On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Andrew Huff, author of the action-packed Shepherd Suspense Series from Kregel Publications. The first book in the series, A Cross to Kill, was a finalist in the Mystery/Thriller categories of both the 2020 Foreword INDIE awards as well as the 2020 ACFW Carol Awards. Huff is an accomplished novelist as well as screenwriter and has worked in the church media and entertainment industry after spending 10 years as a leader in local church ministry. He currently calls North Texas home where he and his beautiful wife, Jae, raise their two boys and rescue dog.
“As a younger man, I was really interested in filmmaking,” Andy says. “When I’m writing a scene, I may [visualize it as a movie]. In my Shepherd suspense series, there are scenes in each of the books that play out as if I were watching a movie in advance of me writing it. … I take that and start diving into how do I turn this into a written scene.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Right Cross.
Award-winning author Kerry Johnson recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? I’d written several stories before signing my first book contract in 2020, and three of them are part of a middle grade speculative/adventure trilogy that’s near and dear to my heart. I adored writing the action scenes in those stories. I mean, I’d choose a Marvel movie over a rom-com most days (except Christmastime, when I love me some While You Were Sleeping). After writing the middle grade trilogy, I tried contemporary romance. While I enjoyed writing those, they felt a bit flat to me. Then an author friend nudged me to try writing romantic suspense—and I was hooked. It mixed exactly what I love most—action and romance.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? The crime aspect. I don’t watch a lot of CSI or shows like that, so I don’t have a wide storehouse of knowledge in that area. I research a lot and rely on friends who know more about this to make sure the police procedural stuff and crime part of the story is correct.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? From a young age, I’ve loved animals and books. Being a veterinarian was definitely a dream until about the age of 12, when I realized the vet actually does surgery, which means blood. Plus, I noticed our own animals were often terrified going to the vet. Add to that I’m naturally an English and language-brained person, so the thought of all the math and science required cemented the deal that veterinary science wasn’t for me. I’ve always dreamed of writing books though, and I’m so grateful to get the chance to do that now.
How do you connect with your characters? I create a rough bio for the hero and heroine before writing, but I’m a pantser, so I get to know them best while writing. I write a few drafts, and on each go-round, I tighten and hone in on exactly who they are, what they’d say or do, and how they’d react in different situations. I love this part of the process as my characters come to life and reveal who they are.
How do you pick the location/setting for your romantic suspense novels? For my debut, Snowstorm Sabotage, I chose a ski resort in New England as the setting. I grew up in New England, plus we visited a ski resort a couple of years ago, and that story idea was born. I love the woods and snow, and this setting melded the two. While brainstorming my next story (which is a series), I chose a location my family and I visited on vacation a few years ago, a national forest that has this really cool old railroad tunnel in it. It’s a beautiful setting, though I fictionalized it for the series. I research the setting, and often scroll through pictures when I first sit down for a writing session.
When do you find time to write? I’m grateful that I only work one day a week. So the other four days allow me a few hours of uninterrupted writing, revising, and reading time while my kids are in school. My husband now works from home most days, so that’s made it…interesting. I tease him that he stole my office space and writing desk. Our guest bedroom is also an office, and that’s where I used to write, pre-quarantine life. When he’s working at home, I usually write at the kitchen table or during cooler winter months, I’ll write out on our lanai (I’m in Florida, so October through March are the best months to be outside).
About Kerry Johnson Kerry Johnson has been conversing with fictional characters since her childhood in the Connecticut woods. A long-time member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she’s a seven-time Genesis Contest finalist and two-time winner. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her engineer husband, two teenaged sons, her nine-year-old niece, and way too many books. She loves Jesus, long walks, all creatures great and small, and iced chai tea.
Snowstorm Sabotage by Kerry Johnson
Can she survive a blizzard…and being framed?
Single mom Everly Raven didn’t just discover the murder of her friend—she’s being framed for it. Now she’s on the run from hired killers at her family’s ski resort, all while a deadly blizzard rages. Her only hope is her ex-husband, FBI agent Isaac Rhodes—the secret father of her child. But can they live long enough for him to meet their daughter—and clear Everly’s name?
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Kathy Harris, an author by way of a “divine detour” into the Nashville music business, where she has worked for 30 years as a marketing director. She sold her first Christian nonfiction stories in 2007. Her debut novel, The Road to Mercy, released in 2012 from Abingdon Press. Her second book, Deadly Commitment, the first in The Deadly Secrets series, released in print and audio in 2019 from Iron Stream Media. A large print library edition followed in 2020 from Center Point Large Print. The second book in The Deadly Secrets series, Deadly Connection, releases this fall.
“When I started blogging over 10 years ago, I decided that divine detour sums up my writing and life in general,” Kathy says. “Sometimes God takes us on a crooked path to the right thing. … We can’t always assume how God plans to get us to our calling and [divine detour] kind of sums that up for all of us.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Deadly Commitment.
