Countdown to

Into the Storm

8/1/06

15 days (and counting to Into the Storm, in stores on August 15th)

Note from Suz: Welcome to the first countdown page for INTO THE STORM. Join me here on my website each Monday through Friday as we count down the days to this book's August 15th release.

I realize we're starting a little late this time -- I usually begin the countdown a full month in advance. But alas, the timing didn't work out. My "Storming into Hotlanta" Party was scheduled in mid-July long before ITS's release date got moved to August. This party -- three days of schmoozing with readers, a presentation of the famous parody skit, workshops and panels, booksignings, special guests (other wonderful authors and even a Navy SEAL!) -- was non-stop fun, but I knew going in that it would've been impossible to post the countdown at the same time. (My apologies!) And then the national conference for the Romance Writers of America followed right on the heels of my event. (Intentionally! Many from our group of readers got to attend RWA's 800+ author charity booksigning, where over $64,000 was raised for programs supporting literacy!) But anyone who's ever attended a large conference knows that you tend to come home a little, well, non-rested. Taking a trip to a conference is like the exact opposite of taking a trip for vacation! LOL!

So I come to you, thinking "Yikes, is it really August already?!?"

Yes, it is -- and welcome, everyone, to the Countdown for INTO THE STORM!

We're going to do something a little different this time. My original plan was to write a number of short, short stories (similar to some of the pieces in the READERS GUIDE TO THE TROUBLESHOOTERS SERIES) featuring characters that readers have clamored to hear more from.

Except when I sat down and started to write, the first story was much, much longer than I'd intended. It's nearly 20 pages, so I'm going to serialize it for you, spreading it out over a coupla days. I've got another story for you, too, that's also going to come to you in installments. It was written by my husband, Dell author Ed Gaffney. (That's what I have to call him now that he's published. "Hey, Dell author Ed Gaffney, please pass the salt!" Of course, he has to respond with "Here you go, New York Times Bestselling Author Suzanne Brockmann..." LOL! Kidding!!!)

Anyway, this second story is called "When Terry Met Sam," and it features Ed's extremely funny lawyer character Terry Tallach and, yes, former Navy SEAL Sam Starrett. I think you're going to like it.

Anyway, the stories will start tomorrow. Today, I'm going to begin the countdown the same way I've begun every other countdown -- with the official cast of characters who appear in INTO THE STORM.

Plus, before we get to the actual countdown information, I'm going to take a moment to remind everyone that the deadline, August 15th, for my virtual signing for INTO THE STORM is rapidly approaching! Orders must be received by August 15th to take advantage of our offer of free 2-day priority shipping!

I also have some EXTREMELY cool news that was confirmed when I visited New York City, on my way to Atlanta:

The READERS GUIDE TO THE TROUBLESHOOTERS SERIES is going to be available, for free, at your local Waldenbooks and Borders stores.

I was originally led to believe that this 56-page booklet would be printed in a very, very limited edition (only for my Atlanta reader event and for the RWA conference), but the good people at Borders Group saw it, loved it, and asked for 24,000 copies to distribute to readers in their stores. Plus, it will still be available in a downloadable format for readers outside of the U.S.! (AND, remember, you can get a SIGNED copy as an bonus extra with my INTO THE STORM virtual signing.)

Okay, enough with the news -- on with the countdown!

Traditionally, we start the countdown with a list of characters who appear in the coming book.

And oh, yeah, POV characters are highlighted in BLUE. (Click here if this makes you go "Huh?")

INTO THE STORM's Cast of Characters:

From SEAL Team Sixteen:

Petty Officer Mark Jenkins: Our hero. With the face of an innocent altar boy, Jenk is one of the team's best liars. After a near death experience in Afghanistan, Jenk realizes that he wants to find the same kind of connection that Tom's found with Kelly and that Stan's found with Teri. When his sister's best friend and his seventh grade crush, Tracy Shapiro, comes to California to escape a cheating boyfriend, it feels like kismet. Jenk helps Tracy get a job as a receptionist at Troubleshooters Incorporated, but it's TS Inc. operative Lindsey Fontaine with whom he sets off sparks.

Lt. Commander Lewis Koehl: The new CO of SEAL Team Sixteen, Lt. Commander Lew Koehl has very large shoes to fill.

Lt. Casper "Jazz" Jacquette: Executive Officer (XO) of SEAL Team Sixteen. Former CO Tom Paoletti pushed for Jazz to be his permanent replacement as the team's CO, but the powers that be disagreed.

