What is the title of your latest release?
JESSICA, NOT HER REAL NAME
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Jessica Meeks has spent a decade hiding from the cartel and the memory of the man she loved. But when her cover’s blown and a violent storm traps her with a deputy U.S. Marshal with secrets of his own, she must decide who to trust—before the past catches up and buries her for good.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
The story uses a hurricane as a major plot element, so I always envisioned a Gulf Coast setting. And because it’s told in two different parts, I wanted the other setting to really contrast the heat and humidity of a Floridian summer. So, I landed on Chicago, drawing on its darker, chillier vibe. I love how disparate the two settings feel.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Absolutely! Jessica and I are actually about the same age, but in my mind, she feels like the big sister I never had: street smart, a bit cynical and worn down by life and love, but also funnier and way cooler than me!
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Haunted. Lonely. Hopeful.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
The importance of character arcs. My main characters feature in both past and present settings, so it was important for me to juxtapose them and show how they have changed and evolved over time (and not always for the better). On a more practical note, I learned how to fire a gun and hotwire a car. Maybe not the life skills I’ll need as a writer, but you never know when they might come in handy!
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go. As much as I would like to be one of those writers who can write an entire draft and then edit later, my perfectionism insists that I go back over every scene and make sure it’s right. It’s not very productive, as I often cut entire scenes anyway, but it’s the only way I can write.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Really expensive dark chocolate. Also, I’m a bit of a coffee snob.
Describe your writing space/office!
It’s very utilitarian, I’m afraid! Just my two screens, my headphones, a photo of my partner as a young soldier (so I don’t fall too in love with my heroes!) and about a million sticky notes stuck to the walls scrawled with things that barely make sense to me anymore (if they ever did).
Who is an author you admire?
Sandra Brown is, for me, the OG of romantic suspense. I would love to have a career as long and successful as hers.
Is there a book that changed your life?
This is going to be a terrible answer, but Twilight. I read that book when I was about nineteen and decided then and there that I wanted to write books for a living. Sadly, I’m no longer such a huge fan of that book, but I do still remember the aching love for it I had back then. But it’s taken me a long time to get to the point where I can admit that book was the catalyst for my writing career!
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.
Actually, I was in bed. I live in Australia and most of my book-related correspondence comes from the U.S., so I usually get all my emails at night. During the querying phase, I would wake up several times in the night to check my emails (which was not great for my health, but which I couldn’t resist). So, I got the email saying that I was going to be published by OHB at about five in the morning. Needless to say, I did not get back to sleep.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romantic suspense and crime thrillers.
What’s your favorite movie?
The Shawshank Redemption
What is your favorite season?
Summer
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I’m not great at celebrating my birthday! I usually try to pretend it’s not happening. I managed to succeed at that for many years, until I met my partner. He likes to make a fuss of me, which I am slowly starting to stop resisting.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the last book I read that I cannot stop recommending.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Italian
What do you do when you have free time?
I walk a lot. I’m lucky to live in the very beautiful city of Melbourne. It’s perfect for walking. Also, I am an avid traveler. My next trip is to the UK and Europe. I plan on visiting as many historical sites as I can, as I’m a bit of a history buff.
What can readers expect from you next?
The next book in the Love on the Run series is called SOUTH OF JUSTICE, and it will be released early next year. The third book, YOU CAN RUN, will be hot on its heels in 2026.
JESSICA, NOT HER REAL NAME by S.K. Muskat
Love on the Run #1
Everyone has demons. Jessica Meeks knows—because hers never stopped hunting her.
For eleven years, she’s lived a lie. Once, she was Julia Mikkelsen—beautiful, wealthy, and dangerously naïve. One night with the wrong man shattered everything. Now, she lives in hiding, haunted by choices that won’t stay buried.
When a violent message shatters her fragile peace, Jessica is forced on the run—this time, under the reluctant protection of Deputy U.S. Marshal Ryan Inglis. He’s cold, controlled, and bound by duty. But as they tear across the storm-ravaged South, pursued by a relentless killer, the air between them grows as charged as the sky. Lightning flashes. Tension ignites. And fear turns to something far more dangerous.
Her enemies are closing in. The past she buried isn’t just coming back—it holds a secret that could destroy them both.
She can run. But in the eye of the storm, there may be nowhere left to hide.
Romance Suspense | Action | Fiction Adventure [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: October 7, 2025, e-Book, / ]
Buy JESSICA, NOT HER REAL NAME: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About S.K. Muskat
A romantic thriller author with a sharp instinct for danger and desire, S.K. Muskat is the mind behind Jessica, Not Her Real Name, a gritty, emotional debut where nobody’s past stays buried for long. Based in Australia (but Kiwi at heart), Shannon balances her passion for plot grenades with houseplants, homemade gnocchi, and a love for American football.
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