Suzanne Brockmann's Blog

Ending my TDD series with an exclamation point !!

Happy Valentine’s Day!



I’m celebrating with a little retrospective on the officially completed Tall, Dark & Dangerous series about Navy SEAL Team Ten.

I’ve been thinking about the many, many years that have passed since 1995, when Prince Joe (TDD # 1) first came out. The world’s changed—a lot. In the early TDD books, my SEALs don’t have cell phones. They all carry pagers and use pay phones and, yeah. The world is very different now.

Back in 1995, the policy known as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” had just gone into effect. LGBTQ people existed in our armed forces—and throughout our whole wide world—but we had to all agree to pretend that, as far as the U.S. Military went, they were invisible. Erased. Unmentionable.

I still can't imagine how hard that must've been--for everyone!

Back in 1995, when I wrote Prince Joe, I was still a newbie romance author. Yeah, sure, I was published, but Prince Joe was only the third book I'd written for that particular publisher, my sixth novel in total.

My first book (Future Perfect) came out in 1993, and you’ve probably heard the story of my first-sale phone call, because it was a doozy. I was told that an important revision I had to make (HAD! TO!) was to de-gay the rather minor but beloved (by me!) secondary character of the small town sheriff.

I spoke at length about that phone call and my personal experience of publishing gatekeepers erasing the gay characters from my first book in the speech I gave for the RWA lifetime achievement award I received back in 2018. (You can read the speech here: https://www.tinyletter.com/SuzanneBro... or watch it here: https://youtu.be/T1fO_1rLDsA?t=3378 or here, if you want to see my famous filmmaker son Jason’s intro to my speech: https://youtu.be/T1fO_1rLDsA?t=2787)

In a nutshell, my first romance novel was a story set in a small town. I'd created the character of a kickass sheriff who happened to be gay and was loved and accepted by everyone in his community. It didn’t seem that farfetched to me. But during that first-sale phone call, when I should’ve been doing silent but joyful highkicks around the room, I stood stock still instead, my heart sinking. Because I realized that if I wanted to sell this book, I had to do as the publisher asked and turn my gay sheriff straight. I was told quite plainly that a gay person could not appear in a romance novel. Readers would be offended.

What bizzarro world was this, this world of genre romance in which gay people were intentionally excluded? I vowed in that moment that I would help make change happen, because this could not stand.

Fast forward a few years back to 1995. I had just written Prince Joe, this first installment in an open-ended, planned-to-be-long-running series called “Tall, Dark & Dangerous,” (Hey, heads up, Prince Joe is currently $1.99 in the US: https://suzannebrockmann.com/books/ta... )

I’d sold the book on proposal, and the publisher loved the title—that was great, because my plan with this series was to include the heroes’ names in each of the titles. (Forever Blue; Frisco’s Kid; Everyday, Average Jones; Harvard’s Education...)

And then I handed in my first draft. In that draft, the heroine, Veronica, has a gay brother. Unlike the sheriff in Future Perfect, this character (named Jules, yup, you read that right. Jules!!) doesn’t appear as a character in the story. He's merely mentioned in passing—a gay brother whom Ronnie loves and accepts. He gets none of his gay onto the page the way the sheriff did, but he exists. Please let him exist. Does THAT work, publishing gatekeepers?

#Nope.

This was my third book for Silhouette. I was working with a different editor than Future Perfect, plus a few years had passed and the world was becoming more progressive, surely... But no. My revision notes included, sure enough, erasure of my gay character, again with the note that “readers will be offended.” Simply from this character’s mention.

I pressed and pushed to keep Veronica’s brother in the book as he was originally written, but I didn’t have any power, and I couldn’t afford to walk away.

Still, I was determined to be that change that I wanted to see, and in the next book in my TDD series, Forever Blue, I gave the heroine a gay friend. Killed him off in advance of the story—he was already dead when the book started, but Lucy ***loved*** him and missed him badly, is THAT okay, publishing gatekeepers, if he's gay but dead...?!?

Yup, it was. (sigh)

The character stayed in, and as infuriating as it was, it WAS a small victory. (And... Forever Blue is also $1.99 in the US: https://suzannebrockmann.com/books/ta... . Just FYI, in case you want the ebook for that awesome price!)

Throughout my entire career, book after book, I kept pushing to make my fictional world more accurately reflect the richly diverse world that I was living in, in my urban town in Massachusetts.

In 1999, after writing 29 category romances and 2 mainstream books in just a few short years, I decided to create a second team of Navy SEALs, but this time set the series in a far more realistic world. I started my new Troubleshooters series with The Unsung Hero. (PRH has permanently priced TUH at $2.99 in the US: https://suzannebrockmann.com/books/tr... )

And in 2000, when openly gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy walked onto the pages of The Defiant Hero (TS # 2), for the first time, no one pushed back. No one blinked.

Jules was allowed to exist.

I cannot tell you how happy that made me! But best yet, was this: Readers. Loved. Jules. (Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear readers! You brought me such joy and hope!!)

Jules played a major secondary role in most of the books in my TS series as I hammered my message home: Jules was gay, he was awesome, he was kickass, and he always saved the day, i.e. he was a hero. (Did I need a deus ex machina to swoop in during the Big Action Sequence at the end of the book? That would be Jules.) And oh yeah, I also pushed this message: Jules, just like all romance novel heroes, deserved his own HEA.

Somewhere around TS book # 5 (Into the Night), I started to hit the New York Times bestseller lists with my genre romance novels that included LGBTQ people. So clearly, readers weren’t TOO offended. (I am STILL salty about that!!) And my publisher started releasing the TS series in hardcover with giant print runs.

But in 2004’s Hot Target (TS # 8), I gave Jules his own romantic subplot. My publisher warned me that some romance review sites had a “no gay books” policy in place. (I know that sounds insane to some of you younger people, but it's true! This was an Actual Thing in Romancelandia, announced without shame or apology.) I was told that it was entirely possible that some reviewers might not consider reviewing Hot Target—we truly had no idea what would happen with this book. But the publisher and my incredible editor never, not even for a second, backed down from supporting this book, 100%!

And Hot Target got glowing reviews, even from the “no gay books” sites. No one’s face melted off from the visible, in-the-sunlight gayness as in this book Jules Cassidy met the man who would become, later in the series, the love of his life. I’d like to think that Hot Target helped some of those sites get their heads out of their asses as they realized their discriminatory “no gay books” rule was bullshit. Hot Target hit the Times hardcover list and went on to become Border’s bestselling hardcover romance of the year, bitches! (Hot Target is probably one of my personal fav books, and even though it’s nearly 20 years old, it really does hold up.)

More time passed, more books got written, Jules won his HEA and GOT MARRIED!! In a genre romance novel!!

LGBTQ characters were unquestionably welcomed, to live and love in the romance genre, with more and more established authors included LGBTQ characters in their books, with zero face-melting from “offended” readers. The romance publishing world slowly but surely recognized that many readers were the exact opposite of offended. Many MANY readers loved LGBTQ characters and LGBTQ love stories. So the romance genre got bigger and better, with opportunities for new LGBTQ authors to write their #OwnVoices romance novels, which has made Romancelandia a far, far better place.

Which brings me to today, well, earlier this month to be precise, when I released BLAME IT ON RIO, the 14th and final installment in that Tall, Dark & Dangerous series I started back in 1995 with Prince Joe and Veronica’s pathetically no-longer-gay brother.

I stayed away from my TDD series for about fifteen years because I need to let some time pass for a number of reasons. And as time passed, Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed. Not-So-Fun fact: DADT ran from February 28, 1994 through September 20, 2011. (I wrote a Troubleshooters series short story called When Tony Met Adam to celebrate the repeal of DADT because it was a BFD that it ended and our courageous servicepeople could now live their lives authentically.)

