Signed Copies of the Fast Track Thrillers

PERIL

A Top Secret Agent

Explosive, High-Profile Assignments

Danger at NASCAR Tracks

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      CONSPIRACY

      The Heat Is Turned Up

      Conspiracy Becomes Deadly

      Only NASCAR-Quality Racing Can Follow the Traitor

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SET OF BOTH                        With postage $29.50 USD I'll pick it up $25.00 USD



The Fast Track Thriller Series

PERIL
A Top Secret Agent

High-Profile Assignments

Danger at NASCAR tracks

With shipping $17.50 USD I can pick it up $14.00 USD

 

CONSPIRACY The Heat Is Turned Up Conspiracy Becomes Deadly Only NASCAR Quality Racing Can Follow the Trail to the Traitor The heat is turned up. And NASCAR champion Stuart Jackson is the only person top-secret agent Joanne Van der Haas can trust. Deadly conspiracy swirls at the highest levels of the intelligence community.

With postage $17.50 USD I'll pick it up $14.00 USD

SET OF BOTH

With postage $29.50 USD I'll pick it up $25.00 USD

CONSPIRACY BOOK TRAILER

Get ready!

CONSPIRACY: Fast Track Thriller #1

Is almost here.

BOOK TRAILER:

 

Book #2 Proofs

MY  REVIEW OF THE PROOFS FOR BOOK 2 IS DONE!

That means the release of 

CONSPIRACY

is just around the corner

Are you ready to pick up the story of Lady Anne, NASCAR Champion Stuart Jackson, and Joanne Van der Haas?

Here's the blurb from the back cover copyfor a little teaser: 

The heat is turned up.

And NASCAR champion Stuart Jackson is the only person

top-secret agent Joanne Van der Haas can trust.

Deadly conspiracy swirls at the highest levels of the intelligence community. The director of the OJL, the nation’s most clandestine agency, is under investigation. Have they found the traitor they’ve been seeking, or has he been framed? Agent Joanne Van der Haas is caught in the crossfire, with both accused and accusers seeking her help. As the confusing evidence mounts, she turns to her friend, NASCAR champion Stuart Jackson. He can provide the expert driving ability needed to follow the trail of clues but is untried in the intelligence field. Revealing the shocking truth might place him—and others she loves—in grave danger.

Experience the tingle of romance and the thrill of nonstop action as Joanne plunges into one of the deadliest assignments she’s ever undertaken.

A fast-paced suspense thriller as current as today’s news headlines

Sound exciting?

Want to know what happened to bring the characters to this point?

Check out the first book in the series:

 PERIL

Fast Track Thriller #1

“Plenty of action and unexpected twists.”

Jimmy Makar

General Manager of Joe Gibbs Racing 

Available On-line At:

ChristianBooks.com

Amazon.com

Barnes and Noble

THE RELEASE OF FAST TRACK THRILLER #2 - CONSPIRACY

THE SEQUEL TO PERIL WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE!

 CONSPIRACY picks up where Peril leaves off. Only a few months after the dramatic, surprise ending to Peril, we rejoin Joanne Van der Haas, a top-secret agent with enhanced strength, who works for the nation's most clandestine intelligence agency, the Office of Joint Liaisons. 

When her boss is accused of selling government secrets to the highest bidder, Joanne must choose who to trust, the man she's worked with for over fifteen years or the evidence the NSA shows her when they inform her of their suspicions. 

While things heat up at the OJL, Joanne must also deal with her husband's serious illness and how it affects the family. Thankfully,  her friend, NASCAR Champion Stuart Jackson, follows through with his promise to always be there for her. It leads him into more danger than Joanne was prepared to expose him to, but when she doesn't know who she can trust in the intelligence community any more, she has little choice.

A final assignment leads to disaster, but ends up opening the door to surprising information from an unlikely source. But is there enough time to prove who the spy is before Joanne is implicated too? 

 Where it all began:
PERIL: FAST TRACK THRILLER #1
A top secret agent.

A high-profile assignment.

Danger at a NASCAR track.

If you love NASCAR and you like suspense, I strongly recommend Peril. 
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing


TRAILER

KINDLE EDITION

PRINT EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE KINDLE

A top secret agent.

A high-profile assignment.

Danger at a NASCAR track.

If you love NASCAR and you like suspense, I strongly recommend Peril. 
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing


TRAILER

KINDLE EDITION

PRINT EDITION

PERIL IS NOW AVAILABLE

Love NASCAR?
Love a good thriller?

