Interview with Linda Bond, author of Cuba Undercover

Title: Cuba Undercover
Author: Linda Bond
Publisher: Entangled: Select Suspense
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle

His revenge will change her life forever...

Cuban-American TV reporter Rebecca Menendez's success comes from playing by the rules. When she's kidnapped by a fierce and intensely handsome man who needs her help, however, all of those rules seem pointless. Nothing could have prepared her for being taken hostage...or the irresistible reward if she complies: information about her long-thought dead father. Antonio Vega has spent almost every day of his adult life dreaming of revenging his father's death. With his sister's life and freedom in jeopardy, Antonio isn't taking any chances. But once Rebecca and Antonio are in Cuba, they're immersed in a world of corruption, deceit, and betrayal. It's a deadly game...and there are no rules.

ORDER INFORMATION

Cuba Undercover is available for purchase at

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life, Linda Bond. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

A: I’ve been a television news reporter/anchor by day and romance writer by night. I’ve spent more than twenty years telling relevant stories about people’s unique lives and using my TV platform to help others, especially after my diagnosis of breast cancer in 2011. Although I loved my job in TV, I always had this crazy desire to write fiction. One day I was sitting on the set reading a story about an accident on an adventure vacation in Florida. I turned to my co-anchor and said, “Wouldn’t an adventure vacation be a killer backdrop for a romantic thriller? The villain could kill people and make it look like an accident, and the victims have signed waivers saying they know the risk.” He looked at me like I was crazy! But he did help me plot during commercial breaks. That was the beginning of my first book Alive at 5.

Q: Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?

A: Cuba Undercover is a special book to me because my husband actually helped me write it. I met Jorge while on assignment in Cuba covering Pope John Paul II’s visit to Cuba. I chose his family to interview because Jorge’s parents had five sons and only two would go to Cuba with them because Fidel Castro was still in charge. I found it fascinating that a dictator could still divide this family decades after the revolution ended and after the family left and started living in America. When I told my husband I wanted to write a book about the angst and the conflict still in the hearts of many Cuban Americans, he offered to help me with the dialogue of my hero Antonio. So my husband is literally the voice of Antonio Vega.

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced writing it?

A: After I finished the book and sold it to Entangled Publishing, President Obama opened talks with Cuba. Much of my book is based on the conflict between our counties. As changes started happening I had to keep re-writing the book. I had trouble keeping up. Finally, we just had to go to print, knowing when the book was released the situation may be different. As a journalist it was hard for me to let go because I wanted everything to be factual, but this is fiction, and people will have to suspend their disbelief at times.

Q: Do you have a press kit and what do you include in it? Does this press kit appear online and, if so, can you provide a link to where we can see it?

A: I do have a press kit. I include a bio, pictures, an excerpt, facts about the current book I am releasing and fun facts about me. You can find it at: http://media.wix.com/ugd/09d17a_71f2851fbd19427a9f3e9d7f223d1004.pdf

Q: Have you either spoken to groups of people about your book or appeared on radio or TV? What are your upcoming plans for doing so?

I am already set to make two appearances to talk about my books and being an author. One is for the Working Women of Tampa Bay and the other is: http://www.mylakelibrary.org/local_authors/default.aspx

I also just got a mention in TV Spy: Media Bistro. http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/former-florida-anchor-writes-second-book/151553

Q: Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/she is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?

A: I don’t need an agent to write for Entangled Publishing. I already have a good relationship with the folks there. I do have a women’s fiction book completed along the lines of Waiting to Exhale. I am looking for an agent to shop that to New York.

Q: Did you, your agent or publisher prepare a media blitz before the book came out and would you like to tell us about it?

A: I did hire Barclay Publicity to help me with a release day blast. Here’s who will be posting July 14^th http://www.barclaypublicity.com/book-scoop-blog

And Entangled set up a blog tour through Pump up Your Book. Here’s where I will be appearing and talking about Cuba Undercover. http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2015/07/01/pump-up-your-book-presents-cuba-undercover-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Q: Do you plan subsequent books?

A: Yes, I have two other books planned. One is called LIVEshot and the other is called EYEwitness. All the books are connected in that they feature a reporter working in the same Central Florida newsroom as the reporters in Alive at 5 and Cuba Undercover. They go out to investigate a story and end up solving a mystery on the way to finding love.

Q: Thank you for your interview, Linda Bond. Would you like to tell my readers where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?

A: You can find me at www.lindabond.com

Cuba Undercover is available here:

http://bit.ly/CubaUndercoverAmazon

http://bit.ly/CubaUndercoverBandN

bit.ly/CubaUndercoverKOBO

iTunes: http://apple.co/1GHXhNv

Linda Bond loves to read. She started with those great Nancy Drew books. Remember Nancy Drew and 'The Secret of the Old Clock?" How about 'The Mystery of the 99 Steps?' She really liked smart, gutsy heroines, even at a young age. In high school, Linda discovered historical romances by authors like the great Kathleen Woodiwiss. She read at least three books a week. So many her mother actually called a conference with her teacher, worried, and overwrought that her innocent little girl was reading those trashy romance novels.

What was she learning? Linda's teacher just looked at her mom and said, "Your daughter reads three books a week?" Linda's mother said, "Yes, at least. And I don't know what to do."

"Let her read," Linda's teacher responded. And, so she did.

Harold Robbins and Jackie Collins took Linda out of her high school hallways and into the glamorous Hollywood Hills.

John Grisham, James Patterson, and Harlen Coben can still keep Linda up all night. Turning pages, ladies, turning pages.

Linda lives for a good romantic thriller. Which is probably why she's a reporter. She's addicted to the rush of adrenaline that comes with finding and crafting a great story.

Each day Linda writes about someone's unique life. In Linda's world, 400 words must carry the weight of 400 pages. Linda writes a dreaded synopsis every single day- under deadline.

Now, Linda is retraining herself to do just the opposite. She's punching up her pages with powerful passages. With each new chapter, Linda smiles, because she loves to tell a story.

It's really as simple as that.

The best way to really know Linda Bond is to read what she writes. That's where the real fun begins.

For More Information
Visit Linda at her website

Linda is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to Amazon
This giveaway begins July 14 and ends on August 11.
Winners will be contacted via email on August 12.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!