This meant that, in 2018, when I finally returned to Tall, Dark & Dangerous-land to give closure to the series that I loved, I could finally include an out, gay SEAL in my fictional Team Ten.

So in SEAL Camp (TDD #12, 2018), I created Dave. He’s gay, he's a SEAL, and no one is offended. His teammates like him. In fact, he’s so damn good at being a SEAL, everyone wants him on their squad. (Take THAT, publisher of Prince Joe!)

2020’s King’s Ransom (TDD # 13) was supposed to put a final period at the end of the series. It's Thomas and Tasha's book—readers had been requesting their story for years, ever since T&T first appeared as kids in the aptly named Frisco's Kid (TDD # 3). In King's Ransom, in a subplot, Dave and a longer-recurring character named Rio Rosetti are given a cross-country assignment, and they become even closer friends. (Dave has a bad breakup, and Rio’s on hand to witness his pain.)

I realized as I was writing K’sR that writing from Rio’s point of view was kinda fun. Rio’s a good ally—a straight, cis man who really cares about his gay teammate and friend. And when my husband pointed out that the title for his book (in this series that I’d just ended, gah!!) could/should be BLAME IT ON RIO, I could not disagree.

Rio’s story clearly had to be a romcom (with suspense elements, because the OG TDD books are all rom-suspense), which really fit with everything I knew about this cheerful, upbeat Navy SEAL. When the plot came to me, it was irresistible—it was “fake boyfriend” with a twist. See, Dave’s gotta go to a wedding that Jon, his ex, will be attending. Rio goes with, pretending to be Dave’s boyfriend—and ends up falling for Jon’s sister. Shenanigans and high jinks abound. And some suspense, too, because Jon is a dumpster fire, and his unsavory past puts his sister in danger.

I could not have written Rio’s book back in 1995—no category romance publisher would have considered it, which is still a crying shame. And in 1995, and in 2003 and even early 2011, DADT was still going strong. A smart man like Dave probably wouldn’t have joined the military and become a SEAL. I mean, why would he? Hiding, being closeted that way, is brutal. And even if Dave were a SEAL, he couldn’t have told Rio about Jon. Ugh. It's overwhelming to think about all of the grief LGBTQ servicemembers endured for all those difficult years.

But here in 2023, at least for right now, the US Military, like Romancelandia, is far more open, affirming, and welcoming. I’m incredibly glad about that—glad, too, that I went with my gut and wrote one more TDD book, ending this series with the upbeat, funny, hopeful, inclusive BLAME IT ON RIO.

Because it feels much better to end Tall, Dark & Dangerous—a series that I deeply love despite its early limitations and challenges—with an exclamation point. (And maybe a little bit of jazz hands, too!)

New Book: BLAME IT ON RIO

NEW BOOK ALERT: Blame It on Rio is available now!!

(YES, NOW!!)



Blame It on Rio, the 14th and final stand-alone installment in my long-running Tall, Dark & Dangerous series about Navy SEAL Team Ten (the series that started with PRINCE JOE) is available in ebook and paperback!

BLAME IT ON RIO
New, never-before-published full-length novel
First published February 3, 2023
Tall, Dark & Dangerous Series (Navy SEAL Team Ten) # 14
Romantic Comedy with Suspense Elements
78K words or 340 pages

Hero: Navy SEAL Rio Rosetti
Heroine: TV Star Casey Esparza
Tropes: Fake Boyfriend
Oh, No! Just One Bed!
Identical Cousins

When Rio Rosetti is approached by Casey Esparza in a grocery store parking lot, he realizes two things: the famous actress has mistaken Rio for his gay cousin Luc; and Rio’s got to keep up the pretense to protect his teammate Dave from getting his heart re-broken by Casey’s hot mess of a brother, Jon.

As a Navy SEAL, Rio’s days are filled with adventure and risk, but now, as Dave’s fake boyfriend, he’s facing a different challenge. His life is suddenly a rom-com movie with an added twist as Rio finds himself falling hard for Casey.

Casey Esparza’s acting career has been like a fairytale. Her iconic role in a cult science fiction TV show brought her fame, fortune, and millions of social media followers. Her personal life, however, is a different story—her brother Jon is a dumpster fire and her romantic life is grim. Her instant connection with her friend Dave’s easy-going new boyfriend Luc is a breath of fresh air.

Rio knows honesty means everything to Casey, and that for him to stay in her life—as Rio—he needs to end his masquerade very carefully. But when Jon’s unsavory past catches up to them and Casey’s in danger, Rio is ready to risk everything—even his future with her—to keep her safe.

The tall, dark, and dangerous Navy SEALs of Team Ten are back—with Suzanne Brockmann’s signature blend of love, laughter, and a hint of danger in Blame It on Rio.

Available NOW at Amazon, BN, Kobo and Google Play. Coming soon to Apple Books!

Read an excerpt at my website: https://suzannebrockmann.com/books/ta...

****

2/5/23

Hey, gang!

I was sure I was going to have to say "Ah, sorry hardcopy book-lovers, you'll have to wait a minute or two for the print paperback of RIO," but Amazon surprised me, and their paperback edition (a lovely 5 x 8 trade size book!) is available today and not Monday or Tuesday!

I was also going to say, "Hey, New England, this instant-frostbite weather's a great time to curl up safely inside with a new book," but temps are rising fast, so... RIO is a great beach read, too! (Blink and it'll be in the 50s and after -35 with wind chill, that's beach weather!!)

So... Happy Early Valentine's Day, dear readers! And yes, BLAME IT ON RIO truly is the final book in my long-running Tall, Dark & Dangerous series. I'll be going back to my Troubleshooters for the next few books. Recent writing note to myself: "Add more Jules." But until then, I think you're going to like getting to know Rio Rosetti a little better. (Writing his book was fun!)

As always, I'd love it if you share this to help get the word out about RIO! Thank you a bazillion! I hope you love Rio as much as I do!

Love,
Suz Brockmann

News from Suz: May 19, 2017

May 19, 2017
News from Suz Brockmann
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Hello, readers!

My plan was to send you an e-newsletter in early May, but it’s suddenly May 19th, and it’s starting to be a stretch even to call it mid-May!  (And, also suddenly, it’s full summer in Framingham, Massachusetts!)

Do or  Die is currently (and temporarily!) on sale for $1.99 in all e-formats!

I wanted to get this e-news out to you ASAP because we’re smack in the middle of a flash sale for the ebook of DO OR DIE.

If you haven’t yet picked up this book-with-a-former-SEAL-hero that NPR included in their list of best books of 2014, now’s the time!

(Grab it fast, it’s only on sale for a short time!)

In other news:

1) Follow me over at BookBub, and you’ll get news about future flash-sales (hint! hint!) delivered right into your email inbox. Here’s the URL: www.bookbub.com/authors/suzanne-brockmann



2) Some Kind of Hero, my next, new, full-length, full-power old-school Troubleshooters novel comes out on July 11th, in ebook and hardcover from Ballantine Books, and in audio from Blackstone Audio.

(And yes, Patrick Lawlor will be narrating the audiobook, along with the amazing Bahni Turpin!!)

Kirkus gave Some Kind of Hero a *starred* review, saying “A thought-provoking, deeply satisfying romance from a master of the genre.” (Thank you, Kirkus!!)

