If you like your romance with a healthy dose of mystery and danger, then Kat Martin’s latest, The Ultimate Betrayal (HQN), is likely up your alley. But based on Kat’s pace, it probably won’t be her “latest” for long. That’s because over a 35-year career, she’s written more than 70 historical and contemporary romance suspense novels. At that pace, the next one can’t be far away.
“It gets harder and harder to come up with fresh and interesting storylines,” Martin admits. “Though there is a lot of material out there in newspapers, movies and TV to help generate ideas.” She says she works pretty much every day, and it doesn’t hurt that her husband also is an author.
In a recent Q&A, the author provided some insights into The Ultimate Betrayal, which we also recently reviewed here.
Q: What was your research process like for this novel?
A: This was one of my most difficult books because it takes place in a military setting. I researched the chemical weapons depot, which is an actual place near Colorado Springs, and researched army life and Fort Carson itself. I was fortunate to have an author friend, a retired colonel in the Green Berets, who read the book and pointed out any inaccuracies. He was a huge help.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the chemical weapon theft plot?
A: I wanted to set a story in Colorado so I started digging around on the internet, reading newspaper articles and info on criminal activity in Denver and around the state, and I stumbled across an article about the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot. I had driven through the area many years ago and remembered the terrain. I thought it could make a good basis for a story. What if someone stole chemical weapons from the depot? Could it actually be done? If it happened, what would the bad guys do with the weapons, and how would we go about catching them? It really put my mind to work.
Q: Explain the development of Bran and Jessie’s “ghosts” (the events that took place in the characters’ pasts that affect who they are) and how they added to the story’s conflict.
A: Jessie’s background was easy. I usually start with plot. If Jessie’s father was an Army colonel accused of treason and Jessie was determined to prove his innocence, clearly she was raised in a military family and she had a great dad. Brandon was the youngest of the Garrett brothers. He first appeared in The Conspiracy. He was also a character in The Deception. By the time I got around to his story, I knew him fairly well. His background as a Delta special operator gave him amazing skills. The fact that he was used to giving orders and having them obeyed gave him and Jessie some very fiery built-in conflict. The way she handled the situation — and Bran — was the basis of his respect for her and ultimately the reason he fell in love with her.
Q: What are two of the most important traits you wanted to be sure Bran and Jessie had, relative to the plot?
A: It took real guts to go up against the entire U.S. Army. So guts and determination were essential. Both of them had it in spades.
Q: What was the most challenging part for you in writing this novel?
A: The research, as we discussed. I had to learn everything about how chemical weapons are stored and how they are destroyed, which is the purpose of the depot. I also had to research the type of chemical weapons stored in the facility and their effect on human targets. I researched the Syrian war and had to study the workings of the Denver airport. Fortunately, I was really happy with the book when it was completed, which made all the hard work worthwhile.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
A: When I write a novel, my goal is always the same. I want readers to be utterly and completely entertained. I want them to enjoy a grand adventure, and when they reach the end, I want them to feel really good. Plenty of hardships out there these days. An uplifting, feel-good book is a welcome escape. That’s what I hope this book will be.
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About Kat Martin:
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. Currently residing in Missoula, MT, with her Western-author husband, L. J. Martin, Kat has written sixty-five Historical and Contemporary Romantic Suspense novels. More than sixteen million copies of her books are in print and she has been published in twenty foreign countries. Kat is currently at work on her next Romantic Suspense.
