Love and Death in Istanbul--a winner!

A nurse on a mission, a surgeon with a secret, and a war keeping them apart.

Emily North, an experienced hospice nurse, is fed up with controlling men and predictable jobs. In her search for something more, she volunteers for a medical mission in war-torn Istanbul, Turkey. While trying to focus on herself and the work at hand, she becomes fascinated with surgeon Jake Compton as he applies his considerable skills in the trauma unit under dangerous conditions. But Emily soon discovers Compton has a secret: a covert life in military service which has no room for her--or any woman. Between warring factions and Jake's superiors, Emily struggles to find adventure, herself, and one decent man.

 Intrigued? We sure were from the first page of this terrific story. And, we admit, it didn't hurt that being a nurse sort of tweaked our opinion. So . . . For the rest of the week, Wild Women Authors are delighted to welcome author Tim Tarkelly and Emily North, from “Love and Death in Istanbul”, Tim's first release out of the Crimson Rose line with Wild Rose Press. She's terrific and he's a hunky battle surgeon who find love and death in the middle of civil war in Turkey.

First up is Emily North, RN.

Where are you from? Joplin, Missouri

Tell us a bit about Love and Death in Istanbul. This is the story of when I left my comfortable life and job as a hospice nurse to go and find adventure. I got a little more than I bargained for and ended up in a situation I would have never even imagined. And of course I met Jake.

What did you think the first time you saw Jake? He’s definitely handsome. The chin, the eyes. He is nothing like the other men I’ve dated.

Sounds good to us. What was your second thought? I saw that he was the most talented surgeon I’ve ever met. He was so cool under pressure.

Did you feel it was love at first sight? I don’t know about that, but I was definitely intrigued the first time I saw him.

What do you like most about him? He is exciting, that’s for sure. He is different and I'm never quite sure what to expect. Or WHEN to expect him.

How would you describe him? Unpredictable.

Good one. How would Jake describe you? Direct.

Terrific answer--and so true. What made you choose nursing as a career? I just like to help people. I wanted to do something that the world really needed and I think I found it.

What is your biggest fear? Probably waking up one day and realizing that I haven’t done enough.

How do you relax? Relaxation isn’t my strong suit. I work too much. But when I do find the time, I love music and I love to go out.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Captain America.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? You’ll be more disappointed in the things you didn’t do than the things you did.

Which captures the essence of this story. Thanks, Em. Now it's time to chat with Tim. What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I think books like The Hunt For Red October by Tom Clancy and the Sons of Texas series by Donna Grant really set the course of the kind of writer I want to be.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? I have two experiences that directly relate to this story. First, I was in the Army (for a very brief time) and was able to draw on the skills I learned to better bring out some of the action in the book. Second, when my grandmother passed away, I was blown away by the kind, professional, and skilled hospice staff that helped her. It was thinking about what their lives were like and the combination of compassion and medical skill it takes to do their job.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I do a lot of reading on the go, so I do a lot of my reading digitally. I have a Kindle app on my phone and tablet, and also read on my laptop a lot. In the natural course of looking for romance e-books, I came cross The Wild Rose Press. I was beyond excited when they decided to publish Love and Death in Istanbul. I should also say have been a dream to work with.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? A Sure Thing by Marie Harte, God’s Eye View by Barry Eisler, and A Scandal by Any Other Name by Kimberly Bell.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? There are no dates right now, but I am working on two projects. One is a (sort of) sequel to Love and Death in Istanbul and the other is a full-length novel about a non-lethal special forces unit.

If visitors to our blog want to learn more about you, where should they go?

Twitter: @TimothyTarkelly

Instagram: @tarkellyt

Tim brought along an excerpt for us:

No one can really prepare for the sight of war, and she’d seen death plenty of times back home. It was unfair to claim no one can know the sorrow that follows death, but she took it all in stride. Unlike others, she wasn’t fazed by the sight or metallic odor of blood as she approached the masses of wounded. So it was there, in the middle of a war-zone, while working for an international relief agency, that Emily North, RN experienced her first real surprise of this new turn in her life when Doctor Jake Compton jumped down from the back of one of the trucks and made his way for the surgical tent.

To purchase Love and Death in Istanbul, go to www.theWildRosePress.com and do a title search. You won't be disappointed!