Don't miss PERIL
A suspense novel with a twist of NASCAR
A fast-paced suspense thriller as current as today’s news headlines

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Peril.
 The action and characters pulled me in and made this an easy, yet exciting read. 
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

KINDLE EDITION

PRINT EDITION

TRAILER

Lady Anne, a top operative of the OJL, the American government’s most clandestine intelligence organization, is paid to be paranoid, and she’s good at her job. So good, in fact, that she singlehandedly stops an assassination attempt at the White House. When newspapers splash her photo over the front page for saving King Ahmad—a Muslim recently converted to the Christian faith—not only is her cover in jeopardy, but the secrets of her enhanced strength and the entire agency. Then she’s given another assignment—to escort King Ahmad to a NASCAR track….

Stuart Jackson, age 33 and at the peak of his career as the reigning Cup Champion of NASCAR, has everything anyone could want—fame, fortune, success. But after he’s nearly blown up by a bomb at the White House, his achievements lose their allure. Nor can he forget the mysterious Lady Anne.

“Give Suzanne Hartmann the ‘Checkered Flag’ for Peril. It’s like being on the race track, packed with fast-paced excitement and intrigue. A great read for any racing fan.”

Rev. Greg Doussard,

Director of Midwest Raceway Ministries, Pastor of The Sanctuary Church

“Suzanne Hartmann explodes into the writing world with her debut novel, Peril, weaving an intriguing cast of characters into her riveting story that leaves you wanting more.”

Stephanie Gallentine, author of Refuge

ARTICLES, REVIEWS, AND FEEDBACK (Oh my!)

Feedback has been rolling in for my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, and I am humbled by the wonderful responses.

Newspaper Articles
I have been blessed that two awesome articles have been written about PERIL in local newspapers, and shocked that one took an entire page!

Edwardsville Intelligencer's THE EDGE Magazine:
Troy Mom Cranks Out First Novel

Alton Telegraph:
Writing on the Fast Track

Reviews
Eight reviews have been posted at Amazon:
PERIL REVIEWS

Reader Feedback
Readers have given me some of the best compliments a person can give an author, that PERIL kept them up late or kept them reading when they needed to be doing other things.

I finished Peril last night, and the story kept me turning the pages.  The only problem is that I want to hear more!  How fast can you write?

Julie T.

I'm serious. I can't put "Peril" down. So good! I'm going to need a couple more copies.

Shannon M.

I've just (7 am here in Oz) finished "Peril" and wanted to thank you for it. It's a great read and I'm looking forward to your next book.
Glen W. (Australia)

It's awesome!
Michael M. (17 years old)

Awesome! Intriguing! Intense! Ready for the next book.

Julia W.

I was riveted when Lady Anne's leg shattered and pieces of her identity began coming together for Stuart. At that point, I couldn't put it down.

Ann M.

I totally enjoyed Peril! I look forward to Book 2 and can't wait to see where you're going to take this story.
Holly M.

The story kept me turning the pages.  I really liked it!!! The only problem is that I want to hear more!  How fast can you write?

Julie T.

ENDORSEMENTS FOR PERIL

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Peril: Fast Track Thriller Book 1. The action and characters pulled me in and made this an easy, yet exciting read. Having been a crew chief, I liked the scenes where NASCAR drivers and crew chiefs interacted, and the various settings made it realistic. If you love NASCAR and you like suspense, I strongly recommend Peril. 
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

Give Suzanne Hartmann the "Checkered Flag" for her new book Peril: A Fast Track Thriller. This novel is like being on the race track, packed with fast-paced excitement, intrigue, never knowing what is going to happen next. Each new turn in the story also shows the importance of one's relationship with God. This book is a great read for any racing fan and/or person of Faith.
Rev. Greg Doussard, Midwest Raceway Ministries
The Sanctuary Church, Pastor

Suzanne Hartmann explodes into the writing world with her debut novel, Peril:  A Fast Track Thriller, weaving an intriguing cast of characters into her riveting story that, in the end, will leaving you wanting more.
Stephanie Gallentine, author of Refuge

PERIL BLOG TOUR

To celebrate the release of my debut novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, I am taking a month-long blog tour, PLUS offering a KINDLE to one lucky winner.

