A Conversation With Sharee Stover
Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her husband, three children and two dogs. Her Christian romantic suspense stories combine heart-racing, nail-biting suspense with the delight of falling in love. When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?
Sharee: The uniqueness of romantic suspense is the balance between the two. You want as much of one as the other. Personally speaking, romance is the harder of the two for me, but it’s also the most rewarding. There’s nothing like winning a battle over a bad guy, and it only gets better when my hero and heroine fall in love too.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels?
Sharee: I think the best settings and locations are ones that I have personal experience with. They always say to write what you know. I’ve been blessed to have seen many places in the continental United States, so I try to draw from that. Writing about them allows me to share the place with my own reflections of the location including sights, smells and fun memories. A location doesn’t have to be eerie or scary to have great suspense built in. The Manitou Incline in Colorado is a huge part of Secret Past and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)?
Sharee: In elementary school, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I discovered I couldn’t handle blood and gore, plus the sight of an injured animal breaks my heart. By the time I reached high school, the veterinarian dream morphed into the desire to be a criminal forensic psychologist. There were many stepping stones to where I am today, and though I never got to be a criminal forensic psychologist, I love researching all things related to the topic.
What are some of the questions you hear when you say you write romantic suspense?
Sharee: For the people who aren’t readers, they are often confused when I describe romantic suspense. They picture romance easily but get stuck on the suspense part and how to the two relate. I explain the nuances by saying my characters fall in love as much as they dodge gunfire and car chases. Men are often intrigued, and I’ve had several ask questions about the story and even buy the book once they realize there’s action involved too.
Current book: Secret Past
Katie Tribani’s been in witness protection since childhood. Now, she and U.S. Marshal Daniel Knight must unearth her secret past…if they can survive long enough.
Connect W/Sharee
Website: www.shareestover.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorshareestover/
Twitter: @shareestover
God rewrote Carrie’s dreams to include being an author. With a background in weekly devotions, a mentor and several friends encouraged her to try fiction. The writing monster that she now barely keeps contained was born. Since then, she’s completed several books including her new romantic suspense, the Embers series.
As an avid reader, Joanie welcomed the transition from reading to writing and considers it a wonderful way to honor the Lord. She has four published Christian suspense novels, and enjoys writing from her home in the country. She also enjoys painting portraits and taking long walks on the farm.
Cynthia L. Simmons is an author, speaker, and mother of five. She hosts Heart of the Matter Radio weekly and encourages women to seek God’s wisdom. Combining history and scripture, she ministers to women of all ages, but has a special place in her heart for homeschool mothers.
When Gail Kittleson’s not researching World War II, drafting scenes or editing, she facilitates writing workshops and retreats in Iowa and Arizona, where winters find her enjoying the gorgeous Mogollon Rim Ponderosa forest. Favorites: grandchildren, exploring WWII sites with her husband, walking, reading, meeting new people, and hearing from readers.
