Night Watch Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Night Watch by Susan Sleeman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Night Watch
Series: Night Hawk Security #5
Author: Susan Sleeman
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: August 2021
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense 

Everything points to suicide or accidental death… 

Underwater crime scene investigator, Kennedy Walker is shocked when her mother dies and the police rule her death a suicide or an accidental overdose. Her scientist-mother was on the verge of a scientific breakthrough, and Kennedy knows her mother would never end her life, but the detective won’t listen. Kennedy moves back to her hometown and commits to finding her mother’s killer and finishing her work. 

And she must prove them wrong. 

Kennedy digs deeper, garnering the killer’s focus, and he puts her in his cross-hairs. She can’t give up on such an important project, so she swallows down her unease over the tumultuous breakup with Erik Byrd in college and hires Nighthawk Security, not only to protect her, but to help find her mother’s killer. It takes only one look for both of them to know their feelings for each other haven’t gone away. With so many people counting on her to complete the project, giving in to old feelings is a distraction neither she or Erik can afford, and they both need to keep watch. Especially in the darkest hours of the night, when the killer comes out to play. 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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Susan Sleeman is the bestselling author of over fifty novels with more than one million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith . Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, two terrific sons-in-law, and two adorable grandsons. To learn more about Susan’s books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Welcome Susan! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allow my readers a chance to get to know you and your new book Night Watch.

I like to start these interviews the same way, with something fun to break the ice. Can you share 5 random facts about you that we will not find in your bio?

I once received an award from the Holloway Candy Company for my achievement in stretching a Slo Poke sucker to extreme lengths, earning me the coveted title of Super Sucker Stretcher. I even have a letter to prove it. LOL

I’m the only one in my immediate family who cannot raise one eyebrow at a time. Not that I lose any sleep over it as I’m certain this is not a necessary skill in my search for self-actualization.

My husband was nearly late for our wedding due to a fishing trip with his buddies that went awry. At least that was the excuse he offered, but I’m still wondering if this is the real reason or if it actually involved an intervention by aliens as his face still takes on a greenish hue when the topic is brought up.

My first experience with self-tanners went awry. Most of the color washed off my legs from the knee down when I stepped into the river on a singles canoe trip. I’m still searching for a plausible explanation for my two-toned color scheme.

I have been known to be restroom-sign-impaired making for a very interesting travel experience. Details withheld to protect the innocent.

When did you first discover you had a passion for writing?

When I was young, I read all the Nancy Drew mysteries, and I always fancied myself as a author who wrote similar books. I tried my hand at writing all through school, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with a chronic disease as an adult that I found myself with time to follow that desire for real.

What first drew you to creating romantic suspense?

That answer is simple. I love to read romantic suspense. So why not write the kinds of books that I love to read?

With over 40 books written, where do you continue to find inspiration for fresh new stories that readers will enjoy?

Actually it’s over 50 books with over 40 of them being romantic suspense. I have to tell you, it’s getting harder. Not to come up with an overarching plot. I can still think of a lot of those, but coming up with the interesting details and events that move a plot forward is the hard part now. That said, I always love starting a new book and getting to know new characters whose stories are just begging to be told.

I’m always curious about what the search history of an author must look like--- especially that of a suspense author! What is the most suspicious/incriminating thing we might see on your search history (due to book research, of course!)?

I’m not sure what my most suspicious thing you might see would be, but if you looked at my current history you would see bomb squad x-ray of a package, handling suspicious packages, corporate espionage, bail on murder charges in Oregon, and how long does touch DNA last. Just a day in the life of a suspense writer. LOL

What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life? The most rewarding?

The most challenging for this books was just being able to work amidst surgeries and recovery due to a fall in February. I hate to say it, but just finishing the book was the most rewarding part, and that’s because of the medical issues, I didn’t know if I would get it written on time. But a second to this, is telling the last of the Byrd brother’s stories and seeing him find his happily-ever-after too. I felt a sense of completion.

Can you tell us a little bit more about Night Watch?

Night Watch features forensic underwater crime scene investigator, Kennedy Walker who is shocked when her mother dies and the police rule her death a suicide or an accidental overdose. Kennedy knows her mom would never end her life, but the detective won’t listen. Her scientist-mother was on the verge of a scientific breakthrough, and Kennedy moves back to her home town to finish the project and find her mother’s killer.

As she digs deeper, she garners the killer’s focus, and he puts her in his cross-hairs. She can’t give up on such an important project, so she swallows down her unease over the tumultuous breakup with Erik Byrd in college and hires Nighthawk Security, not only to protect her, but to help find her mother’s killer. It takes only one look for both of them to know their feelings for each other haven’t gone away. With so many people counting on her to complete the project, giving in to old feelings is a distraction neither she or Erik can afford, and they both need to keep watch. Especially in the darkest hours of the night, when the killer comes out to play.

What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

The characters in the book need to learn that in times of uncertainty, we have to trust God and know that He’ll make sure whatever happens is the right thing. A simple thing to say, but a very difficult thing to do when life’s storms come at us. So I hope readers will see these characters struggle with trust and that struggle will help them in their own lives.

Night Watch is the fifth book in the Nighthawk Security series. Will readers who have not read the previous book be able to enjoy this one on its own or will they need to catch up first?

All of my books stand alone and the reader won’t be lost in the story.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?

I finished Night Prey, which is the final book in the Nighthawk Security series, and I am plotting the next series called, Steele Guardians, which is about three sisters and their cousins who take over a security company from their parents.

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(1) winner will receive the first four ebooks in the Nighthawk Security series!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 24, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 31, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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