Welcome Gennita Low and her Hot SEAL Hunks!
I’m totally jazzed to round out our stable of great military romance writers by bringing you Gennita Low, a three time RWA Golden Heart finalist. All my books at Amazon refer to her books (I can only hope it’s vice-versa) as a good buying decision. And I’m sure it is.
Learn from one of the best how she got started writing Military Romantic Suspense. And you won’t believe what she does for her day job. Honest.
Welcome, Gennita, and please tell us what inspired your military romance journey?
I started writing
military heroes by accident. I was in love with medieval romances, the ones
with swashbuckling knights, kings, noble ladies and wicked queens. When I used
to travel and backpack overseas, I’d visit the castles and walk though every
nook and cranny, imagining life within those walls centuries ago. Intrigue and
romance—all that blood and gore and yet, noble quests and knightly duty too—among
that breed of men who went off on their mighty horses.
military heroes by accident. I was in love with medieval romances, the ones
with swashbuckling knights, kings, noble ladies and wicked queens. When I used
to travel and backpack overseas, I’d visit the castles and walk though every
nook and cranny, imagining life within those walls centuries ago. Intrigue and
romance—all that blood and gore and yet, noble quests and knightly duty too—among
that breed of men who went off on their mighty horses.
Yum.
I totally agree. It’s like you can feel the heart and courage of those warriors speaking to you through the centuries. Great place to begin.
So, when I startedto write seriously, of course I picked a knight as my hero. A group of knights
at a border town fighting an invasion of bad guys…Vikings…yeah. Then, umm,
something took over. I couldn’t stop myself. I created a captured woman as a
heroine. Not just any captured woman, mind you. No, she was this long-haired,
kick-ass, going-to-turn berserker warrioress. She was my Chiang Pei-Pei, a
Chinese actress from the 60s (also the bad guy in Crouching Tiger) who excelled
in kung-fu movie parts as the lone female fighter coming into town to kick some
ass. I had no idea why my heroine appeared but man, did I enjoy writing her
doing some mighty fine sword-wielding in my medieval tale J.
The only trouble
was, every agent and editor about died laughing at my poor historical
submission. I didn’t blame them. I even called it my histErical because I knew
my characters were not acting very “standard” medieval. I had quite a few
suggestions to change the heroine to be more “lady of the castle” because she
wasn’t very believable.
was, every agent and editor about died laughing at my poor historical
submission. I didn’t blame them. I even called it my histErical because I knew
my characters were not acting very “standard” medieval. I had quite a few
suggestions to change the heroine to be more “lady of the castle” because she
wasn’t very believable.
Oh, that’s funny. Not that it didn’t hurt and frustrate you. So glad you didn’t give up.
This was back inthe days when “kick ass” wasn’t even considered part of any allowed description
of the heroine. She could wield a weapon but she couldn’t kill. She could be
the baddest assassin in the business, but only in name, like those virgin
widows in historical romances, you know, the ones whose dead husbands were
impotent or gay, so the heroines were still pure for the heroes. So, one day I
was reading this romantic suspense; this time, the “tough” female “assassin”
was not just a fake one who really didn’t kill, she was also a virgin. And oh,
she couldn’t stand the sight of blood. I remember the bump on my head that day
from repeatedly smashing my head on the desk while reading.
I take it you healed properly. And knocked some sense into yourself at the same time…
It was then I
decided that, no matter what, I’d write the kind of action-packed story I
wanted. One of my neighbors, an avid reader, told me my hisTErical knights
reminded her of a hero, Zane McKenzie, a character in Linda Howard’s book.
decided that, no matter what, I’d write the kind of action-packed story I
wanted. One of my neighbors, an avid reader, told me my hisTErical knights
reminded her of a hero, Zane McKenzie, a character in Linda Howard’s book.
My turn to say Yum. YUM.
I went to the UBS
and bought the book the next day. Zane McKenzie, oh my. Handsome, lethal and
seductive. And a navy SEAL. A complete package of hunk tied with a big bow.
and bought the book the next day. Zane McKenzie, oh my. Handsome, lethal and
seductive. And a navy SEAL. A complete package of hunk tied with a big bow.
It occurred to me
how I was wasting a gold mine in my own backyard. I was a roofer. I worked with
men. My partner was an Airborne Ranger. He had many friends in the military.
Here was hands-on research material right under my nose and I never thought to mine
that!? More head-desking ensued.
how I was wasting a gold mine in my own backyard. I was a roofer. I worked with
men. My partner was an Airborne Ranger. He had many friends in the military.
Here was hands-on research material right under my nose and I never thought to mine
that!? More head-desking ensued.
