Naomi Dawn Musch

I have an interesting combination of guests today. Crime Fictionista, Nike Chillemi is here along with the two protagonists from her historical romance mystery, Burning Hearts.

Welcome to Secrets Sunday! To start off, tell us something readers might not know about you, Nike.

Nike: I'm often called the Crime Fictionista. That's due to my passion for murder mysteries, detective stories, and thrillers. However, I'm also a lady, implied by "fictionista," and I also like some romance in my stories. The novels I write are known for equal parts mystery, action, and romance.

You write a romance and Burning Hearts is also Historical. What is it that particularly draws you to Inspirational Romance, and do you usually write in the historical sub-genre?

Nike: My break-out novel, Burning Hearts, is set at the close of World War II (1946) on the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY. I've been intrigued by that era for quite a while and decided to put my hand to writing about it. It's a time when America came out of the pain and loss of a war that they hoped would end all wars. The nation pulled together, became a little wiser about evil in the world, and America rose up to even greater heights. I admire the America of that era and wanted to look back at it. I don't think of myself particularly as a Christian writer or an inspirational writer. I write fast-paced murder mysteries with a strong romance element and they have Christian characters. I try to make all my characters as believable as possible. My Christian characters talk and act, as I know Christians do. My bad guys also behave quite badly and you may find an occasional mild profanity in my stories.

Burning Hearts is an eBook. What drew you to an eBook-only publisher?

Nike: Desert Breeze was open to publishing a romance that had equal time for murder/mayhem, and action in its plotline. So, it was a natural fit for me. They give their writers a lot of creative freedom, which I appreciate.

In a sense, writers "meet" their characters like we meet anybody. We see them at some place (imaginatively speaking) and we approach them, get to know them; how did you first meet  Lorne and Erica, your protagonists?

Nike: I wish I could come up with something exotic to tell, but it ain't so. I get ideas for novels all the time. Some of them are quite bad ideas. I put them all into a file that's kind of a think-tank for plots. The plotline for Burning Hearts kept jumping out at me. Many moons ago,when I first started this writing adventure I took the Harlequin free writing course that was offered then. It consisted of many in-depth weekly lessons. I still use a version of their characterization outline. So, I started a biography folder for the book and, using that outline, started fleshing out my hero and heroine. My hero rode a Harley and my heroine sported slacks in the village and it outraged some. Their names came to me and I began fleshing out their life story.

Well, let me ask your main characters  a few questions. Lorne, you roll right into the opening chapter of Burning Hearts on your Harley and become a local hero, though a number of people resent you for it. Yet you seem a humble sort. How did you feel about Nike deciding to write your story? Were you comfortable baring your soul to her?

Lorne: Thank you for having me here, Miss. I wasn't entirely comfortable with having my life spread out over the pages of some electronic kind of book. I'm a private sort of fellow. But it turned out all right and people seem to enjoy reading it.

Your Harley is your pride and joy. Tell us about it. Did you let Nike have a ride?

Lorne: I functioned basically as a courier in France during the war and rode a Harley Davidson WLA which was produced to US Army specifications. It was a fine machine. When I returned to the states, I was lucky to find one that was the civilian model and I bought it. I don't allow anyone to ride my Harley, but if I were ever to make an exception, which is doubtful, it would be for Nike.

Here's an even more serious question for you, Lorne. Did you arrive in Sanctuary Point with any profound regrets or secrets from your past?

Lorne: I arrived in Sanctuary Point running from my past. I had more regrets and secrets than anything else. I didn't like to talk about them then, and I don't like to talk about them now. Sorry, but your blog followers, and I'm not too sure what a blog is, but they'll have to read the book to find out more on this subject.

Well, that is secretive! But I'm sure you can tell us, what was your faith like when you arrived?

