“I do believe I can arrest you for looking at someone like that. You’ve got to be breaking some indecency laws.”
Taking a deep breath, she recovered her bearings. Mostly. “You’re out of your jurisdiction, sheriff.”
– A Dry Creek Bed, Avery Flynn
I read a lot of new authors in 2011 but one of my favorites was our very own Avery Flynn. I was first introduced to the town of Dry Creek, Nebraska in Up a Dry Creek and I’m thrilled to announce the sequel, A Dry Creek Bed is available now! I highly recommend both books and I’m not just saying that because Avery is offering a New Year’s hangover cure gift basket to one lucky commenter (U.S. only) today. 
In the meantime, I had the pleasure of interviewing both Avery and Hank Layton, her main character and, dare I say hunky, sheriff of Dry Creek. Welcome Avery and Hank!
Kerri: Avery, congratulations on A Dry Creek Bed, the second book in your Dry Creek series, being released this week! Where did the inspiration for the Dry Creek series come from?
Avery: Well with a hot couple like Beth and Hank, who wouldn’t be inspired? I think just about everyone grew up with a golden boy like Hank – and in Nebraska you can’t get more blessed than being the quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhuskers when they win a BCS championship. But Hank grew up, graduated and now not everything in his life is as perfect. Not that Beth Martinez would believe that. She’s loved Hank for most of her life but as the geeky best friend of his little sister, he never gave her a second look, except for that one summer … What? Hank why are you giving me a dirty look? Fine, fine I’ll skip that part, folks will just have to read about it in A Dry Creek Bed.
Kerri: Hank, what do you think of Avery’s series so far? Are you okay with her telling your family’s story?
Hank: Everyone in Dry Creek pretty much knows everything about us any way what with small town gossip, so what’s the big deal about a bunch of strangers knowing it? Of course, I had to skip a lot of Up a Dry Creek. No one should have to know exactly what their baby sister is thinking about – and doing with – a man. I just pray mom never read it.
Kerri: Your mother, Glenda Layton, seems thrilled with Avery’s books. She expressed her desire to have a grandbaby soon to show off all over town. Thoughts on marriage and children, Hank?
Hank: God love her, that woman is obsessed with grandkids. I can’t wait to have kids of my own to toss around the football and teach the intricacies of avoiding a blitz when the game is on the line. Course first I have to meet the right woman.
Kerri: So you still believe in marriage even with your previous divorce?
Hank: I thought we agreed not to go there. Wasn’t that in the pre-interview agreement?
Kerri: Okay, okay, stop giving me the evil eye. I was just asking. Speaking of men, Avery… what’s your favorite kind of hero to write about?
Avery: I’m all about the alpha heroes, but let’s be clear alpha does not mean asshole. There is a difference, just like beta does not equal wimp. Think John McClane from Die Hard and you’ve basically got my favorite type of hero.
Kerri: Let’s turn back to family. Hank, your sister Claire went through a really rough time not too long ago. How’s she doing?
Hank: Claire? She’s doing great, thanks for asking. She’s working with an architect drawing up plans to rebuild The Harvest Bistro and is hunting down a big old bar to replace the one lost in the fire. Jake relocated to Dry Creek so that has her happier than a pig in mud. Of course, now mom is watching her like a hawk wanting to know when the wedding will be. Poor girl.
Kerri: Speaking of Claire, her best friend, Beth Martinez, has been seeing her own share of trouble lately out at her grandparents old house. As both the sheriff and a family friend, are you doing anything to help?
Hank: What trouble? Beth hasn’t said anything to me about that, but you can be sure I’m going to find out.
Kerri: (wincing) Well, the gossip down at Margaret’s Bakery is that you and Beth had a little thing back when she was in college. Care to comment?
Hank: What the hell kind of tabloid interview is this? Avery, you vouched for the Waterworld Mermaids? (grumbles incoherently) That all happened a long time ago. Today, I can barely get Beth to say two words to me especially after that kiss at Claire’s party … oh hell, that’s off the record. Got it?
Kerri: (ignoring that last comment) This last question is for both of you. Any New Year’s resolutions for 2012?
Hank: Nah, I’m not a believer in resolutions. Of course, finding the right girl and settling down would be nice.
Avery: My resolution is to finish the Dry Creek novels this year with books three and four in the series. One of my super smart Waterworld Mermaid sisters (Kerri-Mermaid bats eyelashes) recommended I write a novella about how Glenda and Bob Layton fell in love and so I’ve added that to my list of things to get done as well.
Well, no matter what either of you decide to do, I wish you both a happy and prosperous 2012! Thank you so much for joining us!
Remember everyone, check out Avery’s new book here and her awesome website here. And leave a comment below for a chance to win a New Year’s hangover cure gift basket (U.S. Only) from Avery.
A Dry Creek Bed, by Avery Flynn (Available Now)
Dry Creek County Sheriff Hank Layton is the stuff of dreams. Nasty, steamy, delicious fantasies that leave Beth Martinez weak-kneed and desperately wanting the man she can never have.
Hank can’t stop thinking about Beth to the point where he’s afraid of becoming permanently bowlegged. And even though the sexual tension between them is thick enough to trip over, she runs every time he chases.
But when a mysterious developer forces her neighbors off their land, Beth becomes the one person standing between the scoundrel and millions of dollars. Only Hank can help her uncover the truth. Together they risk their lives exposing decades-old secrets and learn that everything is not as it seems in their rural Nebraska town.