I took out my rowdy
knights and polished them anew, giving them a different uniform. I decided my
heroines were going to be the way I* wanted to read smart and tough women; they
wouldn’t be held back by the usual “rules.”
knights and polished them anew, giving them a different uniform. I decided my
heroines were going to be the way I* wanted to read smart and tough women; they
wouldn’t be held back by the usual “rules.”
Writing military
action/adventure romantic suspense wasn’t that different from my love of
writing medievals. I had military action. Political/spy intrigue. Men having
pissing contests. Big battle scenes. And of course, I could now insert my
beloved long-haired warrioress in various dangerous forms, upsetting that cart
filled with all those alpha males. Writing had never been so fun.
action/adventure romantic suspense wasn’t that different from my love of
writing medievals. I had military action. Political/spy intrigue. Men having
pissing contests. Big battle scenes. And of course, I could now insert my
beloved long-haired warrioress in various dangerous forms, upsetting that cart
filled with all those alpha males. Writing had never been so fun.
Exciting!
My first serious single
title manuscript I submitted with great success was Into Danger. It finaled in,
and won, many writing contests. I sold the book to editors with the blurb “Navy
SEAL on dry land vs the world’s most dangerous female assassin.”
title manuscript I submitted with great success was Into Danger. It finaled in,
and won, many writing contests. I sold the book to editors with the blurb “Navy
SEAL on dry land vs the world’s most dangerous female assassin.”
Love it.
To my delight, I
have readers out there who love my kind of women and men. I went on to write my
navy SEAL trilogy, the Crossfire series. So, when you read my stories, just
think of my froggers as medieval knights with flippers!
have readers out there who love my kind of women and men. I went on to write my
navy SEAL trilogy, the Crossfire series. So, when you read my stories, just
think of my froggers as medieval knights with flippers!
Here are the new
covers to my Crossfire series. The second editions have new scenes in them. My
books are action/adventure and set overseas. The subject matters are serious.
My characters are flawed. But they are passionate men and women, with a
sometimes dark sense of humor. I hope you enjoy my SEALs and the women who love
them!
covers to my Crossfire series. The second editions have new scenes in them. My
books are action/adventure and set overseas. The subject matters are serious.
My characters are flawed. But they are passionate men and women, with a
sometimes dark sense of humor. I hope you enjoy my SEALs and the women who love
them!
Excerpt from
PROTECTOR:
PROTECTOR:
Jazz had never hiked with a woman this long before. He had to admit it,
he had had doubts about Vivi’s stamina, but she had once again proven him
wrong. They had traveled at a fast click the past four hours and she had only
stopped once, to take off the soggy and muddy socks he had given her. They kept
an eye out for signs of life, that roving gangs weren’t nearby. Sometimes, Vivi
explained, the bandits traveled this far up the mountain.
he had had doubts about Vivi’s stamina, but she had once again proven him
wrong. They had traveled at a fast click the past four hours and she had only
stopped once, to take off the soggy and muddy socks he had given her. They kept
an eye out for signs of life, that roving gangs weren’t nearby. Sometimes, Vivi
explained, the bandits traveled this far up the mountain.
I’d rather go barefeet,” she’d told him.
You might cut yourself,” he’d warned.
I’ll take the risk. Besides, we’re far away enough to stop soon to
signal T.”
signal T.”
It was getting very muggy again. He watched Vivi wipe away perspiration
on his sleeve, leaving a smear of dirt on her cheek. He offered her a drink
from his small canteen, then pointed at the canopy of trees nearby.
on his sleeve, leaving a smear of dirt on her cheek. He offered her a drink
from his small canteen, then pointed at the canopy of trees nearby.
As soon as we’ve activated your locator, we’ll head over to the shade
and wait.”
and wait.”
Sounds like a brilliant idea.” She smiled. “If I weren’t so tired, I’d
race you over there. Besides it isn’t fair that you have shoes.”
race you over there. Besides it isn’t fair that you have shoes.”
Most women would complain about the dirt and the heat, but Vivi had not
only kept up with him, but also injected humor in the situation. He grinned at
the sight of her blackened feet.
only kept up with him, but also injected humor in the situation. He grinned at
the sight of her blackened feet.
I offered to carry you,” he reminded her.
For four hours? You wouldn’t be quite this perky,” she lightly mocked
back as she handed back the canteen.
back as she handed back the canteen.
He made a face. “Please. SEALs aren’t perky.”
