Kat Martin

Kat Martin
New York Times Bestselling Author
SCENT OF ROSES

Interviewed by: Lauretta Pierce
November 22, 2006

Q.    Who is Kat Martin?

A.   Who is Kat Martin? I find this a humorous question. I’ve been trying to figure that out for at least 40 years. Let me know if you get any ideas.



Q.    How did you come about the idea to write the novel "SCENT OF ROSES?"

A.   I got lucky. That is how I got the idea for SCENT OF ROSES. The actual incidents, the paranormal events that went on in the house happened over a six month period. During that time, I was getting the stories through a friend. It was a terrific ghost story, as real as a ghost story can get. This happened at least ten years ago. Even back then, with a bit of fiction added along with a sexy hero and heroine, I thought it would make a terrific novel.



Q.    How did you come about Elizabeth's, Zack's and Conner's character?

A.   Since I already had the story, I knew the sort of characters I would need to tell it. A social worker had a reason to be worried about the couple who lived in the house. The hero was connected through his work at a wayward boy’s farm, where the young couple’s brother had been sent.



Q.    Where did the idea about the ghost and the train come from?

A.   Much of the story developed from tales people told me of the little town where the murder happened. Apparently there was an abandoned train track near the house. I thought it might be interesting to make it a part of the story.



Q.    How long have you been writing and how many books have you written?

A.   I started writing in 1985. In the past 21 years, I’ve written almost forty books. I write both Historical Romance and Contemporary Romantic Suspense. I feel the two different genres help keep my writing fresh.



Q.    What genre is "SCENT OF ROSES" written in?

A.   SCENT OF ROSES is a Romantic Suspense with paranormal elements. At least that is how I see it. It’s the first in a series of three books that deal with ordinary women who have extra ordinary experiences. I was interested in those stories because I believe a large number of people, including myself, have had things happen that can’t be explain and aren’t completely understood.



Q.    Are you currently working on another novel?

A.   Currently, I’m working on the first of a new Historical trilogy, putting the final touches on HEART OF HONOR, which will be released January l. This was a fun book to write, the story of a Viking who gets washed up on the northern shore of England near the Scottish border in 1842. Leif is a man from a forgotten island not yet undiscovered who winds up in London, held prisoner, and that is where my heroine finds him. It’s a fish out of water story, something a little different, a bit humorous at times. I am hoping my readers will enjoy it.



Q.    What message would you like readers to receive from reading "SCENT OF ROSES?"

A.    I have two hopes for readers who read SCENT OF ROSES. One is that perhaps they will learn to keep an open mind and if something out of the ordinary happens to them, they will not discount the possibility that it might just be real. Secondly, I hope readers enjoy the book and perhaps will give HEART OF HONOR, or another of my historicals a try. All best and happy reading! Kat