The story behind the story of BOUND TO SERVE The first thing you need to know is that I love spy novels and movies. So naturally I had to come up with, Delta Star, my own clandestine agency. It was a bit like going on an undercover mission creating my own super-secret black ops world and I loved every minute of it. Of course the agents had to be pure ice. Condor earned his reputation by being Delta Star’s ultimate secret agent. He’s untouchable, unstoppable, and he always nails his targets. But no matter how many times he’s saved the world, he’s a ghost who will never take credit. He works best alone, and to continue to protect his country, he’ll stay alone. Some of my books start with an opening line that tantalizes me until I write it down and others begin with a general, I wonder what would happen if I… idea. BOUND TO SERVE, was born after a marathon 007 and Jason Bourne viewing weekend. Hubby also loves them you see. The book is set on a lush tropic island because I truly love the Caribbean. Sparkling water, warm sand beaches, and balmy breezes, what’s not to…

When I was a little girl the last weekends in May leading up to Memorial Day were filled with red poppies and chicken bar-b-que. Yes, in Pennsylvania that is how I was taught to spell barbeque. Our grilled chicken did not have red or tomato based sauce instead it was slathered with a butter and vinegar mixture and grilled in wire frames over coals or flames. The smells were amazing. The chicken skin was dried but the rest was moist and delicious. Paired with homemade pepper cabbage and mustard potato salad the meal was topped off with a square of chocolate iced butter cake. Every church and school and family gathering had a chicken bar-b-que in May, raising money for causes or just the easiest food to make for a large gathering. At the stores or market, old men would be standing with arms or baskets full of red poppy pins. For a donation, and my grandmother always thought a nickel was enough, you got a red poppy to wear on your dress or shirt. My grandmother would mutter and fuss but she always bought a poppy for all of us and tell us to be sure to wear it…