My Writing Corner : A Close Call

As we continue through the heart of winter, I don't know about you, but books have become my constant companion. It's a great time to curl up on a favorite, comfy chair with a new book. Today's guest in My Writing Corner has appeared here before where her novel, Brother of Interest, was featured and now brings us a new book that sounds perfect for reading on a snowy day. My guest is author Karina Bartow.

Karina grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she says she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Instead, she has turned to her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations. Like her, she has made those characters determined not to let disabilities stand in the way of the life they want.

Her works include Husband in Hiding, Brother of Interest, Forgetting My Way Back to You, and Wrong Line, Right Connection. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!

Karina, what is the book that you are featuring today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?

Accidental Allies. In continuation of The Unde(a)feated Detective series, I decided to bring Minka back to the police force in Accidental Allies, but I wanted her return to be suspenseful, much like her departure was in Husband in Hiding. Thus, I set it around an explosion. You can’t get much more action-packed than that, right?

Right! Let's get a blurb:

Everybody’s experienced a rocky start to a new job, but few can top Minka Avery's return to Orlando PD.

After almost six years as a stay-at-home mom, Minka’s nervous but excited to sit at a detective’s desk again. Before she has a chance to break in her badge, however, her career resumes with a bang when someone bombs the county courthouse.

With many disillusioned with the justice system, plenty of brow-raising suspects emerge right away. Minka and her new partner, Renee, follow several tips that lead to dead ends, until they zero in on the courthouse's former security guard. Their attempts to apprehend him send the city and police department into chaos. Meanwhile, Minka contends with the lingering suspicion of another party being involved. Could his accomplice be closer than she thinks?

Now let's talk to Minka directly:

Why did you want to return to the police department?

Working in law enforcement has always been my dream from the time I was little, when detectives helped my family locate my kidnapped brother. Once I settled into my career, it gave me purpose. Being a mom was my other dream, so it took center stage when I had my daughter. Now that she’s in school, this seemed like a good time when I could balance both of my passions.

What part of the job do you like best?

Helping people, of course. Nothing beats the look on someone’s face when you protect them, rescue them, or provide them with a sense of justice or closure.

What part do you least like?

The politics and scrutiny that surround you every day.

Tell us about your relationship with your new partner.

We haven’t been able to get into much of a rhythm yet, given the bombing occurred the night we met. We’ve had so much pressure on us ever since, so it hasn’t fostered an atmosphere conducive for comradery. Once we get to the bottom of this, I’m sure we’ll hit our stride.

What frightens you about this new case?

Frankly, it’s terrorism, and we still don’t know if the bomber has a bigger agenda than just wreaking havoc on the courthouse. Orlando has a lot of hot-spots, which could be targeted, so we’re taking every measure we can to keep our citizens and visitors safe while we’re hunting down the responsible party.

Want to know more? Let's get an excerpt:

Because of the explosion, all of the amusement parks closed early, driving out the entire community of panicked tourists. News vans and first-responders added to the congestion, all sharing the same destination. Rush hour on its worst day didn’t compare to this chaotic ride.

Upon driving closer, Minka and Renee saw smoke ascending from the twenty-three-story building. Totally engulfed in flames, the Orange County Courthouse lacked its former majestic quality. Firefighters surrounded the south side where the thickest smoke bellowed into the sky. The darkness of it, combined with the late hour, filtered the whole scene, but the detectives managed to find Cael and his partner, Declan Schuster. Having arrived minutes ahead of Minka and Renee, Gus stood with the guys.

Minka swallowed the lump in her throat. “I can’t believe this is happening here.”

Want more still? You'll have to buy the book! Here are the buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Allies-Unde-feted-Detective-ebook/dp/B0CHWKQ98F

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/accidental-allies-karina-bartow/1144069605;jsessionid=D196D6EF2F76C613F15D81D65BCDF7D5.prodny_store02-atgap06?ean=9781509252077

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Accidental-Allies/Karina-Bartow/9781509252077?id=8973185582242

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Unde-a-Feated-Detective-Accidental-Allies-Series-3-Paperback-9781509252077/5087500511?from=/search

And here are Karina's social links if you want to know more about Karina and her books:

Social Media Tags:

Website: https://www.KarinaBartow.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karinabartowauthor

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/KarinaBartow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karina.bartow/