BENEATH THE SURFACE

Dive Team Investigations

Book One

by

Lynn H. Blackburn

Genre: Suspense / Romance / Christian

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: March 6, 2018

Number of Pages: 352

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Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new romantic suspense novel, Beneath the Surface. This gripping tale from award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn will capture readers from the first page and won’t let them go until the final, heart-pounding scene.

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston moves home to Carrington, North Carolina, to leave behind her troubled past. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present.

Homicide investigator Ryan Parker finds fulfillment in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer—one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

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Praise

“With this book, author Lynn Blackburn has moved from the status of an upcoming author to watch and cemented herself as an author to note. Her exceptional storytelling skills shine as she weaves an intricate plot, populated with characters we care deeply about. Another up-all-night-because-I-can’t-put-down-the-book read.”  —Edie Melson, award-winning author, blogger, and director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference

“Beneath the Surface is a swoon-worthy romantic suspense that packs a punch from page one. The nonstop action will keep you guessing until the end.”  —Rachel Dylan, author of the Atlanta Justice series

“Just when you think you can relax, Blackburn brings you back to the edge of your seat in this riveting, high-tension suspense story.”  —Patricia Bradley, author of Justice Delayed

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Bringing a Character to Life

Guest Post by Lynn H. Blackburn

People often ask my characters are based on real people.

My answer? Yes and no.

I have never written a character that was entirely based on a real person. Every character is a little melting pot of dozens of people—real and fictional.

I often start with my character’s job. Are they in law enforcement or some other profession? Do they love their job or hate it? Did they go into the family business or choose a different path? Do they see their job as a calling or as a means to an end? I brainstorm all sorts of professions until I find one that fits the story that’s swirling in my brain.

While I’m thinking about that, I also start thinking about their family of origin. Was it happy or dysfunctional? Do they have siblings? Are their parents living? Married or divorced? Do they all live in the same town or are they in far flung places? Again, the answers to these questions are often related to how the story is unfolding in my mind. Sometimes I need a sibling to live local. Sometimes I need them out of the picture to isolate my character further.

And I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what is standing between them and true love. This is a romance after all! Do they date a lot but keep it light? Or do they avoid dating because they’ve been hurt too badly in the past? Or maybe they’re carrying a secret flame for someone they can’t have.

At some point, I just have to start writing because no matter how much I try to get to know the character before the book begins, there’s nothing like putting them in situations and seeing how they react to learn more about them.

The heroine of Beneath the Surface is Leigh Weston. She’s a nurse practitioner who left her position in a big hospital’s oncology department after a patient stalked and terrorized her for months. She’s returned to her hometown of Carrington, NC and is working in the Emergency Department now.

The inspiration for Leigh’s profession is my sister (who shared her middle name with my character). My sister is a nurse practitioner who does palliative care. She works with patients in end-of-life situations every day and I used her knowledge, compassion and skills to form the backbone of Leigh’s character.

But Leigh is very much her own unique person. She was adopted from China so I reached out to a young lady I know who was adopted from China and raised in the Carolinas. She was very gracious to answer a lot of questions that helped me get further into Leigh’s brain and understand how she might think about certain situations.

At the beginning of Beneath the Surface, Leigh has isolated herself as a coping mechanism to help her deal with the death of her mother and the stalker who threatened her life. None of those things have happened to anyone I know personally and are pure fiction.

Leigh was also a gymnast and loves yoga and that came from my own wish that I was flexible and strong like that! One of my favorite parts of writing is being able to give my characters abilities that I wish I personally had.

Of course, people often ask how much I put of myself into my characters and there’s usually at least one thing that each character does or enjoys that is all me. In Leigh’s case, it’s the cooking.

Maybe it’s a Southern thing but I do love to feed the people I love. If I wasn’t so busy writing books I would entertain every weekend. Not in a fancy way, but more the way Leigh does. Just opening up my home and providing some tasty treats and a relaxed place to enjoy them. Nothing makes me happier than to have my house and yard crawling with friends and their kids, all of whom know they are welcome to eat everything they see and flop into any chair they want.

Developing my characters, discovering who they are and what makes them tick, and then introducing them to my readers—those are some of my favorite parts of the creative process.

Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Hidden Legacy (Love Inspired, June 2017) and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

Grand Prize: Print Copy of the Book, Library Card Socks,

Gone Reading Sign (wooden, 5″x7″), Reading Mug;

2nd Prize: Print Copy of the Book + $25 B&N Gift Card;

3rd Prize: Print Copy of the Book + $10 Starbucks Gift Card

MARCH 6-15, 2018

(US ONLY)

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