’s a great feeling to have a device in your purse that’s got 100+ books on it, so you never have that panic attack again over not having something to read while you wait in line.