romantic suspense

The Milky History of Danielle Grandinetti’s Romantic Suspense (Episode 63)

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On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Danielle Grandinetti, a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.

“The story was originally contemporary romantic suspense but it was missing something,” Danielle says. A few years ago, “Wisconsin started having a milk shortage with farmers having to dump their milk [because there wasn’t a market for it]. … I learned that’s not the first time that’s happened. There was actually a huge milk strike in 1933. … So I took my contemporary romantic suspense and set it [back then] and it just brought it to life.”

Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from A Strike to the Heart.

Connect w/ Danielle
Website/Blog: daniellegrandinetti.com
Newsletter: bit.ly/FiresideNews
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Grandinetti/e/B01BEU1602/
BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/danielle-grandinetti
Goodreads: goodreads.com/danielleswritingspot
Instagram: instagram.com/danielleswritingspot
Facebook: facebook.com/danielleswritingspot
Twitter: twitter.com/dgrandinetti
Pinterest: pinterest.com/danielleswritingspot

Getting to Know Virginia Vaughn

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Award-winning author Virginia Vaughn recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life and her most recent romantic suspense, Texas Killer Connection.

Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels?
I feel very blessed to be able to write romantic suspense because that is the genre I love to read.

What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?
That’s easy. Figuring out who the bad guy is, lol. I love writing stories where the villain isn’t known until the very end; however, it is hard to write that way. Most people are killed by someone they know, so writing believable suspense where the hero or heroine don’t know who is after them can get tricky. It’s worth it though for that surprise ending.

When do you find time to write?
I am homeschooling two boys, so my days are full. I often don’t even sit down at my desk until the afternoon. Thankfully, I’m a night owl, so I get most of my writing done in the evenings and into the night.

What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing?
If I’m stuck on something, I’ll usually read. That helps get my muse going. I also like to go for a drive. I often work out scene or character problems while I’m driving.

Where do you get the inspiration for your plots?
I read a lot and listen to true crime podcasts. I also love to watch crime procedurals to get new and interesting ideas I can turn into my own stories.

What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)?
My childhood dream was to be a gymnast, but I was too scared to do a back flip so I knew I wasn’t going to make a career out of that. I read a lot and dreamed of being a writer but that dream also seemed out of reach for a long time. Ultimately, I decided to pursue writing and publishing—now I’m a full-time writer living my dream.

What does your family think of your writing romantic suspense?
I’m sure they think I’m a little bit weird, but I’ve been doing it now for a while and they’ve all be encouraging. My mom has even started scoping out places for me to hide the bodies, lol.

About Virginia Vaughn
Virginia is a multi-published author of inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger. Texas Killer Connection is her sixteenth novel with Love Inspired Suspense.

Connect w/Virginia
Website: https://virginiavaughanonline.com/

To catch a killer, they’ll need to find the evidence.
When the investigation into her look-alike cousin’s death stalls, former army intelligence officer Brooke Moore arrives in Texas searching for justice—and is thrust into the middle of a deadly conspiracy. Now she must turn to her cousin’s ex, FBI agent Colby Avery, for help. But with every clue leading them deeper into danger, they must uncover the truth…before they are buried with it.

The Plot Thickens With Sharon K Connell and Tanya Stowe (Episode 62)

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On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Sharon K. Connell and Tanya Stowe. Among other topics, we discussed how these two romantic suspense authors come up with their storylines.

“Most of my plots come to me, but I’m sure it’s based on the news and life experience,” Sharon said. “Also from things I hear from other people, reading other books, and it comes of just evolves.”

“I’m a full-time RVer,” Tanya said. “We travel the country and see a lot of places. … I get to park in the place, and get to know it, and get to feel things. … There will be something unique about the area that will trigger an idea.”

Sharon has lived in many places across the United States. She retired from the clerical/medical field in 2012, and now writes full time. Sharon lives with her husband in Houston, Texas, from where she writes Christian romance suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story. She has three grown children, and eight grandchildren, all living elsewhere in the country. Sharon attended college in Illinois, graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, and holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa. Besides visiting all but six states in the United States, her travels have taken her to Canada and Mexico. The experiences she’s had while visiting and living in these areas has been invaluable in her writing.

Sharon is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Scribes Critique Group, Houston Writers Guild, and CyFair Writers. She is the founder of the global Facebook Christian Writers & Readers group forum. Her monthly newsletter, Novel Thoughts, goes out every month to its subscribers in all parts of the world, featuring helpful information for writers and readers.

Connect w/Sharon
Website: www.authorsharonkconnell.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/sharonkconnell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianRomanceSuspense/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonKConnell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SharonKConnell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkconnell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rosecastle1/

AllAuthor: https://allauthor.com/author/sharonkconnell/

Tanya is a Christian fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author who fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a train down a mountain or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.

Connect w/Tanya
Website: https://www.tanyastowe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TanyaStoweReadersPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TanyaStowe1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.stowe/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tanya-Stowe/e/B003UDYONS
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tanya-stowe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4595413.Tanya_Stowe

Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Ko’olau’s Secret and Vanished in the Mountains.

Why Mary Dodge Allen Sets Her Books in Florida (Episode 61)

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On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Mary Dodge Allen, who has won two Royal Palm Literary Awards from the Florida Writer’s Association. She and her husband live in Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She’s been a counselor and social worker, and she worked as a USPS mail carrier during a college break. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate.

“My books are based in Florida and Florida’s a great place to base your books,” Mary says. “It seems like weird and crazy crimes are committed in Florida. There are also a lot of things in Florida that can kill you—sinkholes, gators, hurricanes. There are a lot of hazards in Florida.”

Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Hunt for a Hometown Killer.

Connect w/Mary
Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Getting to Know Rhonda Starnes

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Romantic suspense author Rhonda Starnes recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life and her most recent romantic suspense, Perilous Wilderness Escape.

What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?
Weaving the romance thread in with the suspense so that they are balanced. The suspense and danger has to be front and center, but I never want a reader to get to the end of the story and feel like they didn’t see the romance blossom as they story unfolded.

How do you come up with titles for your books?
This question made me smile. I am horrible at coming up with book titles. It’s much harder than actually writing the book. Fortunately for me, I have an amazing editor and creative department offering suggestions when I get stuck. For this particular book, after I sent in a few title suggestions, they came back with two of their own, and Perilous Wilderness Escape was one of them.

What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing?
Dove Dark Chocolate & Almond. I love the sweet treat, but I also enjoy the encouraging messages inside the wrappers.

How do you ensure your books are accurate?
Lots and lots of research! I also have several family members and friends in various law enforcement and medical fields, and I am constantly asking them questions. I’m also in several online groups with professionals who graciously answer questions for writers

What is absolutely essential for you to write?
I need solitude. Not necessarily quiet, because sometimes I like to listen to 80s music, but if anyone else is in the house, I’m not nearly as productive.

About Rhonda Starnes
Rhonda is a retired middle school language arts teacher. She lives in North Alabama with her husband, who she lovingly refers to as Mountain Man. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Rhonda writes romantic suspense with rugged heroes and feisty heroines.

Connect w/Rhonda
Website: https://rhondastarnes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhondaStarnesAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhonda_Starnes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhonda_starnes/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rlstarnes2013/

Perilous Wilderness Escape
An undercover mission…turns into life and death
Hot on the trail of a ruthless drug cartel, FBI agent Randy Ingalls is nearly killed in an ambush—and left with amnesia. Now FBI agent Katherine Lewis must protect her undercover partner from the ruthless drug cartel pursuing them across the rugged Colorado mountains. Can she decipher the clues in his lost memory, or will she lose the case—and her partner—for good?

 

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