She grinned, then eyed a specific area of his body. “If you say so,” she
said. Without warning, she started taking off the black shirt. She unhooked the
front of her bra and worked a finger inside the cup, giving him glimpses of her
nipple. When she looked up, her eyes had a definite twinkle. “It’s getting perky
again.”
said. Without warning, she started taking off the black shirt. She unhooked the
front of her bra and worked a finger inside the cup, giving him glimpses of her
nipple. When she looked up, her eyes had a definite twinkle. “It’s getting perky
again.”
Jazz’s lips quirked. “That’s my personal locator,” he informed her.
She laughed. “Do you think, while we wait, you can get Perky to help me
find something?”
find something?”
Oh yeah. Definitely.
Buy Links:
You can purchase Protector here.
You can purchase Hunter here.
You can purchase Sleeper here.
BIO:
Gennita
Low roofs during the day and knows how to kill 600 different ways with tools.
It’s no surprise then that she writes romantic suspense as an outlet for
her daily frustrations with male workers. Navy SEALs and spies are her
favorite personal choice for mayhem and assassins. Her latest series is
called Super Soldier Spy, with Book Two titled Virtually Hers. When she isn’t
working or writing, she’s the prisoner of three mutant poms and a mutant
squirrel.
Low roofs during the day and knows how to kill 600 different ways with tools.
It’s no surprise then that she writes romantic suspense as an outlet for
her daily frustrations with male workers. Navy SEALs and spies are her
favorite personal choice for mayhem and assassins. Her latest series is
called Super Soldier Spy, with Book Two titled Virtually Hers. When she isn’t
working or writing, she’s the prisoner of three mutant poms and a mutant
squirrel.
Thank you, Gennita. Your stories sound awesome. I’m going shopping today to pick all of them up. Let’s see if we get some great questions from our audience. What would you like to know about Gennita, her heroes, or her writing?
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Very cool excerpt. Fb'd and tweeted.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Shelly! You are a doll. Glad to see you here.
Great interview. I have read all of Gennita's books and love them!
Hi Shellebelle! Thank you for buying my books :). I hope to get a new story out by the end of this year. It's Grace's story.
Shellbelle, thanks for stopping by and hope you'll come again. I'm hoping to host Gennita again when Grace's book comes out.
I agree with you, Gennita's books are great. Just started Protector.
Thanks, Sharon! Hope you enjoy Jazz's story :).
Hi Gennita,
I just reread "Hunter" a few weeks ago and now I want some Jed.
Jane,
I'm working on it :). Meanwhile, Grace's story coming out will have Jed in it since he's her dad!
Thanks, Jane, for stopping by and come again soon. Now I'm conflicted. Should I read Hunter first?
They can be read standalone. Hunter starts out hot :). Thank you!
Love Gennita's books! They're all on my keeper shelf and I'm adding them to my Nook as they become available. Looking forward to reading Grace's story.
Mary, I hope within the coming week! My brain is fried from the sun and re-edit/format work :P. Watch for new on my blog, okay?
Really enjoy your books
Thank you, Ann! Thanks for dropping by to say hi!
Wonderful interview!! Gennita, I can't wait to read your books! How on earth I've been this long without reading them is a mystery, lol! I'm running out and getting my copies today!! Love the covers! Thanks for sharing with us today!!
Mary and Ann (Ann still need your email address) thanks for stopping by. I completely agree.
Jennifer – you are so right. Gennita is a new author for me too, and I had the same reaction. What cave have I been living in?
Jennifer and Sharon,
I'm so happy to have found new readers :). Please do keep in touch!
Hi Gennita – big fan! I've read all your books over and over and I have one question. Why did you decide to name two of your heroes Steve and have them be related? Seems unusual!
I'm not speaking for Gennita, because she certainly has way more experience than I do, but some characters just show up with their name tattooed to their foreheads. Ot they open their mouths on dark and stormy nights and whisper, "Hi. I'm Steve. I'm here to protect you."
In short, I have no clue, but thought I'd offer my .02 for what it's worth…
LOL, actually I named ALL the McMillans Steve and versions of Steve. I don't know why. I had this great family of men and they wouldn't let tell me their names and every one I tried didn't click. One day, George Foreman was on TV hocking a grill or something and he introduced his sons–they were all named George too–and this light bulb came on. I suddenly KNEW why those guys in my head were so damn obstinate about not telling me their names. They were all Steves because their family has this odd tradition and sense of humor….So there is Steve and Hawk and hopefully, in the near future, you'll meet another Steve, who also has a nickname ;-).
I know, I know, it's a crazy answer and a crazy idea….
LOL Gennita. It's a brilliant answer. And obviously it works for you, which is all that matters…
Thank you again for being such a gracious guest, and such a good sport!