Hi!

Yes—I'm in LA to attend two signings and to meet with my film rights agent

The book trailer gives a real feeling for the type of novel it is in 2 minutes. Loved taping that (it is me as the female runner).

Yep. I was running like a demon, but on tape it looked slow! Turns out that a trained runner's efficient running looks slow on film. I ran my legs off and we used the passing foliage and sound of breathing to indicate the actual effort

Yep. my debut. So exciting, I can't tell you.

It's a thriller. Action adventure. It's called Running from the Devil, because the ultra runner protagonist, Emma Caldridge, is on the run from the guerrilla group that downed her plane in the Colombian jungle.

The book is really an old fashioned action adventure like the Ludlum Bourne Identity series. No supernatural, just real evil that could happen, and a heroine that uses her knowledge of plants and her athletic ability to outwit the guerrillas. She is also on a covert personal mission, so there is a twist in the novel that everyone seems to like and that I won't reveal here.

I am a distance runner—5k's and up to about half-marathons. I run for speed, not necessarily distance. My ultra runner husband is an elite ultra runner and I have paced him and acted as his handler at ultras.

Yes—endurance racing is truly a sport of the mind as well as the body. As a handler, you need to respect both, but still be tough enough to pull your runner off the track if that is required.

I flew to Colombia for research, but was unable to go to the areas that I write about due to the paramilitary threat. Kidnapping is still their terror tool of choice. So, I went to various experts and those trained to work with plants to be sure I got it right

Yes—although I think Mexico is becoming the next area of extreme danger. I read somewhere that the Colombian cartels have relocated some forces there, and that may be some of the problem

I think distance running and writing a novel have a lot in common! Both require long periods of time alone—for training and for writing, so one must be pretty happy alone.

We don't run together too often because we have children, so one must be home while the other trains! Also, the distance aspect is different, but not so bad. I'll run with him for about 5 miles, split off, and he'll keep going...

(laughs) Yes. You got it right on the nose. Yesterday at a book signing someone asked me if I can run faster than my husband. I told the truth—I can burn past him and stay way ahead for 4 miles, but he still has 96 left in him!

I am a runner and martial artist. I always ran, but never got serious about training until the last five years or so. In martial arts it's different, because each time you do it you are training, so that came a bit faster

Aikido. A japanese martial art. I am a black belt.

Wow! How do you know that?

Okay, what is Muay Thai?

I always wanted to learn kickboxing.

Yes, Aikido has been a part for about 8 years now. I love the idea of blending with another's force to use it against them :) and I love flying upside down and landing. Since I am the only woman in the dojo, I let the others throw me because I fly the farthest (and am the lightest)
(The white people-blurs on the dojo website is Jamie — Editor)

I have a schedule on my site—is a bit of a jumble, but the upcoming signings are two in LA June 23nd and 24rd, and one in Houston June 26th and two in NYC on July 10th and 11th

I was training for the US Masters Track and Field Championships in Oshkosh, WI on July 9th, but it turns out the 3000 meter run is at the same time that I need to be in NYC for the International Thriller Writers' conference. So, out of luck!

And then you'd kickbox the hell out of me....:)

Thanks John!