Today Kylie Brant is here to talk about her new series, The Mindhunters. If you remember, Rowena recently reviewed the first book in Kylie’s series, Waking Nightmare. The next two books, Waking Evil and Waking the Dead come out back to back in October and November.
The Mindhunters
by Kylie BrantI rarely have a coherent answer when someone asks me where I get my story ideas. They just form, unsummoned and frequently at inconvenient moments. Like yesterday when I was spending the day out with my husband and he asked why I was staring into space. I sheepishly had to admit that a scene had just played out in my mind. He just stared at me for a minute, then said, “You’re weird.”
Maybe that’s true J. But after thirty-two years he should be used to it.
I wrote twenty-two books for Silhouette Romantic Suspense before taking a break to write Waking Nightmare on spec. I’d long wanted to write lengthier, darker, more complex plots with a focus on the suspense, as much as the romance. And I’d had an idea for this story nudging me for months. When they stick around that long I know they aren’t backing off until I flesh them out and write them. That’s how the idea for The Mindhunters was born.
I love books, TV shows and movies that are psychological thrillers, police procedurals with a forensics slant. Unsurprisingly, that’s what I enjoy writing. I’m on a lot of email loops with law enforcement and forensic scientists. Cops often say there would be few unsolved crimes if they had unlimited time and money. That got me thinking: what could happen if those resources weren’t a factor?
One regular poster to a loop I’m on has a private consulting firm and he is often hired by law enforcement as a forensic profiler on serial crimes. I began to imagine an entire agency of such experts with forensic specialties—profilers, linguists, anthropologists, as well as investigators. Who would be the head of such an agency? What’s his story? And Adam Raiker, head of Raiker Forensics ie The Mindhunters, began to take shape.
Waking Nightmare, Waking Evil and Waking the Dead are the first three novels in the series and are being released back to back in September-October-November this fall. They all feature an investigator from Raiker’s Agency. In Waking Nightmare forensic profiler Abbie Phillips pairs with Savannah police detective Ryne Robel trailing a vicious serial rapist. Abbie determines the selection method the villain is using—he learns his victims’ darkest fear and then fashions a torture to make them live it.
As I was writing that particular book I toyed with several different possibilities for the villain. Unlike the protagonists, the antagonist appears to me first as a set of behaviors, then motivations. As I explore that character more fully, his or her back story begins to emerge. Once I knew the back story only one of my villain possibilities could be sufficiently motivated to engage in the acts discovered in the plot. Thus, my villain was given an identity.
Thanks for the very insightful post, Kylie. We really appreciate you being here with us today.
Kylie has graciously offered to give all three of her Mindhunter releases away. Simply leave a comment on this post with a question for Kylie, or welcoming her to Book Binge, and you’ll be entered to win all three!!
This contest is open to all readers, including international. However, the prize for international readers will be an e-book instead of a print book. Contest will end Sunday, September 13 at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Welcoming to Book Binge Kylie!
Your books sounds very good. I can’t wait to read it.
kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks for taking the time to guest blog, Kylie!
I enjoy your categories, but haven’t yet checked these out.
Did you find it challenging to write longer, since you’ve been writing categories for a while?
I’m always looking for new authors and series to read, these sound good!
Hi and welcome, Kylie! I enjoyed Waking Nightmare and look forward to the next two releases. I was wondering if this series will be continued beyond the three books or will there be more releases in the upcoming years? The reason I ask this is because Leslie Parrish also has her romantic suspense novels, Black CAT series, release back to back right now but she will be switching to a new, paranormal series next year.
If you are not continuing the series, will you be starting any new series (longer length novels)?
Thanks!
Oops, I didn’t finish writing out my thoughts earlier after the sentence about LP. I’m really happy to have romantic suspense novels released back-to-back but it’s a tease to stop and have to wait almost another 6 mos. for the next release!
Thanks, Kalynnick!
Elise, my problem has always been writing short, and as they reduced the word count on the categories, I really struggled. When I first started writing for Silhouette, I was writing 85,000 words. So I’m loving the freedom of taking as long as I need to tell the story.
Thanks, Tetewa! Good to see you here!
Glad you enjoyed Waking Nightmare, Tabitha. I went back to contract with Berkley last month and they have asked for three more Mindhunters books. These books will feature Adam Raiker more prominently, with an overarching suspense plot that involves him. The last in the trilogy will be his book.
Thanks for sharing insights into the books Kylie. This series sounds really good. I really like good romance but when its coupled with gripping suspense its the perfect combo!! Am off to order the first book.
Luci–I hope you enjoy the book!
Rowena–Abbie and Ryne make an appearance in book 2, but there are only references to Ramsey (from book 2) in book 3. I hope to work in more appearances of the characters from Books 1-3 in the next three books.
In book 4 I have a pair of investigators from Mindhunters working the case. And of course Raiker will be more of a central figure in books 4 and 5, and the focus in book 6. I see book 6 as another opportunity to see a few more of these characters again.
