Interview Maria Hammarblad Author of Flashback
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Maria and Flashback a military romance!
What inspired this particular story?
I don’t remember how I got the original idea to write Flashback, but there was a specific incident that had a lot of impact on the book. I lived in Florida at the time, and winters there can be really cold. It’s not cold on the thermometer, but the high humidity just chills you to the bone. I was on my way home, had stopped at the grocery store, and was driving out of the parking lot when I saw the man.
He didn’t look like all the other homeless people you see there. He was clean, had short hair, had shaved, and wore clean clothes. He stood by the wall, holding a sign saying he was a veteran. I stopped and gave him the cash I had. He thanked me, saying he was going to go get a cup of coffee to get out of the cold.
I was on my way home, my dog waited and needed to go out, and I didn’t even think about staying to chat with him. Afterwards I wondered who he really was, and what his story might have been. He might not have told me, but I wish I’d at least asked his name. I went back later in the evening to see if I could do something for him, but he wasn’t there anymore and I never saw him again. This is years ago, but I still wonder about him.
Anyway, it made me think about how hard it must be to be deployed somewhere and come back. The worlds must be so completely different. How do you readjust? Your family and friends might not get it at all. Of course, my imagination blew all these musings out of proportion and it ended up in Flashback.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I need to be outdoors. When my characters stop talking to me, I’ve either been too stressed about real life, or spent too much time indoors. If I take a walk, go outside and look at a tree, or just sit on the back porch, the ideas usually start flowing again. I prefer to sit outdoors and write too. That’s not practical during all seasons and types of weather of course, but I accomplish much more when I’m outside.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Parents shouldn’t have favorites, right? Haha! If you don’t tell the other characters, my favorite is Adam from the Embarkment 2577 series. Those are science fiction books, and he is an android. He struggles so hard with understanding both himself and the humans around him. He does well with it most of the time, but sometimes it goes spectacularly wrong.
A peek between the pages of Flashback:
Life outside could sure be exhausting. Anna went into the kitchen, and Steve rested his head back and closed his eyes. Listening to her hum a song, just a little out of tune as she loaded the coffee maker soothed his nerves.
A hard rattling sound made him open his eyes again.
Gunshots, and they were close.
Anna still sang, and she would be an easy target.
He ran through the apartment, making sure to stay away from the windows. Peeking around the corner, his beautiful fiancée was oblivious to the danger.
Women.
How did they survive?
He sprung out from his hiding place behind the wall, shoved her down on the floor, and threw himself over her. After all she did for him, protecting her with his own body was the least he could do.
Anna wheezed, clearly trying to draw a breath.
“Sssh, they’re coming.”
She lay on her back, and the question in her eyes was clear. Have you lost your mind? Of course he had, a long time ago. She should know.
When she opened her mouth, he covered it with his hand, so she couldn’t draw attention to them.
“Don’t you hear them? The shots?”
She shook her head and closed her fingers around his wrist, attempting to pull his hand away.
“I think we’re safe, but be very quiet.”
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Flashback!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Flashback, Maria Hammarblad, Military, Romance by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
