Capturing Characters: A Chat with K.M. Daughters

A great treat today, for we are a stop on the virtual book tour for K.M. Daughters, celebrating the release of Capturing Karma, the newest book in their award winning Sullivan Brothers series.

Blurb for Capturing Karma:

"Veterinarian Matty Connors’ visions lead her to homicide detective Brian Sullivan once again despite her resolve to remain anonymous the past four years.  Her official work with the police in California resulted in the brutal murder of her fiancé, and since, a recurrent nightmare she barely survives.  Brian, the reputed ladies man of the Sullivan family, has yet to give his heart to a woman until Matty lays claim to it.  His black-and-white approach to solving crimes doesn’t jibe with Matty’s spooky pronouncements or her reputation for alleged infallibility.  A wild goose chase searching for a murder weapon casts doubt on Matty’s “truths” and threatens their smoldering romance.  Is Brian her nightmare slayer and ultimate truth?  When the puzzle pieces fall in place for Brian, will it be too late to save Matty?"

As well as the wonderful article following, there is an excerpt from the book and don't forget to comment for the chance to win an autographed copy of Against Doctors Orders, the first book in the Sullivan Brothers Series.  Also up for grabs are two sterling Chamilia “Sisters” charms and a Claddagh charm that fit Pandora style bracelets.

So welcome our guests and read their thoughts on the intricacies of writing those characters we love.  

“Real” Characters

Our characters are so real to us that we expect them to ring the doorbell someday.  Hopefully we succeed in word-painting vivid portraits of them so that the characters are alive for our Readers, also.

Our team writing process involves as much pre-writing as writing.  Since we divide chapter writing responsibilities evenly, on an alternating basis, we write all characters’ POV’s.  We need to know our characters intimately before we can begin building the scenes architecture.

Before we draft our outline, we discuss the characters who will live in our books, and develop personal histories for each of them.  We delve into their pasts, at least until early adulthood, frequently as far back as childhood.  For our romantic suspense villains – we consider their lives from birth on, fascinated with their motivations and the foundational causes of their brands of insanity. 

CAPTURING KARMA is the third book in the Sullivan Boys series.  We’re delighted that in succession we’re discovering intertwined character elements in the family dynamics, and the brothers’ diverse personalities.  We recently contracted on the 4th book in the series (COMING SOON FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS), entitled ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND LAW.  Our hero, Patrick Sullivan, surprises us by shedding more light on childhood experiences and history. 

We truly love these people, and as we work on the fifth and final installment in the series, we dread the day when we’ll close the book on the family, and say, good-bye.  Maybe one of them will ring the doorbell, and tell us how they’re doing.

Excerpt from Capturing Karma:

Matilda braved a glimpse in her dresser mirror and assessed the toll nightmares had etched on her face this time.  The cut over her eye had scabbed over.  Were those dark circles under both eyes from the accident or lack of sleep?
Her finger traced around the scalloped rim of the framed picture of her and Eric.  Smiling, carefree, linked together side by side in the blazing sunshine—foolishly in love and unaware that there wouldn’t be a long string of lazy days at that beach in their future. Who could have guessed that three weeks after the picture was snapped Eric would be dead and she would be alone?
Tears welled.  Four years, eight months and twenty-two days without you, and I wish I could stop counting.  Maybe then the nightmares would stop.
Brian Sullivan’s request had triggered a cyclone of dreams: Eric-haunted nightmares and Brian-laden fantasies. Dreams featuring Brian admittedly caused most of the tossing and turning last night, but she wouldn’t linger on that.  If she did, she’d have to acknowledge the heady reawakening of his fantasy kisses, the yearning he stoked in her while defenseless in sleep.
Dreams could be denied and forgotten in daylight.  But she couldn’t deny how many times thoughts of Brian had upped her pulse and shot suggestive musings through her brain during her routine yesterday.  Why am I letting this happen?  Tempting as the man is, I can’t risk the danger.
A red rubber ball bounced against her foot.  Clyde clamped his mouth around the ball, lifted it off the ground with a yank of his neck and dumped it again on her foot, demanding her attention.
She stooped and picked it up.  “Want to play?  Dumb question, right Clyde?”
The Boston terrier cocked his head, trained his screwy eyes at her, dashed out of the room and took off down the hall.  Nails clicking against hardwood flooring, Clyde pulled up short, skidded to a halt and turned around toward Matilda, anticipating her toss.  Bent halfway out the door, she pitched the ball; he retrieved it, raced back into the bedroom and dropped it on her foot again.  The mind-numbing game of fetch continued as Matilda varied the directions she heaved the ball, in the intervals applying her makeup and managing to finish dressing.  Clyde was Eric’s dog. Eric and Matilda would sit for hours in their backyard in California sipping wine, watching the sunset, and throwing the ball for the then frisky puppy until they both ran out of steam—Clyde always won the fetch “endurance” contest.
“OK, kiddo, time to go to work,” she commanded. 


K.M. Daughters are the writing team of of sisters Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare.  They have authored the acclaimed Sullivan Brothers series, as well as other highly-praised novels.  You can find information on them and their books on their website:  http://www.kmdaughters.com/index.html
The Sullivan Brothers series of books can be found at http://thewildrosepress.com/ and other online retailers.

You can check out the rest of the tour stops here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2009/12/virtual-book-tour-km-daughters.html