#Suspense Author Khristina Atkinson #Intuitive Characters #MTW #MTW_2017 MysteryThrillerWeek

Today, I have the pleasure of showcasing Khristina Atkinson, one of the many authors participating in Mystery Thriller Week Annual Event on Facebook, Feb. 12-22, 2017. I decided to blog with authors who have metaphysical, spiritual, and paranormal components running through their books, because that’s my field. After Khristina’s section, I’ll talk a bit about intuition and how it can manifest itself in our daily life. Everyone can be intuitive. Read till the end to find out how.

How in tune with her intuition is Genny? Is she accepting that she has a gift or is she fighting it? Does she get signs only through dreams or does her intuition flare up during the day, too? 

Genny’s dreams that come true are mentioned in the first book.  We now learn in “The Seaside Slayer” that she had an intuitive sense that her mother was going to die, shortly before she turned twelve.  Ava, Genny’s mother had similar sensations about her own mother and discussed them openly.  Genny partially accepts her dreams and feelings, but still fights against their outcome.  When she dreams about a figure cloaked in darkness collapsing to the ground, she knows one of her loved ones is not long for this world.  Her immediate thoughts are about preventing the inevitable.

Without giving too much information how  does Genny’s intuition lead her to help the detective solve the case? In other words, of what importance is Genny’s intuition to the plot?

Genny has several revelations about the case that she doesn’t tie in with her clairvoyance, but even the FBI experts on the case don’t come up with her insightful conclusions.

Very often authors write about themselves with in their characters. I know I’m a good portion of my protagonists and antagonists in my novels. What part of you is in your novels and in which character or characters? 

My cousin was the first person to read “Genevieve Grace,” the first installment in the “Killer Attraction Series.”  She started calling me GG afterwards (Genny’s nickname).  Genny has wanted to become a psychiatrist since she was a child.  This is a career I seriously considered in the past and even took several psychology classes in college.  She married her high school sweetheart as did I.  Her mother had a brain aneurysm and died.  My own mother survived, but the doctor’s don’t know how.  I’ve had clairvoyant dreams about death’s of family members that come true.  I’ve had inklings of intuition, the same as my character.  I used my own life experience of my pregnancy with my oldest son in the books for when Genny was pregnant with her first child.  I was told by a nurse in the ER that I’d suffered a miscarriage.  I somehow knew my baby was fine.  An ultrasound proved I was correct.
How did you decide to create your series and what advice would you give writers who want to write a series? 

This series started out with a rant from my oldest son.  He complains that romance novels and chick flicks give women an unreal perception of men and relationships and hold them up to a standard that no man can ever fulfill.  My aunt gave me romances novels to read from the time I was around thirteen years old.  Genny started reading her mom’s books that were hidden in the basement at around the same age in the book.  I take readers through her first love with Hank Moretti.  She has unrealistic expectations of her first time and their subsequent encounters in the bedroom.  This, of course leads to problems in their relationship.  The second book came about from a short story I wrote in elementary school about a serial killer, which I titled “The Seattle Slayer.”  The detective and hero’s name was Brandon Kingsley.  He visits his girlfriends apartment and saves her from being strangled.  I’ve used many aspects from this previous story.  Genny’s deceased husband’s pen name was Bradley Kingston.  Notice the similarity already.  I suggest that writers try to express their imagination at least partially from their own experiences in life.  You’ve heard the old adage, “write what you know.”  Also, check your facts.  I have several good friends in law enforcement that I can run character situations by.  Make your story believable.

The excerpt that has to do with Genny’s clairvoyance is:

Genny recalled how the nurse in the ER informed her with certainty that she’d suffered a miscarriage with Alivia.  She remained calm, because a simple inner inkling signified a much different outcome.  During her appointments with Timothy, Dr. Simmons relayed each time that his heartbeat was strong, and he was growing at a normal rate.  She couldn’t squelch the sense of something horribly wrong.  She’d grow so close to Brad when he delivered the news of being out of remission.  Her intuition seemed to scream in the back of her mind he wouldn’t survive, despite her valiant efforts to keep him alive. 

Her mother explained about abilities to be more in touch with your surroundings and the energy given off by those who hold a special place in your heart.  Her own haunting dreams that she couldn’t forget after waking often came to fruition in one form or another.  A precious person’s death was already imminent from her instincts.

Here’s the blurb:

A police officer rings Genny Moretti’s doorbell, shortly after her husband arrives home late.  A fellow teacher at his middle school, Amanda Stafford, has been murdered, and Hank is the last person to see her alive.  He admits to kissing Amanda, but also confesses she’d been trying to seduce him for a few months.  Genny needs time alone to think.  While Hank is staying at a room in his grandmother’s hotel, Kenzie Patterson pays him a visit.  They had a fling the summer before his senior year of high school.  She’s caused problems with him and Genny in the past.  Somehow, she’s learned that his wife kicked him out and offers to keep him company.  He orders her to leave, but visits her apartment later to clarify once and for all that he loves Genny.  Nothing is ever going to happen between the two of them.  Shortly after he leaves, Kenzie’s lifeless body is discovered.  Hank is arrested for the murders, and Genny’s laptop is seized by Detective Jarrod Breckenridge.  He finds enough evidence to make her a person of interest in the case.  His past connection with her won’t allow him to believe she’s guilty, and he’s determined to prove she’s not “The Seaside Slayer.”

Here is the link for Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4QN8FJ