One Way Out - Book Tour and Giveaway

 Blackmail, kidnapping, stalking, death threats…some days, you just can’t win!

One Way Out
Nick Seven Book 9
by Tim Smith
Genre: Thriller, Romantic Suspense  

Blackmail, kidnapping, stalking, death threats... some days, you just can’t win!

Lauren Scott is a wealthy widow with a lot of embarrassing secrets. Her late husband, a convicted stock swindler, died under mysterious circumstances, just as he was about to name names in Federal court. His legacy supposedly includes a list of VIPs who attended sex parties on a private Caribbean island, among other things. Now Lauren has become the target of too many people who think she holds the secrets he once kept, and they just might kill her for them.

She calls on her friends, former CIA spies Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens, for help. Despite initial misgivings, they agree to assist her. But their laidback Florida Keys life is quickly disrupted by those in hot pursuit, including a zealous podcaster who is making Lauren’s private life public, a Treasury agent, victims of her late husband’s Ponzi scheme, and a Southern governor who has his eye on the White House.
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Looks like there might be trouble brewing in paradise.


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The scent of patchouli from a burning candle permeated Nick and Felicia’s bedroom, accompanied by smooth piano jazz from the stereo. The room was dark, and the window was open to let in fresh night air along with the sound of waves gently hitting the seawall in the channel. Nick lay on his back with one arm behind his head on the pillow, his eyes closed, enjoying the peacefulness. Felicia curled up next to him, her naked body close to his while gently running her fingers over his bare chest. He relaxed under her gentle touch.

“This is nice,” Nick muttered.

“Very relaxing,” she softly concurred.

“You always like to burn scented candles when we’re trying to unwind,” he observed. “How do you decide which scent?”

“If we’re really tense, I’ll burn somethin’ like this or ocean breeze. If it’s to freshen a stuffy room, it might be apple cinnamon. Around Christmas time, I’ll burn evergreen or pine.”

“Sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

“How do you decide which music to play?”

“Depends on what we’re doing. If I’m working on something or we’re just hanging around the house, it’s Miles Davis, Count Basie, or Buddy Rich. If we’re having a romantic evening, I like piano music like this. Or maybe Sinatra, Dean Martin, or Nat Cole.”

“Yeah, you always seem to match the music with the mood.”

“Thank you. I try not to play Louis Prima when we’re feeling intimate.”

Felicia laughed. “Yeah, all that jump, jive, and wail stuff would be distractin’.”

Nick rolled over and placed his palm on Felicia’s cheek. They stared into each other’s eyes while moving closer until their lips met. Nick gently kissed her. She returned his passion, massaging his lips with hers. Their tongues dueled in a sensuous erotic dance as their kissing became more intense and passionate. Nick’s hand strayed to Felicia’s firm breast and cupped it, gently massaging her nipple until it was as hard as a gumdrop.

Felicia exhaled a deep contented breath. “Wow.”

He kissed her. “You’re the most passionate lover.”

“I always knew you’d be a good lover. Even before we sealed the deal the first time.”

“How did you know that?”

“Because you’re a good kisser. Where you have one, you have the other.”

Nick reached up and brushed back a strand of hair from her sweaty forehead. “You mean after we kissed the first time, even though I didn’t make a move, you knew what kind of lover I’d be?”

“Mm-hmm. Surprised?”

“Astonished. You must tell me your secret someday.”

She kissed him. “Some things are better left unspoken.”

**Don’t miss the rest of the Nick Seven series!**

​ Get them here -
Book 1 Amazon * Series on Amazon
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Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. His novels featuring former CIA agent Nick Seven have garnered several awards and international critical praise. He is also a freelance writer, blogger, editor and photographer. When he isn’t pursuing those interests, he can be found in the Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.

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Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I became a published author 22 years ago, but I’ve been writing since high school. My first adventure novel “Memories Die Last” came about from a personal challenge. I’d had this idea for a story with a unique hero for a lot of years and one day, I told myself to either write the damn thing or stop saying “Someday I’m going to write that book…” I found a publisher who liked the story, it found an audience, won a couple of awards, and I was off to the races. Since then, I’ve branched out to freelance writing, blogging, and editing.

My current release, “One Way Out,” is my 30th published book. This is the 9th installment in the Nick Seven Florida-based spy thriller series that began with “Memories Die Last,” but I have two other series. One features a former cop turned private eye named Vic Fallon, who operates in the Lake Erie town of Sandusky, Ohio. I also have a series of summer short reads under the umbrella title “Key West Heat,” and have published a number of short holiday rom-coms.


When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Getting some great reviews for my first book was one indication, along with the first royalty check. Not long after it came out, I did a personal appearance at a luncheon and was introduced as “Tim Smith, the author of…” That made it sink in. A few years (and books) later, I was doing a signing tour in the Florida Keys. I walked into one of the bookstores and saw my books on the shelf alongside Florida authors I admired, like Tim Dorsey and James W. Hall. There were also customers waiting for me to get autographed copies of my newest book. I thought “Smith, you have arrived!”

Do you have a favorite movie?
I’m a movie buff, and my comfort food viewing is classic film noir crime capers from the ‘40s and ‘50s. I became hooked on cop dramas in the ‘70s, when films like “The French Connection” and “Dirty Harry” were the rage. Classics like “The Maltese Falcon,” “The Big Sleep” and “Double Indemnity,” among others, inspired me to pursue writing when I was growing up. My mother was an avid reader and when I enjoyed a movie that was based on a book, I’d get it from the library. If I liked it, she could usually suggest an author who wrote in a similar style. It made me a well-rounded reader. Eventually I developed an interest in writing my own stories.

