ML Buchman: Author Interview and Giveaway
Hello again readers! I promised you a big week at Book Savvy Babe, and today I have another guest author. Romantic Suspense author ML Buchman is here with a great interview and a giveaway of his new release, The Night is Mine. I rated The Night is Mine 4 of 5 stars (read my review). Check out this interview, comment away, and enter to win this hot new read!
BSB: ML, thanks so much for interviewing at Book Savvy Babe. To start things off, would you like to tell us how you came to write romantic suspense?
ML: I’ve always loved a good love story. I was raised on Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant and Broadway musicals. Not that I am so old, but that’s what my parents watched and listened to. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic (well, until I met my lady who turned me into a happily hopeful romantic about 15 years ago). Also, the more I wrote, the more I was attracted to that thriller/suspense pacing. It pushes characters, it drives them by robbing them of every chance to collect their thoughts, sometimes their breath, and eventually even their emotions. To combine my romantic heart with that driving story line became natural. I recently reconnected with a friend who I haven’t seen in a half dozen years, since before I wrote “The Night is Mine,” and she reminded me, “You’ve been talking about writing a romance since forever.” I’d forgotten it had been a stated goal, but it’s always been there waiting for me.
BSB: The Night is Mine is pretty heavy on military speak, as far as descriptions of aircraft and various segments of the military go. Did writing The Night is Mine require a lot of research?
ML: An immense amount. I’m pretty fair mechanically and I have my private pilot’s license, which is about like saying, “I worked backstage in a school play once, so I could direct a Broadway musical easy!” I have no military background. Not in the mechanics of it or the thinking or feel of it. That was the real challenge. For each book I read on helicopters, I read 4 about people’s recollections, stories, feelings. I wanted to strike a balance between realism and story. The story is a love story and two people fighting against their own past and their external circumstances. The setting is military. The challenge was discovering what would be unique to a trained warrior’s way of thinking and interacting that I would have no experience with.
BSB: The Night is Mine is part of a series, will the next book in the series have the same characters and continue Mark and Emily’s story? Can you tell us a little about your plans for the series?
ML: Mark and Emily are now Happily Ever After, but the series is just taking flight. The DAP Black Hawk, the nastiest helicopter ever thrown into the night sky, has four seats. One-by-one, they’ll be taken by the first women of SOAR. Captain Emily Beale is the anchor. I had so much fun writing my book #2 heroine Kee Smith, she’s the gunner and she’s a fighter. She’s a street kid and to her everything is a battle. When she hooks up with calm, centered, upper-class, co-pilot Archie, the fight is definitely on. For both of them! Connie Davis, book 3, is the mechanic’s mechanic. Quiet, resolute, and surprisingly passionate (at least to me, I found her quite as surprising as Chief Mechanic Big John Wallace did). And now I’m just starting to discover the female co-pilot of book #4, Lola LaRue, “Like my dad wanted me to grow up to be a stripper or something with that name.” Very sassy and kinda wild. I can’t wait!
BSB: As a male author in the romance genre, do you think you have a different take on romance?
ML: I’d have to say, less than you might expect. I look at the variety of romance writing by women from cozy to erotica, from Brockman’s SEALs to Nora’s Chesapeake fisherman and I don’t fall outside that span by any stretch. But there is a difference. I step forward to protect. I saw this when my step-daughter received her first credit card solicitation call at 8 years old. I see this when I come up against an angry street person, I’ll step to the fore to shield others with me. Somehow it seems to be inherent in my nature and I know it carries into my writing. A woman will protect by withdrawing, I’ll do it by stepping forward. It’s a thought-provoking question, I’ll have to think about my military heroines, most of them step forward, but not all. Hmm…
BSB: What would you say to those people who often perceive romance novels as “fluff?” Do you cringe if you come across terms such as “throbbing manhood?”
ML: First I point out that romance constitutes about 50% of the fiction market. I ask if they ever watch romance movies. After they say no, I ask about “Sleepless in Seattle, Pride and Prejudice, Sound of Music, almost anything with Jennifer Aniston, etc.” I’ll point out the difference between pulp science fiction and “2001: A Space Odyssey” or between “Married with Children” and “Modern Family.” Some of it is fluff, some of it’s fantastic.
“Throbbing member” “fisted her” “pulsing manhood” “her wet…” yep, they definitely make me cringe. Not because they are so graphic, but rather because there are so many possibilities in the crazy thing that has grown into the English language. I find such phrases just a little too easy an out, at least for me.