Here’s more (lovely!) advanced praise for the book:

“Nobody mixes suspenseful adventure and heart-melting romance like Suzanne Brockmann.”—USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen

“Nobody does it better! Some Kind of Hero is Suzanne Brockmann at the top of her game, with a story full of heartstopping action and genuine, funny, heartfelt emotion.”—New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra

“In classic Brockmann style, Some Kind of Hero does not shy away from the controversies of our times. Instead, it faces them head on, delivering a thought-provoking, high-octane love story with a hero and heroine one can’t help but root for. Prepare to be blown away.”—USA Today bestselling author Farrah Rochon

“Delicious sexual tension and a fast-paced plot made me want Some Kind of Hero to last way past the final page.”—USA Today bestselling author Megan Erickson

“Brockmann is a master at romantic suspense. Sexy, smart, and completely original, Some Kind of Hero is not to be missed.”—HelenKay Dimon, award-winning author of the Tough Love series

“The writer in me can’t believe that Brockmann keeps getting better with every book. The reader in me loves it!”—M. L. Buchman, author of The Night Stalkers series and Delta Force series

“Fast-paced suspense and a to-die-for hero! This book will be a new favorite for Brockmann fans.”—New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy

But I think my favorite piece of “advanced praise” came from Patrick Lawlor, my long-time audiobook narrator and voice of all-things-SEAL-Team-16, who finished his recording prep for the book and emailed me, channeling his inner Navy SEAL and saying “THIS BOOK IS F*CKING GLORIOUS!!!!!!!!” (Caps and many exclamation points are all his!) He also noted that his favorite scene was “the Shit Bucket of Doom.” You’re gonna have to wait and see (or listen!) to find out what thatmeans!

News from Suz: October 17, 2016

News from Suzanne Brockmann

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Hey, I know I *just* sent you an e-newsletter…

But many of you were waiting for news about the print editions of my new Troubleshooters novella, Ready to Roll, and it’s finally available in print from both Amazon and B&N! (Yay!) I can also announce that the audiobook editions of both Ready to Roll and Home Fire Inferno will soon be available via Blackstone Audio, read by Patrick Lawlor and (hopefully!) Melanie Ewbank! (Double yay!)

And… the second installment of the California Comedy series, A Match for Mike, is also now available in e-book, with POD coming soon!

Finally, I’ve reissued Home Fire Inferno (Burn, Baby, Burn!), the second installment in the trilogy of Izzy-Zanella-centric shorts that starts with Free Fall and ends with Ready to Roll. I hadn’t realized—until very recently—that the charity anthology in which this story was originally published had gone out of print in most e-formats. So my brilliant cover art guy, Scott Fowler, immediately got to work so that I could get this to you, ASAP! Now all three stories are available in e-book!
Read on for details and links!

Ready to Roll:

Trade paperback print editions are available via print-on-demand from CreateSpace and NookPress:

Find RtoR in paperback at the CreateSpace store: https://www.createspace.com/6608163
And at Amazon: http://amzn.to/2elHpLv
Find RtoR in paperback at B&N: : http://bit.ly/2cSihPc (toggle to select the paperback format!)

Hardcover print editions are also available via print-on-demand from NookPress.

Find RtoR in hardcover at B&N: http://bit.ly/2cSihPc (toggle to select the hardcover format!)

Note: Print on demand is cool. It allows authors to release indie books like Ready to Roll, and get them into the hands of readers who don’t read via e-book. The standard format is a trade-size paperback (mine are 5.5”x8.5”), but NookPress also makes a hardcover edition. It’s lovely, but expensive!

Just to be thorough, ICYMI…

Ready to Roll (A Troubleshooters Novella):

Ebook: 

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2dHlNbW

Nook: http://bit.ly/2cSihPc

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dYUyNp

iBooks: http://apple.co/2dspJiS

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2dxsRIK

A Match for Mike, Book #2 in the California Comedy series is here!

I’m the editor and publisher (the line is called “Suzanne Brockmann Presents!) of this really fun project written by my son, Jason, with help from my husband, Ed.

Jason and Ed are screenwriters—together we all co-wrote our movie, The Perfect Wedding, a sweet little boy-meets-boy romantic comedy in which the fact that the two heroes are gay doesn’t create any conflict in the story. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of conflict and hijinx in our movie, but it doesn’t come from any issues with anyone’s sexual orientation.

But making a movie is freaking expensive. We Kickstarted our second movie (a shout out to all who helped! TY so much!), an LGBTQ thriller called Russian Doll, written by Ed. But even with literal help from our friends, we’re still working on a seriously tight budget, which makes post-production take forever!

So Jason approached Ed (or maybe Ed approached Jason…?) with the idea of writing m/m romances that are essentially classic 90-minute-long feel-good rom-com movies, only in novella form. I chimed in, “That sounds exactly like a category romance,” and voila, the “Suzanne Brockmann Presents” line of m/m category romances was born!

Our goal with these books is to deliver both the funny with the traditional rom-com happily ever after, with a few euphemistic happy-endings along the way!

News from Suz: October 05, 2016

Ready to Roll is finally available as an e-book!

(And it’s got a new cover!)

Rabbit, rabbit! Happy October!

And—for the first time in a long time…

Happy Finally-I-Have-News-About-the-Release-of-the-Next-New-Troubleshooters-Book!

We have a title! We have a release date! We have more Navy SEAL Team Sixteen and Izzy Zanella!

Some Kind of Hero will be coming at you in hardcover and ebook from Ballantine Books, and in audio from Blackstone Audio, on (mrph-smrph).  (Yeah, I intentionally mumbled that release date. But read on because…!!)

This new Troubleshooters novel is set (mostly) in San Diego and features Navy SEAL LT Peter “Grunge” Greene, who has recently gained custody of his estranged teenaged daughter, Maddie.

And although Pete (the lieutenant’s a little embarrassed by his SEAL nickname and thinks of himself as “Pete”) is an officer with the reputation for being both aloof and the most diabolically kickass instructor in the history of BUD/S training, his SEAL teammates—including Izzy Zanella—rally around him to assist when Maddie runs away.

But it’s Shayla Whitman, Pete’s slightly older, mother-of-two, across-the-street neighbor who provides both the smarts and the skills to help him find—and connect with—the missing girl.

(Shayla’s a romance author, so connection is her specialty. And yup. I went there!)

Some Kind of Hero is old-school Troubleshooters with a whisper of a WWII subplot, too.  I worked hard to pack in the action, the emotion, the drama, and the funny—I think you’re gonna enjoy the end result!  When Zanella’s involved, the funny comes easy! But Shay, as a writer, really brings it, too.  I think my personal favorite scenes are when Pete and Shay discuss one of Shay’s romance novels, which Pete is now reading…

So okay. Here’s where I finally enunciate the not-so-good news:

Some Kind of Hero will be out in hardcover, ebook, and audio on July 11, 2017.

Yeeeeah.

Next summer.  After this mother-*#&%-ing election, and after Christmas, New Year’s, Inauguration Day, Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, AND the Fourth of July.  That July 11th—the one’s that’s nine months away. Someone reading this is not yet pregnant, but will give birth and have a baby before Some Kind of Hero is in her hands. (If it’s you, congratulations!! Izzy says “Please don’t name the baby Irving, but both Pete and Shayla are great names!”)

It’s all my fault that Some Kind of Hero is coming to you so late, and I’m so sorry.

It took me a really, really long time to figure out exactly what I wanted/needed to write after a rough coupla years, and I apologize for that.  But I finally found this story—and this SEAL hero! Full disclosure: Some Kind of Hero has been written, revised, and handed in! In fact, I’m working on reviewing the copy edits RIGHT NOW! The July date isn’t going to change because of any delays on my end, I promise you that!

But okay.  Because July 2017 is such a long, long, LONG way away, and because I’ve already made you wait years for a new Troubleshooters book, I’ve gotten Ballantine’s blessing to release Ready to Roll, a Troubleshooters novella, right here and right now. (The links are live!  It’s available in ebook with POD coming soon, in both hardcover and paperback! The audio download will also be available soon!)

