During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for July 2024, with the book’s release date if not available now.
Multi-published author Cate Nolan recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? I actually started out writing historical, but I always loved reading romantic suspense. Back in 2013, the Love Inspired editors announced a “Killer Voices” contest to find new talent for Love Inspired Suspense. I had followed Emily Rodmell on social media, and I knew she loved witness protection stories. The first round of the contest just required a first page. I had an idea for a WITSEC story, so I submitted it. Emily chose me for her team, and I progressed step by step until I had to submit the full manuscript. It was a whirlwind, and then Emily called to tell me they were buying Christmas in Hiding. I’ve been writing suspense ever since because I discovered I love having that extra element to add to the story.
When do you find time to write? My best answer to that question is one word: Summer. During the school year, I teach grades six to eight English Language Arts, so my days are pretty full. I try to manage 1,000 words a day during the school year, but summer is the time I really get to set everything aside and focus on my stories.
Where do you get the inspiration for your plots? I literally get my ideas everywhere. My brain seems to be constantly open to suggestion. I was walking the dog with my daughter recently, and we saw something. I said, “That gives me an idea for a story.” She looked at me and said, “Let’s be honest. What doesn’t give you an idea for a story?” She’s not wrong. For example, I was walking to school one day, and I saw an abandoned veil on the ground in a child’s size, most likely lost by a young girl making her First Holy Communion. By the time I got to school that muddied veil had sparked an entire story.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels? Most often the location is dictated by the characters and the story I want to tell. I have to think about where that would work best. Sometimes, the setting is triggered by something I discover in my research. For example, Colorado Mountain Kidnapping is about an ex-Army Ranger who suffers from PTSD. I knew I wanted him in a remote area. In my research, I discovered Wilderness Therapy and some specific programs located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Voila! I had my setting.
Which of your books is your favorite and why? I chose this question, but I don’t actually have the answer. I know it’s a cliche, but that’s like trying to choose your favorite child. You love them all for different reasons. Christmas in Hiding will always be a favorite because it was my first. I fell in love with Jackson and Callie, and didn’t think I’d ever love any other characters the same. But then came Christine and Blake in Texas Witness Threat. They hold a special place in my heart because a lot of people were turned off by the snake on the cover. I’ve since learned to cover it with a “Signed by the Author” sticker. Colorado Mountain Kidnapping is really special to me because Adam Dalton is the kind of heroic man who sacrifices his own well-being to protect the innocent. He suffers from PTSD, but he pushed through because it’s what he needs to do for Isabelle and the children. Who wouldn’t love a hero like that?
About Cate Cate Nolan lives in Maine, where she loves to leave her real life behind and play with the characters in her imagination. She’s got that suspense writer gene that sees danger and a story in everyday occurrences. Cate particularly loves to write stories of faith enabling ordinary people to overcome extraordinary danger.
Colorado Mountain Kidnapping
An infant in peril…and nowhere to hide
A cryptic phone call sends Isabelle Weaver running from armed intruders—with her daughter and best friend’s baby under her care. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted…except former army ranger Adam Dalton. Together, they must uncover a kidnapper’s motives while protecting the children. But as danger tracks them through the mountains, can they outwit a criminal mastermind before they all lose their lives?
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Terry Toler, a best-selling and award-winning author who has written 17 nonfiction books and 32 novels, including the Jamie Austen and Alex Halee spy novels, Cliff Hangers, along with The Eden Stories. He won the 2020 American Bookfest Best Book Award for Religious Fiction. In 2021, he followed with two books that were finalists for the Best Book Awards in the categories of Thrillers and Adventure and Religious Fiction. Terry is a public speaker, counselor, and entrepreneur. Impacting the lives of people worldwide through storytelling has become one of his passions in life.
“I do write fulltime now,” Terry said. “Over a five-year period of time, I wrote 25 novels in 30 months. The first book that I wrote took me about 90 days. I studied and learned all the rules of fiction, … but I got so I could write about thousands of words in the morning before my wife gets up. She’s my editor, so I have a chapter for her in the morning, six days a week.”
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Sara Davison, who has a passion for writing stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats—and maybe swooning a little. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Cascade, Word, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.
“I never made the conscious decision to write romantic suspense,” Sara said. “I always wanted to write a book. … Then when I was in church one morning, … I got this idea for a book with all the characters and the beginning, middle and the end. I went home and wrote it, [which eventually became my first book]. … It seemed like every time I sat down to write, romantic suspense is what came out.”