BSB: Do you finish every book you start? If not, what’s your cutoff? Do you give it a certain number of pages to capture your attention, or are there certain plot developments that make you give up on a story?
ML: I used to. If you had me on page 1, you had me on page 431. I don’t have time for that any more. If I’m flagging in the 40-50s, you’re at a deep risk of losing me. And book 1 doesn’t necessarily lead me into book #2. A series is a huge commitment, and I have 5 or 6 on my shelf right now that I know want to read end-to-end. Yet, I write in series because I love them so much. I love the continuing story in the background and the new one in the foreground. Clearly I’m torn here. There are certain, heave-at-the-wall limits that press my buttons and I’ll cast the book down and not pick it up again. If a character is too stupid to live, or the hero/heroine is intentionally cruel (at least not with some deep motivation), I’m done.
BSB: On the flip side, what criteria do you have for a great book? Any examples?
ML: One that I can’t put down. But beyond that, I read so widely that it’s hard to pin down. Lee Child’s storytelling and pacing doesn’t let me put down a book once I pick it up. James Lee Burke is such a master of language that I love to wallow in his use of it, even though I’m not enamored of the setting or the violence. Stephenson’s “Anathem” I absolutely loved and on that basis alone I’m working my way through his other books. Nora’s “Born in” and Chesapeake series I’ll gladly reread any time, they’re just so rich and comfortable, definitely old friends. My two “island” books? “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand and “The Annotated Adventures of Alice.”
Okay, onto a little bit of fun. I always love my authors to play a little game of Would You Rather, have fun with the questions and please explain your answers:
BSB: Would you rather always lose or never play?
ML: I’ll always play. Back in my teen years I hit that proverbial hard bump in the road that threw all my understanding of humanity into doubt. At that time I made a conscious choice to always step forward in trust, because if I didn’t play, I couldn’t win. It’s set me up for a few seriously daunting sucker punches, but in turn I have some truly fabulous people in both my past and my present that I wouldn’t trade for all the world.
BSB: Would you rather be an unknown minor league basketball player or a famous professional badminton star?
ML: Easy: hate basketball, love badminton! Not even a choice there. I’ve never understood the attraction of “big” sports. It’s like sex, would you rather watch or play? I don’t care about the size of the game, I care about the fun of it.
BSB: Would you rather forget who you were or who everyone else was?
ML: A friend of my sister’s once said, “If I’m ever bored, I’ll just give you a piece of string and sit back to watch.” We both have very strong internal lives, ones that seek expression, but starts from self. I’d far rather remember myself… if I can put in a hedge on remembering my lady and my step-kid, life wouldn’t be 1/100th as fun without them in my life.
Thank you so much for being here, I really appreciate your answers. I know that I am looking forward to the next installment of the series, I’m looking forward to meeting Kee Smith!
THE NIGHT IS MINE BY M.L. BUCHMAN
NAME: Emily Beale RANK: Captain MISSION: Fly undercover to prevent the assassination of the First Lady, posing as her executive pilot. NAME: Mark Henderson, code name Viper RANK: Major MISSION: Undercover role of wealthy, ex-mercenary boyfriend to EmilyTheir jobs are high risk, high reward:
Protect the lives of the powerful and the elite at all cost. Neither expected that one kiss could distract them from their mission. But as the passion mounts between them, their lives and their hearts will both be risked…and the reward this time may well be worth it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M. L. Buchman has worked in fast food, theater, computers, publishing, and light manufacturing. It’s amazing what you can do with a degree in geophysics. At one point he sold everything and spent 18-months riding a bicycle around the world. In 11,000 miles, he touched 15 countries and hundreds of amazing people. Since then, he has acquired a loving lady, the coolest kid on the planet, and lives in Portland, Oregon. For more information, please visit http://www.matthewlieberbuchman.com/.
Sourcebooks is providing 2 COPIES of The Night is Mine for a giveaway! Since the publisher is providing this contest, the contest is open to entries in the US/CAN only. To enter, just leave a meaningful comment on this blog post and fill out the rafflecopter below. Happy reading!
February 9, 2012 at 6:43 am
What a fabulous interview. This book was awesome and I was SURE that you were a helicopter pilot from the amazing descriptions of all the different helicopters. My dh spent 20 years in the air force, so I love a good military book. I cannot wait for the rest of the series…I may even get dh to read these esp. the mechanics! I read him an excerpt from the first just to show him how wonderful your writing was on the details. He was impressed! smiles…
February 9, 2012 at 8:37 am
Loved the interview! I grew up with a mom who loved the old movies and musicals. I LOVE Fred Astair, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye and the list goes on. I was touched how you described “stepping up”. For me that’s a great indicator of someone who is a hero in every sense of the word. The world could do with more people like you.