The super cool thing about Ready to Roll is that in it you’ll get to meet Pete (the SEAL hero of SKOH), along with getting a hefty serving of Izzy Zanella and the entire Gillman-Zanella family. (Izzy’s wife Eden! Eden’s little brother Ben! Eden’s other brother and Izzy’s SEAL-in-law, Danny Gillman! Dan’s wife Jenn! Dan and Jenn’s new baby, Colin!)

Also…? In Ready to Roll, you’ll get to meet an entire boat squad of young SEAL candidates who are enduring (surviving?) Phase One of BUD/S.

Here’s the book’s official blurb:

Oh, wait.

First, a reminder that Ready to Roll was originally intended to be a short story.  But when I sat down to write it (it’s the third tale in a trilogy that includes Free Fall and Home Fire Inferno), there was way more story than I could possibly fit in 12K words (think 50ish book pages).

Ready to Roll is, instead, a 56K word/200-page novella. (It’s almost exactly the same length as my Jules & Robin book, All Through the Night!)

Here’s that blurb for Ready to Roll:

Suzanne Brockmann returns to the action-packed world of her bestselling Troubleshooters series with a new novella featuring U.S. Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella, his extended family, and his kickass teammates in SEAL Team Sixteen.

The only easy day is yesterday.

BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training is known for being the toughest, meanest, most physically punishing program in the entire U.S. Navy, and a new crop of tadpoles have arrived in Coronado eager to prove their worth—to make it through Hell Week and become U.S. Navy SEALs.

Although Izzy prefers assignments out in the “real world,” he’s glad to be an instructor for the current BUD/S class because it allows him to spend time at home with his wife, Eden, and her lively and lovable extended family.

Eden’s sixteen-year-old brother, Ben, is dealing with a new crush and a homophobic bully in his high school, but it soon appears that things are not as they seem.

As Ben deals with the type of too-serious high school drama that could involve a body count, Izzy is intrigued by “Boat Squad John,” a misfit team of young SEAL candidates all named John, including the intriguing young Seagull, his swim buddy Timebomb, and Seagull’s nemesis Hans.

Does Seagull have what it takes keep Boat Squad John still standing when the dust of BUD/S Hell Week settles or will they ring out?

Set in Coronado during BUD/S training Hell Week, in Ready to Roll Brockmann introduces the SEAL officer and instructor nicknamed Grunge—Lt. Peter Greene—as she delivers what she does best: a story celebrating the U.S. Navy SEALs—and the women (and sometimes men) who wholeheartedly love and support them. (About 56,000 words or 200 pages)

The ebook of Ready to Roll includes the very first excerpt from Some Kind of Hero!

Nearly all of SKOH’s Chapter One is nestled at the end of RtoR.  So heads up if you are an excerpt avoider, and heads up, too, if you are an excerpt lover!

Mark your calendars for July 11, 2017 with a great big “More Izzy and Pete & Shayla” (or a “More Izzy and Pete; MEET SHAY!!” if you’re an excerpt avoider!).

And check out the awesome new cover for Ready to Roll, created by my art genius friend, Scott Fowler, who also did the cover for Free Fall. (I promise, after you read RtoR, you will love this cover even more, because that’s definitely the SEAL candidate nicknamed Seagull in the center, surrounded by the rest of Boat Squad John!)

Here are the links to Ready to Roll:

E-Books

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2dHlNbW

Nook: http://bit.ly/2cSihPc

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dYUyNp

iBooks: http://apple.co/2dspJiS

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dJQOMn

GooglePlay: (coming soon!)

Print on Demand (coming soon!)

NookPress hardcover:

CreateSpace paperback:

Audio download: (coming soon!)

Website link: http://suzannebrockmann.com/books/e-shorts/ready-to-roll/

Before I go, a coupla quick recommended reads:

Evelyn, After by Victoria Helen Stone is out!  It’s women’s fiction, and it’s amazing, and it’s currently in pre-release at Amazon as a $1.99 Kindle ebook.  (Try it! It’s sooo good!) It’s not a romance, but it certainly has romantic elements, and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing! (The structure! The character development and growth! The story! The writing sings!) In fact, Evelyn, After is my favorite book of the year. I do not say that lightly! I loved this book.

Here’s the link to that Kindle edition: http://amzn.to/2dgvNgK

P.S. I think the book is currently free for those who have Amazon Prime!!

And…

My new line of m/m category romances, Suzanne Brockmann Presents, is about to launch the next book in the California Comedy series, A Match for Mike.

Mike will be available within the next few weeks.  (I’ll send out another quick email when it goes on sale.)  Written by Jason T. Gaffney (aka my beloved son) with Ed Gaffney (aka Jason’s dad), A Match for Mike is extremely funny and sweet and spicy and…

(If you’re going, “Suzanne Brockmann Presents, wait, what…?” check out Creating Clark, California Comedy series #1, available in ebook and print-on-demand!)

[image error]Here are the links to Creating Clark:

Kindle:  http://amzn.to/29Abep9

Nook   http://bit.ly/2a8ls4c 

Kobo:     http://bit.ly/29P3djn

GooglePlay:  http://bit.ly/2a8mWeS

iBooks: http://apple.co/29TirBj

NookPress Hardcover:  http://bit.ly/29V6ZDj

NookPress PB: http://bit.ly/2aAntp5

CreateSpace PB:  at createspace store:  https://www.createspace.com/6434527

CreateSpace PB at Amazon.com:  http://amzn.to/29TSWhN

Okay.  That’s all for now.

Thank you for your time and attention!

Please feel free to email, blog, post, tweet, and/or share any or all of my news with your social circle!  In fact, I appreciate it enormously when you do!

As always, thanks so much for your ongoing friendship and support!

Love,

Suz

News from Suz: Aug. 1, 2015

 

Happy Summer!

It’s freaking hot here in Boston, where we rarely break 80 degrees, let alone endure this past week’s relentless 90s. But… I just saw a photo taken last winter and suddenly the heat doesn’t seem that bad! (It’s only been a few weeks since the last of the winter’s ice finally melted in Boston. Yes, really.)

This email is a quick hello to all of the new people on this e-newsletter list (hello!), an apology to everyone I missed seeing at RWA’s literacy signing (and also a “you’re welcome,” because you did NOT want to catch the nasty illness that I had!), and a heads up to all Boston/New England area readers!

Boston-Area readers and friends! 

Join me on August 11th at 7:00 p.m. at the Bacon Free Library in South Natick, Massachusetts for a casual and lively discussion of my third Troubleshooters book,  Over the Edge .

 

Date: Tues. Aug. 11, 2015
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bacon Free Library
    58 Eliot Street
    South Natick, MA 01760
Program: Discussion of  Over the Edge  (TS #3 – Stan & Teri) with author Suzanne Brockmann

 

This wonderful and charming library is hosting the open-to-the-public event. So throw a T-shirt on over your bathing suit, (or bring snacks and come straight from work) and hang out with me at the library for a fun and relaxing evening talking  Over the Edge !

 

You remember this one.

 

Over the Edge  is the story of Navy SEAL Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok and Navy Reserve helo pilot LT (jg) Teri Howe — and the Navy SEAL takedown of a commercial airliner hijacked by terrorists. OTE was first published in late August 2001. (Yup, right before 9/11.) This book’s big secondary romance is between Navy SEAL Sam Starrett and FBI Agent Alyssa Locke. (The book contains one of my personal all-time favorite scenes between Sam and Jules Cassidy!)*** The WWII subplot focuses on the Holocaust in Denmark — and how the Danish people flatly refused to let the Nazis round up their Jewish neighbors.