The Gathering Table by Kathryn Springer — Winsome Lake, Wisconsin, is postcard pretty, but for personal chef Jessica Keaton it’s also a last resort. Fired from her dream job, Jess is starting over as a live-in cook and housekeeper. When she arrives, she finds her new employer is in rehab after having a stroke, and Jess expects she’ll be all alone in Elaine Haviland’s quaint house. A chef with no one to cook for. Instead, she encounters a constant stream of colorful visitors who draw her back into the world. (Contemporary/Women’s Fiction from Love Inspired (Harlequin))
Contemporary Romance:
The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston — When Brianna Porter’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—then left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begins marching through her property, offering to buy the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson. As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano — All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most–and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))
Historical Romance:
Brides of the Old West by Amanda Cabot — Four unlikely couples. Four unexpected chances at happiness. Four unforgettable stories of love and faith in the Old West. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Daria’s Duke by Linda Shenton Matchett — After the death of her father, Daria Burke is thrust into the role of a servant by her stepmother. Locked in her room one night, Daria watches as the woman and her daughters sashay from the house wearing her mother’s gowns and jewelry. Realizing she’ll never be accepted as family, she flees the house and applies to be a mail-order bride. Then the sheriff arrives on the eve of her wedding with an arrest warrant. Can she prove her innocence or will she go to jail and lose her one chance at happiness? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Hers to Love by Sherrinda Ketchersid — Fiona McGowan, a beautiful Scottish widow without hope for a family of her own, travels to St. Mary’s Convent to become a nun. In route she is kidnapped by handsome Highlander Adam MacIntosh in a case of mistaken identity. Adam, laird of the MacIntosh clan, is attempting to free his brother held captive by the rival Fergus clan. The failure of his plan leaves him reeling with betrayal, death, and a wee babe in sore need of a healer. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Mystery:
The Notorious Noel Caper by Sally Carpenter — A former teen idol investigates murders at a Christmas theme park while he tries to figure out his relationship with his girlfriend. (Mystery/Cozy from Cozy Cat Press)
The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman — Twenty-five-year-old Molly Stewart—ex-Navy nurse and former evidence technician for the Charleston Police Department—has been burned by love. So when her friend, Pastor Chase Griffin, begs her to move to scenic Lake Loon to be a nurse and companion for Miss Lilly, his elderly landlady, she jumps at the chance. The secluded and cozy cottage on a clear mountain lake seems the perfect place to heal from her fiancé’s betrayal as well as indulge in one of her greatest passions—cozy romance. First with reading them by the bookcase and then hopefully, if dreams come true, writing and solving them one day as an author and detective. But when Miss Lilly’s estranged great nephew shows up, it’s no mystery as to why he and Molly butt heads. Because it only takes one stolen kiss—while she’s sleeping, no less—to discover he’s an even bigger player than the ex-fiancé who broke her heart. (Romance/Mystery, Independently Published)
Romantic Suspense:
Home Run by Cathe Swanson — Phoebe Schenstrom’s always been a bit bossy. After all, she’s the oldest of ten children, has worked as a nanny and run the children’s ministry at the Unity Plenkiss Community Center for three years. But when a clash – or two – with clients leads to her suspension, she needs to prove that she’s more than a babysitter. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Personal Threat by Kimberly Rose Johnson — Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but when Sally’s young daughter, Emma, becomes the target of child traffickers, and the little girl’s biological father wants Sally dead, the Christmas season takes a dark turn. Police officer, Dillon Brady, responds to a call for help at the home of his friend and Protection Inc. bodyguard, Sally Wilson. When their relationship tips beyond friendship, Dillon is determined no one will hurt Sally or her daughter again. Will his resolve be enough? (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Speculative Fiction:
The Next Fithian: An Ordinary Teen on a Strange, New World by Rick Barry — Was this a new life – or a death sentence? When Rankin Johnson boards a flight to Israel, he expects an adventure in archeology. But the airplane comes under attack and explodes in midair. Rankin shouts, “God, I’m yours!” Instantly, he’s in some other place. An angel informs Rankin the Lord is pleased to accept his offer. He dubs Rankin “the next Fithian” – a messenger from God, not to Earth, but to planet Zemna in the alternate dimension. What happened to the previous Fithian? “He was killed,” the angel says before vanishing. (Speculative Fiction/Soft Science Fiction, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
A Summer in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch, How can Madeleine help A.J. discover a passion for the career he’s always wanted? And how can A.J. convince Madeleine to give God and Shady Springs a second chance? (Contemporary Romance)
Engaged: A Novel by K.L. Gilchrist, One bride. One groom. One unapologetically dope trip to the altar. (General Contemporary)
Moose Ridge: Ending to Beginning by Craig Hastings, Jazmine just knows, for once, everything is going to be exactly how she always dreamed it could be. Then she’s handed the letter. (Contemporary Romance)
Requilted with Love by Carrie Fancett Pagels, Find humor, family relationships, and romance blossoming at the 1889 Michigan State Fair in Lansing when a quilter finds herself literally falling for a balloonist! (Historical Romance)
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Liz Tolsma, the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a U.S. Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.
“It seems in these days, many people feel so hopeless and so helpless,” Liz says. “That’s why I do what I do very intentionally to show that even in the most terrifying circumstances, … we’re never truly alone in that. God has promised that he’s going to walk through the fire with us. So no matter what happens, he’s always going to be there. Then he promises that he works everything out to our good. There’s that hope that I do bring to the stories and that I hope the readers will pick up on and we’ll be uplifted by it. Even a romantic suspense can be an uplifting book when it’s written from a Christian perspective.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Liz’s The Silver Shadow.
Snowstorm Sabotage by Kerry Johnson
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Liz Tolsma, the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a U.S. Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.
