Virtual Tour + #Giveaway: Sentinels of the Night by Anita Dickason @anita_dickason @GoddessFish

Sentinels of the Night

by Anita Dickason

GENRE: Suspense/Thriller/Paranormal

BLURB:

FBI Tracker Cat Morgan has an unusual talent, one she has successfully concealed, even from her fellow agents. That is—until she finds a body with a strange symbol carved on the forehead during a stop in Clinton, Mississippi and crosses paths with the town’s rugged police chief, Kevin Hunter. Despite his instant attraction to the sexy agent, Kevin is suspicious of her presence at the crime scene and isn’t buying her dubious explanations. He wants her out of the investigation and out of his town.

The discovery of another mutilated body with the same symbol sends Cat back to Clinton, and this time she isn’t leaving. To stop the killer, Cat must find a way to overcome Kevin’s distrust and will face an impossible impasse—truth or lies. But will either one matter, when the killer fixates on her for his next sacrifice?

Excerpt:

Suddenly, it dawned on Cat. He thinks I deliberately excluded him from critical details of the investigation, that I’m screwing him over like the other agents did. He doesn’t understand it’s not the information I’m hiding, it’s how I got it. This was worse than she expected, but damn, she should have anticipated it.

It was doubtful any attempts to pacify him or deny she knew would be believed. Even if he accepted her denial, his distrust would only deepen and would ultimately impact the investigation.

She’d always been able to fend off uncomfortable questions, but she’d never been in this position before. The relationship with Kevin had become complicated. Her unexpected connection to him was a sensation Cat had never experienced with a man. I don’t want to lie to him. Once the lies start, they don’t stop. How could she balance the disparity? Can I take a chance and trust him? Deep inside, she already knew the answer.

“What! Cat … got your tongue?” He snorted, then said, “You know, that line would really be funny if this didn’t involve someone killing women.”

Maybe pacifying would work. She twisted in the seat so she could watch his face. “Kevin, I didn’t deliberately conceal evidence from you. It’s … hmm … sometimes … oh, it’s difficult to explain. I ... uh ... I get hunches, and this time it worked.” You stammered and stuttered your way on that one. That ought to really convince him.

“You identified a crucial piece of evidence and—call it a hunch! From the minute I met you, you’ve done nothing but lie.”

Book Trailer:

Interview with Anita Dickason

What inspired you to write Sentinels of the Night ?

I came across a website that ran a short story contest. Each month a new picture would be posted. The story had to be about the picture and was limited to 500 words. The picture caught my attention. It was a tattered and broken doll standing in a dilapidated old room, barren of any furniture. I subsequently discovered the doll was real and used in haunted houses at Halloween.

I thought what the heck, why not. I wrote a story titled, Not Dead, Not Dead. Much to my amazement, I won third place. That was all it took, I was hooked.

Can you tell us a little bit about the next books, or what you have planned in the future?

Going Gone! is the second Tracker novel and is on sale at all retail outlets. When private investigator Kerry Branson rescues a six-year-old boy running from an armed man on a remote East Texas county road, she lands in the middle of an intricate plot to kidnap the children of high-ranking politicians on Capitol Hill. Pursued by the kidnappers who seem to know her every move, she is forced into an uneasy alliance with FBI Tracker Ryan Barr who arrives to take the boy back to Austin. As more children go missing, a horrific plan begins to unfold that extends to the White House. Terrorist cells and drug cartels are lined up to cash in.

I hope to have the third Tracker novel completed by the first of the year. It still doesn’t have a title, inspiration hasn’t struck. The setting is once again in Texas. This time an ATF agent in Laredo is missing. Tracker Adrian Dillard is sent to investigate. What he finds sends shockwaves through the law enforcement community and the White House.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Sentinels of the Night?

Sentinels of the Night is the debut novel for the Trackers, a newly formed FBI unit that is headed by Scott Fleming. He’s been given free rein to staff his unit. It doesn’t take long for the Bureau’s rumor mill to go abuzz as highly qualified agents are passed over for the promotion. What no one knows is that Fleming is searching for a special type of agent.

Cat Morgan is his first selection. Cat is tough and tenacious, and she has an uncanny ability to find the bodies of murdered victims. None of her fellow agents have ever figured out how she does it and have dubbed her the Witchy Woman. While traveling to her new assignment in Washington D.C., she makes an unscheduled stop in Clinton and finds a body.

Kevin Hunter is the local police chief and has a good reason to dislike federal agents. He is suspicious of Cat’s presence at the crime scene and isn’t buying her explanations. When they go nose-nose, the sparks fly. Kevin wants her out of town, and Cat knows she’ll be back. What she doesn’t know is whether she can overcome Kevin’s distrust. If she doesn’t a killer will strike again.

What is the most difficult part of writing? The dialogue, plot etc.

I use multiple POVs (point of view). The shifts are more than just between a couple of characters. I started the technique in Going Gone! as it seemed to be a natural extension of the investigation. Part of the team is in Texas and the remaining agents are in Washington D.C. The shifts are between multiple characters as well as locations. I like the depth the technique adds to the plot. It lets me bring in more of the personalities of the characters. However, it is not without risk, as details can get lost. I keep a notepad by my computer and jot down who knew what and when. When I started keeping notes, the process became a lot more simple. 

You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite and why?

Sir Conan Doyle. I have read every Sherlock Holmes mystery that he wrote and watched every movie and TV series. Doyle had a way of sweeping you into the investigation with one phrase, “The game is afoot.” Investigations are all about connecting the dots, and Doyle was a master at creating a plot that only Holmes could unravel.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us today. 

Thank you for hosting my book.

Anita Dickason

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Anita Dickason is a retired police officer with twenty-seven years of experience, twenty-two with the Dallas Police Department. She served in patrol, undercover narcotics, accident investigation and was on a sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.

Anita is the recipient of the prestigious Law Enforcement Professional Achievement Award from the State of Texas House of Representatives. Other awards include Officer of the Year—Texas Women in Law Enforcement, Officer of the Year—International Association of Women in Police, Runner-up Officer of the Year—Dallas Police Department, Officer of the Month—Dallas Police Department and multiple Police Commendations, Certificates of Merit and Citizen/Business commendations from the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas community.

Anita was a certified instructor with Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Her instructor certifications include Defensive Tactics, Batons, Spontaneous Knife Defense, Field Sobriety Procedures, Drug Recognition Expert program, and Accident Investigation.

She is a Past President of Texas Women in Law Enforcement, and Past Treasurer for the International Association of Women in Police.

Her first book, JFK Assassination Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, is non-fiction and details the reconstruction of a 1966 vehicle accident near Midlothian, Texas that killed a key witness to the Kennedy assassination. The project opened the door to a new career, Author and Publisher. She owns Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC and provides manuscript and design services, helping other authors turn their manuscripts into a published book.

Her fictional works are suspense/thrillers and her plots are drawn from her extensive law enforcement knowledge and experience. Characters with unexpected skills, that extra edge for overcoming danger and adversity, have always intrigued her. Her infatuation with ancient myths and legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and Irish folklore adds a touch of paranormal for the backdrop of her characters.

The experience of writing led to developing a knowledge of self-publishing and graphic design and a new business endeavor: Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC. It is a tossup of what Anita enjoys more, working on her books or helping another author publish their works. She has found an unexpected enjoyment in designing book covers, bookmarks, bookplates, etc. Email her for an autographed custom bookplate -- anita@anitadickason.com  

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The book will be on sale for $0.99.

Buy Links:

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Giveaway:

$25 Amazon or B/N GC

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