 

Yes, there’s a lot to talk about! I’m also going to bring my original OTE file, which contains my notes and outlines from writing the book.

 

I’m gonna try to get a friend to come and live-post the discussion (what is it called when that’s done on FB? On twitter, it’s live-tweet…) so those of you in far-off lands can follow along on my Facebook reader page at www.facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks

 

Mark your calendars and get out your ancient copy of OTE — it’s time for a re-read!

 

If you can’t find your copy or you want a shiny new one for your e-reader, here are some helpful and easy links:

 

Ebook links to Over the Edge:
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1JnG3Lk
Nook: http://bit.ly/1VH7zIR
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1IlRUVe
iBooks: http://apple.co/1KrIPOw
Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1OHDunu

 

Print (in case you lent your copy to your sister/friend/mother/husband/co-worker/best frenemy and (S)HE HASN’T GIVEN IT BACK!!): 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JnGtBt
B&N: http://bit.ly/1CZhkfn
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780804119702
BAM: http://bit.ly/1D3l4wa
Book Depository: http://bit.ly/1eqKat5

 

[image error]Over the Edge  is also one of the early Troubleshooters books that was recently re-recorded in my now-trademark “dual narrator” format and reissued by Blackstone Audio! You can find this top-notch new edition, read by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank, in CD, MP3, or audio download! (But heads up — the older edition is still floating around out there! Double check that you’re getting the new version — make sure it’s read by Patrick and Melanie before you click “buy”):

 

iTunes: http://apple.co/1HSlX9X
Downpour: http://www.downpour.com/over-the-edge-11
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Ms5IUi

Here’s a link to the lovely library

: http://www.baconfreelibrary.org

 

I hope to see you there!

 

P.S. My next book,  Wild Sky , will be out in October in both trade paperback and in a hardcover library edition. This is the second installment in my YA paranormal  Night Sky  series co-written with my daughter Melanie Brockmann. Main character Skylar is back, but this time the story focuses on her wheelchair-bound best friend Calvin! Find out more at http://amzn.to/1KDYw8f

 

P.P.S. July’s filming of my latest indie movie,  Russian Doll , was both on schedule and under budget! We’ve now moved in post-production! To get detailed updates about the movie (festival news, etc), join the official RD mailing list (also here at Tiny Letter!) at https://tinyletter.com/RussianDollTheMovie

 

***Come to the event to find out which scene is on my all-time fav list!

 

[image error] [image error]

News from Suz: May 26, 2015 (Kickstarter ends on May 30, noon ET!)

TICK TOCK!






News from Suzanne Brockmann

www.SuzanneBrockmann.com

www.Facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks

www.Twitter.com/SuzBrockmann

www.kickstarter.com/profile/suzannebrockmann

The Kickstarter Campaign for my next movie, Russian Doll, ends at noon ET on May 30th (in just 4 days!)

And okay, maybe you’re not into movies. Books are probably more your thing, and I know you’re busy and you’re hit with a barrage of Very! Important! Emails! from a multitude of others besides me, so you’re thinking, “Yeah, Suz Brockmann, another movie, whatever, I don’t have time to read this–”

But wait, please, before you hit delete! Lemme give you some info in easy to read bullet points, complete with visual aids! (Also? Scroll down for an excerpt from ​Ready to Roll…)

I’m offering a boatload of reader-friendly backer rewards in my movie’s Kickstarter campaign that you cannot get anywhere else:

​​Signed (out of print!) hardcover edition of Hot Target (or Breaking Point, or Force of Nature, or All Through the Night) for just a $25 backer contribution to our movie! Price includes US shipping!

​Signed limited print edition of Free Fall — a Troubleshooters short story usually only available in e-book format, for just a $20 backer contribution to Russian Doll. Price includes US shipping, PLUS I’ll throw in limited edition print booklets of my other TS shorts, When Tony Met Adam and Beginnings & Ends!

Signed limited print edition of Ready to Roll — my next TS short story featuring Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella and his extended family for just a $25 backer contribution, and yes, shipping is included for US readers. (P.S. Yes, RtoR will eventually be available in all e-formats, but this is your chance to get this story in print!)(All of the rewards are also available to international readers, but there’ll be an extra charge for shipping.)

Signed limited print editions of both Free Falland Ready to Roll​ with print editions of When Tony Met Adam and Beginnings & Ends as a bonus for just a $40 backer contribution, see top photo!

The Jules Cassidy Collection: Four signed (out of print!) hardcovers, plus all of the TS short print editions for just a $190 backer contribution! (See description above!)

Be a beta-reader for Ready to Roll. Part of my writing process involves emailing a first draft to a group of readers, and getting feedback from them. If you’ve ever wanted to beta-read (and get a Word doc of the story months before everyone else!), here’s your chance! The digital only “Be a Beta-Reader” is available for a $50 backer contribution. $75 gets you that first draft Word doc and a signed limited print edition, too.

There are other big $$$$ rewards available, too. (Writing critiques, Skype chats, lunch with me, lunch with me on set, have a house party and private screening of the movie, spend a day on the set as a featured extra…)  Info is over on our Kickstarter page.
Act fast, because the campaign ends on this Saturday, May 30th, at noon ET.  
Kickstarter is a crowdfunding site that allows movie makers and audiences to find each other in advance of production.

With Kickstarter, people can “back” a movie (and help with costs of production) in exchange for cool “rewards.”
Some of the projects I’ve personally backed include the Veronica Mars movie, a book co-written by William Shatner, a webseries called Fame Dogs that features strong female characters, and a musical project by my favorite female singer/songwriter Val Vigoda.
Movie making is insanely expensive, mainly because so many people need to be involved.
Our Kickstarter page includes a description of the film, plus my production company’s mission statement:

At small or LARGE Productions, we think the world is a far more diverse and interesting place than Hollywood blockbusters would have us believe.

Our mission is to create high quality, exciting, and entertaining movies featuring a universe where:

LGBTQ characters have leading roles that are never based on stereotypes
The main conflicts of our LGBTQ characters aren’t created by their sexual orientation
Female characters have leading roles that go beyond mother, wife, daughter, and/or woman-in-jeopardy
People of color have leading roles that are never based on stereotypes
A limited budget does not mean a compromised product

About Russian Doll:

Russian Doll is a SAG (Screen Actors Guild) ultra low budget feature length movie.
The script (a thriller) was written by Ed Gaffney.
The main character is an out lesbian police detective who takes on a perplexing missing persons case.
The heroine’s loving and supportive mom will be played by Kristine Sutherland (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
The movie will be filmed on high quality digital video during a fourteen-day shoot in Framingham and Concord, MA in July 2015.
Link to our Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/suzannebrockmann/russian-doll-a-feature-film


About Ready to Roll:

Ready to Roll will be available for sale in all e-formats.  (Release date TBA)
I expect to have the first draft ready to send to beta-readers by December 2015.

Although Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella prefers “real world” assignments over his latest stint as a BUD/S instructor, he’s always happy to spend time in San Diego, sleeping in his own bed with his smart and sexy wife, Eden.  Izzy and Eden share custody of her teenage brother Ben, but while Eden’s older brother Dan and his wife Jenn are busy wrangling their newborn son, Ben’s with Izzy and Eden full-time. And while he’s no colicky infant, he somehow manages to keep getting suspended from high school for fighting. A bully’s been targeting him, but there’s clearly more to the situation than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Izzy’s also challenged by a new trio of young SEAL candidates who are going through BUD/S training’s punishing Hell Week… (Estimated length:  About 25,000 words or 100 pages)

Ready to Roll is the third of a connected trilogy of Troubleshooters short stories that starts with FREE FALL and continues in HOME FIRE INFERNO, the TS story included in the WAY OF THE WARRIOR military romance anthology.