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I can envision the entire Nick Seven series as a movie franchise. When I write any of my books, I see the action playing out in my mind like it’s on a giant movie screen. I’m often asked who I see playing the main characters, Nick Seven and his Barbadian lover, Felicia. Nick could easily be played by George Clooney or Brad Pitt, because they both have the flip smart-ass attitude I’ve written into the character. As for Felicia, I’m holding out for Angela Bassett or Halle Berry.

What inspired you to write this book?
This will come as a surprise, but I didn’t plan on writing this book. My previous series entry “Out of the Shadows” (2022) did very well, and followers of the Nick Seven stories asked when I’d be releasing a sequel. I saw no need for a continuation of that story, but the consensus was that I had left some loose threads at the end. Any unanswered questions were intentional but minor. I wanted to leave people wondering what happened to the Holy Grail everyone spent the book looking for but never found. After thinking about it, I viewed it as a challenge to see if I could come up with a story that would pick up where the first one left off, with the same characters, while still working as a stand-alone adventure. I believe I accomplished that.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Since this is a continuation of what I started in “Out of the Shadows,” I embraced the challenge of continuing the adventure while ensuring that readers didn’t need to read the previous installment first. Once I had decided on a plot, I had fun casting the story with quirky, interesting characters. I was also influenced by some current events, social media trends, and political themes that piqued my interest. I enjoyed working those into the story. “One Way Out” was partly influenced by some of my favorite caper movies, like “Charade,” “The Hot Rock” and “The Maltese Falcon.” Each of them had a colorful cast of characters pursuing something that may or may not exist.

Who designed your book covers?
The covers for my books are courtesy of my publisher, Extasy Books. They have some of the best cover designers in the business. Most of mine were courtesy of the talented artist Martine Jardin.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
The disclaimer states that all characters are fictitious but to be honest, I’m a people watcher and I pick up on little things. When I’m conceiving a character, I usually have a certain personality and body type in mind, including hairstyle and clothing choices. I may notice a behavior or speech pattern and include it to make them realistic. My characters are fairly generic, but with enough details to give the reader a mental picture. In some cases, I might have a specific actor in mind, but they’re caricatures when they reach the page. My Florida-based stories are populated by Latino and Hispanic personalities because they’re part of the cultural fabric, and they add realism. The challenge with specifying a character’s ethnicity is doing so without being derogatory or condescending.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
If you’re looking for escapism with cool characters in an exotic setting, an intriguing plot, fast-paced action, humor and steamy romantic encounters, this is the book for you. When I write an adventure story like “One Way Out,” I have one goal in mind—to give the reader an escape from the stresses of everyday life. I include enough action and realistic atmosphere to transport readers out of their comfort zone. My stories are acted out by well-drawn characters, and I include some humor and romance to make it believable. One comment I consistently get is when readers tell me they felt like they were standing next to the characters, watching a sunset or engaging in the action with them. The second nicest compliment is when they tell me they can’t wait to read my next one. It doesn’t get much better than that!

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I typically begin with a rough outline in my head, including the ending I’d like to see. I divide the story into chapters as I go. I seldom write an outline unless I’m stuck, and need to identify the problem. Although I have the story pretty much figured out before I begin, I may change course if the story dictates it, including a different ending. As to research, I’m meticulous to the point of being obsessive. I pride myself on writing realistic atmosphere, including landmarks, locations, local customs and foods. The last thing I want is for someone who lives in the story location to wonder “Has this guy ever been here???”

What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Getting too close to what they’ve written, especially when they hand it over to an editor. It took me awhile to trust my editor’s judgment, and realize that we were working together to produce a better product. The criticisms and corrections aren’t meant to be cruel, but constructive. Another rabbit hole they fall into is thinking that once the editing is done, so is their work. Wrong answer! You need to hustle if you want anyone to read your dream project.

How long have you been writing?
I developed an interest in writing when I was in high school but didn’t pursue novel writing and publication until many years later. I had a middle-age-crazy moment and challenged myself to either write the book I had in mind, or stop talking about it. That eventually led to freelance writing, reviewing books, blogging and editing.

Do you see writing as a career?
I’ve considered writing as a career since shortly after I was published, even though it was part-time at first because I had a full-time job. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I branched out in different directions along the way to get the full experience. I did a side gig as a book reviewer for a while, then became a freelance writer, blogger and editor. For the past few years, I’ve made writing my full-time occupation. Whenever I’ve begun something new, like a job or hobby, I’ve always followed one rule: when it stops being fun, it’s time to get out. I’m still having fun being a writer.

Do you read yourself and if so, what is your favorite genre?
When I’m not developing a story, I like to read private eye thrillers, and crime adventures. My fave authors in those genres lean toward Raymond Chandler, Donald E. Westlake, Mickey Spillane, Nelson DeMille and James W. Hall. I also read memoirs and biographies on occasion. I don’t read very much when I’m actively working on one of my own stories, though. I don’t want to read something good by one of my favorite authors and have it unconsciously turn up in my book.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
My goal is to give readers an entertaining story, one that will help them temporarily escape from this stressful thing called life. If it’s a unique plot that exposes people to something different, that’s fine. It’s also why I work hard at creating realistic atmosphere and situations. I don’t intentionally try to include messages or opinions, but sometimes they may slip in by accident. I consider writing to be part of the entertainment business, because that’s what we do—we write to entertain and enlighten. I don’t write for the critics, but for the person in Parma, Ohio or Rugby, North Dakota who just wants a diversion. One of the nicest compliments I can get is when someone says they can’t wait to read my next book. It doesn’t get much better than that!

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