Author Spotlight – Kris Bock
Tell our readers a little about yourself and your writing.
Twentyyears ago, I started writing for children, using the name Chris Eboch. I have
eight middle grade novels (for ages 9 to 12) published under that name. I also
write a lot of educational nonfiction under the name MM Eboch.
eight middle grade novels (for ages 9 to 12) published under that name. I also
write a lot of educational nonfiction under the name MM Eboch.
Around 2008, I was starting to feel restless and wanted a change. I realized I had mostly been reading adult romantic suspense novels, so I started writing those under the name Kris Bock. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.
So I have over 50 published books now, but that includes fiction and nonfiction,
for children and adults. The variety keeps me interested!
for children and adults. The variety keeps me interested!
Tell me something unusual that isn’t in your regular bio.
My first clear childhood memories are from Saudi Arabia. We moved there just
before my fifth birthday and lived in an American camp for six years while my
father worked for the oil company. My classmates were mostly American, but I
had friends from Britain, India, and Pakistan. My family camped in the desertand shopped in the nearby Arab town. Santa visited on a camel.
before my fifth birthday and lived in an American camp for six years while my
father worked for the oil company. My classmates were mostly American, but I
had friends from Britain, India, and Pakistan. My family camped in the desertand shopped in the nearby Arab town. Santa visited on a camel.
Despite taking daily life for granted, I learned early that the whole world was not
like my neighborhood. We skied in Austria, went on safari in Africa, slept on a
houseboat in Kashmir. I have no memories at all of visiting Greece at age 6,
but apparently I hung on every word of our elderly British tour guide. I’ve
been fascinated by foreign cultures and ancient history ever since.
like my neighborhood. We skied in Austria, went on safari in Africa, slept on a
houseboat in Kashmir. I have no memories at all of visiting Greece at age 6,
but apparently I hung on every word of our elderly British tour guide. I’ve
been fascinated by foreign cultures and ancient history ever since.
Tell us about your home.
I live in a small town in central New Mexico with my husband and our ferrets. I
am a full-time writer, and my home office looks out on nature, complete with
distracting wildlife such as roadrunners and foxes. I use my BFA in photography
to show Facebook friends how lovely the Southwest is. The only ways to get
around are on foot or by car, but it’s such a small town that I can often walk
to friends’ houses and rush-hour is less than five minutes.
am a full-time writer, and my home office looks out on nature, complete with
distracting wildlife such as roadrunners and foxes. I use my BFA in photography
to show Facebook friends how lovely the Southwest is. The only ways to get
around are on foot or by car, but it’s such a small town that I can often walk
to friends’ houses and rush-hour is less than five minutes.
Does your real life show up in your writing? In what ways?
My historical novels for children don’t use a lot of real life
experience, since they are set in different cultures, hundreds or thousands of
years ago. Of course, I assume that people haven’t changed that much – the
seven deadly sins are pretty relevant today – so I draw on my understanding of
people and my general experiences with emotions. For example, in The Well of Sacrifice, the main
character idolizes her older brother and is envious of her prettier sister.
She’s at an age where she thinks the adults should take care of things but is
realizing that they don’t always do what’s right. I think those aspects
resonate with kids today, even if you’re talking about a pre-Columbian Mayan
setting with a very different culture and lifestyle.
experience, since they are set in different cultures, hundreds or thousands of
years ago. Of course, I assume that people haven’t changed that much – the
seven deadly sins are pretty relevant today – so I draw on my understanding of
people and my general experiences with emotions. For example, in The Well of Sacrifice, the main
character idolizes her older brother and is envious of her prettier sister.
She’s at an age where she thinks the adults should take care of things but is
realizing that they don’t always do what’s right. I think those aspects
resonate with kids today, even if you’re talking about a pre-Columbian Mayan
setting with a very different culture and lifestyle.
Real life experiences often give me ideas for my adult novels, written as Kris Bock.
What We Found is a mystery inspired by finding a dead body while hiking. Someone in law enforcement
said that people often don’t report crimes they stumbled across. That got me
thinking – Why? What reasons would you have for not calling the police? The
book also includes falconry, based on experiences I’ve had hanging out with a
falconer.
What We Found is a mystery inspired by finding a dead body while hiking. Someone in law enforcement
said that people often don’t report crimes they stumbled across. That got me
thinking – Why? What reasons would you have for not calling the police? The
book also includes falconry, based on experiences I’ve had hanging out with a
falconer.
Whispers in
the Dark follows a young archaeologist who stumbles into danger as mysteries
unfold among ancient Southwest ruins. That was inspired by a trip to Hovenweep
National Monument some years ago. I loved that setting and had to use it in a
book!
the Dark follows a young archaeologist who stumbles into danger as mysteries
unfold among ancient Southwest ruins. That was inspired by a trip to Hovenweep
National Monument some years ago. I loved that setting and had to use it in a
book!
I
had an idea for a series about treasure hunting adventures in the Southwest, so
I read up on some lost treasures. In The Mad Monk’s Treasure, two
friends search for the Victorio Peak treasure – a heretic Spanish priest’s gold
mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. Their
experiences in the desert are based on my experiences hiking in New Mexico,
though they get more danger and drama.
had an idea for a series about treasure hunting adventures in the Southwest, so
I read up on some lost treasures. In The Mad Monk’s Treasure, two
friends search for the Victorio Peak treasure – a heretic Spanish priest’s gold
mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. Their
experiences in the desert are based on my experiences hiking in New Mexico,
though they get more danger and drama.
Who is your ideal reader?
My
romantic adventures should appeal to fans of “lighter” romantic suspense, along
the lines of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Nora Roberts. In fact, Roberta
at Sensuous Reviews blog said, “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense
novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners, and Kris
Bock used all the things I love about this genre.”You’ll find plenty of action and a sweet love story, but not the gritty
violence and explicit erotica of some modern romantic suspense. I also tried to
bring the New Mexico scenery to life – gorgeous sunsets, dangerous monsoon
storms, and everywhere you turn a plant or animal that wants to scratch, bite,
or sting you. Armchair adventure travelers are welcome!
romantic adventures should appeal to fans of “lighter” romantic suspense, along
the lines of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Nora Roberts. In fact, Roberta
at Sensuous Reviews blog said, “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense
novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners, and Kris
Bock used all the things I love about this genre.”You’ll find plenty of action and a sweet love story, but not the gritty
violence and explicit erotica of some modern romantic suspense. I also tried to
bring the New Mexico scenery to life – gorgeous sunsets, dangerous monsoon
storms, and everywhere you turn a plant or animal that wants to scratch, bite,
or sting you. Armchair adventure travelers are welcome!
What writing
projects are you currently working on?
I’m
about to submit a mystery about a former war correspondent who returns to her
childhood home after an injury and uncovers a mystery at the Alzheimer’s care
unit where her mother resides. It’s intended to be the first in a series with
the same main character.
about to submit a mystery about a former war correspondent who returns to her
childhood home after an injury and uncovers a mystery at the Alzheimer’s care
unit where her mother resides. It’s intended to be the first in a series with
the same main character.
Kris Bock writes
novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern
landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure
follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged
relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex
clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure,
sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track
down his missing uncle. Whispers in the
Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong
romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods.
In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt
paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.
novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern
landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure
follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged
relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex
clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure,
sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track
down his missing uncle. Whispers in the
Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong
romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods.
In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt
paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.
Fans
of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris
Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits
is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary
Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars –
Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog
of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris
Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits
is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary
Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars –
Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog
Read
excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her
Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for
announcements of new books, sales, and more.
excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her
Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for
announcements of new books, sales, and more.
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