How PeggySue Wells Titles Her Books

Award-winning USA Today bestselling PeggySue Wells recently stopped by my blog to share about her writing life.

Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels?
I began my career as a news reporter and moved into nonfiction books. I’m embarrassed to say I imagined fiction writers as the folks who didn’t do reality. In a personal growth exercise, someone challenged me to write a novel. What a revelation to learn that fiction is the highly skilled art of making something up that is believable and so compelling that readers will suspend reality and dive into story with the author. I was hooked.

Why do you like writing romantic suspense?
I’m drawn to stories, both fiction and real life, that showcase characters fighting for the relationships and people they love. This resonates deeply with me as a reflection of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, demonstrating how much He values us.

The romantic suspense genre weaves together the intimacy of developing relationships with the heroic actions of people who put others before themselves. Romantic suspense allows me to explore characters at their most vulnerable and their most courageous, falling in love while facing danger, choosing sacrifice over safety, and discovering that the greatest strength often lies in fighting not just for survival, but for the people who matter most.

In romantic suspense, love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a decision made in the face of real risks and genuine danger. That’s the kind of story worth telling.

Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Why?
In Chasing Sunrise, our hero tragically loses his mother and two young sisters, a scene that was deeply emotional to write. While this loss becomes pivotal to who he is and shapes every decision he makes going forward, I mourn the stories I can’t tell.

I imagine the conversations he might have had with his mom as an adult, the way his sisters would have teased him about his best friend, the holiday gatherings and everyday moments that will never happen. Instead of knowing how rich those present-day interactions could be, including the laughter, the conflicts, the growth, I’m confined to brief flashbacks within a narrow window of time.

The very event that defines my character also closes the door on countless future scenes that would be fun to explore.

What is absolutely essential for you to write?
Most essential to my writing is learning about new people, places, and things. Each book takes readers where they have never been before and keeps the writing exciting for me. Secrecy Order mainly takes place in a kibbutz. I traveled to Israel to visit a kibbutz and go off-roading in the desert to accurately write about life in this unique community, as well as facing down gun runners in the Negev. Other books in the series include the only tea plantation in the United States, islands in the Sea Island chain, and a risky mission with a little-known community of fierce warriors called the Circassians.

How do you come up with titles for your books?
Titles are a vital aspect of a romantic suspense novel. The words can draw a reader’s curiosity or cause them to scroll by without a second glance. I toss out ideas with fellow authors and readers. When I have a title or two that have potential, I ask my readers. I’m so grateful for the feedback they provide, letting me know how the title feels, and how they interpret the words. Once the title is reader-approved, we do the same process for the subtitle. Readers are my valuable resource.

About PeggySue
Award-winning USA Today bestselling author of 45 books, including mystery suspense of the year, Unnatural Cause, PeggySue Wells is known for action and adventure, romantic suspense—Chasing Sunrise, Homeless for the Holidays, and The Patent. She empowers readers with nonfiction like The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make.

Connect w/ PeggySue
Website: https://peggysuewells.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggysuewells/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peggysue.wells/

Secrecy Order
Powerful nations hunt for Marc Wayne and his invention, which promises to redefine weapons and global warfare. Meanwhile, in a remote hiding place, Marc serves as bait in hopes of turning his predators into prey. When an illegal arms dealer leverages Marc for his own ends, will Marc ever see home and family again? As time runs out, can he trust the electro-physicist, Lei Quong, enough to escape with her?