Author Virginia Vaughan was a lover of books from a young age, devouring tales of romance, danger and love. She soon started writing them herself. Her current release, Deadly Christmas Duty, is her ninth book for Love Inspired Suspense and the second in her Covert Operatives series.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? Virginia: I love keeping the identity of the villain a secret until the end, but sometimes walking that fine line between planting clues and giving away the villain can be tricky.
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing? Virginia: Writing is hard work and sometimes the words just don’t want to come. When the words dry up that way, my go-to defense is to read. It always helps get my creative juices flowing.
Where do you get the inspiration for your plots? Virginia: I get inspiration for my stories from a variety of sources. I love true crime books and podcasts, but I also get ideas through reading, movies, and keeping up with crime stories on the news.
What does your family think of your writing romantic suspense? Virginia: It has become sort of a running joke in my family because I’m always on the lookout for interesting and different ways to kill people or bury bodies. Now, whenever they see something that I could use in one of my stories, they’re quick to point it out.
Current book: Deadly Christmas Duty Prosecutor and single mom Melinda Steel thought her nightmare ended when her abusive husband died, but now someone wants her dead by Christmas.
Anne Baxter Campbell is a multi-published author of Christian books which contain abundant romance in the pages of historical conundrums. She’s a mom and grandma active in church and community as well as a writer of blogs and books.
Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Why? Anne: Yes. Loukas (the one I figured would become the beloved physician, Luke, in the following novel) went and got himself into a fight with pirates, even though his friends told him to stay inside. He was a physician, not a fighter. I had a future planned for him, and he totally blew it.
What does your family think of your writing romantic suspense? Anne: Truthfully? Well, it’s a mixed bag. My step-daughter, my daughter and my granddaughter love it. My two sons? Well, at best they be like, “Congrats, Mom. When’s supper?”
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers? Anne: Mostly through Facebook. Readers often friend me or follow my FB page. Lots of fun exchanges that way! Also love to meet them face-to-face at signings, hopefully not so busy there’s no time to learn a bit about them.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? Anne: Quiet, prayer, research docs and books handy, a picture in my head of each character, a mental outline of what’s going to happen, and my puppy by my side.
Current book: Blessed by Time A woman grieving for her dead daughter disappears. Her husband searches for her, but the police think he is the culprit.
Amy grew up a preacher’s kid, and has lived in seven southern states. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband and children. Amy graduated from Freed-Hardeman University and intends to glorify God by writing stories that show while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress? Amy: I can read just about anywhere. I’ve even gotten to where I don’t have to have it completely quiet to read if it’s something light, thanks to a noisy family. But I tend to do most of my reflecting on my writing when I’m in bed trying to fall asleep. I think it’s the time of day when my brain finally catches up with me because I’m not doing anything else. If only I could just transfer those thoughts mentally to my computer screen so I wouldn’t have to either remember them all night long or find a piece of paper and pen in the dark!
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing? Amy: Since I tend to do most of my real writing during November (National Novel Writing Month), I tend to grab a handful of candy corn to munch on. A mug of tea is never turned down, either.
How do you ensure your books are accurate? Amy: With this book having some historical events going on throughout it, I leaned heavily on my history-teaching husband. I even tried not to get frustrated when he pointed out that the original way I wrote it wouldn’t work because the timeline was off. Fortunately, he also gave me a suggestion on how to redo that section.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? Amy: Time! I work best when I have at least an hour or two to just sit and work. It’s not always feasible since I have two littles at home, but as much as possible, I try to work during the quiet moments of naptime in the afternoons.
Current book: An Unexpected Legacy Chad and Jessica begin to fall in love over a mutual love of smoothies. But secrets from their families’ past threaten their growing relationship.
Tanya Eavenson is an international bestselling and award-winning inspirational romance author. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate and reading a good book.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? Tanya: I think the hardest part is writing the action scenes. I can see the scenes playing out in my mind, but telling it on paper for the reader to feel the moment is a challenge, yet very rewarding in the end.
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing? Tanya: Chocolate and coffee! And at times, more chocolate and coffee.
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers? Tanya: One of my favorite ways to connect with readers is at book signings. There’s something special about meeting people face-to-face, shaking hands and receiving hugs. It’s almost like a family reunion and the joys of being together.
Current book: To Gain a Bodyguard Undercover agent Madi Reynolds spent years infiltrating a human-trafficking ring, but when her life is threatened, she has to leave the country with her bodyguard.
Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging stories of faith, hope and forgiveness. The author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Penn., the setting for her novels. Striving for authenticity, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.
When do you find time to write? Rachel: I’ve always found the hours from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. are my most creative times. Not only is everyone asleep and the house is quiet, but something about the darkness soothes me and helps the words flow. It isn’t always easy getting up in the morning, especially when I have to take care of an active two-year-old during the day.
How do you connect with your characters? Rachel: I believe we’re all alike under the skin, so we share the same longings, needs and feelings. Everyone meets their basic human needs differently, but if I can get in touch with a time I’ve felt those feelings, even if it’s on a small scale, I can imagine how someone else might react if they’re experiencing the same feelings, but much more intensely. This emotional connection allows me to develop a deep sense of empathy for my characters. It helps me see life through their eyes, even when I disagree with their point of view or actions. That way I can put myself in the mind of any character – even one who’s a villain.
And, of course, those who aren’t readers or writers may not understand how characters come alive. But I actually live with and talk to my characters as if they’re real when I’m writing a book. There’s nothing like sharing all your meals and activities with your characters to make a strong connection. My family often gets to know them as well.
Where do you get the inspiration for your plots? Rachel: Because I write Amish novels, my greatest inspiration is spending time with my Amish friends and researching interesting aspects of their lives and communities. When I hear their stories about things that are happening with their friends and relatives, it often sparks story ideas. I won’t ever use their stories exactly as they happen because I feel it’s an invasion of privacy, but they form the seeds of an idea.
My biggest inspiration, though, is probably my imagination. I used to get in trouble as a child for having a vivid imagination (some people called my creative inventions lying), but it’s proved to be a helpful trait for writing. Every time I see or hear about an unusual event, I immediately begin constructing an elaborate plot and backstory for why it happened. It may not end up in one of my books, but just the exercise of imagining is good practice for developing plots.
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers? Rachel: Although it’s great meeting readers in person at book events, I also like to connect with them on Facebook. In person, you might only get to speak to readers for a brief time, but on Facebook, we can share our lives. To me, it’s always amazing the bonds you can form on social media when you’re open about your concerns and joys. I can encourage readers, and they’ve always been a major encouragement to me. I also appreciate the fact that we often pray for each other. There’s nothing like knowing readers are praying for you when you’re struggling to meet a deadline or when you’re dealing with a crisis. And I keep them in my prayers when they have health and family concerns.
Current book: An Unlikely Hero in Plain Everyday Heroes
Blind shopkeeper, Benuel, has honed his other senses to solve mysteries, including why an Englischer is stalking Amish twins.