Worth the Trade by Kristina Mathews - Interview/Giveaway

Worth the Trade

By

Kristina Mathews

A ballplayer and a team owner would give anything for a championship—even their hearts…
After inheriting majority ownership of the San Francisco Goliaths baseball team, Hunter Collins wants to prove to herself—and the rest of the league—that she’s got what it takes to build a champion. Her first move is to trade for a hot left-fielder. He’s got it all, speed, power, and a desire to win. Not to mention undeniable charm.

Marco Santiago is tired of being the new player in town. After four teams in six years, he’s facing free agency at the end of the season. He wants nothing more than a long-term contract and a World Series win. Hitting on his new owner probably isn’t the best way to get it, but love may be the most powerful challenger either of them has ever faced...

Warning: Strong language, consummated love scenes, and some baseball clichés.

“Smart, fun, and sexy. A great romance read.” –New York Times Bestselling Author, Kat Martin

“I’m only interested in winning the division and making a strong run in the postseason.” She turned her head to look out the window as if to show she was unaffected by the chemistry between them.

“Aren’t you a rotten liar?” He chuckled softly. Oh yeah, he was definitely getting to her. “Don’t join in the poker game at the next owners’ retreat. You’ll be wiped out.”

She whipped her head around so fast the car shook. “I happen to be a very good poker player. I can hold my own against anyone. Anytime.”

Interesting. Her strong reaction told him two things. She was insecure about her place among her fellow owners. And yes, she was interested in him on more than a professional level.

“That explains your wardrobe.” He leaned back, not ready to leave her just yet. “You dress like you do to fit in with the old boys’ club. But you can’t hide the fact that you are all woman.”

“And you can’t hide the fact that you don’t want to be here.” She dared look him straight in the eye, but couldn’t hold his gaze.

“I’m starting to come around.” He gave her one last smile.

To get started can you tell us what you are working on or have coming out?

I’m working on the next two books in the More Than A Game series.

Book 3 features newly divorced Annabelle Jones who has moved to Southern California to revive her modeling career, but an accident forces her to rely on her attractive, yet reclusive neighbor. Nathan Cooper is trying to figure out what to do with his life if he isn’t picked up by a team. His pitching career was sidelined by a suspension and injury. The last thing he needs is to get close to his beautiful neighbor and her darling daughters.

Book 4 is Bryce Baxter’s story. Coming off the World Series win and signing the biggest contract of his life, he should be on top of the world. But he’s hit a major slump, and the pressure from fans and the media are nothing compared to finding out his on-again, off-again lover, reporter Rachel Parker is pregnant.

What made you realize that writing was it for you? Do you write full time?

I’ve always written, for a long time it was mostly for myself. In high school, I wrote really bad poetry and filled several journals a year with teenage angst. I started my first romance novel 20 years ago when I was first married but it was pushed aside with dreams of buying a house, having kids, and establishing a teaching career. Once I turned forty, I realized it was time to take a chance on a long standing dream.

I also work as a part-time paraeducator. I enjoy working with primary students, helping them develop their reading skills. I also work one on one with a special education student and I plan on staying with him for two more years until he finishes elementary school. After that, I’ll see if I want to write full time or cut back my hours.

How did you start your writing career?

I wrote “The End” on my first book in 2009. It was a horrible inspirational secret-baby romantic suspense told mostly in wine induced flashback. But I proved to myself I could finish a book. I wrote another, a single dad/nanny book that was better. I bought a used copy of Writer’s Market and did some research online and I found the Romance Writers of America. They had a chapter not too far from my home and I was able to make a meeting in June of 2010. I took my first online course that summer, logging in for the first time from a tent in Zion National Park.

Several workshops, retreats, and online pitches later, my first book, Better Than Perfect, was published by Lyrical Press in April of 2014.

Worth The Trade was originally scheduled for a September release, but my publisher moved it up to July.

Tell us about your current release.

A ballplayer and a team owner would give anything for a championship—even their hearts…
After inheriting majority ownership of the San Francisco Goliaths baseball team, Hunter Collins wants to prove to herself—and the rest of the league—that she’s got what it takes to build a champion. Her first move is to trade for a hot left-fielder. He’s got it all, speed, power, and a desire to win. Not to mention undeniable charm.
Marco Santiago is tired of being the new player in town. After four teams in six years, he’s facing free agency at the end of the season. He wants nothing more than a long-term contract and a World Series win. Hitting on his new owner probably isn’t the best way to get it, but love may be the most powerful challenger either of them has ever faced...
Warning: Strong language, consummated love scenes, and some baseball clichés.
“Smart, fun, and sexy. A great romance read.” –New York Times Bestselling Author, Kat Martin

Where are your fans most likely to find you hanging out?

Facebook and Twitter. I usually post to my Facebook author page two to three times a day. More often if I have a blog tour or I get some exciting news like my book hitting the top 20 for Sports Fiction in the UK or Canada.

I tend to be on Twitter more during baseball games. Sometimes I just have to be a fan. I try to keep my posts positive, but sometimes I get caught up in the heat of the moment.

I have a personal blog I try to post at least once a week. I usually blog about some aspect of baseball and how it relates to my writing. Sometimes I’ll blog about road trips or on occasion I’ll write about life with teenagers. I had my first guest blogger recently, Lyrical Press author Cd Brennan.  

Kristina Mathews doesn't remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. Or in her head. But it wasn't until 2010 that she confessed the reason the laundry never made it out of the dryer was because she was busy writing romance novels.

While she resigned from teaching with the arrival of her second son, she's remained an educator in some form. As a volunteer, Parent Club member or para educator, she finds the most satisfaction working with emergent and developing readers, helping foster confidence and a lifelong love of books.

Kristina lives in Northern California with her husband of twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A veteran road tripper, amateur renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one day travel all 3,073 miles of Highway 50 from Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD, replace her carpet with hardwood floors and serve as a “Ball Dudette” for the San Francisco Giants.

Website www.kristinamathews.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristinamathewsauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristinaMathews

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