Romance! Sexy! Autism? Harlequin Intrigue Debuts Kay Thomas' Better Than Bulletproof
GigiMama is the winner!
By Kim Stagliano
When was the last time you uttered "romance, sexy and autism" in the same sentence? I never had either, until I read Kay Thomas' novel from Harlequin Intrigue, Better Than Bulletproof.
Leave a comment to win a signed copy! (BTB features a 5 year old with autism who has just started speaking thanks to biomedical treatments. A of A readers will love it!)
On secret military missions Harlan Jeffries has defied danger: he'd be damned if minding an adorable child -- and the boy's stubborn and all too sexy aunt -- would be his downfall. But when little Adam's mother went missing, Harlan had no choice but to take them both under his personal protection.
Scroll down to read my interview with Kay.
1) Hi, Kay and Congrats on your release of Better Than Bulletproof. Can you give us a synopsis of your book, a sneak peak at the back cover blurb?
Hi Kim, Thanks. It’s great to be here.
BETTER THAN BULLETPROOF is about a Marine and a perpetual "screw up," who join forces to rescue an autistic boy from a web of murder and government conspiracy.
Gina Rodgers, a struggling advertising artist, has just landed the account of a lifetime when her sister mysteriously disappears and leaves behind a five-year-old autistic son. Even though she has no idea how to deal with her nephew’s overwhelming needs, Gina drops everything in her Dallas job and travels to Mississippi to care for Adam and look for her sister. There she discovers an unexpected ally in the child’s play therapist, Harlan Jeffries, an ex-military sniper seeking redemption through working with special needs children.
As they search for her sister, Gina and Harlan are caught up in a conspiracy involving murder, betrayal and a pharmaceutical company cover-up that reaches to the highest levels of government. Everything they believe about themselves and the people they love will be challenged as Gina and Harlan are forced to race across the country to find and protect her missing sister’s explosive research study that proves the vaccine-autism connection.
2) So what's this I hear about biomedical autism treatments appearing in a ROMANCE! Do you have any idea how exciting it is (pun intended) to be able to read a book that incorporates autism and (I hope) sex too? LOL!
I agree it’s an unusual venue for this particular subject matter. As you know Harlequin is all about romance in any setting. And BETTER THAN BULLETPROOF is a romantic suspense thriller set against the autism/vaccine issue. All through the editing process I kept expecting that I would be asked to soften the vaccine/pharmaceutical aspect of the story. But I was encouraged and excited that my editor did not back away from this controversial topic. It is my greatest hope that readers can enjoy Harlan and Gina’s story and be entertained by it, as well as learn a bit about autism and treatment options facing parents today.
3) Can you tell our readers who are also writers a bit about your publishing journey? Who is your agent and how did you sell the MS?
I didn’t always know I wanted to write. The first week of “Freshman Comp” my professor read something I’d written out loud to the entire class as an example of something “well done.” I still remember how that made me feel.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last…I was a one hit wonder in composition and was thrilled with the C that I barely squeezed out of there with. But my fourth year of college, I met the teacher who would become my writing mentor and I started to “get it”.
He said, “Write on one side of the page only. You can write all over the page if you must, but one side only for your papers.”
You really have to understand Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” to do that. You can’t B.S. your way to a conclusion in a one-pager unless you have the concept down and can write tight. I fell in love with that kind of writing and I still keep in touch with that professor. He edited my first two books. He’s in his eighties now. A wonderful man.
A few years later, I took a couple of creative writing courses at a community college and started a manuscript. Got a hundred pages into it, got stuck, and life got complicated for a while. Finally in 2004, I joined Romance Writers of America and things started to really gel for me in terms of writing and process.
I completed three manuscripts and I targeted a contest with my new #1 “dream agent” judging (Helen Breitwieser of Cornerstone Literary) and I finalled! A dream come true in itself. She requested the full manuscript and offered to represent me. Less than a year later she sold that manuscript to Harlequin Intrigue. Six months after that we sold a second book to Intrigue on proposal.
4) Is this a standalone book?
Yes.
5) Why autism?
I mentioned earlier that “life got complicated.” Eight years ago my son was diagnosed with autism and I immediately dove into an intensive array of biomedical and traditional therapies for him. He worked hard and responded amazingly well. I will be forever grateful to a multitude of people that I can never repay for giving me back my son. People who worked with him, played with him, prayed for him and for my family. Incredibly generous parents I’ve met through autism groups online but never met in person who shared their hard won knowledge and advice when we got stuck in various stages of treatment. Doctors, teachers, therapists, and friends who gave so much over the years. It’s a very long list.
Even with exceptional treatment, you don’t always get the kind of results we did. It’s been an extraordinarily humbling and overwhelming experience. When I think about where we were nine years ago, I’m completely awed.
6) Have you written other books or is this your debut?
Better Than Bulletproof is my debut novel and my third completed manuscript. In April, Harlequin is releasing my next book titled Bulletproof Texas. It’s about caves and cancer research with continuing characters and a plot thread that carries over from Better Than Bulletproof.
Bulletproof Texas is a romantic suspense thriller about a pharmaceutical research scientist and a brooding caving guide who are forced to work together extracting a cancer-eating bacteria from a flooding Texas Hill Country cave. As the sparks fly and the sexual tension increases, so do the dangers when a competitor decides this potential cure shouldn't see the light of day--and is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way.
7) Will you be doing any book clubs by phone? How can readers get in touch with you?
I don’t have plans for phone book clubs right now, but I’m doing two different online bookclub/forum events in February and several blogs this spring. The details are on my website. Please check there for dates and sign up for my newsletter.
