November 2005

Dear Readers,

Sometimes in life, good things happen to good people. In this case, it’s going to happen to you. So take out your calendars and mark Dec. 27th as Andrea Kane day. I’m excited to announce that HarperCollins will be releasing my latest hardcover, Wrong Place, Wrong Time at the same time as they release the paperback edition of I’ll Be Watching You. With December 27th just 50 shopping days away, here’s the background behind the writing of each book and a preview to whet your appetite:

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

As I read through my finished manuscript for Wrong Place, Wrong Time, it occurred to me that it was a little like Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” in that both are novels about the “haves” and the “have-nots”. On further reflection, Wrong Place, Wrong Time is more accurately described as “A Tale of Two Families”. Here’s the scoop on each:

THE MONTGOMERYS

The creative spark that became the Montgomerys started with a vivid image of a retired detective turned P.I. That’s Pete Montgomery, or Monty as he’s known in Wrong Place, Wrong Time. He’s a rule-bending, sharp-as-a-tack guy with killer instincts and incomparable street smarts. When I needed inspiration to bring Monty to life, I got more than I bargained for. Through contacts at the New York City Police Department, I was exposed to real-life police work, sometimes chilling, sometimes bizarre, and always fluid. Monty was modeled after one of New York’s Finest, “Murray the Cop” as he’s known by friends and colleagues at Brooklyn’s 75th precinct, where he (and Monty) built a distinguished career.

My education started with an “insiders” tour of the 75th –– East New York, a neighborhood in New York City with one of the highest crime and murder rates. First, we walked around inside the police station itself. I don’t know what I was expecting to see, but what I saw certainly wasn’t it. Typewriters instead of computers, a manual filing system and only the barest hint of modern technology. As for the officers themselves, they were awesome -- friendly, helpful and totally on the ball. I left with an even greater appreciation of their dedication, hard work and gut instincts. They truly are our “secret weapon” in the battle against crime and terrorism.

Riding shotgun through the streets of East New York was unnerving. My “escort” assured me we were safe -- he had a gun and a radio. “Nothing to worry about”, he said. At first I felt comforted by the radio. If we ran into a situation, he could radio for help. I subsequently learned that the radio was to alert us to “crimes in progress” so, like a storm chaser seeking an adrenaline rush, we could drive right into the middle of everything. He was hoping to show me a Code 187, a “homicide”. I was hoping for a Code 1044, “request permission to leave the patrol car” quickly followed by a Code 7, “out for lunch”. Cruising the area, I saw where organized crime had “recycled” some bodies a few years back, the “projects” where much of the crime emanated from and some crack houses, which had been cleaned up and returned to the community. Having toured East New York and the 75th precinct, I felt ready to create Monty. He’s one of my favorite characters and I hope he will be one of yours.

On to Devon, Monty’s daughter and the female protagonist in Wrong Place, Wrong Time. Inspiration for Devon was easy -- I’ve been impressed by veterinarians for years. The veterinarians who have taken care of my pets are, in my opinion, the quintessential medical professionals. They are smart, compassionate, accessible and in just about every way, incredible people.

The rest of the Montgomerys you’ll meet as the story unfolds. And one in particular . . . no, I’ll keep that under wraps a little longer. But I think you’ll enjoy the results.

THE PIERSONS

“And they’re off.” That applies to the Piersons and their passions. Well, actually competitive horse show jumping starts off in a more dignified manner, with the rider acknowledging the judges, rather than taking off with the cacophony of a bell.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the über-competitive world of horse shows, this is definitely a power sport played with a vengeance by the rich and powerful. Enter Edward Pierson. After having built a business empire, the family patriarch is now turning his sights on creating an Olympic dynasty with his grandson James leading the pack.

Blake Pierson, the male protagonist in Wrong Place, Wrong Time is more of a horse enthusiast, choosing business as his competitive venue rather than the ring. But when it comes to women, he and his cousin James are arch rivals. And for more reasons than one, they’re both competing for Devon Montgomery.

When I first started researching Wrong Place, Wrong Time, horse showing was another world to me. My limited exposure to competitions came via friends and my daughter’s affinity for equestrian events. I was fortunate to learn about competitive horse show jumping from the inside -- with the help of Holland’s preeminent horse breeder, a family filled with Olympic riders and champion bloodlines to its credit. This past summer’s Olympics were quite interesting in our household. Clustered around the television, we learned to cheer (and curse) in Dutch during the various equestrian events.

In order to portray things as accurately as possible, I received a crash course on horse breeding (including how “genetic material” is obtained, stored, shipped and sold), drug testing, competition and qualifying event schedules in the U.S. and Europe, equine veterinary care, horse anatomy and how to ride like an Olympic champion. Since all these elements play an important role in Wrong Place, Wrong Time, I spent months researching and reviewing all aspects of a world I now feel connected with.

