Sit down in that chair over there.

I’m Kathy Bennett and I’m askin’ the questions and you’re going to give me some answers.  Don’t even think about not telling the truth.  This isn’t my first rodeo.

You see that big glass window over there?  There are readers behind that glass.  They’re gonna judge you on your answers and how truthful you are here in the Interrogation Room.  Don’t let your readers down.  Now, lets get to it…

State your name: LynDee Walker

Tell me about your last interaction with a police officer. What did you think about it?

I got pulled over because the tags were expired on my car. The guy was SUPER sweet—to be fair, police officers don’t make me nervous, because I covered cops for a long time, and also because my father-in-law is a retired police officer, and he’s a big teddy bear. I chatted with the officer who pulled me over that day and it turned out that he had family who lived in the next town over from where I grew up, halfway across the country from here! It was pretty funny. He also used to be a K-9 officer, and back in my pre-mommy life, my K-9 officer was one of my favorites in the department I covered (he’s the chief there, now, actually). Yes, he still wrote me a ticket, but I went home and renewed the tags online and all was forgiven.

Tell me about the last time you were afraid.

Really afraid? The day my mom passed away. I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed and face the world the next morning, because how could there be a sunrise without my mom? But there was, and I got up, because my babies needed me to get up. They are my light. The thing that scares me most often is that they’re growing up so fast.

How would your worst enemy describe you?

Probably as overly talkative. I can be snarky on occasion, too.

How would the love of your life describe you?

He loves big, sweeping adjectives, and would tell you that I am beautiful and brilliant, funny, loving, loyal, a good listener, and a good mom. But a so-so dancer.

What’s the biggest misconception about you?

People tell me all the time that I seem like I have it all together. I wish! I lose the children’s shoes and forget to brush my hair in the morning at least once a week.

What’s your biggest self-doubt?

That I’m not a good enough mom. Though, most people seem to be of the opinion that when you worry about that, it means you are.

What would you like to tell readers about the writing business that would be a surprise?

That getting a book deal is HARD. I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and I always just thought if you actually managed to write a book, you wrapped it up in brown paper and sent it to New York and someone published it. What? Why are y’all laughing?

If there was one thing you could take back – what would it be?

I called my mom a hateful name once when I was eighteen. She and I were very close, and I still feel bad about that. I would love nothing more than to have one day to tell her again that I didn’t mean it, and all the other thingsI know I always meant to say, but now can’t remember if I did.

What is your greatest weakness?

Chocolate. No, wine. Oh, you mean, like, of character? Probably worry. I worry about … not everything, but lots of things. And a lot of the time, too. That’s the thing I don’t want my little ones to get from me, anyway.

What is your greatest strength?

Determination. That’s the thing I want my kids to get from me. When I have a goal, I don’t give up until I find a way to get there.

If you were going to wind up on a reality television show, which one would it be – and why?

Is there one about silly mommy writers? There should be! I don’t know, because I don’t watch a lot of reality TV. Unless HGTV counts. That’s reality. And I would love to be on My Backyard Goes Disney, so if there’s a producer out there, give me a call!

Have you ever been so mad you would have liked to punch someone?  Tell me about that situation.

Yes. That kind of anger is generally reserved for people who are hateful to my children. I’ve never actually acted on it, but through working with my wonderful trainer, I discovered that I love kickboxing. He encouraged me to buy a punching bag, and I love it. It’s stress relief and a great workout all in one!

Have you ever divulged a secret?  Did the person who expected your discretion ever find out you’d blabbed?

Oh, I used to get myself in trouble with this all the time as a child. And I (at least temporarily) lost a few friends over it at different times. I’m an excellent secret-keeper now, though. Trial by fire is a good way to learn a lesson, and that one has stayed with me since childhood.

When was the last time you righted a wrong in a public place?  What was the ‘wrong’ and how did you fix it?