11/18 – Pentalk  (How Peril Got It's Twist of NASCAR)

11/18 – Faith-Driven Suspense (Highlight PERIL)

11/19 – The Roving Writer (Author Interview)

11/20 – The Barn Door Bookloft (Highlight PERIL)

11/21 – The Barn Door Bookloft (Author Interview)

11/22 – Divine Detour (Author Interview)

11/22 – Cre8tive Home  (How I Homeschool and Write)

11/23 – Cre8tive Home (Author Interview)

11/24 – Lighthouse Academy (Author Interview)

11/ 25 – Growing Your Homeschool (How I Homeschool and Write)

11/28 – Stories Touched by the Supernatural (Personal Experiences Included in Peril)

11/28 – K. Dawn Byrd – Author (Author Interivew)

11/29 – Whispers in Purple (When God Calls)

11/30 – A Bed of Roses ("Field Trip" Research)

12/1  - Heidi Main, Writer (Author Interview)

12/2  - Grace and Faith 4U (Author Interview)

12/2  - Live Simply * Simply Love (Birth of a Novel)

12/5  - Word Wanderings  (Character Interview - Lady Anne and Stuart)

12/6  - Agatha Remembered (Author Interview)

12/7  - The Simple Homemaker (How I Homeschool and Write)

12/8  - Donna B. Snow (Review)

12/9  - 777 Peppermint Place  (Researching for Peril)

12/10 – Through His Eyes (Author Interview)

12/13 – Day By Day In Our World  (Review)

12/13 – The Write Chris (Author Interview)

12/15 – All On Writing (Christmas article)

12/16 – Natures Palace Wellness  (How I Homeschool and Write)

12/16 – Faith and Fiction (Guest Post – writing)

12/19 – Lynnette Bonner (My Writing Journey)

12/21 – Sunny Bank Writer (Guest Post - writing)

REVIEWS

Love this book! The author kept me guessing the entire way through. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, some new surprise would pop up. Lots of action and suspense in this novel intertwined with NASCAR, religion and terrorism. I can't wait for her next novel!

Lori Fuller

Joanne's an Illinois homeschooling mom struggling with the fact that her husband is losing a battle with cancer. She's a survivor herself-she recovered from paralysis, thanks to an experimental adult-stem-cell treatment. Her family's future looks uncertain, but she tries to trust God about it.

Lady Anne is a bodyguard working for a secret government organization who's beautiful and amazingly strong, a superwoman. She shows up once in a while for unique assignments, such as protecting the king of a tiny Muslim country who recently became a Christian when he comes to America. First she saves the day during an attack at a White House dinner, and then at a NASCAR race. The king is a NASCAR racing fan and doesn't seem too worried about stepping into danger.

And there's Stuart Jackson, a successful NASCAR champion who takes a shine to Lady Anne. After spending a bit of time with her, he wants more-not only is she beautiful, but she's got a peace about her that puzzles him. He's succeeded at all his dreams, but his life is missing something. He wants her to tell him what it is. If he can find her.

Meanwhile, the Muslim extremists who try to kill the king broaden their net. They want to kill Lady Anne too. Can they find her?

Debut author Suzanne Hartmann weaves all these threads together into a twisty suspenseful plot that readers will enjoy. I especially liked the unpredictable elements of this story, of which there were many, and the believable characters.

Phyllis Wheeler

Not being a NASCAR follower, I was pleasently entertained by this novel. It was hard to put down. All of the character's details create an engaging and interesting reading experience. In the beginning, I thought it would be a typical fast-read novel, but as I read further, I realized that there were more layers to the character's lives and individual stories. It really covers so many interest areas such as NASCAR, special agent and security forces, and family life.

I would recommend it for teens through adults.

Michele Cushman

THE BOOK TRAILER

I am thrilled to share the book trailer for PERIL. It took five frustrating days as I learned to use the program and worked to get it to do what I wanted, but I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

TRAILER

THE COVER

I've been waiting a long time to see what the cover of my first book would look like...and it's AWESOME!

The graphic artists at OakTara Publishing did a fantastic job.

MEET THE CHARACTERS

PROTAGONISTS
LADY ANNE is King Ahmad’s beautiful, but mysterious bodyguard. While she appears to be all lady on the outside, she is not afraid to face terrorists and is capable of taking them down with her enhanced abilities. She is a woman full of secrets, and no one is able to trace her history or whereabouts.