My website
www.KayThomas.net
I’m also on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1216532843&ref=profile
With a Facebook group
Bulletproof Thrills – Romantic Suspense from Kay Thomas
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38244900799
And myspace
http://www.myspace.com/kaythomas_ (Yes, that’s an underscore after thomas!)
Come “friend me” at any of these venues. I’d love to hear from you!
Best wishes with sales, Kay! And thanks for coming to Age of Autism .
This has been great, Kim. I appreciate your interest and the opportunity to tell you about my book. My very best to you and your readers.
Readers, leave a comment to win a copy of Kay's "Better Than Bulletproof." And don't forget to support her by buying a copy for yourself and a friend HERE!
If you can leave a review that would be great too!
Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.
Aw, man! I really wanted to win this! But that's o.k., 'cause now I'll go out an buy it...
Posted by: Twyla | January 18, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Sounds like a great book! I love to read while my son is in therapy so I hope I win!
Posted by: Lynna Kay | January 18, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I beg your pardon? Price Waterhouse was HERE (I made them clean up a crapisode) and the winner was randomly selected.
Actually, I have my little system to select our winners, sometimes I take the date, add the numbers, count the posts until I reach that number or some other creative method.
If I were a cheater I'd have a hell of a library! :)
Posted by: Stagmom | January 18, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Kimmmmm....you didn't crinkle the paper right! I was *supposed* to win!! (Hint: It's how I won a car ;-)
Oh well, it's okay! I actually got to see the REAL JACK (BAUER) in action for 2 hours straight on Sunday night with another 3 hours waiting for me after tonight's episode!! Whoooo hoooo! It's like chocolate but wayyyyyy better!
Bottom Line: It doesn't get any better than Jack!
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis -- To Craig -- You Can Breath Now! | January 18, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I'm not usually a romance novel reader but I want to read this one. It sounds great! Way to go Kay!
Posted by: Maria Durci | January 14, 2009 at 08:20 PM
One of my friends on Facebook won a car! I'd settle for a book.
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn | January 14, 2009 at 08:07 PM
Way to go kay, this is so exciting, i think any way we can make this world aware of what we are going through is wonderful, i cant wait to read your book. GOD BLESS YOU AND THINK YOU SO MUCH. BARBARA AND LITTLE BRANDON.
Posted by: BARBARA RODRIGUEZ | January 13, 2009 at 08:56 PM
The "smoking gun" for the connection between autism and vaccines has ALREADY been found and it is not fiction. Here it is.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107994.php
If I win the book I'll read it and do my best to keep it looking pristine. And when you send it give the runner up my address so they can contact me. I'll send it to them when I'm through. If I kept everything I read I'd need another wing on my house and autographs don't impress me; good writing does.
Elizabeth Hensley <>http://www.proofgodexists.org
http://www.poemsofdarwinsgod.org
http://www.gigglesfromheaven.org
http://www.lizmakesbuttons.com
http://www.painlessshots.org
Posted by: Elizabeth Hensley | January 13, 2009 at 08:03 PM
I would love to read this. Getting Autism awareness out there any way we can is great
Posted by: Laura Kozlowski | January 13, 2009 at 04:32 PM
Count me in! Any book that supports biomedical interventions has my support! :)
Posted by: Bridgett | January 13, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Romance? Not sure what that word means. Would love to learn more
Posted by: Gabriella True | January 13, 2009 at 01:11 PM
FABIO?!! Are you kidding me?? Fabio wouldn't even know what "brawn" is and IF that's the case, then the "brains" part is obviously not in play either.
And Kevin: I ain't buying it -- the whole "this is for my wife...really...I swear...really" thingy. At least OjectiveAutismDad isn't *afraid* to admit he might actually get into the book!!!
Bottom Line: JACK (Harlan) is THEE man when it comes to HOT ;-)
(Psssst...Kim. When you put all the names into the hat, can you please "crinkle" the piece with my name on it *before* you put it in??? Better odds of winning that way!)
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis -- FABIO IS NOT JACK! | January 13, 2009 at 12:12 PM
I started reading Harliquins when in high school (eons ago!) and graduated to Intrigue when it came out! I call them my "bubblebath" books - a glass of wine, one of these, and a hot tub of bubbles, and I'm good to go for another round. Put my name on the list:)
Posted by: Marney C. | January 13, 2009 at 11:53 AM
This post is for my wife, Tammy. Really.
Posted by: Kevin | January 13, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Ah, but Kelli and Gayle, I would only do the Gallant thing and donate said book to one of the lovely ladies who frequent this site. It's what any REAL man would do.
;)
Posted by: Craig Willoughby | January 13, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Count me in!
Posted by: Alaina Jensen | January 13, 2009 at 10:02 AM
I can't wait to read this book!! So glad to read your child is doing well.
Posted by: Diane Cervi | January 13, 2009 at 10:02 AM
What mother of an autistic child would not love to go into fantasy land with a really good romance novel? The fact that it is right up our alley makes it even more interesting. It's great to see the word getting out more. It educates the public and brings awareness to battles we fight daily. I would love to get my hands on this book.
Posted by: Raquel Class | January 13, 2009 at 08:46 AM
I would love the relaxation of curling up with this book!
Posted by: Barbara Bucknam | January 13, 2009 at 07:04 AM
Big pharma are the bad guys? Too bad that's non fiction as well as romance.
Sign me up!
Posted by: Mom23 | January 13, 2009 at 05:52 AM