And now for a quick teaser from Wrong Place, Wrong Time:

Sometimes bad things happen to good people . . . especially when they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When her phone rings, veterinarian Devon Montgomery has a gut instinct that something is wrong. The police confirm Devon’s suspicions, telling her that her mother Sally is missing and presumed dead in a cabin fire.

Secretly evading the authorities and a brutal killer, Sally takes to the woods, relying on her wits and basic survival skills to stay alive. Desperate, she calls Pete Montgomery, her ex-husband and former NYPD detective turned private investigator for help. With Sally’s life on the line, Monty recruits their daughter Devon to work the case with him.

Devon has her father’s cop instincts. As she probes deeper into her mother’s disappearance, the investigation brings her closer to uncovering a dangerous Pierson family secret -- one that could destroy a family empire and its heir apparent, Blake Pierson. But as she and her father peel back each layer of the Pierson family’s corruption, Devon is unsure of whom she can trust. Though powerfully attracted to Blake, Devon isn’t sure if he’s friend or foe.

Time is running out. Danger is closing in. Can Devon prove Sally’s innocence before Devon becomes the killer’s next victim?

I’ll Be Watching You

I'll Be Watching You takes you inside the fast-paced world of talk radio and the obsessive mind of a sociopath as a stalker closes in on Taylor Halstead, psychologist and successful radio personality, eliminating each and every obstacle standing between them until there’s nothing to protect her from his psychotic mission.

"I'll be watching you . . ." the cryptic e-mail read.

Taylor Halstead, psychologist and successful radio personality, is terrified that she'll never be safe again. Coming on the heels of a series of tragic and terrible events, the e-mail sends chills racing up her spine. Her safe, secure world has already been violated by her cousin Stephanie's boyfriend, Gordon Mallory, in her own apartment. Only the door buzzer and Stephanie's intervening voice rescue her, but not before Gordon promises to return. Soon after, he is killed along with Stephanie in an inexplicable explosion aboard his yacht. Or is he?

The e-mail is just the beginning. The terror campaign escalates when an electronically disguised voice on Taylor's telephone threatens to kill her, and her life becomes a nightmare. It seems the only one she can turn to is attorney Reed Weston, her confidant, protector, and, ultimately, lover. But is Reed's determination to protect her enough to avert disaster? And can Taylor trust Gordon's identical twin, Jonathan, who always seems to show up when she least expects him?

Grief and dread unravel Taylor's sanity, playing tricks with her mind and heart. Someone out there wants her dead -- a crazed fan or the troubled teenage boy she's been counseling or, impossibly, Gordon himself. His vow to return and those final menacing words -- "I'll be watching you" -- haunt her day and night.

Whoever is out there is coming closer, and Taylor Halstead has nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

I hope these previews piqued your interest. And don’t forget to visit your favorite bookseller on December 27th to celebrate the Andrea Kane double-release day.

Shifting gears from books to bits and bytes (I prefer the edible kinds of bites myself), I keep trying to make my website better with each update. Thanks to all my readers for their praise and suggestions on the major revamping of my website last year. Not satisfied to rest on our laurels, my webmasters and I have implemented several enhancements to make navigating my website easier for repeat and new visitors alike:

• First and foremost, we had such positive feedback on the flash animation, that we made it even bigger and better this time around, giving it top billing on its own new web page. Don’t forget to turn up your speakers for maximum impact.
   
• We’ve added a “New Releases” page so that you’ll always know what books are hot off the press! This will automatically pop up after the flash introduction, but you can return to it at any time by clicking on the “New Releases” navigation button.
   
• Based on reader feedback, we’ve added buttons and links to allow you to more conveniently purchase books on several different web pages.

Don’t forget to take advantage of two important features we introduced last year:

• Andrea Kane Forum (click on the Forum button) where you can join other readers to discuss my books. I promise to join you from time to time when my writing schedule permits.
   
• Click here to sign up for my new e-mail list.  Subscribing is the best way to get all the latest and greatest news about my books.

For those readers like me who love all different kinds of thrillers, I want to mention an up and coming organization, International Thriller Writers. As an original member of ITW, I strongly support their charter, namely to expand and promote the thriller genre. The thriller genre thrives in its diversity, drawing in readers of romantic suspense, legal thrillers, spy thrillers, medical thrillers, action thrillers, and political thrillers. ITW members include some of the finest fiction writers in the world -- authors such as James Patterson, Sandra Brown, Mary Higgins Clark and Sidney Sheldon. I encourage you to visit ITW’s website at http://www.thrillerwriters.org and watch for some “thrilling” promotions, contests and events. Don’t forget to sign up for their newsletter –- it’s terrific and it’s free!

In closing, I had hoped to provide more frequent newsletters and drop in on the reader forum from time to time, but this has been an extremely busy year just keeping up with my writing schedule. That said, I hope to have some more time in 2006 so that I can stay in better touch with all of you.

Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season and all good things in the New Year!