I read Atlas Shurgged when I was in my early twenties and loved it.
February 9, 2012 at 8:43 am
I would love to read a new author. I have been looking for something different and this seems like a great read.
Thanks
February 9, 2012 at 8:48 am
I’m just getting interested in this subset of the romance genre. And I think this book will make a great entry point for me.
February 9, 2012 at 8:58 am
Great interview. I love the book cover and things like throbbing manhood get’s to me as well. Nice to read I’m not the only one and I so agree on series. I have a few I want to get to Stephen Kings Gunslinger, Eragon series and George RR Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire I don’t have the time as is for the books I need to review so not sure how I can fit in a series. I really need to quit a book if I don’t like it which I do on rare occasion I need to do it more often though.
February 9, 2012 at 9:29 am
Great interview! The book sounds wonderful.
February 9, 2012 at 9:33 am
Fascinating interview, you two. I love romantic suspense and the military, so this series sounds right up my alley. It was great to hear the perspective of a male author writing a kickass heroine. My dad is a big fan of Lee Child but I’ve yet to read his novels. ML, what was one of your most memorable events on your bike tour?
February 9, 2012 at 9:41 am
I rather forget who I am and do something differet and out of character. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
February 9, 2012 at 10:30 am
Wonderful interview today. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. I am with you with I will always play. I may not win, but there is nothing if I do not try. While I realize The Night is Mine is romantic suspense, I think my son just might like it for all the military aspect and you never know and if I win perhaps we will get to share it
February 9, 2012 at 10:39 am
Great interview! I completely agree with you on the point at which you could lose me in a book. I read so much & have soooo many books on my TBR pile that if you haven’t captured me by the 15-20% mark (got to love my Kindle), then you’re losing me.
The Night Is Mine sounds like a wonderful read and a must add to the above-mentioned pile! I wish you much success with it
Alyssa
Hesperia Loves Books
February 9, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Congrats on the new release! Thanks for the lovely interview! It’s always fun to read about new to me authors and your book sounds fantastic!
February 9, 2012 at 12:10 pm
That’s an awesome interview. I have to admit, when I clicked over to your site, I didn’t realize ML was a male. I’m definitely going to add this book to my list so I can see for myself that a man really knows romance
Heheh.
Great job to both of you!
February 9, 2012 at 12:26 pm
What a wonderful and insightful interview. I’d like to change the title from “The Night is Mine,” to “This Book is Mine.”
If I hadn’t felt drawn to the author and had such a wonderful explanation of the story, I would do my traditional skirting of any genre that has anything to do with military. Thanks for sharing the link so I could enjoy the post.
February 9, 2012 at 12:52 pm
That was a fab interview. I always love to see male authors writing romance:) Or erotica! That is definately a female dominated realm. The book sounds really good! Thanks for the giveaway!!
viajeradelmar@aol.com
February 9, 2012 at 12:58 pm
So many wonderful comments, I don’t know where to begin during my stolen minutes from my lunch hour (yep, gotta pay those bills and college tuition somehow).
Christi, let me know if you sucker your dh into reading this. One of my quiet little authorly dreams is that books like mine would help introduce men to all the fun we already know exists over here in romance.
Victoria, part of my character is that I’m allowed to do the odd and the interesting starting with who I already am. 4 days after I graduated from college in Maine I was on the road to move to Seattle. I’d heard of it, but didn’t know anything about it or anyone there. Why the heck not? I went. Never understood what freaked out friends and family so much. “It’s so brave.” Nah, I just did it.
Jennifer, most memorable part of my bike tour (almost wrote book tour
). 8 months out I rode into this disaster of an Indonesian fishing village. It was all the stereotypes, foul, falling down, desperately poor. And it had the most amazing, friendly, kind people I’ve ever had the good fortune to share a meal with. Why? 9 months earlier a 30 foot tsunami had swept through and killed 30% of the population in under 5 minutes. There one moment, gone the next. These people had learned that the most important thing you can do is spend time with people because every moment is precious and may indeed be your last. When I asked what one man thought was important he said, “Oh, that’s easy. Good heart (he touched his heart). Good thoughts (his forehead). Automatic good actions (pointing ahead).” I’ll never, ever forget that moment. Twenty years on I can still tell you how it smelled, how blue the sky was behind Angelo’s loose crosshatch shirt, where the two kids waiting for a bicycle ride on my rear rack were standing with their widowed mother. Everything. It is the one place I can never go back to, because I know it will never be the same. How do I know? When I arrived at the next small village, it was poor, noisy, messy, and not nearly as friendly (just normally nice for a country I found filled with pleasant people.) Why? A headland had protected their village from the devastation.
