This week I’m hosting Irene Hannon with An Eye for an Eye and Birdie Etchison with The Prairie Romance. If you want to enter the drawing for the book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (Oct. 4th) evening.
Hero Interview for An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon:
1. Mark Sanders, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
A lot of people seem fascinated by the fact that I’m on the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. We’re among the most highly trained and best-equipped tactical personnel in the world, and I have some amazing stories. Unfortunately, I can’t share most of them because they’re classified!
2. What do you do for fun?
I used to hang out with one of the other HRT operators, Coop, until he got married. We still get together now and then, but most nights after work he goes straight home to Monica. (Not that I blame him!) Right now I’m on temporary assignment in St. Louis, and I’ve been spending my free time working out, jogging and inhaling drywall dust while I help another FBI buddy, Nick, rehab his historic house. He claims it will be fabulous when it’s finished. I have my doubts.
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Not much. I’m a get-the-job-done-without-delay kind of guy.
4. What are you afraid of most in life?
Fear isn’t part of the HRT vocabulary. When you’ve dealt with terrorist raids, prison riots, hyperviolent street gangs, drug dealers and murderers, not much scares you. But I have to admit that since Coop got married, I’ve been more lonely than I expected. And spending the rest of my life that way does scare me a little.
5. What do you want out of life?
I used to think it was simply to be the best at my job. And to do my part to make the world a better, safe place, corny as that sounds. But since I reconnected with Emily Lawson, the girl who stole my heart during an idyllic summer at Wren Lake when we were teenagers, I have to admit that I’ve revised my aspirations to include finding a special woman to share my life with. Preferably Emily.
6. What is the most important thing to you?
At the moment, it’s finding the sniper who so rudely interrupted my unexpected reunion in the park with Emily. I need to figure out who he was after, why he wants one of us dead—and stop him before he finishes the job.
7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?
I’ve never been much of a reader. I’m more an action kind of guy.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wish I had more insight into human nature—and a more forgiving heart. Emily has both, by the way. And they come in handy in her profession. She’s a psychologist. But even back in our Wren Lake days, she was insightful, caring, generous and compassionate. Makes me wonder why I ever let her get away the first time around.
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
No pets. My HRT missions call me away for extended periods too often.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
To the morning in the convenience store a few months ago that changed my life. The tragic consequences of that encounter with an armed robber continue to haunt me. On the other hand, if that hadn’t happened I would never have come to St. Louis and reconnected with Emily. God certainly works in mysterious ways, as she would surely point out if she were part of this discussion. Maybe He has a plan. If so, I hope He lets me in on it soon.
My favorite genre, Yum 🙂
Hi Mark,
I enjoyed the interview. Some secrets need to reveal *g*
– describe yourself in 2 words
– what's your favorite food? Have you ever made it by yourself? 😀
Mariska
uniquas at ymail dot com
Loved the interview with Mark! I would love to win this book. Please enter me in the drawing.
Thanks,
Sherry K
love2stitch(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi, Anonymous! I asked Mark your three follow-up questions, and here's what he had to say:
"How would I describe myself in two words? Disciplined and professional. If you asked Emily, I would hope she'd add sexy and caring to that list!
"My favorite food, though it may not be politically correct, is a thick, juicy steak. Which is why I'm dying right now, rooming with my old FBI buddy, Nick. He's really into health food stuff. We had some tofu thing for dinner the other night, and last night it was chicken Caeser salad. My Hostage Rescue Team partner, Coop, who's also staying in the rehab mess Nick calls home while we sort out this sniper issue, got so fed up a fews days ago that he sent out for pizza. We practically inhaled it when the delivery guy showed up at the door."
"Do I ever cook my favorite food? Yeah, when I'm at my place in Quantico I sometimes throw a steak on the grill. But my job rarely allows time for that. We train hard and the team can be summoned for missions on a moment's notice. So I often resort to fast food."
Thanks, anonymous, for the extra questions. If anyone else wants to know more about Mark, just leave a comment and I'll pass them along! Irene Hannon
Enjoyed the interview and would love to be entered in the drawing for this book.
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to be entered in the drawing for this book. I read the first book in this series and loved it, and I really, really want to read this one, but haven't had a chance yet. Please enter me. Thanks so much!
ohiobuckeye91[at]gmail[dot]com
It was a great interview.
All that I've read is this book is really great. I'd like to be entered in your drawing.
God's blessings
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com
Definitely a book I'd love to win! Please enter me. Thanks.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
It sounds like a great book!!! martha(at)lclink(dot)com
Please enter me for both books, they sound wonderful, thanks!
carolynnwald[at]hotmail[dot]com
Have heard so much about this new series. Would love a chance to win!
lowurtz at gmail dot com
Irene, if you're keeping up with our posts, I just want you to know that I loved Against All Odds. I don't usually read a lot in this genre, but your book was easy to follow and understand. And the romance was so tender! I already like Mark and look forward to reading his story. Very creative interview, by the way!
I read somewhere that you're already at work on a new series, so best wishes on it's completion.
I appreciate the chance to win a copy of An Eye for an Eye.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
Hi, Carole! I've been checking in now and then. I'm so glad you liked "Against All Odds," Book 1 in my Heroes of Quantico series and my suspense debut. I was delighted with the response–it got a top pick rating from RT Book Reviews and made both premier christian fiction bestseller lists for multiple months.
I'm happy to report that the latest bestseller list just came out, and "An Eye For An Eye" is now officialy a bestseller as well! RT Book Reviews also rated it a top pick and said it was "a love story that will melt your heart." And Booklist called it "superbly written." I'm so grateful for this wonderful blessing. I'm hoping for more of the same with "In Harm's Way," the final book, which will be out in April.
Thank you, too, for the best wishes on my new suspense series. This one revolves around three siblings in justice-related professions–a sister and two brothers. I'm hard at work on book 1!