Guest Post and Giveaway: Catherine Mann

Please join me in welcoming Catherine Mann back to Debbie's Book Bag today! Catherine is guest posting in honor of her latest release, Hot Zone, the second book in the Elite Forces series. The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of Catherine's book, see details at the end of the post.

“Research: Hottie in the House!”

People frequently ask me about research, a crucial part of any book, but particularly important with a military novel.  My quick answer: my flyboy husband served in the Air Force for over twenty years.  He still works for the Air Force in a civilian capacity.  He brainstorms with me on plots and proofreads all my stories.

 So yes, I have an in-house, military hottie whenever I have a question.

There are infinite nuances and details to the lingo.  If a reader has a military background, one incorrect word can kill the story’s credibility.  On the other hand, if a reader does not have a military background, I need to make sure everything is clearly, accurately explained - without bogging down the story in too many technical details.

Yep, even with my in house hero, there’s still a lot of research.

Oftentimes, I interview other military personnel as well.  For the “Elite Force” series, it has been helpful that my chiropractor is a former pararescue jumper (PJ).  In addition to that, our list of military family and friends is long.  Very long.  Any question I have, we can find a person to answer.

Each person brings different perspectives and experiences.  Just listening to them talk about anything from an intense mission to hanging out with others in uniform will have me taking pages of notes.  I’m fascinated by their word choices, demeanor, the way the uniform is a part of their very fiber.

I believe this is a large part of why readers enjoy military romance novels – having a peek into that unique world, with its quirks and acronyms and camaraderie.

And yes, the hotties!

For those of you who would like to learn more about the pararescue world, here’s an AWESOME youtube clip from the History Channel’s MAIL CALL.  Stellar footage of incredibly brave serviceman.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHa14egZKSw  

Who’s your favorite movie/tv hottie you would like to see star in a military film?  

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of Hot Zone by Catherine Mann.

~ You must be a GFC follower or e-mail subscriber to participate. 
~ US and Canadian addresses only (Publisher Request).
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST January 3rd.

1. Answer Catherine's question in the comments section of THIS post.
2. Fill out the FORM.