KING AHMAD is the king of the small Muslim nation of Mashkoor, which is situated between Bulgaria and Turkey. He is the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity and is shunned by friends and family as well as hunted by every Muslim terrorist group in existence.

STUART JACKSON is a two-time NASCAR Champion who is at the peak of his career, yet finds his life lacking meaning. Although drawn to Lady Anne by her beauty, once he has a chance to get to know her, it is her contentment in an obviously difficult situation which makes him seek her.

JOANNE VANDER HAAS is an agent with the United States’ most covert agency. When the threats surrounding Lady Anne intertwine with Joanne’s job, her agency agrees to a desperate plan to protect their secrets…one that could lead to death.


MINOR CHARACTERS
NEIL VANDER HAAS is Joanne’s husband. Stuart admires him for his strong Christian walk and the way he fights his serious illness with dignity.

GEORGE OWENS is Joanne’s boss. He has worked with her for almost fifteen years. The first several years they were partners. He has a quirky sense of humor and enjoys getting the best of Stuart.

TROY COLLINS is Stuart Jackson’s crew chief. Since Stuart’s relationship with his father is poor, Troy often plays the father figure in Stuart’s life.

JOHN BLASZCZYK (blaschik) is the pilot for Stuart Jackson’s jet and always good for adding a little humor. His fear of covert government agencies is contagious and begins to affect Stuart when he has to deal with Joanne’s boss.

AMBASSADOR BAINSWORTH is the American ambassador to King Ahmad’s country, Mashkoor. When he brokers a peace treaty between Mashkoor and Israel, he becomes a terrorist target and Lady Anne is assigned to protect him.

READ CHAPTER 1

I'M REALLY GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!

I have been offered a contract by Ramona Tucker from Oak Tara, a small Christian publishing house which offers a wide variety of fiction that is different and unique. If you’re interested in more about, them, their website is: http://oaktara.com/

Ramona had some wonderful things to say about The Race. Beyond being ecstatic that I really will be published, I’m excited that my editor is so enthusiastic about my book. While I can’t tell you everything she said because it would give away too much of the story, I wanted to share some of her comments.

Things my editor said about the book:
I found The Race That Lies Before Us to be fresh and intriguing.

I love the spunky and intriguing story of Suzanne Hartmann’s The Race that Lies Before Us.

I liked the "tension" of Stuart’s relationship with his dad, and the continuing thread of Stuart wondering why the King wanted to remain a Christian when it would almost certainly mean his death,

I also like the issue of stem cell research and the romantic tension between Stuart and Lady Anne.

The ending was very, very, very different than I thought.

I will post a series of articles about The Race that Lies Before Us starting next week, then every other week. Articles will include character introductions, discussions about the settings and themes in the book, character interviews, and possibly an excerpt for each character. I’ll also throw in couple of give-aways. The first will be in early to mid-July: a copy of Portraits of NASCAR: Inside NASCAR’s Homes, Lives, and Families.

I would like to invite you to receive the periodic Writing Updates I send out, which include more detailed information and specific prayer requests. In my most recent update, I included details about how the contract was offered as well as quotes my editor liked.

If you would like to join my Writing Update list, please comment here, send me a Facebook or Twitter message, or e-mail me at homestead1997-blog@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to include your e-mail address.

CHARACTER NAMES IN PERIL

Have you ever wondered where authors come up with names for their characters? I never really thought about it until I started writing fiction and had to name my own characters.

Here’s how I came up with some of the names for the characters in my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1:

Lady Anne – For some reason, I just always knew what this character’s name was. I never really had to think about it.

Stuart Jackson – Like the character himself, his name is a compilation. I wanted the character to be an average NASCAR driver, so I gave him characteristics similar to a number of well-known drivers. I continued that by giving him first and last names that are similar to well-known drivers.

Neil Van der Haas – I envisioned blue-eyed, blond-headed Neil to be of Dutch descent, so I gave him parents who came to the U.S. from the Netherlands. For his given name, I came up with a Dutch name, Nels, that could be easily converted to an English name. For his last name, I came up with a Dutch-sounding name that is similar to the Dutch last name of a penpal I wrote to for years.

Joanne Van der Haas – When I first created the stories I eventually combined together to create The Race that Lies Before Us, they were "what if" stories about me. What if I were in this situation? What if I could do this? What if I had this type of job? So I came up with a name that is similar to my own name.

Troy Collins – I combined the name of two towns I’ve lived in: Troy and Collinsville.