Lorne: To tell the truth, my faith was nearly nonexistent. I knew there was a God. I wasn't totally ignorant. It's just that I was very angry with Him. I even pretty much knew it was okay to be angry with Him. The hard truth about life is that it's not always pretty and my life hadn't been pretty. My faith had to mature for me to be able to see a portion of the larger spiritual picture.

Thank you for being so candid, Lorne. I'll put the spotlight on Erica now.

Erica, can you relive for us, for a moment, your first reaction to meeting Lorne? (Oh, I think she's blushing.)

Erica: Well, I knew right away he was cute, but I couldn't take any time to focus on that. My friend and employer was trapped inside her burning house. Looking back on that first moment, you could say I fell for him. Actually, I was so crazed with fear for my friend that I tripped and fell right in front of his motorcycle. He stopped short so as not to hit me and helped me to my feet. Then he went into the blazing house and brought Ada out. It still breaks my heart to say this, Ada died at the hospital.

I recall that tragedy. I'm so sorry! Maybe you can tell us how you met Nike and what it was like sharing your story with her.

Erica: I became aware of Nike little by little. She set up things that were to happen in the story and I told her how I would react in those types of situations.

Are the two of you anything alike?

Erica: Oh, yes. Well, we're both of Czechoslovakian extraction. I adore fashion and can get lost in the pages of a fashion magazine. Nike is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked for many years in the bridal industry. We both like to wear pants. I envy Nike because in your era, pants are acceptable at all times for women.

What was your faith like on the day you walked into that burning house to search for your friend?

Erica: It wasn't as strong as it had been as a child.The loss of so many boys I'd grown up with in the war had shaken me. I began to doubt God -- not that He was God, but that He cared. I had to grow up and face that evil was a real force in the world. Just as God was good, the devil was real, and he was evil and causing evil occurrences. I could no longer blame God for bad things happening to good people.

Nike, what themes did you recognize in the lives of Lorne and Erica that you thought would be compelling for others to read about?

Nike: In a way, it was a romantic coming of age story. Two young adults who have little experience with the opposite sex fall in love and have to face some huge challenges. As their love grows, they mature into full adulthood and are able to face the more perplexing challenges of life, but they do it together.

So a terrible murder took place in Sanctuary Point,and you both faced some pretty perilous situations. Lorne, you were set up for murder, and Erica, you were nearly killed. Is there anything about those experiences you'd like to share with readers here (without giving too muchaway)?

Lorne: I felt caught in the cross hairs when it looked as if it would be a whole lot easier for the village establishment if I went down for Ada's murder. But what really shook me to the core was the thought of facing life without Erica.

Erica: To put it quite simply, I had no doubt that Lorne would turn every stone and do everything in his power to save me.

Thank you, all three of you, for joining me. Do you think you'll work together again, or Nike, are you going to spend more time with some other folks in Sanctuary Point?

Nike: I've given Erica and Lorne quite a long honeymoon. A week in Myrtle Beach and then an extended stay visiting Erica's dad's relatives before Lorne has to come back and start state trooper training. So, they're conveniently away when the next murder occurs in Sanctuary Point. 

Goodbye Noel, which is a Christmas themed historical romantic suspense is the second book. The main characters in book two are more mature and socially experienced and so I'd have to rate it a "warm romance." But it's also a Christmas murder mystery, much authors such as Mary Higgins Clark, Susan Wittig, or Carolyn Hart might enjoy penning. One of the sub-themes in Goodbye Noel is to show how Christmas was so universally celebrated across America in the mid 1940s.

Sounds interesting! I love sub-themes. How can readers connect with you and where can they buy your debut novel?

Nike:I'm on Facebook and Goodreads under my name, Nike Chillemi.

My blog: http://crimefictionandfaith.blogspot.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Point-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0050PJSTY/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sanctuary-Point-Book-One/Nike-Chillemi/e/2940012411747/?itm=1&USRI=nike+chillemi

Desert Breeze: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-167/Nike-Chillemi-Sanctuary-Point/Detail.bok