Rachel Butler

After writing the Bethlehem books, I wanted a pseudonym to do my next series. Where the B’hem books are relatively sweet (they feature angels!), this new series was going to be gritty and truer-to-life. I wanted to use MJ Roberts – my nickname, plus my husband and son are both Roberts – but my publisher nixed that. If you could change your name, my editor asked, what would you change it to?

Easy answer: I’ve always loved the names Rachel and Elizabeth. They liked Rachel better, and they gave me a choice of last names to choose from. I opted for Butler.

Rach is currently on hiatus, but one day, I suspect, she’ll make an appearance again. You can’t keep a smart-mouth down.

By the way, yes, my husband used to be a homicide detective in Tulsa. Yes, he’s Italian-American. Yes, he’s a large part of Tony.

Sadly, no, I’m nothing like the beautiful, mysterious, accomplished Selena.

The books:

THE ASSASSIN, 2005

Selena McCaffrey leaves her Key West, Florida, home to come to Tulsa at the behest of her mentor/father figure. His order: kill Detective Tony Ceola.

DEEP COVER, 2005

Selena is forced into working with the FBI and assassin Damon Long on a case that takes her from Tulsa to Savannah and back again, dodging attempts on her life and keeping her relationship with Tony on track.

SCORCHED, 2007

When a contract is put out on Selena’s life, she and Tony leave Tulsa and go on the run, winding up eventually at her father’s home in Alabama. But Damon isn’t the only one who wants her dead. She and Tony, FBI Special Agent Robinette and hitwoman Charlize join forces to end the threat once and for all.