Deborah Fletcher Mello | 20 Questions: COLTON’S SECRET SABOTAGE

1–What is the title of your latest release?

My newest release is COLTON’S SECRET SABOTAGE, the seventh book in Harlequin’s The Colton’s of Colorado series. It officially drops on July 26^th.

2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?

Philip Rees, an undercover detective, and Naomi Colton, a headstrong TV producer, prove to be television gold with the help of a few horses, a lot of cows, and a bad guy determined to steal more than the top prize in a reality TV competition.

3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?

The story is part of a continuity series developed by Harlequin. Along with eleven other authors, I was invited to contribute a story and received a series bible that spelled out all the details I needed to work with. It’s a wonderful give and take between us to insure all twelve books play off each other

4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?

No. I’d be more inclined to hang out with Naomi’s mother. I’m old! If I did hang out with Naomi or Philip, it would be to give them relationship advice and maybe cook them a Sunday meal.

5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?

Headstrong, determined, and flighty!

6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?

My biggest takeaway was that POV (Point of View) and I will never be friends. POV is something I’ve struggled with in all my stories. I tend to make my characters head hop, which drives my editor crazy, but that third person omniscient POV will forever be my sweet spot. And I’m okay with that!

7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?

I edit as I draft. It makes for a lot of back and forth as I write the story, but when I hit that last page, I am done done!

8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?

I’m obsessed with popcorn. I could eat it all day, every day. I also invest a lot of energy in popcorn recipes. You’d be amazed at the combination of flavors and mix-ins that you can toss on popcorn! Savory or sweet, the list is mind-boggling! I’m eating some right now as a matter of fact. I tossed it with truffle oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano. It’s so good!

9–Describe your writing space/office!

I can write anywhere, at any time, and I do. I carry a notebook and a recorder with me wherever I go. My absolute favorite place to write is in my mother’s sunroom. It’s a quiet, luxurious space with the Victorian furniture from my great-grandmother’s home and the piano my father gifted me when I was twelve. I love that room! At my house, I usually crawl up on the family room sofa with my laptop and the dog curled against my side.

10–Who is an author you admire?

Historical romance author Beverly Jenkins is my shero! She’s been a mentor and a friend, and I have great respect for what she does and how she does it.

11–Is there a book that changed your life?

My absolute favorite book is Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson. It’s a book that fully awakened my appreciation for historical fiction. It also motivated me to be a better storyteller and to fully embrace my characters as I tell their stories. I credit that book and the advice I received from Guy with making me a better writer.

12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.

I received “the call” in the fall of 2002. I’d written this family saga that I knew was going to be a literary masterpiece. My exuberance was so over the top that I scared my rottweiler. It had been a lengthy journey to get there, and I felt like I’d won the biggest prize at the state fair. Surprisingly, I had no idea that the book I’d written was a romance, because I hadn’t been a romance reader. In fact, I was a bit of a romance snob! Imagine my surprise when some creative editing made me a romance writer. That book, Take Me to Heart was published in December 2003 and the rest has been history!

13–What’s your favorite genre to read?

I just love to read! Although, I never read romance or romantic suspense when I’m writing it because I don’t want anything to influence my own writing. When I’m writing I tend to read a lot of memoirs, biographies and maybe a mystery or a thriller. My favorite genre though is kitchen reference books containing recipes. Nothing beats a good cookbook! I am absolutely fascinated with cookbooks, and I own over 100 of them!

14–What’s your favorite movie?

Don’t judge, but I’m a horror movie fanatic. My favorite horror movie is Jeepers Creepers and I’ve watched it more times than I care to count.

15–What is your favorite season?

My favorite season is summer! I have an aversion to cold weather and the beach is one of my favorite places to run away to! Hot weather in the summer at the beach makes me very happy!

16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

I rarely celebrate my birthday. When I have, the celebration has usually been a quiet gathering with my family at my favorite Irish pub. Surrounded by the people I love most, eating really good brisket poutine with a bottle of Guinness beer always works for me.

17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?

The TV show I’d recommend would be P-Valley, but it’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re easily offended, you should pass. For me, the quality writing and even better acting make it well-worth watching. The movie I’d recommend would be The Night House starring Rebecca Hall. It’s just good horror! And the book I’d recommend is Island Queen by Vanessa Riley. There aren’t enough words to express how much I loved this book! In fact, anything by Vanessa Riley is well worth reading. You can thank me later.

18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?

So, this is a loaded question! I love food and will eat pretty much anything as long as it doesn’t have any sour cream in it that I can see. I’m partial to all things Italian, and Mexican rotates in my diet as least three or four times per week. Recently, I’ve been consumed with Indian cuisine. In all honesty, I’d have to say they are all my favorites!

19–What do you do when you have free time?

Free time is a precious commodity lately. I have an eight-year-old granddaughter who I’m responsible for and I am the primary caregiver for my elderly parents. When I do find a moment when there’s no one pulling at me for attention, I love to sew, quilt, and craft pretty things.

20–What can readers expect from you next?

My next book, IN THE ARMS OF THE LAW, is the fifth book in my, To Serve and Seduce series. It’s the story of attorney, Ellington Black. When his brother is accused of murder, Ellington vows to prove his innocence, even as he comes up against force-of-nature investigator Angela Stanfield, who suspects there’s more to the story. But Ellington needs evidence, so they team up to find out the truth.

COLTON’S SECRET SABOTAGE by Deborah Fletcher Mello

The Coltons of Colorado #7

He’s undercover

She’s under his skin

Detective Philip Rees is shocked by his new assignment: going undercover on a Western-themed reality TV show. Nonetheless, he’s determined to complete his mission to take down a contestant suspected of leaking confidential information. To find the culprit who is sabotaging the competition, Philip gets close to producer Naomi Colton. As Philip and Naomi begin to trust one another with their secrets and hearts, will he manage to keep her safe, on and off the set?

From Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Danger. Passion. Drama.

Romance Suspense [Harlequin, On Sale: July 26, 2022, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781335737984 / ]

About Deborah Fletcher Mello

Writing since she was thirteen-years-old, Deborah Fletcher Mello can’t imagine herself doing anything else. Her first romance novel earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2005, she received Book of the Year and Favorite Heroine nominations, and won a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award in 2009. In 2014, Craving Temptation was selected as one of the Best Romance Books by Publishers Weekly. Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah now maintains base camp in North Carolina, but considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.

To Serve and Seduce

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