Hi Kylie-
I do have a question, or questions I guess 🙂 When you are writing a series, do you know how many books you would like to have? When you start, do you see an end in sight, or do you just keep writing until you feel you have covered everything?
Thanks so much!
Amy M
I have been DYING to read these books! They sound SOOOO good!! So glad to hear it will be more then three books. Welcome to Book Binge and so glad to see you here. 🙂 I’d love to win these books.
Welcome to Book Binge Kylie. Your books sound amazing. I will have to go check them out.
Welcome Kylie!
Congrats on your new release!
I love reading romantic suspense books and these books are ones I definately would love to read!
Good question, Amy! When I was writing SRS I tended to write trilogies because I get bored easily and know my attention span isn’t much longer than that! I think once I wrote a four book series.
When I was writing Waking Nightmare, I had proposals for books 2 and 3 in the series but had no idea if all three books would sell. And my editor asked for three more in the series, so I can’t say that I firmly had six figured out. I did, however, always want to tell Adam Raiker’s story, so I guess I sort of had at least four planned all along.
Good luck, Rachel!
Thanks, Jamie. Initial reviews have been good so far!
Thanks, Razlover–love your pic!
Congrats on your new release!
I’m looking forward to reading the series.
Great post! Congrats on your new release! I can’t wait to read the series!
Welcome Kylie. I’d love to read this series. They sound great!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Oh Kylie I wanted to tell you something..
Last time you had a contest on a blog.. you mentioned crime TV shows and I was talking about Dexter. Alot of people were recommending Criminal Minds..I think you did too. Well I finally watched it and I love it! I’m catching repeats here and there. It’s a great show!
I just read Waking Nightmare. Really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to read Waking Evil.
Hi Kylie!
Love your books’ covers, and they definitely sound good. 🙂
Ahhh, I get it now. Will we be seeing any of the Mindhunters working together to solve cases as the series progresses? I really enjoyed Abbie and Ryne’s story and look forward to seeing more of them in the other books (they will make appearances right?)
Thanks for clearing things up where the Mindhunters are concerned, I was mighty curious to see how they all tied together.
I can’t wait to read the other books!
Oh and thanks so much for guest blogging with us here on Book Binge, welcome!
It’s great to see you at Book Binge Kylie. I’ve been hearing such great things about the Mindhunter series, and I’m excited to try them. I’m always incredibly impressed by a good suspense novel, because I love to see how an author puts together many tiny clues that directs the reader to get the whole picture. I also love the covers for your books!
Well this weird–some of my replies have disappeared…
Thanks, Jane! I’m glad to be continuing the series!
Hi Estella, good to see you here!
Chey–hope you enjoy the books!
Thanks, MJ. I had a blast writing the books!
Yes, Rachel, I’m definitely going to give Criminal Minds another try. They have excellent plots!
Thanks, Stacy. Hope you enjoy Waking Evil, too.
Wendy, the covers were fun. It was great to have some input!
Thanks, Eshani. Suspense is my favorite genre!
Welcome to Book Binge Kylie. Your books sound great – just the type of stuff I like to read.
Is it hard to balance both the suspense factor as well as the romance?
Hi Kylie,
Congrats on the new release and on the book deal for three more Mindhunters books.
Welcome to The Book Binge.
What authors are autobuys for you?
My daughter would love these books!!!
Oh yay, thanks for clearing that up. I’m anxious to read the rest of the series!
Hi Kylie~
Welcome to Book Binge! Your Mindhunger series sounds so great and I am really looking forward to reading them.
My question is even though you are fascinated with this particular area…did you have to do alot of research while writing?
I would love to be entered.
Hi kylie! Welcome to bookbinge. I too have heard good reviews about the Mindhunters series. I’d love to try your books!
I haven’t had a chance to read Waking Nightmare, but the book sounds really interesting. I am a big fan of the forensic crime shows, so this shoule be right up my alley!
Hi Kylie! Oh you stopped watching the show? I’ve only seen a couple episodes but I am loving it.
I love these covers too and the reviews are great. They really make me want to read them.
Welcome, Kylie! Glad to hear about this new series. My to-be-read list is getting longer all the time.
Interesting comments on how you approach the antagonist – thanks for sharing some writer’s insight!
Hi Kylie, welcome to bookbinge. I’m currently reading Waking Nightmare & I can hardly put it down. If I just didn’t have to do this pesky work thing, I could probably finish it.
I’d like to know if we’ll find out more about Adam Raiker in the next two books & if he’ll eventually get his own story. Thanks.
This sounds like a really intriguing series. I can’t wait to read them.
This sounds like an awesome series. I can’t wait to get them!!!
Awesome, awesome giveaway! Kylie, suddenly (to me, anyway 😉 ), you are everywhere, and I can see why! These books look terrific!