Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh
Author of Echo Road
During a vicious heat wave, a county maintenance worker stumbles upon two suspicious suitcases abandoned by the side of the road. Sheriff Bree Taggert responds to find two bodies stuffed inside the luggage. The press demands action. The community is on edge. Suddenly, Bree is at the center of a media firestorm.
In Oregon, a senator’s daughter goes missing. FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick agrees to keep the politically sensitive case on the down-low. When she finds a link between the disappearance and a double homicide three thousand miles away, Mercy takes the next plane out—and lands right in the middle of Bree’s double homicide investigation.
To save the missing girl, Bree and Mercy must work together to stop a killer who’s playing deadly games with the press and stirring up public rage. Hungry for notoriety, he dares Bree and Mercy to catch him before he kills again.
Echo Road is a crossover novel from Melinda Leigh's Bree Taggart series and Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick series. Neither series need to be read first to enjoy Echo Road.
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh
Author I draw inspiration from:
Kendra: My autobuy list includes Tami Hoag, Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritson, and Robert Crais.
Melinda: Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series and Orphan X books by Gregg Hurwitz
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
Kendra: Anywhere I won't be interrupted. I used to read in coffee shops when I had a break from my three small children.
Melinda: planes, trains, and anywhere with a water view.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Kendra: I wouldn't mind being stuck in an elevator with Joe Pike from Robert Crais's Elvis Cole series. We're both introverts, so no conversation would feel necessary, and I know he could get us out of the elevator somehow.
Melinda: Jack Reacher. He’d have us out of that elevator in a second.
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
Kendra: I would phrase this as "The moment I decided to try writing a book." I'd just finished a Diana Gabaldon novel for the tenth time and was feeling pleased and happy and wondered if I could give a reader the same awesome feeling. For me it wasn't about becoming an author, it was wondering if I could actually write a book. Once I completed a manuscript, the goal was to see my name on the spine of a book. I never expected that I'd make a living at this.
Melinda: When I sold my first book. Until then, writing was a hobby.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Kendra: I can't stand audiobooks because I can't bear someone reading to me. I've grown to love ebooks and purchase 99% of my books as ebooks. A few years ago after switching to ebooks, I finally donated all my favorite print books which I'd hung on to over the years. I had more than 500.
Melinda: I read hardcover, paperback, and audiobooks. Love them all.
The last book I read:
Kendra: Thea Harrison's DRAGON BOUND. Somehow I missed this series when it came out more than a decade ago, so I've bought the next books too.
Melinda: FIND A WAY by Diana Nyad. Fascinating and inspiring.
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Kendra: I write in Scrivener, a novel writing software. But I roughly sketch out each scene in a small notebook before typing it up it in the software. Scrivener is a wonderful tool. So easy to drag scenes around and connect them to a synopsis as I go.
Melinda: I use all forms of writing, but mostly I work on a computer. Sometimes switching it up triggers my brain to fire if I’m stuck.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Kendra: Jack Reacher. I could convince him to settle down. lol
Melinda: I’d like to be friends with Evan Smoak (Orphan X) mostly because I want to meet Dog the dog.
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
Kendra: Melinda and I discuss this a lot. The only thing that appeals to me is fostering kittens--too bad it doesn't make money.
Melinda: I’d be a zookeeper or a dog trainer.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
Kendra: Regency England. The dresses!
Melinda: The 70s! Love the low riding bell bottoms!
Place I’d most like to travel:
Kendra: I've done international travel but surprisingly my favorite travel experiences have been in the US. We love to take long trips by motorcycle to national parks. They are jaw dropping!
Melinda: A tie between France and Italy because food and wine.
My signature drink:
Kendra: Red wine. Anything from Italy because it doesn't give me a headache the next day.
Melinda: It's currently a nice Pinot Noir.
Favorite artist:
Kendra: I will watch any movie starring Julia Roberts
Melinda: Springsteen! I am originally a Jersey Girl.
Number one on my bucket list:
Kendra: Seeing the northern lights in a Scandinavian country
Melinda: I’m torn between visiting Spain and a Portugal.
Find more from the author:
Kendra:
www.facebook.com/authorkendraelliot
www.instagram.com/kendraelliotMelinda:
www.facebook.com/melindaleighauthorpage
www.instagram.com/melindaleigh1
www.tiktok.com/@melindaleighbooks
About Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh:
Author Interview - Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh
Kendra Elliot has sold twelve million books, hit the Wall Street Journal top ten bestseller list more than a dozen times, and is a three time winner of the Daphne du Maurier award.
She is an International Thriller Writers' finalist and a Romantic Times finalist. She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest but now spends most of her time on a warm beach wearing flip flops.
#1 Amazon Charts and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh has sold over 14 million books. As a fully recovered banker and a life-long lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity while raising her kids. Melinda's debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was an International Thriller Award finalist. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Melinda holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate. She's dabbled in Arnis stick fighting, studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and taught women's self-defense. She lives near the beach with her family and two spoiled rescue dogs. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination. Find out more about Melinda by visiting www.melindaleigh.com.