This was a tough one! It’s been a few years ago, and I was at the grocery store looking at tomatoes, when I looked up and saw a mom nearby absently hand her toddler a plastic produce sack to play with as she talked on the phone and inspected apples. The little girl opened the bag and put it over her head. I watched for a good thirty seconds, the mom with her back turned and the child sucking plastic into her face trying to breathe, grabbing at the bag, which was static-clung to her hair. I’m not usually one for sticking my nose into other people’s mommying, because Heaven knows I’m not perfect, but I’ve written enough tragic stories to know how wrong a situation like that can go. I walked to the cart, pulled the bag off the child’s head, handed it to the mom (who had no idea what had just happened), smiled, and said “she put this over her head. Do you need a toy for her to play with? I know how bored they get and I bet I have an extra one I can give you.” My kids weren’t with me that day, and no one has ever noticed that the ducky rattle went missing.

How old do you think is the right age for a first romantic kiss?  How old were you when you had your first romantic kiss?

As a mom, I think the right age is twenty-five! But that’s probably impractical, isn’t it? I was thirteen, and I wish I’d been a little older. Maybe fourteen or fifteen.

Now, for the most revealing question of all…

Do like your hero in boxers, briefs, or commando? 

Actually, I like the fitted boxer brief combo. But forced to choose between the two, boxers are definitely sexier.

Now, give up the info on one of your books and tell us all about you.

My debut novel, FRONT PAGE FATALITY, released this week from Henery Press.

Here’s the back cover copy:

Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke’s days can flip from macabre to comical with a beep of her police scanner. Then an ordinary accident story turns extraordinary when evidence goes missing, a prosecutor vanishes, and a sexy Mafia boss shows up with the headline tip of a lifetime. As Nichelle gets closer to the truth, her story gets more dangerous. Armed with a notebook, a hunch, and her favorite stilettos, Nichelle races to splash these shady dealings across the front page before this deadline becomes her last.

You can get a signed copy and support a fabulous small bookshop here: http://www.fountainbookstore.com/product/front-page-fatality-autographed

You can also order from Amazon (paperback or kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Fatality-Nichelle-Clarke-Headlines-Mystery/dp/1938383125/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353177713&sr=8-1&keywords=front+page+fatality

Barnes and Noble (paperback or nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/front-page-fatality-lyndee-walker/1113507547?ean=9781938383120

It’s also available in the iBookstore and on kobo.

All about me? Here’s my “official bio:”

LynDee Walker grew up in the land of stifling heat and amazing food most people call Texas, and wanted to be Lois Lane from the time she could say the words “press conference.” An award-winning journalist, she traded cops and deadlines for burp cloths and onesies when her oldest child was born. Writing the Headlines in Heels mysteries gives her the best of both worlds. When not writing or reading, LynDee is usually wrangling children, eating barbecue or enchiladas, or trying to walk off said barbecue and enchiladas. She and her family live in Richmond, Virginia.

I love the Internet, so you can find me in lots of places online:

http://www.lyndeewalker.com

http://www.facebook.com/lyndeewalkerbooks

Twitter: @LynDeeWalker

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lyndee_walker

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lyndeewalker

I don’t know what is it is about you girls from the South, but you all try to play me as some kind of fool. I’m not sure if I’ve got Carol Brady, Mary Poppins, or Mother Teresa in my chair today! I can hardly move my feet because the ‘stuff’ on the floor is so sticky sweet. I find it interesting that you so readily confessed to ‘covering police officers’ – and for long periods of time! Exactly how did their supervision feel about that – or did you cover them too? Not only that, but you apparently went from town to town ‘covering officers.’ Of course, that was before you had your children…and allegedly turned over a new leaf.

But then there are the issues of the ‘snarky’ mouth, and forgetting to brush your hair. Perhaps if you weren’t out covering police officers all the time you wouldn’t be so forgetful. I admire the fact you admitted to wanting to punch someone – of course it didn’t escape my eagle eye that you failed to divulge just who it was you wanted to punch AND that you’ve taken training and obtained equipment to better your combat skills. You know what this means, don’t you? LynDee Walker, I’m going to have to keep a close eye on you…a very close eye.