Saturday, September 3, 2016

Sit-Down with Jodie Bailey #Giveaway

Howdy y'all! Crystal here. Welcome to our first Sit-Down Saturday of September! Can you believe 2/3 of the year is gone? I sure can't. But as they say, time flies when you're having fun, so I'm sure the next few moments will zoom on by because I've got some great fun lined up for y'all today. Jodie Bailey is in the hot seat, and it's always such a treat to have her here. Some of you might not know this, but Jodie used to be a STT contributor. :) She is also a CBA bestseller author, Selah Award winner, 2014 RT Reviewers Choice Award winner, an RT Book Reviews Top Pick, a (retired) Army wife, mom, former schoolteacher...

And now that I've run out of breath, let's hear a bit from Jodie. :)

Congratulations on your newest release, ma'am! What is Breach of Trust about? 

Former soldier Meghan McGuire is about to step into her dream, running a home for troubled foster children. But when the partner she thought was dead steps out of the shadows, her life takes a sudden turn into a past he can never uncover. Tate Walker never thought he’d see Meghan again, and he certainly never thought she’d be the target of a hacker who is determined to undermine the U.S. military. Now, Tate has to protect Meghan from an enemy who can’t be seen while he searches for information she wants to keep hidden. As the seconds tick toward a hacker’s revenge, Tate and Meghan have to battle for their country… and for each other.

Where did you get the inspiration for your story? 

For every book, my cousin Ben gives me an "easter egg" I have to drop into the story. When I was working on Smokescreen, it was "someone mowing the lawn with a manual pushmower." I had to figure out a way to get two people--who were on the run in the cold months in upstate New York--in touch with someone pushing a mower. Well, I figured it out, and Tate Walker was born. He showed up in Compromised Identity and readers started asking for his story. I was pretty intrigued by this man who had been an undercover operative, was nearly killed in the line of duty, and who had lost everything in the aftermath. And the story was born!

Wow! I can't wait to hear more. :) Do you have a favorite scene in the book? If so, can you tell us a bit about it? 

Normally, I wouldn't go with this one, but... the kissing scene. Tate and Meghan were partners who knew each other for years and worked undercover together all over the world. Meghan left her job when she realized she was in love with him, and then she thought he died. That moment when they both come to realize they love each other and they both drop their guard enough to show one another a glimpse of their heart? I loved it. They were so real in my head in that moment to me.

Sounds like a great moment! I love it when things come together so perfectly. Tell us, what do you hope folks will take away from your story? 

That God's love is unconditional and that grace is a natural outgrowth of that love. We mess up. We mess up BAD. But God's not waiting to turn his back on us. He's waiting for us to turn to him so we can be restored to him.

A wonderful point! Folks, are you ready to go out and snatch the book yet? I know I'm intrigued. :)


Jodie, what do you plan to work on next? 

Right now, I'm working on a longer suspense series about a family who has just learned a dark secret about one of their own. Each book deals with some type of fear and how they overcome it. I'm also writing a book on the Texas Rangers for Love Inspired suspense and plotting out more books in the series Breach of Trust is a part of, about an elite military unit that battles cyber-terrorism.

They all sound like great reads! Can't wait! Where can readers connect with you? Where can readers buy your book(s)? 

I'm at www.jodiebailey.com. From there, you can find all of my Twitter and Facebook information. Links to buy the books are also on the book pages on my website.

Okay, last but not least, what is one of the weirdest/quirkiest thing you've ever done? 

Hmmm... That's a tough one. I used to teach middle school, so that list is probably longer than it should be. Weird is kind of normal in middle school, so it's hard to make that call. My husband says it's the fact I eat banana and mayonnaise sandwiches. 
I think it's, uhm, longer than it should have been in high school when that whole New Kids on the Block thing happened and, well...I kind of hung their Coca-Cola BILLBOARD on my wall. Joe McIntyre's teeth were twice the size of my fist...

LOL. I think we all had odd phases, but I have to admit, I think the banana and mayonnaise sandwich might top all the rest. :) Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Jodie, and thanks, everyone, for joining us. As a special treat and to keep the fun going, Jodie has offered to giveaway her whole trilogy--Smokescreen, Compromised Identity, and Breach of Trust!


