K Dawn Byrd – Romantic Interview, Fictional love story, & Excerpt

Shannon here: Desert Breeze inspirational author shares a glimpse into her real life romance, her character’s fictional romance and an excerpt from her book: Killing Time. Dawn is giving away a mousepad or a T-shirt, pictured below. Winners choice and I’m throwing in a copy of White Roses. Deadline for drawing: Leave a comment by Aug. 21st, 8:00 PM Central. Here’s Dawn:

How did you and your spouse meet?

I worked as an associate sales agent in an insurance office and Mark, came in to pay his bill. My first thought was how handsome he was. My co-worker commented after he’d left that while she was taking his money, he was looking at me.

I was lonely and had recently come out of a three year relationship. I’d started back to church and rededicated my life to Christ and only a Christian man would do. It seemed that everyone who asked me out was unsaved and unwilling to go to church. Once I found out that Mark was a strong Christian, it didn’t take me long to fall head over heels.

How did your characters meet?

My heroine, Mindy, was wrongly accused and incarcerated. She meets the hero, Counselor Stone, when he arrives in the booking department to book her and assign her to a pod. Mindy is immediately attracted to Stone, but it’s more than just a physical attraction. She’s drawn to something that she can’t quite describe, something deeper.

Stone puts his job on the line when he becomes involved with Mindy. At one point, he questions if she’s worth it and breaks up with her. At the time, Mindy is being stalked by a murderer and is under extreme stress. Even though he’s told her that he can no longer see her, he can’t fight the urge to keep an eye on her and her apartment.

This excerpt is from the scene where Mindy’s detective boyfriend, who she thought cared for her, leaves her incarcerated to investigate the murder of an inmate because the inmate’s mother has hired him to find out what happened to her daughter. Excerpt:

Mitch was waiting for her in the visitation area. Mr. Blair, his attorney, at his side. Delacy ushered her to a glass-front cubicle. Mindy longed to touch Mitch, to draw strength from someone stronger than herself, but the glass made this impossible.

Mr. Blair smiled and nodded toward the phone. Mindy picked it up, anxiety making her a little light headed. She shivered as the cold hard plastic of the receiver came into contact with her ear.

“Hello, Mindy,” the elderly attorney said. “It’s good to see you again. I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Me, too.” They’d come to get her. She was going home.

“I can’t represent you. I’m semi-retired and handle mostly real estate transactions. This is out of my league, so I’m going to call a good friend of mine, Bill Sands, and ask him to get in touch with you. He’s a good attorney.”

“Thank you.” Tears threatened to overflow.

“I need to ask you some questions though. Okay?”

Mindy nodded.

“What led up to your arrest?”

“A few days ago, I realized that someone had gone through my desk at work. The signature stamp I use to endorse payroll checks was missing.”

Mr. Blair touched his mouth with the top of his pen. “Whose name was on the stamp?”

“My boss. His name is Mr. Warner. I kept a few personal items in my desk, like deposit slips for my own bank account. Someone used the stamp to endorse checks and then deposited them into my personal account.” Embezzlement. What an ugly word.

“Any idea who did this?”

“I believe it was my boss’ son, Rick. I’ve had a bad feeling about him from the time I met him. I don’t trust him. When he moved back from out west, Mr. Warner gave him an executive position in the company and check cashing privileges.”

“Why would he frame you?”

“He started writing big checks. Thousands of dollars. He was so afraid I’d tell on him that he threatened to have me fired.”

Mr. Blair scribbled furiously on a yellow legal pad. “What’d he need all that money for?”

“I heard a rumor that he has a gambling problem and owes a lot of money to dangerous people.”

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Do you have the money yet from selling Grandpa’s house and land?”

“Any day now.”

Mr. Blair had represented Mindy in the closing. She’d held back selling as long as she could, but the house was too large for her to maintain. The new roof and plumbing problems had almost drained her bank account.

Mr. Blair’s eyes met hers. “I’ll call Bill today with this information. He’ll be in touch. Good-bye, Mindy. Take care.” The sympathy therein spoke volumes. He handed the phone to Mitch.

“Hey, Baby,” he said in a voice as smooth as milk chocolate.

“Hey.”

Mindy’s heart tugged when Mitch smiled. His good looks weren’t lost on her. He could turn on enough charisma and charm to benefit him in any situation. “Mindy, honey. I’m sorry that you’re in here, but I need your help. Do you remember the new case I told you about? The one where that young girl died of overdose.”

Mindy’s overloaded brain scrambled to keep up. She nodded.

Mitch ran his fingers through raven black hair. “Keep your eyes open, love. That client is paying me a lot of money for information about her daughter.”

“I’ll ask around when I go back to the pod. What time am I leaving?”

“Not today,” Mitch said. “I need you. I need that information.”

“You’re not getting me out of here?” Mindy’s voice rose to hysteria.

Mitch couldn’t have slapped her in the face and hurt her more. Reality washed over her in a chilling wave. She wasn’t going home. He was leaving her to work undercover.

Hot tears of anger blazed a trail down Mindy’s cheeks, but she didn’t care. “You’re not going to leave me here,” she spat, as if the demand itself had the power to force him to change his mind.

“Not for long, baby. You’ll be okay. You’re a strong woman. That’s one of the things I love about you.”

“Please don’t leave me here, Mitch.” Mindy’s voice trembled. “You don’t know what it’s like back there. Please take me home. I just found my sister.”

“Your sister? What are you talking about?”

“Remember? I told you I have a twin? I’ve got to get out of here so I can help her.” Mindy placed her hand on the glass, the tears on her palm smearing her reflection. “Please, Mitch.”

“It’s not for long, baby. You’ll be okay.” His expression faltered for an instant and she thought he was about to change his mind. Just as quickly, his eyes hardened. “I’ve got to go now, baby. Take care of yourself.”

Before Mindy had the chance to reply, Mitch replaced the receiver. She looked at Mr. Blair. Her face must have conveyed the terror and sense of abandonment she felt. His expression was one of sorrow and helplessness.

Mindy watched Mitch exit the room, his head high and step light. He never looked back.

About K Dawn Byrd: K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance. She holds a masters degree in professional counseling from Liberty University that she believes gives her better insight into the minds, feelings and emotions of individuals, which helps her to better understand her characters and develop them more fully. Queen of Hearts, a WWII romantic suspense released in April and was the bestselling novel for her publisher during its debut month. Killing Time, a contemporary romantic suspense released August 1, both with Desert Breeze Publishing.

K. Dawn Byrd is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She’s also the moderator of the popular facebook group, Christian Fiction Gathering.

When not reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 14 years, walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home, and plotting the next story waiting to be told.

Learn more about K. Dawn Byrd and her books at: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-103/k-dawn-byrd-killing/Detail.bok, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncljBid61g