I’ll swing back after work. Thanks for the kind comments and the chance to be here.
ML “Matt” Buchman
February 9, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Great interview! I happen to love playing both basketball and badminton!
February 9, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Can’t wait to read this book! Just by it’s description I added it to my to be read list without knowing anything about the author, and I have to say I’m intrigued to see a man’s point of view on a romantic suspense
Great interview!
February 9, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Thank you for the great interview, I loved the questions and the cover is amazing! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
February 9, 2012 at 5:20 pm
I love how he says the only difference in his writing compared to women writing romance is his inherent nature to protect. Love it. And I too love a book I can’t put down. Now that’s a great book.
February 9, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Badminton, Fred Astaire, and helicopters–what’s not to like?
Great interview!
February 9, 2012 at 7:21 pm
I admit, I very rarely read romances by male authors, but I’m trying to get past my apparent prejudices
I TOTALLY agree about purple prose 
Great interview! I look forward to reading The Night Is Mine!
Jess
February 9, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Jennifer, you raised a really interesting question. I had assumed that male nature kind of includes that more assertive posture, in-bred defense of family. But when I mentioned your comment to my wife she chose to differ. She said the good guys do, the jerks leave you standing in the wind. She also felt that the women who join the military are more likely to be of a step-forward mindset than a step-back to protect mindset. I’d never before considered the inherent conflict that might set up in a woman’s mind, one whose nature is one way and her choices the other. I’ve always been a step-forward person, now I’ll have to think more about my character’s own choices.
This is what I love most about writing. Discovering an interesting question like that and poking it a bit, dumping it on some poor unsuspecting character’s psyche and watch what they do with it. Just so much fun. Thanks a lot for the extra nudge on that one.
ML
February 9, 2012 at 10:46 pm
This would be great for our book club. I am adding THE NIGHT IS MINE BY M.L. BUCHMAN, to our “books to read” list ;D Yay!!
February 10, 2012 at 8:13 am
Loved the interview! I liked how you said you’ll step forward to protect but sometimes women withdraw. My husband is active duty and honestly..I believe I used to withdraw until I was with him and we had a child. Now, being alone with a special needs child, I step forward also…
Can’t wait to read the book!!!!
February 10, 2012 at 8:43 pm
I enjoyed the interview. These were very interesting questions, especially the last one.
February 11, 2012 at 10:16 am
Great interview. I am in awe that you wrote a romance suspense novel. It’s so intriguing. I guess I am just so used to woman writing them. It totally has me wanting to read this. This book is on my TBR list.
Mary
February 11, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Michelle, what can I say? I married a single mom. Strongest people on the planet. No “warrior” ever had to lift such a load. And you don’t have years of training and a military support system to do it. It’s for this reason I will always, deeply believe that women are far stronger than men.
Isabel, I love book groups. I belong to a pro group that’s been meeting for 6 or 7 years now. If you come up with a list of questions, or I can help in any other way, just let me know. You can always find me through my website.
February 13, 2012 at 7:49 am
What a great interview, the book looks amazing
I love the would you rather question asked, it’s very difficult for me to answer though.
February 13, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Great interview. Thanks for taking the time to do it. Looking forward to reading this book, sounds great.
February 14, 2012 at 8:56 am
Great interview! I just wanted to say the book was a terrific ride and I’m definitely looking forward to the sequels.
February 14, 2012 at 9:37 am
I also love badminton! I feel the same way – it’s about the fun not necessarily the size of the game. The same thing can be said for books, I always enjoy a good story and I don’t care if the genre is “over-done”.
February 14, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Hi Na,
I listen to my wife describe why she reads, “It’s a great get-away. At the end of a long day, I want to go somewhere and enjoy myself.” She’s my target audience. For me I try to be thought provoking, insightful, interesting. For her I try to be joyous and funny and happy and interesting. It makes a great mindset to write from. Sure, I go over the top sometimes, but I always get there by going as completely from the heart as I know how, so the ride should be fun either way.
ML
February 19, 2012 at 12:58 pm
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March 11, 2012 at 9:55 am
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