Maria Hammarblad
Genre: Romance/Military
Publisher: Sadowski Media
Date of Publication: August 1, 2018
Originally Published by Desert Breeze Publishing June 21, 2013
ISBN: 1723130176
ASIN: B07FXZMSWN
Number of pages: 155
Word Count: 47656
Cover Artist: Juan Villar Padron
Tagline: The thing about fighting evil? It keeps coming back.
Book Description:
As the sole survivor of a Taliban POW camp, Steve Petersen is damaged goods. He is convinced that he left his sanity within the horror-filled walls that held him captive for the better part of a year. His mind is trapped in moments of graphic, soul-crushing flashbacks, and his only solace is the momentary reprieve he gains from alcohol and drugs.
When he mysteriously wakes in a bright and cheery bedroom that belongs to a woman he barely remembers meeting, he knows he should leave. He should save the widow Anna from his own special brand of crazy. Leaving is not as easy as one would think, and he finds himself drawn into a world of real life problems such as folding laundry, and what to make for dinner.
This new way of life eases his need for drowning his pain in substances and offers moments of quiet healing – until Anna disappears. To save her, Steve must face the demons that have tortured him for so long and return to the place where it all began. Afghanistan.
Excerpt:
Life outside
could sure be exhausting. Anna went into the kitchen, and Steve rested his head
back and closed his eyes. Listening to her hum a song, just a little out of
tune as she loaded the coffee maker soothed his nerves.
could sure be exhausting. Anna went into the kitchen, and Steve rested his head
back and closed his eyes. Listening to her hum a song, just a little out of
tune as she loaded the coffee maker soothed his nerves.
A hard rattling
sound made him open his eyes again.
sound made him open his eyes again.
Gunshots, and
they were close.
they were close.
Anna still sang,
and she would be an easy target.
and she would be an easy target.
He ran through
the apartment, making sure to stay away from the windows. Peeking around the
corner, his beautiful fiancée was oblivious to the danger.
the apartment, making sure to stay away from the windows. Peeking around the
corner, his beautiful fiancée was oblivious to the danger.
Women.
How did they
survive?
survive?
He sprung out
from his hiding place behind the wall, shoved her down on the floor, and threw
himself over her. After all she did for him, protecting her with his own body
was the least he could do.
from his hiding place behind the wall, shoved her down on the floor, and threw
himself over her. After all she did for him, protecting her with his own body
was the least he could do.
Anna wheezed,
clearly trying to draw a breath.
clearly trying to draw a breath.
“Sssh, they’re
coming.”
coming.”
She lay on her
back, and the question in her eyes was clear. Have you lost your mind? Of
course he had, a long time ago. She should know.
back, and the question in her eyes was clear. Have you lost your mind? Of
course he had, a long time ago. She should know.
When she opened
her mouth, he covered it with his hand, so she couldn’t draw attention to them.
her mouth, he covered it with his hand, so she couldn’t draw attention to them.
“Don’t you hear
them? The shots?”
them? The shots?”
She shook her
head and closed her fingers around his wrist, attempting to pull his hand away.
head and closed her fingers around his wrist, attempting to pull his hand away.
“I think we’re
safe, but be very quiet.”
safe, but be very quiet.”
About the Author:
Maria Hammarblad is an author and bass player whose fascination with books started early. Before she could read or write, she made her mother staple papers together to resemble books. She drew suns in them and claimed they were "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun.
The four-year-old also claimed her existence on Earth was a mistake, the result of a horrible mix-up, and that her real family would come to bring her home to her own planet at any time. This didn't happen, but her fascination with books and other worlds stayed with her.
Besides novels, she also writes award-winning screenplays, enjoys photography, and works with animal rescue organizations.
Website: http://www.hammarblad.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114780.Maria_Hammarblad
Interview with Maria Hammarblad
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
When I started writing, I assumed I would be in charge of the stories. I was so wrong – the characters tell me what happens to them, and they can be quite lively. Sometimes they argue, haha.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
I think it’s entertaining. Of course I do – I wrote it…
Flashback is a fictional romance novel, but to me, it’s more than that. All of us see so many people every day, and we often judge them for not fitting into our own view of the world and how people “should” be. Everyone has a story. Every life has ups and downs.
There are many people in the USA with various degrees of PTSD, like our hero Steve in the book. He got his mental scars from a war, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve met people who have been deeply affected by an accident, a natural disaster, death in the family, or something else. In my perfect world, we’d be more open-minded and kinder to each other.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes. My publishing house closed earlier this year, and I am reediting and republishing all those books. I also have a bunch of stories in my computer that are almost finished, and a few previously unpublished works that are done and will be published eventually. There’s everything from ghosts to aliens.
I keep thinking I should pick a genre and stick to it, but when the characters start telling their stories, I just have to go with it.
Pen or type writer or computer?
I love to write with a good pen in a pretty notebook. The downside is that I’m unorganized, so I end up with bits and pieces of different stories all over the place. It usually sorts itself out when I type everything in, but I sometimes find half a story I’ve forgotten about in a surprising place.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Yes! Thank you for reading and thank you for your support. It means the world to me.
If you read a book and like it – any book, not just mine – leave a review. It doesn’t have to be long, but it will mean the world to the author.
Thank you so much for having me over on the blog!
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