About the book:
With summer over Shelby is looking forward to having some time to herself while the kids are back in school. A phone call from Uncle Joey ruins her plans, but she manages to take it in stride. After lunch with her friend, she promises to meet with the private investigator who was spying on Uncle Joey, but this simple task turns into a disaster. Not only does she find the P.I. dead, but a slip of paper with her name on it under his lifeless hand, implicates her for his murder. Desperate to prove her innocence and find the person who killed him, Shelby begins a frantic search. She enlists the aid of the local mob boss, Uncle Joey, his hit-man, Ramos, and her police detective friend, Dimples, but soon finds that nothing can save her from becoming entangled in a sinister plot. With her life on the line and no way out, she finds herself trapped by revenge, and realizes it will take all her skills to escape. Now she must choose where her loyalties lie, and hope she doesn’t trade something bad, for something even worse.Interview with Colleen Helme
How long have you been writing, and how did you start?I have been writing seriously for about ten years. I began writing my first book, Flame of Destiny just for fun and enjoyed it so much that I decided to learn all I could about the craft of novel-writing. My sweet husband found a novel-writing class at the community college and signed me up. That great class helped me understand the important aspects of writing, such as; point of view, showing rather than telling, character motivation, writing scenes, the importance of a universal question, and much more! From there I took off and never looked back.
How would you describe Trapped by Revenge in five words?
Suspenseful, intriguing, humorous, fun, page-turner.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
It comes from my first Shelby Nichols Adventure, Carrots: “What people think determines basically who they are. Putting a voice to thoughts doesn't change that. But there are times when we say things that aren't true. Not because we want to lie, but because the truth can cause more harm than good. There are times when a satisfying lie is better than the awful truth.”
Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.
All of mine!!!
Which character did you most enjoy writing?
Shelby Nichols! I feel like she is my alter-ego in some ways! She gets to do all the crazy things I wouldn’t dare, but then she also gets in a lot of trouble for it.
Are any of your characters inspired by real people?
I put my best friend, Holly, in all my books as Shelby’s best friend, and she’s pretty much true to character.
With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?
Definitely Ramos.
Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My favorite scene is hard to pick, but I think it would have to be when Shelby is out golfing with Ramos, Uncle Joey and one of the judges. She is just about ready to take her first swing, and hears what all of them are thinking about her...“What a wiggle” Nice butt” and “Babe.” It freezes her in place and she can’t seem to move. Then Ramos comes over and offers his help while he imagines standing behind her and guiding her through a swing or two. It rattles her so much, she drops her golf club.
You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?
I am so lucky because I already have a contract with Wendy Tremont King to narrate Trapped By Revenge! She is an amazing producer and is narrating all of my Shelby Nichols Adventures. Carrots and Fast Money are already available on Audible and iTunes with the rest coming soon! Here’s a link to a sample of what Shelby sounds like on Audible.
I also have an interview with Wendy on my website.
What book are you currently reading?
Deadly Heat, the latest Richard Castle novel – I love the TV show Castle and have read all the books! So clever to have real books on the market – I would like to know who really writes them!
You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?
I’d pay off my house and then buy a new car!
You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?
That’s easy. I’d want to go on a bike ride, and then take a hike in the mountains. After that I’d soak in a nice, hot, bubble bath and read!
What are you working on now?
It’s an urban fantasy that’s been brewing in the back of my mind for a couple of years. Once I’m done with that, I’m on to my next Shelby Nichols Adventure!
About the author:
A long career as a wife and mother while juggling several part-time jobs gave Colleen the ambition to dream of being a published author, where she could put her imagination to good
use. Now
instead of making up stories to tell her children, she writes books they
love to read. Hopefully you will too. She is the author of three
romantic fantasy novels, Songbird, Flame of Destiny and The Relic. Her
Shelby Nichols Adventures include Carrots, Fast Money, Lie or Die,
Secrets That Kill, Trapped by Revenge, and more to come.Connect with Colleen:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Shelby Nichols Consulting
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Shelby Nichols Adventure Series:
Carrots | Fast Money | Lie or Die | Secrets That Kill
Romantic Fantasy:
Songbird | Flame of Destiny | The Relic