Lt. jg Alec "Big Mac" MacInnough: Brawny and red-haired, MacInnough is a good officer, well liked by his teammates.

Senior Chief Stanley Wolchonok: The senior chief returns in a small role.

Petty Officer Dan "Gilligan" Gillman: Young and very handsome, Danny Gillman is a good friend of Mark Jenkins.

Petty Officer Jay Lopez: The team's hospital corpsman or medic, also a good friend of Jenk's.

Petty Officer Izzy Zannella: Described by Jenk as being highly skilled and dangerous as a SEAL, but probably not a CO's first choice for something like, say, taking tea with the Queen.

From Troubleshooters Incorporated:

Tom Paoletti: The former CO of SEAL Team Sixteen, Tom is now the CEO and leader of the civilian team, TS Inc.

Lindsey Fontaine: Formerly with the LAPD, Lindsey may shop in the petite department, but she's one of Tom's best bodyguards. She meets Navy SEAL Mark Jenkins when some genius Admiral decides it would be fun to pit Tom's new civilian team against his former SEALs in a series of training exercises. She catches Jenk's eye right from the start with her quick wit and her sense of humor. Lindsey's grandmother was born in Japan

Sophia Ghaffari: The daughter of two world-traveling American free-spirits, Sophia was abandoned in a foreign country at an early age and forced to use her wits to survive. She became an astute businesswoman, but living in Kazbekistan with its male-oriented society, she used her husband as her front. When the K-stan government fell, a local warlord took control. He beheaded Sophia's husband and married her to gain control of her property and wealth, keeping her prisoner. Rescue came in the form of a team from Troubleshooters, Incorporated, and in particular from Lawrence Decker, to whom Sophia feels she still owes a great debt.

Dave Malkoff: A former CIA agent, Dave once made the MIB squad look colorful. But he's since thrown away all his dark suits, embraced his inner grunge rocker, and grown his hair long. His good friend Sophia describes him as looking like an accountant who is dressed up as Jerry Garcia for Halloween. Extremely skilled and very intelligent, Dave is an asset to any team. He's made it clear to Tom, though, that he absolutely never wants to be a team leader.

Lawrence Decker: A former Navy SEAL chief, Decker left the teams back in 1996. A quiet man, capable of blending into the background, Deck and his longtime partner Nash signed on with TS Inc. after seven years with the top secret government organization known only as the Agency. Deck rarely makes mistakes, but he made a big one when he first met Sophia Ghaffari in the earthquake ravaged city of Kazabek, Kazbekistan. Believing her to be a prostitute, with her allegiance bought by warlord Padsha Bashir, Deck found himself in a power struggle that escalated into sexual intimacy. In truth, Sophia believed her life in danger, and was merely trying to survive. Deck is both attracted to and repelled by Sophia – he can't so much as look at her without feeling guilt and remorse. He tries his best to stay out of her way, but they both now work for Tom Paoletti, so it isn't easy.

Alyssa Locke: The XO or second in command of Troubleshooters, Incorporated. Mark Jenkins is a little bit afraid of her.

Sam Starrett: Everyone's favorite SEAL returns in a very small role.

Tracy Shapiro: Troubleshooters Incorporated's new receptionist. Tracy went to high school with Navy SEAL Mark Jenkins. She was best friend with Jenk's sister Ginny. Beautiful and somewhat incompetent, she came to California after her longtime live-in boyfriend cheated on her again.

Other Players:

Beth Foster: Formerly in the U.S. Army, Beth has not had an easy life.

Lyle Andrews: Tracy's ex-boyfriend

Jules Cassidy: Back in a small role, team leader Jules Cassidy puts the fabulous in FBI.

Note from Suz: POV is writer's code for point of view. I use something that I call "deep point of view" in my books. This means that I get deep inside of the characters' heads and tell the story through their eyes, using their voices -- their words and thoughts -- as well as their interpretations of various events. I stay in one single character's POV for each scene in this book (and in other books in the TS/Team 16 series, too). But I do get inside a number of characters' heads to tell INTO THE STORM's story. Those characters' names are highlighted in blue on the list above. (Back to top)

That's all for now! Be sure to come back for tomorrow's installment in the Countdown to INTO THE STORM!

(Note from Suz: I'm going to try to post each new day's countdown page before noon eastern time. Please be patient if I'm a little late...)

See you tomorrow!

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