If you want to be entered in the drawing, leave a comment below. The winner will be announced in the Monday Weekly Wind-up post. :)


So let's chat. Have you read any of Jodie's books? Do you enjoy romantic suspense? (I know I do.) What is a quirky thing that you eat? Anyone else enjoy banana and mayonnaise sandwiches?


33 comments:

  1. I do enjoy romantic suspense. I love the idea of the "Easter eggs" embedded in your stories.

    I don't like mayonnaise full stop. I do like banana sandwiches though.

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    1. I live banana and peanut butter as a sandwich or by itself. What do you do with your banana sandwiches, Mary?

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    2. Oh, man. I love may on my banana sandwiches. Best thing ever. I rarely eat white bread anymore, but with that one... yes.

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    3. It must be a Southern NC thing. Bananas, Duke's mayo, and Sunbeam or Merita bread. Nothing better. Oh, wait! A fresh piece of fried chicken or fried pork chop is the best "side dish" with those sammiches! Jodie is just an amazing person all around. Can't wait to get my book copy! Love you girlie!

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  2. I have Jodie's book, Compromised Identity, but I still want to read Smokescreen. I really like the cover of Breach of Trust.

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    1. I agree that is a very good, compelling cover, Terrill.
      Thanks so much for stopping by!

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    2. That cover is one of my favorites, Terrill! I was blown away when they sent it to me!

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  3. Thanks for sharing Jodie's thoughts. Great interview and great giveaway!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Connie! Have a great Labor Day weekend!

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    2. Hi, Connie! Thanks for visiting!

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  4. I love reading romantic suspense. Jodie is a new author to me so I haven't read any of her books, but I sure would love to! The quirkiest thing I eat is probably grilled chicken breast with orange marmalade.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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    1. Hi Maryann! That sounds pretty good. Almost like Hawaiian chicken. :)
      Thanks so much for coming by! Have a great Labor Day weekend!

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    2. That actually sounds good! I do grilled pork chops similar to that. I use orange or peach and put a dash of lime juice in it and heat it all up. Yum...

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  5. Love a good suspense. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Me too, Kim. Do you have a favorite romantic suspense author?

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    2. Hi, Kim! Suspense keeps me on the edge of my seat. You should check out Jessica Patch, too. She's amazing.

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  6. LOL, NKOTB!!! Loved them. I adore suspense but have not read any of Jodie's books.

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    1. Heehee. I see you understand phases, Susan. =D

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    2. NKOTB... yeah. I don't talk much about that time in my life... Almost never. ;-)

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  7. I love romantic suspense and have enjoyed several of Jodie's stories! Thanks for sharing this fun interview and giveaway!
    No banana and mayonnaise sandwiches for me! ;)

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. I hear ya, Britney. Me either. Though I've always been told, "don't knock it til you try it." Hmm...

      Thanks so much for stopping by today! Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

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    2. Oh, come on! You have to try! That tangy mayo with the sweetness of the banana... it works.

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  8. Love Jodie's books. Enjoyed the interview. Please do not enter me in the drawing as I already have copies.

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    1. Hi Ann! So glad you could find time to drop by. Glad you enjoyed the interview and Jodie's books. :)

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  9. I love romantic suspense and thank you so much for this great giveaway opportunity. I will have to pass on the mayo and banana sandwich for sure!

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  10. Breach of Trust is a book I must read, since I've worked with foster children. Romantic suspense are great reads, too. Thank you for sharing, Jodie. I'll eat peanut butter on a banana but not in a sandwich. Mayo and I are not the best of friends. LOL
    marilynridgway78[at]gmail[dot[com

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  11. I own/read FREEFALL by Jodie and I love it! I would so love to win these books! Great interview and this series sounds great! So, enter me, please!
    debsbunch777(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. So glad you like it! When you read it, you should see if you can find the connections back to Freefall. I had fun just dropping little Easter eggs in, even though the books aren't technically related.

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  12. Hi,Jodie, nice interview.
    I am proud to a member of her street team and an avid supporter.
    Love your books.

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  13. What a wonderful interview. It is always nice to get to know an author better. Thank you for the chance to win her books. I would love to read them and review them on my blog.
    Jhdwayne@peoplepc.com

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