Today I am so excited to spotlight my good friend author Dana Ridenour!
Her third book in the Lexi Montgomery FBI series comes out today! It has been fun watching Dana publish her books and see her progression in writing. She has taken her heroine Lexi on some turbulent cases and I can never put these books down until I finish them.
Today Dana joins us for some Q&A but first let’s take a look at Below the Radar.
After her last assignment went horribly wrong, everyone tells FBI Special Agent Lexie Montgomery she needs a break. But Lexie is determined to keep going with her undercover work–so when a Dutch constable goes missing, she jumps at the chance.
Along with Blake Bennett, her unfamiliar new partner, Lexie is thrown into the Gathering, a haven for environmental activists planning illegal activity. It’s a dangerous situation, but she blends right in–a little too well, Blake thinks. As the pair of them try to get closer to the vanished constable, he begins to suspect that Lexie may be hiding an affinity for the eco-extremists’ cause.
With her loyalties in question from both sides, Lexie will be forced to prove herself as an undercover agent and as a new recruit for the terrorists’ cause. But as time starts to run out, staying below the radar may prove harder than she’d planned.
Order the book here!
Q&A with Dana Ridenour
1. How does it feel to have a third book coming out in your Lexie Montgomery series?
I’m excited for the release of Below The Radar, which is the third book in the Lexie Montgomery series. I added a male FBI character in this book, so I’m curious to see the reaction of readers. This book is loosely based on an undercover case I worked with my then boyfriend/now husband. We were a couple playing a couple. It was a unique opportunity and ranks high on my list of favorite experiences that I had during my twenty years as an FBI agent.
2. Has your writing process changed since writing the first book?
I altered my writing process one time for NaNoMo and it was a disaster. I learned a valuable lesson from that experience. I know what works for me and I will never alter my process again. I’m sure NaMoMo works well for some writers, but not for me. I did discover that as the series grew, so did my need for a character bible. Once I compiled my character list, it was easier to keep the characters straight from book to book.
3. What are you working on now?
I’m working on a fourth book, but I think my readers might be surprised to hear that it’s not an FBI book. It’s commercial fiction, a combination of literary fiction and women’s fiction. I may return to the Lexie Montgomery series down the road and I have an idea for another FBI series, but I was ready to branch out and try another genre for my next novel.
4. Any advice for writers wanting to publish?
My best advice would be to not rush the process. It’s a long and sometimes rough road to publication, so be patient. You want your novel to be perfect when it is finally published, so don’t rush through the editing process and don’t make any rash publishing decisions. Make sure your manuscript is as clean as you can get it before you pitch your project to literary agents. I would also recommend attending writers conferences. I’ve learned so much from conferences and workshops and have made some great connections. Attend conferences, meet people, and pass out your business cards. Even if you don’t have a novel ready to pitch now, you probably will in the future. It never hurts to make and nurture those connections. Some of them will turn into lifelong friendships.
Check out the Lexi Montgomrary series
You build relationships to betray relationships.
That is the motto for the FBI’s undercover program, and special agent Lexie Montgomery is just beginning to understand what that means. Lexie’s first assignment is infiltrating a radical cell of the Animal Liberation Front. Underground and operating in splinter groups throughout Los Angeles, the only way in is through Savannah Riley, a new recruit.
Savannah left the safety of her small southern town for the bright lights of the city. Pulled into the animal rights movement by her college roommate and a gorgeous anarchist, she sinks deeper and deeper into the dark, paranoid world of ALF extremists.
As the actions of her cell escalate beyond simple demonstrations and graffiti, Savannah turns to Lexie to keep her grounded. But as the two women grow closer and the FBI’s case builds, Lexie is forced to decide what betrayal really means.
Order here!
FBI SPECIAL AGENT LEXIE MONTGOMERY goes deep undercover to investigate the Earth Liberation Front, a domestic terrorism group operating in the South Carolina Lowcountry. As Lexie struggles to infiltrate the ELF, she soon realizes everything may not be as it seems in the Lowcountry. Lexie’s investigation spirals out of control and places her life in danger after someone in her trusted inner circle reveals her undercover identity. Now Lexie must work to bring those responsible to justice … if only she knew who she could trust.
Order here!
Check out my reviews for the first two books: Behind the Mask, Beyond the Cabin
Stay tune for a review on Below the Radar!
About the Author:
Follow Dana: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram
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