Featuring: Navy SEALs Izzy Zanella, Dan Gillman, Mark Jenkins, and Tony Vlachic, and their spouses and partners Eden, Jenn, Lindsey, and Adam. Introducing Navy SEAL LT. Peter “Grunge” Greene, and Petty Officers and Navy SEAL candidates John “Seagull” Livingston, John “Hans” Schlossman, and Jon “Timebomb” Jackson.  (With special appearances from Sam Starrett, Alyssa Locke, and Robin Chadwick Cassidy.)

Location: San Diego, California

Excerpt from Ready to Roll:  

Hell Week started the way it always started, with a shit-ton of noise.  Artillery simulators boomed and bullhorns were utilized by the team of instructors as the current crop of SEAL candidates finished up their initial beach run.

Izzy didn’t have to be there–his shift didn’t start until morning–but he liked the visual that came from witnessing Hell Week day one, hour one.  This mental photograph of the hopeful mob of SEAL candidates humping it down the beach would be easily recalled in five and a half days.  Izzy could and would compare and contrast it to the sight of the few dozen men left barely-standing.  It would reinforce the SEAL adage of being one of the “few of the few.”

And that wasn’t an ego thing.

Okay, it was a teeny bit of an ego thing.  Hard not to be.

But it was most valuable when it came to welcoming new members to the team.  Izzy knew that even the youngest, greenest-seeming SEALs had pushed themselves over the edge and were highly skilled and well-qualified to stand beside him.

Tonight, however, it was Eden who was next to him, shivering slightly in the crisp night air.  It was date night, and it had actually been her idea to come out to the beach like this.  But because she was here, they weren’t down at the water–civilians had to keep their distance–but they had a good vantage point. Plus Izzy’d brought along a small pair of binocular-like NVGs–night vision glasses.

He handed them to Eden, so she could take a look as the class ended their run and went almost directly into the churning ocean.  Tide was coming in, which added to the suck-factor.

“So this is where they start to quit?” Eden asked as she scanned the beach.  “I mean, it makes sense.  It’s so cold.”  She glanced up at him and smiled, adding, “Shh!  Don’t tell me that this isn’t cold, because I know.  Jumping out of a helo into the North Sea is cold.  But I’m not talking Navy SEAL degrees.  I’m talking mere-mortal temperatures.”

Izzy put his arm around her, and she did that thing that he loved, where she seemed to melt, completely, against him.  He kissed her–it was hard not to when she was looking at him like that.  But she’d asked him a question, so he answered it.

“Yes,” he said as she shifted to lean back against him, his arms still around her as she looked through the lenses again.  “This is where the mere mortals start to quit.  The doubter who is also both an over-thinker and good at math will be the first to go.  He hit the cold water, and he’s sitting there right now, getting slammed by the breakers, and he’s thinking This is seriously bad, and it’s only an hour in.  And his math brain is going clickety-clickety-click.  Twenty-four hours in a day; five days, eleven hours left to endure; Five times twenty-four is one-twenty plus eleven equals one hundred and thirty ones hours, and soon he’ll think Screw this caca-doody or the crusty sailor equivalent, and he’ll push himself up and he’ll stagger out of the water and beeline it for the bell.  Ding, ding, ding, he’s done, done, done.  And his adiosing his ass out of there creates entropy.  Before this very moment, there has only been I will succeed.  But now all the other doubters and over-thinkers, regardless of their skill at math, are suddenly overwhelmed with doubt and fear.  Now there’s a pop-up bubble in their head going, Look!  Quitting’s an option!  As for the quitters–they’ve been waiting for this moment, and now it’s here.  And they’re going At least–thank God–I’m not the first.”

“What does that matter–their not being first?” Eden tipped her head back to ask.  “Quitting is quitting.”

“It’s a stupid guy thing,” Izzy told her, nuzzling her neck through her thick, sweet-smelling hair.  “Some guys think it stings less when you’re not the first.”

“And you really think that this time the lieutenant is wrong about the guy who’s going to quit first?”

“Grunge isn’t wrong very often,” Izzy admitted.  “But this time, yeah, he’s definitely missing something.”

Grunge had gone with his instincts and pegged Petty Officer John Livingston, aka Seagull, as Quitter Number One.  The other instructors had been ordered to help Seagull along, essentially by getting in the little dude’s face and increasing his self-doubt.

You’re not going to make it, Livingston!

    Do your boat team a favor by ringing out now!  Don’t make them drag your sorry ass along with them, Livingston!  Everyone on this beach knows you are never going to make it!

    You’re not strong enough, Livingston, you’re not tough enough, you’re not mean enough, you’re not man enough . . .

Izzy could see the bulk of the instructors, close to the end of the line of SEALS who were now sitting, elbows linked, in the frothing surf.  Seagull was down there.

“Whoops, we have movement,” Eden announced, handing over the NVGs so Izzy could see.

But when he aimed the lenses toward Seagull, she added, “Nope, other end.  Is it him?”

“Grunge’s pick?” Izzy clarified.  “No.”  Quitter Number One wasn’t Seagull.  Grunge was rarely off by much, so maybe Seagull would be Quitter Number Two.  Izzy aimed the lenses back and sure enough, the instructors were leaning hard on Seagull–still in his face.

    At least one of them–a SEAL named Carlos–had a bullhorn, and his words drifted clearly down the beach.  Be a patriot, Livingston, you know you’re not good enough!  You know you’ll never do this, so step aside so the real men can be SEALs!

Izzy was looking directly at Seagull and right at that moment, right after a wave broke over the SEAL candidates’ very cold heads, he had a clear shot of the man’s face.  And he could’ve sworn he saw Seagull smile.

It was just a little smile.  A private smile.  It was weird, for sure.

“Grunge was definitely wrong,” Izzy told Eden.  “Guy he picked as Quitter Number One isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.”

Link to the Kickstarter, where you can be a beta-reader — or get a limited print edition of Ready to Roll: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/suzannebrockmann/russian-doll-a-feature-film​

Link to more info about Ready to Roll at my website: http://suzannebrockmann.com/books/e-shorts/ready-to-roll/

P.S. Apologies for the strange-seeming font size changes. As much as I love my new e-newsletter hosting site, Tiny Letter, they are not Mac-friendly, and I didn’t have the time to break out my ancient PC laptop. Forgive me. (Thank you.)

P.P.S. For those of you who’ve followed the adventures of my dog, Little Joe, since last summer’s back injury, paralysis, recovery from surgery, and amazing rehab, she’s doing quite well! I’ve posted a video on my Facebook “Suzanne Brockmann Books” page that shows how well she’s doing! https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks

Last but not least: Tri-State area residents (NY, NJ, CT!), mark your calendars!  RWA National is in NYC this July, and there is a HUGE booksigning scheduled for Wednesday, July 22nd at 5:30 p.m. (All books are donated, and all proceeds go to literacy programs!) I’ll be there (along with 800 of my romance author friends)!

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News From Suz Brockmann: 5/5/2015 (Happy WOTW Release Day!)

Originally sent via my enewletter at TinyLetter.com:

Way of the Warrior is here!

Happy May 5th: It’s Way of the Warrior Release Day!  (Or at least it is, here in the eastern time zone!)

This charity anthology of military romances includes my newest Troubleshooters short story, Home Fire Inferno, featuring Navy SEALs Izzy Zanella and Danny Gillman — along with seven other fantastic stories from some really terrific writers, including Julie Ann Walker, Anne Elizabeth, ML Buchman, and Catherine Mann!