Award-winning author Kerry Johnson recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
When do you find time to write? During the school year, I write between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. while my kids are in school. I used to be a night writer, but those days are over (unless I’m a deadline, in which case I write whenever I can). I would love to be an early morning writer, and I do when I’m on a tight deadline, but I’m still too much of a night owl to get up at 5 a.m. and write.
Which of your books is your favorite and why? That’s a tough one. I usually like all my stories once they’re completely written and revised and I’m bonded with the characters, but if I had to choose one, it would be my debut romantic suspense, Snowstorm Sabotage. My dad passed about two weeks after Snowstorm Sabotage released in the fall of 2021, and each book I’ve written since makes my chest ache because my dad hasn’t read it. He was an engineer-turned-librarian, and he loved books and read voraciously. I’m so thankful he was here to read Snowstorm Sabotage, and I think of him each time I get a new box of books.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? From a young age, I wanted to be a veterinarian because I love animals. However, once I realized how nervous most animals become at vet appointments, plus all the blood, I decided that wasn’t for me. I’ve loved reading since I was little, and in elementary school I took to writing as well. Recently I uncovered a couple report cards and notes from my fifth grade teacher, Cathy Mazzariello. Cathy was incredibly encouraging about my writing, even at that young age, and I’m grateful she boosted my confidence and urged me to keep writing. So, I’d say yes, my dream of writing books did come true.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels? Boots on the ground! What that means is I do best if I’ve visited the location and connected to the area. My first book, Snowstorm Sabotage, was inspired by our family’s visit to a New England ski resort. My second, third and fourth books, Tunnel Creek Ambush, Christmas Forest Ambush, and Hidden Mountain Secrets, are all set in a fictional town in northwestern South Carolina called Tunnel Creek, based on an area my family and I visited several times called Walhalla. The series I’m currently writing, Allegheny Rangers, is set in northwestern Pennsylvania, where my husband’s parents have a cottage along the Allegheny River. We go up to Pennsylvania every summer and I’ve visited the places I’ll features in each of the four Allegheny Rangers books. In January, I traveled to Colorado with my younger son’s class for their senior trip, and story ideas were churning away in that gorgeous, cold, snow-capped mountainous landscape. No doubt I’ll mine those five days to write more stories in the future.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? My husband set up a nice, smallish desk area in our master bedroom, so it’s cut off from the rest of the (loud, busy) house. I don’t often shut the door when I’m writing, but it helps that I can if needed. It’s near a window, so that adds natural light and a splash of green from our backyard (green is creatively inspiring for me). I’m a tea drinker, so usually I make one or two cups of tea to sip while writing. Also, I turn Pandora music on and play Film Scores radio. I love drafting a story to rousing and vibrant movie scores, like Last of the Mohicans, Star Trek, various Marvel movies, and Titanic, etc. When I’m in editing mode, I go with Christian contemporary-type music. I can’t write with people talking to me, but I do enjoy music in the background.
Who’s your favorite romantic suspense author and why? I can’t really choose one! Right now, I’m totally engrossed in a series by Lynn Blackburn called Defend and Protect. Her characterization and dialogue are incredible! I’ve enjoyed the first two books in the series, Unknown Threat and Malicious Intent, and I’m about to start the third, Under Fire. It’s been great and I adore these characters.
What does your family think of your writing romantic suspense? My older son is a bookworm, so he’s read all my books. At 19, he’s not overly fond of the romance part, but he suffers through it. He has helped quite a bit with plotting and talking through story ideas on our walks. My husband isn’t a big reader, but he’s encouraging in other ways. My middle son is more of a gamer, so he hasn’t read my stories, and my 12-year-old niece (who lives with us) would like to read them. I tell her, “Soon.”
About Kerry Kerry Johnson is an award-winning author who has been conversing with fictional characters and devouring books since her childhood in the Connecticut woods. A longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she lives on the sunny, stormy west coast of Florida with her husband, two sons, her niece, and way too many books. Their busy house also includes a loveable, lazy boxer, a temperamental sun conure, a stray cat that’s adopted their family, and a shy spotted leopard gecko. She loves Jesus, long walks, all creatures great and small, and a hot cup of tea all hours of the day.
Hidden Mountain Secrets
A mysterious death. A secluded mansion. This investigation could be fatal…
Antique dealer Brielle Holt uncovers more than just priceless relics when she overhears a secret that puts a target on her back. Caught in the crosshairs of a deadly family feud, Brielle has nowhere safe to hide…until CSI agent Lucas Scott steps in to protect her. With assailants following their every move, Lucas and Brielle must stay one step ahead of someone desperate to hide the truth…and bury them with it.
Colorado Mountain Kidnapping
Connect w/Terry
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About Kerry
