Dee is the second in the series of authors from Black Velvet Seductions. She also has a story in Mystic Desire.
Author Bio
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex. Writing was so much fun Dee decided to keep at it. That’s how she spends her days. Her nights? Well, she’s lucky that her dream man, childhood sweetheart, and long-time hubby are all the same guy, and nights are their secret. For romance ranging from sweet to historical, contemporary to paranormal and more, join Dee on Nomad Authors: htpps://nomadauthors.com.
Tell us about yourself
I’ve been writing erotic romance for many years now and still love it. I married my high school sweetheart and use that as inspiration for all of the happily-ever-afters I’ve spun through the years. I write under three names: Dee S. Knight (erotic romance and a couple of ménage romances), Anne Krist (straight, sweeter romance), and Jenna Stewart (all ménage, some historical, some shapeshifter). No matter who I am at the moment, it’s all still romance.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
After writing my first book, which came about as something of an accident. We were living in a small town in South Carolina while hubby finished up a consulting job. I was at loose ends for a couple of months and he suggested I use up some time by writing a book. I said okay—that sounds like fun. And like an idiot—because I didn’t know that’s not how it’s done—I wrote a book. I was hooked from that moment on.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
I love all forms of romance (of course), but I also love legal thrillers, mystery, suspense, military adventures. There really isn’t a whole lot I won’t read. A look at my Kindle library would make people wonder about my taste, lol.
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
Adults only. Even my sort of non-erotic romance is intended for adults.
What is your current release or project?
Currently, I’m in Mystic Desire, a supernatural anthology by Black Velvet Seductions. I actually have two stories. An Awareness of Evil (as Dee) is about a psychic who senses a child is in grave danger, but she can’t quite see who or where she is. Life Saving (Anne) is about a man on the brink of ending his life. I won’t say more! BVS has put together a great group of writers for this anthology, and I’m very proud to be part of it! At the same time, I’m working on finishing Book 2 of the Good Man series.
Tell us about the key characters
In An Awareness of Evil, Amanda McMasters is a psychic who goes to the police asking for help in finding a child who is in danger. She can’t really tell them anything, however. As her sensations become more and more intense, she’s almost at her wit’s end. Amanda is a truly good person who wants to help when she can, and not “seeing” enough detail for the police to step in is very frustrating. Of course, there is a young, handsome detective standing by to encourage her. 😉
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
An Awareness of Evil: Only two things stand between evil and a small girl: the visions of Amanda McMasters and Detective Brendan Gilchrist. Neither can afford to be wrong.
Life Saving: Saving lives isn’t just for adults. Sometimes the innocent magic of a child can do the job better.
Share an excerpt
An Awareness of Evil:
“There’s not much more frightening to a child than hearing a parent cry.” Amanda Masterson clutched her purse in her lap and tried to keep from twisting her hands. She stared at the nameplate on the front of the desk. Det. Donny Connor. He looked older than the other detective and probably had more experience but she wished she were speaking with the younger guy, doodling as he listened to her and his partner. He sat sideways to his desk with the chair pushed back onto two legs, looking as though he hadn’t a care in the world. But something told her that he heard every word.
“I can imagine,” Detective Connor said in a low voice. He seemed as though he were trying to sound soothing but a note of frustration hit between his words. “And so, you heard someone crying.”
“Not exactly.”
Detective Connor blew out a breath, laid his pen on the desk and then picked it up again. “Ms. Masterson, you’ve been trying to tell us what’s up for the past fifteen minutes. Why don’t you just say it and let us decide what’s important or not?” The detective looked to his partner sitting at the next desk. Detective Gilchrist gave him a bare nod. So far, that was the most interaction she’d seen from him.
Amanda took a deep breath and braced herself to tell the men what she’d been trying to avoid. “I don’t actually hear crying.”
“You don’t actually hear—”
“More like I sense it.”
The detective slowly placed the pen on his desk again. “You sense it.”
“Right.”
Detective Connor stretched his arms and folded his fingers behind his head. “So you don’t see the person crying. You don’t hear anyone crying. You don’t actually see a child.”
“That’s right.” She knew what was coming but knowing didn’t diminish the frustration. Or the pain in once again not being believed. “I’m something of a psychic.” She hadn’t meant to sound small, but that’s how it came out anyway.
Detective Connor dropped his hands to the desk and jerked the pen off the notepad. “You’re psychic.”
“Yes.”
“I see. And you’re sensing that this child you can’t see or hear is frightened.”
“I know it.”
“Okay, where is this child? We’ll be sure to check it out, won’t we Brendan?”
“Absolutely.”
Now Amanda didn’t bother trying to keep her hands still. She squeezed her fingers and released. Squeezed and released. “I don’t know.”
“Ms. Masterson, what exactly do you expect us to do? You don’t have any idea of who the kid is or how we can find it.”
“Her. I’m sure it’s a little girl crying.” She shook her head and narrowed her brows in worry. “I don’t know. I thought maybe you’d had a report of a domestic disturbance or something I might be able to draw on. I’ve been sensing her for two days now. It’s getting worse. She’s scared and I don’t know how to help her.” Her voice had risen to the point that people at desks around them had stopped to look. Amanda took another deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry. If I had more information, I’d tell you. But I can’t keep this to myself anymore.”
“Can’t keep what to yourself, miss? You haven’t told us anything.”
“Amanda Masterson,” murmured the other detective. “I think I’ve heard that name before. Have you been involved in another police case?
“Yes, last year in Spokane.” She had lived there until moving the eighty or so miles to Milford, Idaho. Once she had helped the Spokane police solve the murder case, she’d lost all privacy. People called morning, noon, and night asking for help in finding everything from lost dogs to lost keys. Or worse, more lost children. The stories had broken her heart and the constant requests had destroyed her peace. When her landlord told her she’d have to move or control the numbers of people banging on her door, she had little choice but to leave the Washington town. She’d chosen a smaller place in the more rural neighboring state. The last thing she needed now was to have the same problem start up again.
Do you have a favorite scene?
Yes. The final scene. *grin* I can’t say more.
What advice would you give a beginner?
There isn’t any better writing lesson than to write. Write, write. But not just for yourself. The hardest lesson is to give your work to an impartial reader and see where what you’ve written can be improved. There isn’t a writer in the world, from Stephen King to a kid in the fifth grade struggling over a writing assignment who can’t benefit from constructive criticism.
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight
Twitter http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749
Blog link: http://nomadauthors.com/blog
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6
Purchasing links
Amazon: https://amzn.to/322Ziq3
Universal buy link: https://books2read.com/u/4j1AD2
