Title: Operation Owl
Author: Tara Quan
Publication Date: July 15, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Humor
Synopsis
Five years ago, Maya Jain kissed her best friend only to have him run out of her dorm room and leave the state. When he shows up in Washington, D.C., a wanted fugitive sought after by every branch of the US government, she can’t bring herself to ignore his plight. As their physical relationship picks up where it left off, she decides it’s time to make him see her as more than the bespectacled, bookish girl he once called “Owl.”
After being accused of espionage and treason, Zack Strong needs a forensic accountant to help clear his name. Not knowing who he can trust, this white-hat hacker has no choice but to ask his former best friend and math tutor for help. Together they unravel a cyber conspiracy at the Barn, an NSA facility tasked to intercept electronic communications. But as they traverse the nation’s capital to avoid capture, Maya insists on letting their simmering sexual tension take its natural course. Even though he’s never been able to shake the memory of their one kiss, he refuses to let her give up her life for a man with no future.
After being accused of espionage and treason, Zack Strong needs a forensic accountant to help clear his name. Not knowing who he can trust, this white-hat hacker has no choice but to ask his former best friend and math tutor for help. Together they unravel a cyber conspiracy at the Barn, an NSA facility tasked to intercept electronic communications. But as they traverse the nation’s capital to avoid capture, Maya insists on letting their simmering sexual tension take its natural course. Even though he’s never been able to shake the memory of their one kiss, he refuses to let her give up her life for a man with no future.
Author Bio
Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, fantasy worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, her characters are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. Learn more at www.taraquan.com
Interview
Where are you from?
It’s complicated. I was born in
Thailand, went to pre-school and kindergarten in Canberra, spent my school
years in Bangkok, my college days in Boston, and got my first job in
Washington, D.C. Since I now consider the National Capital Area home, I usually
answer that question with: Arlington, Virginia.
Tell us your latest news?
I moved to Rome at the end of
July and have finally settled in. We’ll be staying here for the next 3 years.
When and why did you begin writing?
Back in middle school/junior
high, I burned through the first four Harry Potter books, discovered J.K.
Rowling hadn’t yet written the fifth, and decided to continue the series myself
(all romances featuring Draco Malfoy and Heromione Granger).
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I received my first royalty
check. It was for my post apocalyptic sci-fi romance, Tower in the Woods, which came out in January 2013.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first published book was the
result of a submission call for a fairytale retelling set in a world full of zombies.
The publisher who put the request out passed on it, someone else decided it was
worth a shot.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I prefer to write in the third-person
limited POV. I’d describe my own works as sexy with a bit of humor.
How did you come up with the title?
Having the word “Owl” in the
title was required by the publisher since it’s based on a Grimm’s fairytale
with the same name. I’m a fan of alliteration, and I figured “Operation” fit
with the hacker theme.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Men, even the most intelligent
kind, can at times be rather clueless. It rarely hurts for a woman to take
charge.
How much of the book is realistic?
The conflict is loosely inspired
by Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks, but I made a few changes
to make the ethics of the hero more clear-cut. It’s a contemporary romance set
in present-day Washington, D.C., and I stayed as true to the location as
possible.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
My heroine bares some
resemblance to my college roommate, who’s also of Indian descent, is very
intelligent, and a total math geek.
What books have most influenced your life most?
The Harry Potter books lured me
into the writing world, and Judith McNaught’s romances made me fall in love
with the genre. Julia Quinns regencies taught me the value of humor, and Linda
Howard’s books gave me some pointers on creating suspense.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I’m a Nalini Singh fangirl. I’d
love to write like her one day.
What book are you reading now?
I’m about to start the Beyond
Fairytales romance that follows mine on the release schedule—Darkest Magic by Eva Lefoy
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I’ve recently discovered
Samanthe Beck. She writes very funny and extremely sexy contemporary romances.
What are your current projects?
I should have three
holiday-themed paranormal romances coming out this year. The first in the
series is set on Halloween, the second on Christmas, and the third on New
Year’s Eve. They all feature witches who turn into cats.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Both the publishers I’ve worked
with—Liquid Silver Books and Decadent Publishing—along with the editors they’ve
employed, have all played a huge role in making me a better writer.
What would you like my readers to know?
My goal as a writer is to make
readers smile and occasionally laugh. I think I’ve pulled that off with Operation Owl. If you’re a fan of the
best-friends-to-lovers trope and like romantic comedies, I’d love it if you
gave the free sample read at various ebook outlets a quick glance.
Social Media Links
Giveaway: There is a giveaway for this tour. A $25 Amazon/B&N Giftcard or a Book Depository shopping spree of the same value.
One winner. Open Internationally. Ends 10/6. Void where prohibited.
Hi! Thanks so much for hosting me. The interview was super fun :)
ReplyDelete