Way of the Warrior is available in both ebook and paperback, and all proceeds from all of the authors and the publisher will go to the Wounded Warrior Project!

If you’ve already pre-ordered, thank you! Your book or ebook is on its way! (Scroll down to see the gorgeous cover art!)

“(Way of the Warrior) is a must-read for every military romance fan.” — Publishers Weekly

“A heartfelt tribute to our military personnel and the sacrifices they and their families make. This anthology is a hands-down winner…” — Library Journal

Here are some quick links to  Way of the Warrior  at your favorite on-line bookseller:

E-book:

iBooks: http://apple.co/1D5mIKa 

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Kv5LM9

Nook: http://bit.ly/1FvufAB

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Fu8hD6

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1cjuyHv

Paperback:

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1JBQtrl

B&N: http://bit.ly/1FvufAB

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Gy5au7

Or find out more about the book at my website!

Just a few quick headlines today: 

Facebook Party for Way of the Warrior! Join me and the other authors at a Facebook bash hosted by Sourcebooks, starting (with me!) from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET.
New England area readers: I’m also holding a (live, in person!) launch party for  Way of the Warrior  at the Bacon Free Library in South Natick, MA this evening (Tuesday, May 5, 2015) at 7:00 p.m.!
The Kickstarter campaign for my next indie movie, Russian Doll has launched!
Find out how to get a limited print edition of Ready to Roll, the third and final installment in the trilogy of Troubleshooters short stories that started with  Free Fall  and continued with  WOTW’s Home Fire Inferno  via my Kickstarter campaign for  Russian Doll!


And here are the details: 

1) Facebook Party for Way of the Warrior! 

Join me — and the other amazing WOTW authors — at a Facebook bash hosted by Sourcebooks, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. 

I’ll be there chatting and answering questions on the WOTW Facebook page from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET, so drop by to say “Hi!” if you can! 

See the full authors schedule here! One of the authors will be on Facebook, from 2:30 p.m. ET through 6:30 p.m. ET!

Here’s the Way of the Warrior Launch Party link: ​https://www.facebook.com/events/534816216656341/

Hosted by Sourcebooks Casablanca

2) New England area readers: I’m holding another celebration for Way of the Warrior’s release at the Bacon Free Library in South Natick, MA this evening!

That’s today, Tuesday, May 5th, 2015, 7:00 p.m. ET

Bacon Free Library

Author talk & book signing with Suz Brockmann

58 Elliot Street, South Natick, MA 01760

Note:  I’m donating all of the books at this event and all proceeds from their sale will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. Also! This little library is housed in a building constructed in the 1800s. It’s gorgeous and quirky and really quite lovely! Come check it out! (I hope to see you there!)

3) The Kickstarter campaign for my movie, Russian Doll has launched!

I’m executive producing another movie this summer — this one’s a thriller called Russian Doll. You can find out ALL about the movie on our Kickstarter page at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/suzannebrockmann/russian-doll-a-feature-film. (Or go to Kickstarter.com and search for “Russian Doll.”) There’s a short video to watch, as well as a ton of info about the production, like:

We’re filming Russian Doll in two very short, very busy weeks this July in the Boston area
Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has signed on to play the main character’s rather strong-willed mother
That main character is a female police detective, and the movie is filled with many other strong women, too
We’ve cast quite a bit of the film with local Boston actors
The script was written by my amazing husband and EDGAR Award Finalist Ed Gaffney

Making movies is both crazy and crazy expensive. So we’re using Kickstarter’s crowdsourcing to raise the last chunk of money that we need to make a truly high quality film.

Let me give you a quick crash course in Kickstarter 101. (Those of you who are familiar with Kickstarter, go ahead and skip down to the list of cool rewards below! Or follow the link above to pop on over to the site!)

For everyone still reading:

News from Suz: April 29, 2015 (Join my new e-newsletter list!)

Originally sent via my enewletter at TinyLetter.com:

 

Hey! What the what? Suz Brockmann’s sending you an e-newsletter that includes cover art!

Yup. With Jason’s help, I pried my email newsletter list out of the rusty jaws of Yahoogroups, and brought it safely into 2015! (You may not have heard from me in a while because your email was tucking my Yahoogroup-alicious newsletters into your spam folder! I hope you’re well! I’ve been busy with a bunch o’ fun projects. More about that in a sec…)

It’s very nice and shiny here at Tiny Letter! I hope you’ll stay subscribed to my list, but if you feel the need to leave, there’s an easy-to-access UNSUBSCRIBE button down at the very end of this email.

But before you go: I’d love to share with you one last message about an upcoming book!  It’s called Way of the Warrior, and it’s an anthology of stories by eight military romance authors–of which I am one!

Not only is Way of the Warrior a great opportunity for you to discover other military romance authors, but your book-buying dollars will go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project.All proceeds from this charity anthology, from authors and publisher alike are going to that very worthy cause!

Way of the Warrior is available in paperback and ebook, from Sourcebooks.

My story is set in my Troubleshooters world and is called Home Fire Inferno.

Featured characters:  Navy SEALs Izzy Zanella, Dan Gillman, Jay Lopez, Mark Jenkins, Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok (yes, Stan fans, the senior plays a role in this story, as does CO Jazz Jacquette!), and introducing Hospital Corpsman Hubert Bickles (aka the SEAL with the intriguing nickname HoboMofo); Eden Zanella, Jenn Gillman, Brianna Bickles, and Brianna’s 5th grade teacher and LOTR elf princess look-alike, Carol Redmond.

Location:  Manila, Philippines; San Diego and Obsidian Springs, California

Timeframe:  This Troubleshooters story tales place in January 2010, about eight months after the end of Breaking the Rules, and about two weeks after Free Fall, my latest TS series e-short.

Navy SEAL Dan Gillman’s wife, Jenn, goes into early labor while stranded in the California desert, as he and most of Team Sixteen are mission ready, overseas. Meanwhile, left behind with a recent knee injury and faced with impending surgery and rehab, Chief Jay Lopez decides that the timing might be exactly right for a romantic interlude with a pretty fifth grade teacher . . . High jinks *definitely* ensue. (12,000 words or about 50 pages)

Here’s an easy list of links for Way of the Warrior at various online booksellers:

E-book:

iBooks: http://apple.co/1D5mIKa

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Kv5LM9

Nook: http://bit.ly/1FvufAB

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Fu8hD6

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1cjuyHv

Paperback:

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1JBQtrl

B&N: http://bit.ly/1FvufAB

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Gy5au7

Find out more about the book at my website!

Okay.

I’m gonna attempt to be as brief as possible with the rest of my e-news.  (Shh, I hear you laughing! I said attempt.)

Here’re the headlines:

New England area readers: I’m holding a launch party for  Way of the Warrior at the Bacon Free Library in South Natick, MA on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.! (deets below)
Advance Planners/Readers: The Romance Writers of America’s giant booksigning to support literacy programs is being held in NYC on Wednesday, July 22nd, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis!
Advance Planners/Writers: RWA! NYC! July 22 – 25! I’m giving two workshops this year, one on diversity in romance with Farrah Rochon, and one on the writer/audiobook-narrator relationship with Patrick Lawlor! (deets below)
ICYMI: My latest Troubleshooters e-short,  Free Fall,  (featuring Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella!) is available in all e-formats! Free Fall is the first installment of a connected trilogy of Troubleshooters short stories that continues in Home Fire Inferno, the TS story included in the Way of the Warrior military romance anthology, and concludes in an upcoming short called READY TO ROLL.
I’m about to launch a Kickstarter campaign for a movie called Russian Dollthat I’ll be executive producing this summer. (But more about that in my next newsletter!)

