[Author Interview] Undercover by Maria Hammarblad

Welcome to Author Maria Hammarblad

Born in Sweden in the early 1970's, Maria showed a large interest for books at an early age. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together into booklets she filled with drawings of suns and planets. She proudly declared them, "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun. She also claimed, to her mother's horror, that her being on Earth was a big mistake and that her alien family would come and bring her home at any moment. This never happened, but both the interest in space and the passion for bookmaking stayed with her.

As an adult Maria's creativity got an outlet through playing bass in a number of rock bands, and through writing technical manuals and making web pages for various companies and organizations. She did write drafts for a few novels, but the storytelling muse was mostly satisfied through role playing online on Myspace. It was here, while writing stories together with people from around the globe, she stumbled onto Mike. They started talking out of character, and she moved over to Florida to him late 2008. Today the two are married and live in the Tampa Bay area with three rescue dogs.

Besides writing and playing bass, Maria enjoys driving off-road, archery, and Tameshigiri.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

Oooh, that's an interesting question! Being able to fly would be cool, and super speed would be practical, but I think I'll go with super strength. Even if opportunities to lift cars or trains off people don't show themselves every day, imagine never having to find anything too heavy again. Grocery bags would weigh nothing. Need to change a tire? No problem, I'll just hold the car up. A lid won't budge? I'll deal with it. (And probably accidentally crash the jar, hahaha.)

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I love when people contact me so say they liked one of my books. If I'm able to entertain someone, I've succeeded with life. On a more formal level, I just won the Royal Palm Awards for best screenplay - I based it on my novel Kidnapped - and the Dahris Clair award for best new writing. The news had me bouncing all over the room!

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
For romance, adventure, and international conflict, read Undercover!

Favorite food?
I love Thai food. Vegetarian spring rolls, or maybe chicken with cashew nuts. Mmm, you're making me hungry.

What book are reading now?
Right now, I'm reading "The Twelve" by Justin Cronin. I don't love the beginning and I'm not far enough into it yet to know if I like it. We'll see. 

What’s your favorite season/weather?
Summer. I hate being cold. I'm Swedish originally, and winter in my part of the country just never ends. I moved to Florida late 2008, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I do miss snow during the Christmas holiday, but I can definitely live without it.

What was your favorite children's book?
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren. It's not for really small children, I think it's recommended 8 and up, but it's a wonderful adventure. I haven't read it for years and years so I don't remember all the details, but I was enthralled by it.

Beach or Pool?
Beach.

What is one book everyone should read?
Lord of the Rings. It's a classic, and watching the movies isn't the same as reading it.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I have a lot going on right now. I'll have a short free read available around Christmas on my publisher's website (www.desertbreezepublishing.com). It's called Courage and Retribution, and it's a prequel to my novel Kidnapped. I want to write another short prequel to Kidnapped as well, I have it all clear in my head, but haven't gotten to actually typing it down yet… Maybe for 2013.

Next year will be busy. Kidnapped and Undercover will both become paperbacks, they're only available as e-books right now, and I have three releases planned. Flashback will be first, in June. It's about a soldier who was a prisoner of war in the Middle East. His physical wounds have healed, but mentally he's a wreck. He meets a woman and starts to get his life in order, and just as the future seems bright again, she's kidnapped and he'll have to go back to face his own worst fears in order to save her. The other two books will be science fiction stories, one in August and one in December.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I enjoyed all the questions, and I really appreciate being here!


Find out more about Maria on the website. Or follow her on her blog, Facebook, Twitter,  and Goodreads.
Check out her Publisher's website.

Undercover
by Maria Hammarblad

Genre: Romantic suspense
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-61252-216-6
ASIN: B0098TGWTW

Word Count: 77000

Cover Artist: Gwen Phifer

Book Description:

When Jenny Moore meets Alexei Roshenko, it's love at first sight. The tall, dark and handsome stranger appears to be the answer to every romantic fantasy any woman ever had. There is however more to him than meets the eye, and a dark and violent past is catching up with him. When Jenny decides to follow him back to Russia, she gets entangled in a web of deceit and secrets beyond her wildest imagination.

Book Trailer:



So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your TBR list?