Stuart's sister – Although she’s not a character in this book, when I needed to mention Stuart’s sister, I needed to give her a name. So I came up with a name that starts with "st" like Stuart’s does.

A FOLLOW-UP REPORT

Just a note to let you know the status of The Race that Lies Before Us with the editor who has shown interest in it.

The editor who has been reviewing the full manuscript and contacted my agent a few months ago to make sure the book was still available has contacted Terry again. She's had a lot of medical issues going on and said that the reason she hasn't contacted him isn't because she's not interested. Definitely good news!

Another editor has told me she will review a sample of The Race whenever she can get to it, but she's got a lot on her plate right now with trying to get several books available to the public in the next couple of months.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would join me in praying that God would grant these two godly Christian women healing and rest and open up time for them to review The Race.

FREE NASCAR RACING JOURNAL

A FREE GIFT FOR YOU

With the start of a new NASCAR season just around the corner, I have created a journal so you can record important stats and memories of each race. All you have to do is print it off.

Please feel free to pass along the link to this site or print off copies for a friend. All I ask is that you give credit where credit is due.  

INSTRUCTIONS:
Each of the links below will take you to a set of 2 pages which are meant to be printed double-sided. If your printer does not print double sides, print the first page, then flip the page over and run it through the printer again to print the second page.

1) Print both sides of the Title Page
2) Print 10 double-sided Journal Pages (or print 10, then flip them over and print 10 more)
3) Print both sides of the Extra Pages
4) Fold all pages in half.
5) Organize this way: Title Page on bottom; Extra Pages on top of Title Page; all of the Journal Pages on top of the Extra Pages.
6) Bind journal together by stapling with a long-arm stapler, stitch down the middle, or tie together with string, yarn, or ribbon.


RACE JOURNAL PAGES TO PRINT:

Title Page (includes Season Wrap-Up page)

Journal Pages (one for each race)

Extra Pages (last journal page, Drivers Who Made it to the Chase, Season Summary)

ENJOY THE SEASON!
Suzanne Hartmann
Author of Peril, Fast Track Thriller #1 (Conspiracy, Book #2 coming out soon)
Watch the Trailer

YEAR-END UPDATE

In the last several weeks, I've received both good news and bad news regarding The Race that Lies Before Us.

I heard back from one of the editors I met with at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference back in Sept. Unfortunately, it was a rejection. She did say, however, that she thought it had an intriguing plot. But she didn't think her publishing house was right for me.

On the positive side, I spoken a number of times with the managing editor of a small publishing house. She has shown interest in The Race that Lies Before Us, but wants to make sure it is polished to the point that it's ready for publication. My agent and I think it is at that point, but we're in a wait-and-see pattern to hear her opinion on that.

As I continue to wait, I'm working on my second novel, Disappearing Mom. When I finish that, I will push my critique service a little more, and plan to format the series of Top 10 articles from my blog into an ebook about writing fiction.

I crave any and all of your continued prayers, especially prayers for patience as I wait for God to work out His plan to have this novel published.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE ACFW CONFERENCE

First of all, I want to sincerely thank all of you for your prayers regarding the conference. I felt them lifting me up and reminding me to turn all of my fears over to the Lord. The conference was overwhelming, although very exciting, and a great blessing (I wrote about this on my blog at: http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/2010/09/overwhelming.html if you're interested in the details).

Of the six editors I had an opportunity to speak with, editors from Broadman & Holman and  Revell asked for proposals on The Race that Lies Before Us. Two also asked for a proposal on my second book, Disappearing Mom, when I finish my revision. I can't even express what a wonderful feeling it was when their eyes lit up at the descriptions of my books and they leaned forward to listen better! I hope they are equally as interested when they read the first three chapters that are a part of the proposal.

Since I've brought up my second book, I thought I'd give you a blurb on it:
Disappearing Mom (women's fiction)
A series of embarrassing incidents leads Crystal to discover that she can disappear by sinking into the non-entity status often relegated to mothers. She has some humorous adventures as she learns to control her newfound ability, but doesn’t realize how it is transforming her opinion of herself until a near-death experience and the truth from a friend open her eyes to her real worth as a mother.

I know without a doubt that God guided me to the people at the conference who would be interested in by books. There was an issue with one of my editor appointments and I had to reschedule one, but God maneuvered things so that I was able to speak with the editor who was interested in both of my books.

Thank you again for your continued prayers and support.