On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Michele Chynoweth, the award-winning author of several modern-day Bible stories—contemporary novels which bring the Bible to life for today’s readers so they can better relate to God’s messages. Michele is the best-selling author of The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, The Runaway Prophet and The Jealous Son, contemporary suspense novels that re-imagine Bible stories and bring them to life for today’s readers. Michele is also a sought-after public speaker who has addressed a variety of writers’ conferences and other organizations across the country, an editor, college writing instructor, book coach and founder of the new “Your Book Done Right” Master Class online. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and lives with her husband in North East, Maryland.
“The Bible has everything in it because we’re all human beings,” Michele says. “There’s stories about human beings and all of the trials and tribulations we go through. There is a lot of suspense in there. There is a lot of heartache and challenges and triumphs. The Bible is a conglomeration of stories about us and all that we face. … I’ll never run out of material.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Michele’s The Peace Maker.
Laura Scott is a RN by day and an author by night. She has written over 70 books and has more ideas than time to write! Laura lives in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with her husband of 36 years and helps take care of her grandpuppy, a red fox English lab retriever named Otis
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? Laura: I love writing suspense because I’ve always been intrigued by mysteries and whodunits. I strive to keep my readers guessing about the identity of the bad guy, although I’m sure I don’t always meet that goal. Writing action seems to make the story come to life.
What’s the weirdest way someone has died or been killed in your novels? Laura: One of the weirdest deaths I’ve written is one in which the bad guy (a serial killer) puts a dead body of one of his victims in the heroine’s bed. It was also someone the heroine knew. Talk about creepy!
How do you connect with your characters? Laura: Connecting with my characters is a very interesting process. I try to add variety from book to book, but it’s hard when I end up slipping a piece of myself into their psyche. But I do my best to give each character a flaw and a redeeming quality. Focusing on their flaw, helps me to keep the character feeling real. Their redeeming quality is what makes the reader come along for the ride!
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? Laura: As a child, I always wanted to be a writer. I wrote dozens of (very bad) short stories. But my parents were very pragmatic, and they insisted I get a real job. I volunteered as a candy striper at a nursing home and fell in love with the elderly people there. I went on to become a nurse and truly loved taking care of critical ill patients. But my dream of writing wouldn’t go away. I’m truly blessed to have the ability to do more writing now than ever before.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? Laura: My writing process is pretty simple, I prefer quiet, although I can write with other writers for some weird reason. But never with the TV or radio going. I have a fairly strict schedule I adhere to in order to meet my writing goals. I have a lot of self-discipline, although some days are much easier than others!
Connect w/Laura
Website: www.laurascottbooks.com/
Tracking Stolen Secrets by Laura Scott With her K-9 partner’s help, can they protect her infant niece? Positive her sister isn’t involved in a theft ring as the police believe, State Trooper Helena Maddox and her K-9 partner must find her twin before local cop Everett Brand does. But when the niece Helena didn’t know existed is left on Everett’s doorstep, they all become targets. Now, working with Everett is Helena’s only option to keep the baby safe and prove her sister’s innocence.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Lori Altebaumer, a lifelong Texan who lives in a small community not far from the rugged West Texas landscape she loves to write about. The mother of now grown twins, she has learned the secret to survival is a well-developed sense of humor and an active prayer life. After years spent working in the insurance business, Lori now uses her time to educate, inspire, encourage, and entertain through the written word.
“I think that there’s a spiritual aspect to nature because I see God’s creativity,” Lori says. “Nature is one of the things that really speaks to my heart. I love to observe trees, plants, the sunrise or sunset, to feel the sunshine, the wind. … We spend 90% of our lives indoors, and that’s not how we were recreated. … There’s something intentional about seeking those moments to be just outside and experiencing the world. All the senses come alive when you go outside into the natural world.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Lori’s A Firm Place to Stand.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with James R. Hannibal, who is no stranger to secrets and adventure. This former stealth pilot from Houston, Texas, has been locked up with surface-to-air missiles and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a three-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his children’s mysteries, a Thriller Award finalist for his Nick Baron covert ops series, and a Carol Award winner and Selah, Angel, and Silver-Falchion award finalist for The Gryphon Heist—the opener for the CIA series that now includes Chasing the White Lion. James is a rare multisense synesthete, meaning all his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells, and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.
“I’ve got so many demands currently that’s it’s hard to find time to write,” James says. “What I finally realized was that my wife is so much better at organization and schedules than I am that I needed to give her control over my schedule. Before I was trying to be the soldier and the general at the same time. I’ve had the most productive last couple of months in my entire writing career by just letting go of control and letting her take over.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from James’s The Paris Betrayal.
Award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? Kimberly: I started writing romantic suspense because I love the genre. It’s so much fun!
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? Kimberly: For me the hardest part is the research. I don’t enjoy having to ask others for help, and I had to do that a lot with this book.
I have an artist friend who owns a gallery, so I contacted her for the art stuff. My uncle is a retired police officer, so I picked his brain. I read a couple books written by former FBI agents to understand them better and how things are done. I researched about being a news reporter by watching videos that actual reporters posted online about a day in the life of a reporter.
I would say of all the books I’ve written, this one took second in terms of research. The other one is also a romantic suspense novel.
When do you find time to write? Kimberly: Writing is my full-time job. I write during the day while my husband is working. I generally keep to office hours.
How do you research ways to kill someone for your books? Kimberly: I Googled it. I have only written one book where I killed off a character.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? Kimberly: I wanted to be either a teacher or a secret agent. I loved watching the TV show “Scarecrow and Mrs. King.”
I taught piano lessons for most of my adult life as well as worked at a high school for four years as an AVID tutor. My dream of being a secret agent was more fantasy inspired by my favorite TV show as a young person. I much prefer danger on the pages of a book than in real life!
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers? Kimberly: I love Instagram, but I’m super bad about posting. I’m also on Facebook, but again, I’m awful about posting there too. Readers can reach out to me at either site.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? Kimberly: I must have quiet. The story plays out in my mind like a movie. LOL I’ve even caught myself saying the lines out loud.
About Kimberly Rose Johnson Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington.
Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, Trinity investigates an art trafficking ring at a high-end Seattle gallery. She turns to handsome FBI agent Kyle Richards for help after being spotted by the crooks.
Kyle is drawn to the feisty reporter, but he can’t afford a beautiful distraction when lives are at stake. He must trust his friends at Protection Inc. to watch over Trinity while he investigates the gallery.
Will this couple overcome the impossible odds threatening to keep them apart?