Interview with Molly O’Keefe, Author of Burn Down the Night

Tell us a little bit about your new release, Burn Down the Night.

BURN DOWN THE NIGHT is about Joan and Max – two characters readers met in Everything I Left Unsaid and The Truth About Him. Joan is one of my favorite characters I’ve written. She’s really tough but also really vulnerable. She’s a total survivor. She’s funny and sharp and is hiding a very desperate heart.

Max is the President of a motorcycle club. He’s been a part of a criminal life forever and has made terrible sacrifices to keep his brother (Dylan from the previous books) safe. But he also lives like he knows he’s going to die any minute. They both have thick armor and terrible wounds. One reader described them as feral – and I don’t think that’s too far off!

Basically, I wanted to write a book about a woman who kidnaps a very dangerous man in an effort to get him to help her – not the best plan, but like I said Joan is desperate. Their chemistry is off the charts but the danger each of them surrounds themselves with is very real. In an effort to convince Max to help her, she keeps doing everything he asks – and some things he doesn’t ask for, but desperately needs. So, he is her prisoner but she does everything he asks of her. The power dynamic is really exciting and dangerous.

What books are currently on your night stand?

I just finished an ARC of The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz and I’m about to start an ARC of Sonali Dev’s CHANGE OF HEART. I have started the Demonologist by Andrew Pyper, but I’m not sure I’m going to make it all the way – it’s getting very freaky. (I’m on vacation and there’s this hammock I’m considering making my home… there’s a lot of reading happening.)

Who is your favorite fictional character from literature?

Emily from Emily of New Moon by LM Montgomery. Emily made me want to be a writer. I haven’t reread that series in so long, I think I’m due…

What’s your favorite thing about living in Toronto?

Delivery sushi?

In all honesty, I love my neighborhood – Leslieville. It’s very much like a small town in a way. My kids walk to school. We go to the park. I walk to the grocery store. I know all the shopkeepers and everyone waves and chats on the sidewalk.

I also deeply love our Prime Minister right now. I appreciate compassionate inclusive politics. And he’s a compassionate man.

What’s rocking your world this month?

Again, I’m on vacation:
Medium spice peel and eat shrimp from the seafood market off the beach.
Radler beer
Have I mentioned this hammock?
Annika Martin’s DARK MAFIA PRINCE
The Suicide Squad trailer (in it Harley Quinn is reading BETWEEN THE SHEETS – one of my books!!)
The Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know book club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/505001329696267/

What’s in your Netflix queue?

I just finished Season 1 and 2 of Empire – oh, that was some fun!! I’m onto Vikings season 2!
Waiting for more Sherlock
And my husband and I are making our way through Season 2 of Bloodlines. I love this show so much, the slow slow burn of it.

What scene in Burn Down the Night was your favorite to write?

So, like I said, they’re both very dangerous so they aren’t touching each other. Max is handcuffed to a bed and she’s keeping her distance. However, their chemistry is pretty off the charts. They’ve been eyeing each other for months. And at one point she’s reading his messages from his phone and Max’s brother contacts him. Dylan is Max’s blind spot, his weakest link. And Joan jumps on it – making both of them bleed and ache.

And I think if they were in any way less feral they would have climbed into each other’s arms to make each other feel better – but they are far too dangerous for that. So Joan picks up a woman and brings her home and the three of them have a menage scene – but it’s once removed.

That was my favorite scene to write because not only is it really sexy, but everyone is really raw too. All the emotions are just barely held in check. And Max and Joan are DYING to touch each other but won’t. So they make this woman feel good instead…

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere? (again, I’m on the beach and that’s written on a sign in this rental house!)

I am TRYING to think before I speak… I have a tendency to do otherwise.

Practice Patience is my daily motto. It works for my marriage, for my kids and for my writing. It’s amazing what a deep breath will accomplish.

Molly O’Keefe is the author of the new book Burn Down the Night.

Connect with Molly
Author Website
 Twitter