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Urban Reviews: Tell us more about your latest book No One But
You.
Maureen Smith: No One But You is the sequel to my romantic
suspense novel With Every Breath, which was published in 2004. In No
One But You, FBI agent Althea Pritchard—the kidnapped student from
the prequel—has returned home after a long absence to face the
ghosts of her past. But when a teenage girl is abducted, Althea
feels like history is repeating itself. She’s paired on the case
with Damien Wade, a sexy, gorgeous man who was only supposed to be a
one-night stand. Together Althea and Damien race against the clock
to find the missing girl, knowing that the key to her disappearance
lies in what happened to Althea eight years ago.
Urban Reviews: Where did the concept behind this novel come from?
Maureen Smith: The concept came from the prequel, where Althea was kidnapped as
a college student. Now that she’s an FBI agent, I thought it would
be fitting to give her a kidnapping case that was eerily similar to
her own. Soon she’ll have to learn that when it comes to the past,
she can run, but she can’t hide.
Urban Reviews: What was your biggest challenge when it came to writing any of
your novels?
Maureen Smith: Not having enough time! The demands of family and a full-time job
can make it difficult to meet multiple deadlines, which is why it’s
so important to be a disciplined writer. (I’m not quite there yet. )
Urban Reviews: What are your expectations when it comes to your career as an
author?
Maureen Smith: Writing is such an unpredictable business. Sometimes things go
your way, and sometimes they don’t. I started out with a lot of
expectations, some that were unrealistic and led to disappointment.
At this stage in my career, I just want to be the best writer I can
be. Which is why I always strive to give readers the most
compelling, well-written stories I can deliver. That’s the only part
of this complicated journey I can really control.
Urban Reviews: Have you ever considered or been approached about doing any
writing outside of Romance?
Maureen Smith: I’m very interested in broadening my horizons and writing in
other genres. Between contracted projects, I’m currently working on
an urban fiction novel that I hope to sell to a publisher someday.
Urban Reviews: If you could change anything about your literary journey, what
would that be and why?
Maureen Smith: Although a lot of strides have been made in the publishing
industry, I think there are many inequities that still exist between
white and multicultural authors. Without getting into specifics, I
believe these inequities make it harder for non-white authors to
reach their full potential. If I could change anything about my
literary journey, I would remove the disparities that often serve as
obstacles to our success.
Urban Reviews: What projects are you working on for the future? When can we
expect them to be released?
Maureen Smith: I have two releases this year. Touch of Heaven, a contemporary
romance, comes out in October. Body Count, to be released in
December, is a romantic suspense sequel to Whisper My Name. I’m
currently working on the sequel to my erotic romance, Taming the
Wolf. The book, Recipe for Temptation, will be released in June
2010.
Urban Reviews: Who has been your biggest inspiration in the book industry and
why?
Maureen Smith: I’ve been inspired by a lot of authors, too many to name. I’m
inspired by their talent, perseverance, and marketing savvy, which
are qualities you need in order to succeed in this business.
Urban Reviews: Which do you like to write more...a romantic suspense novel or
contemporary love story?
Maureen Smith: I love writing both, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would
be romantic suspense. I’ve always been an avid reader of romance and
suspense novels. Growing up, I used to devour every romance I could
get my hands on, but I also enjoyed scary books by Stephen King. It
seemed a natural progression for me to someday try my hand at
writing novels that combine two of my favorite genres. I love
romantic suspense—books that are longer, edgier, darker. There’s
nothing like the dynamics between two protagonists who are fiercely
attracted to each other, and who suddenly find themselves thrown
together against a common enemy. The danger they face heightens the
tension between them and adds dimension to their story.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share with us about
you or your books?
Maureen Smith: I absolutely love to hear from readers! I can be reached at
author@maureen-smith.com, and you can also visit my Web site at
www.maureen-smith.com or check me out on MySpace at
www.myspace.com/maureensmith. Thank you, Urban Reviews!
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