Craftie Ladies of Suspense: CHRISTMAS PERIL INTERVIEWS

Christmas bells ring with danger in these suspenseful holiday stories by Margaret Daley and Debby Guisti

Merry Mayhem by Margaret Daley

When single mom Annie Coleman unexpectedly arrives in Christmas, Oklahoma, police chief Caleb Jackson suspects she's hiding secrets. He'll be watching her closely. And his protection is just what Annie and her daughter need, as danger has followed them to their new home.

Today we're welcoming Maddy Coleman, the heroine of Merry Mayhem in Christmas Peril by Margaret Daley, December 2009. Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
I'm Maddy Coleman, a single mom of a five year old girl named Jayden. This all started when my ex-boyfriend, Bryan, Jayden's father, called me and told me to leave--get out of town. He warned me not to trust anyone. Before I could ask him anything, I heard a gunshot. I'm pretty sure he was murdered.
2. So, during the book you met Caleb Jackson. Tell us a bit about him/her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love? I didn't know what to think when I first met him. Caleb is the police chief in Christmas, OK. When Bryan told me not to trust anyone, he included the police. I didn't know where to turn for help. I ended up at my cousin's house in Christmas during December, scared to confide in her or Caleb who was nice. I quickly realized I could depend on him. I finally told him what was going on. That I heard Bryan being killed and the killer was after me.
3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I'm strong. I've had to be raising my daughter by myself, but this really tested me. Even with Bryan's warning I never trusted people much. I had to learn to trust the Lord and Caleb to save myself and Jayden.
4. What scares you?
Something happening to my daughter. She is my whole world.
5. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
For years I turned away from the Lord. Life was hard trying to make ends meet without any help from my daughter's father. I had thought God had forsaken me because I wasn't married when I had Jayden.

Yule Die by Debby Giusti

It's hardly a happy holiday for medical researcher Callie Evans…until she discovers her ailing patient is her long-lost brother. And he's being watched by undercover police officer Joe Petrecelli. When the trio is abducted by a cadre of bad guys, Joe and Callie will have to fight to keep her brother—and themselves—alive.

Today we're welcoming Joe Petrecelli, the hero of YULE DIE, by Debby Giusti, featured in the two-in-one suspense, CHRISTMAS PERIL, December 2009. Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
Thanks for inviting me to the Craftie Ladies blog. My name’s Joe Petrecelli, and I’m a homicide detective in Atlanta, Georgia. A vicious gang, called the Exterminators, has infiltrated the city. They’re involved in a wide range of criminal activity, including extortion, drugs and gambling. My job is to uncover the man at the top, but so far, I’ve been unsuccessful. Just before Christmas, a shoot out left two gang members dead and a guy called Rocky in serious condition. I got word the gang planned to come after Rocky in the hospital so I had him transferred to Lazarus House, an out-of-the-way nursing home on the outskirts of the city. When I stopped in to check on him, I found medical technologist Callie Evans at Rocky’s bedside.
2. Tell us a bit about Callie. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
Callie took my breath away right from the start with all those black curls that swarmed around her alabaster skin. She has this air of innocence wrapped in beauty, but at the moment we met, her blue eyes were filled with question. I later learned she’d just realized the wounded gang member was her brother. Seconds later, three guys crashed into the room with their guns drawn. All my instincts screamed to protect Callie. Fact was she turned out to be stronger than I realized, and before long, the attraction I felt for her turned into a four-letter word – LOVE.
3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I was prior military, then joined the PD and worked my way up to homicide detective so I’m not afraid of danger, but I also believe in justice and the rule of law. Problem is I’m a loner and have trouble working with others, especially a feisty gal like Callie who had her own idea of how to handle the thugs.
4. What scares you? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Where are you in your faith?
Losing Callie scared me during the hostage situation. I worried the gang would kill her, but I also worried about what she would do when she learned the truth about her brother. Although my stubborn determination has gotten me out of a lot of difficult situations, it can also get me into trouble so, I guess, that’s what I’d change about myself. Callie is determined, but in a good way. She believes in forgiveness and in a loving God. Her faith rubbed off on me, and when I thought we’d never live to see Christmas morn, Callie convinced me to turn to the Lord. With her help, things worked out, making me the luckiest and happiest guy alive.