Here’re the details:

1) Launch Party for Way of the Warrior

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Bacon Free Library

Author talk & book signing: Suz Brockmann

58 Elliot Street, South Natick, MA 01760

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Note:  I’m donating all books at this event!  All proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. Also? This little library is housed in a building constructed in the 1800s. It’s gorgeous and quirky and really quite lovely! Come check it out!

2) Wednesday, July 22, 2015: New York City, NY

Romance Writers of America National Conference Literacy Book Signing

Location: New York Marriott Marquis

1535 Broadway

New York, New York  10036

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Open to the public but visit RWA’s website for info and signing guidelines!

Note:  Join me and hundreds of your favorite romance authors at a HUGE book signing.  All proceeds support literacy programs.3) Thursday, July 23 – Saturday, July 25, 2015: New York City, NY

Romance Writers of America National Conference

Location: New York Marriott Marquis

1535 Broadway

New York, NY 10036

Note:  I’ll be presenting two workshops at RWA.  Come and say hello!

The Human Experience: Throwing Away Stereotypes and Creating Realistically Diverse Characters through Empathy (Craft)

Speakers: Suzanne Brockmann and Farrah Rochon

Saturday, July 25; 4:30 p.m.

Black, white, gay, straight, male, female: we’re all human. And if we start with the basics—the human heart—we can easily avoid stereotypes and instead create a rainbow of realistically diverse characters to people our novels.

The Author/Audiobook Narrator Collaboration (Industry)

Speakers: Suzanne Brockmann and Patrick Lawlor

Thursday, July 23; 11:00 a.m.

A New York Times best-selling author and an award-winning audiobook narrator talk about how to find the right narrator not only to excite readers, but also to improve your writing and storytelling skills.

4) In Case You Missed It:  Here’s the blurb from Free Fall:  What should be an easy HAHO training jump for SEAL Team Sixteen goes wrong, forcing Izzy Zanella to do what he does best: Improvise.  At thirty thousand feet. 

About 12,000 words or 50 pages

Available in ebook and in audio download read by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank

Featuring: Navy SEALs Izzy Zanella and Tony Vlachic, their spouses and partners Eden and Adam, as well as Eden’s teenage brother Ben Gillman.

Location: San Diego, California; and Manila, Philippines

Timeframe: Free Fall takes place about eight months after the end of Breaking the Rules (TS #16)

5) Here’s the link to Russian Doll‘s website. Our Kickstarter campaign should go live on or around May 3rd and run through May 30th. I’ve created quite a few reader-friendly rewards for backers! More details coming soon!

Thank you for your time and attention!

News from Suz: Dec. 22, 2014: A Holiday Intervention with Navy SEAL Dan Gillman

Danny Gillman (whispering to you):  Hey.  Yeah.  Over here. (wiping clear steamed up mirror) Hi.  It’s me.  Dan.  (tightens towel around his waist)  And yes, I’m talking to you from the bathroom.  It’s the only place where I know for sure that I’ll be alone over this crazy holiday week.  I’ve started taking *really* long showers.

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room):  Fa leh la leh LAH!  Leh-LAH LAH LAH!

Danny:  Yup.  (continues shaving in the bathroom sink) We’re here visiting Jenn’s parents for the holidays.  All of us.  Ben and Eden and Zanella, too.  At first it was just gonna be Jenn and me, but this is Ben’s first holiday season with all of us, so . . . Here we are.  ALL of us.  And don’t get me wrong.  I get it — I do.  SEAL Team Sixteen could go wheels up any day — any minute.  And Zanella and I are both Stateside this year.  God only knows where we’ll be next year.  (rinses and wipes face with another towel) So I wanted to give Jenn this family time, and I know she’s really loving it . . .

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room, falsetto-ed, a la a boy soprano):  The-uh fir-erst No-oh-ell thee-ee angels did say…!

Danny:  But holy freaking God.  (starts perusing the collection of hair care products crowding the counter top)  We’re all camped out in the playroom, because Jenn’s brothers are home to visit, too.  (Picks one, sniffs it, then squeezes some into his hand, and applies it to his hair)  And at least Jenn and I get the pullout couch, but *damn.*   And again, I’m not saying it hasn’t been fun, but you know how holidays can be.  It’s so flipping *relentless*.

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room, operatic basso profundo):  OHHH, HOHHH-LY NIGHT!  THE STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHIIIIII-NING!

Danny:  (just looking at you in the mirror)

Another voice joins Izzy (in harmony):  FALL!  ON YOUR KNEEEEEEEEES!!!!

Danny (deadpan):  Oh, good.  Uncle Frank is singing now, too.  (leans closer to the mirror, lowers voice)  Look.  The holidays are great, but let’s face it — they’re not without stress.  If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to lock yourself in the bathroom and do a little meditation.  Or better yet, bring your e-reader.  Take a time-out.  If you want to, you can spend it with SEAL Team Sixteen.  Suz’s latest Troubleshooters short story, FREE FALL, is available for download just in time for the holidays.  It’s a quick read — it’s about 50 pages long — around 12K words.  The perfect length for a mini-escape.  Izzy’s in it, I’m in it, Tony V is in it, so’s his fiancé Adam.  Eden and Jenn are in it — so’s Ben.  You’ll find out a little bit about how he’s adjusting to life in his new high school in San Diego.  And of course the main story focuses on a SEAL HAHO training jump.  Mr. Murphy’s along for the ride, so hijinx ensue.  But Murphy’s no match for Zanella.  As much as I bitch about the guy, I like knowing he’s there.  Because I know he’s always got my six.

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room):  But doooo youuuu recall! The most famous reindeeeer of all…!  (his voice gets louder as he approaches bathroom door and bangs on it)  Yo, Danbo!  You coming out any time soon?  I gots to whiz!

Dan (pulling on his clothes, calling back):  I’ll be out in a sec!  (looking back at you, whispers)  Or you can always take your e-reader, say you’re going for a walk, and then go sit in the car or maybe hide in the basement or…

Izzy’s voice:  Hurry up, brah!  We’re about to start an epic game of Settlers of Catan!  The Star Trek version!  And I know you want in on that magic!

Dan (whispering):  He’s right.  I do.  But I also know that it’s gonna get loud.

Izzy’s voice (banging — boom, boom, boom):  DANNY!  (as if he’s calling for Stella)  DANNY!!!!

Dan (whispering):  Louder.  I’m sure I’ll be back in here later, in an attempt to recover from all the fun.  (saluting you) Stay alive, whatever you do.  Oh, here’s the blurb for FREE FALL — and links to where you can download it.  Happy and merry and ho ho ho.  (takes deep breath, squares shoulders and opens the bathroom door.)

FREE FALL:  What should be an easy HAHO training jump for SEAL Team Sixteen goes wrong, forcing Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella to do what he does best: Improvise.  At thirty thousand feet.  (About 12,000 words or 50 pages)

Suzanne Brockmann, bestselling author of the pulse-pounding Troubleshooters series, has been hailed by USA Today as a “superstar of romantic suspense.” In this original short story, available exclusively as an eBook, Brockmann returns with some of her most beloved characters from the Troubleshooters world: Izzy Zanella and his friends in U.S. Navy SEAL Team Sixteen.

Kobo link to FREE FALL: http://bit.ly/1wAZc6i

Nook link to FREE FALL: http://bit.ly/1Hfi1x1

Kindle link to FREE FALL: http://amzn.to/1zJpm7I

And Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1AuvdOh

Kindle JP: http://amzn.to/1Cp01zs

Kindle Canada: http://amzn.to/1zRmy8x

(Coming soon:  iBooks and GoogleBooks!)