Book Description
A frantic anonymous crisis center hot-line call propels counselor Susana Martinez-Acosta smack into the center of a murder investigation and a homicide detective’s arms. Exactly where she doesn’t want to be. Following the tragic death of her husband, she’s struggled to build a safe haven for herself and her son. That new world doesn’t include hit men and persistent detectives with dangerous jobs.
An idyllic wilderness hike turns deadly when homicide detective Ray Johnson tumbles into a ravine and lands on a corpse later identified as the son of a prominent citizen. Ray works to solve the political hot potato murder before city leaders bump him from the case. His determination to find the man’s killer leads him from the wealthiest enclaves in San Antonio to the city’s dark underbelly, all the while trying to win the woman he loves.
A Deadly Wilderness is a romantic suspense novel that will take the reader along on a tumultuous journey as the consuming need for material wealth drives a deadly wedge among family members who haven’t learned when enough really is enough. The journey ends where it began—in a deadly wilderness.
Q & A with Author Kelly Irvin, Interview for the book - A Deadly Wilderness
1) You are the author of more than 30 Amish romances, romantic suspense novels
and nonfiction. What inspired you to write this novel, A Deadly Wilderness?
I was the public relations manager for the city Parks and Recreation Department for more than 20 years. I always secretly thought some of the parks would make great places to commit murder. I set all my romantic suspense novels in San Antonio, because it’s historic, multicultural, and has lots of nooks and crannies perfect for stowing dead bodies. I also wanted to write a really psycho assassin who still had a bit of humanity in him. I knew who my killer was, who the hero was, and where the murders would occur. I just needed the plot. LOL I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer so I sort of figured it out as I went along.
2) How many books have you written? When did you write your first book?
Including the ones in the publishing pipeline, I’ve written 32 novels and 8 novellas. I started writing my first book the day after my 45th birthday, in 2003. Being a published novelist had always been my dream and I figured it was now or never. That first novel was never published. Nor was the second. It took three years to get an agent and another four to get a publishing contract.
3) Author Kelly Irvin’s book, A Deadly Wilderness is a story of murder, suspense, and
greed that involves in the book A Deadly Wilderness is a police officer, a domestic violence hotline volunteer, and an assassin). Where did you get your research and or ideas for your book?
Having been a newspaper reporter for ten years before going into public relations, I had plenty of exposure to the more sordid side of life. As a sideline, I proofread trial transcripts for three U.S. District Court reporters. Over the years, those trials included three death penalty cases, several sexual assaults of children, horrendous murders of all sorts. While not an uplifting experience in terms of my view on the human race, it provided me with endless, intimate details of how crimes are committed and how they are solved. I used those details in my fiction to give it an authentic, realistic feel.
4) Being a proud writer at the age of 65, When did you first realize that you wanted to
be a writer?
I always wanted to be a writer. My sister and I “published” a newspaper when we were in grade school. I wrote short stories, poems, and even a play all the way through high school. Then I decided to get a degree in journalism because I thought it would be easier to support myself than trying to be a fiction writer. I worked as a reporter for 10 years, got married, switched to public relations, had two children, and my days were stuffed to the brim. I still had the itch to write fiction. As I mentioned earlier, on my 45th birthday, I knew my time was running out. My kids were in middle school and I still worked 40-plus hours a week—and cooked, cleaned, grocery-shopped, went to church, chauffered, and freelanced. Still I managed to squeeze in writing times—usually very early in the morning or late in the evening.
5) What are some ways you can suggest to me to become a better writer or as an
aspiring author?
Definitely practice your craft. Write, write, write. Attend craft workshops and writing conferences. Join writing organizations. Get in a critique group where you can help each other improve your stories. Write as often as you can—every day if possible. Never stop learning.
6) Can you think of a particular book or project in your writing career you are proud
of as an accomplishment of being an author?
I’m proud of all my books, in different ways, but A Deadly Wilderness has a special place in my heart because the original, hardback library edition was my first published book. I’m thrilled that it’s releasing now in paperback and e-book for the first time so that it’ll be more accessible to the many readers I’ve gained since it was originally released in 2012.
7) You have a long career history in writing. Has your experience crafted your
storytelling?
Definitely. I can write stories now that I couldn’t have written when I was in my twenties. I lived along the Texas-Mexico border for five years, then in San Antonio for going on 35 years. I’ve experienced a lot of heartache, lots of great joy, and learned so much about life. All of those experiences are poured into my story.,
8) Where can your readers find your books and learn more about you?
All my books are available at on-line book retailers. Get more details with buy link on my website at
http://www.kellyirvin.com. (sign up for my newsletter there!)
I’d love to connect with readers on social media:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3331118.Kelly_Irvin#DW
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kelly-irvin#dw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kelly.Irvin.Author#dw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kelly_S_Irvin#dw
Instagram: https://instagram.com/Kelly_Irvin
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