After retiring from Department of Homeland Security, David became a full-time author/speaker/humorist. He writes suspense and nonfiction. Before his next fiction release, Taking God to Work: Keys to Lasting Success will bow in September 2018.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? David: Dealing with the expectations of some female readers. They imagine guys are having all these deep thoughts. Truthfully, we are a primal lot. If the bacon-and-egg sandwich rang our bell for breakfast, that distant look is probably us remembering the bacon.
When do you find time to write? David: I’m a full-time author, so sometime between rolling out of bed and getting back in at night. Currently, I have four manuscripts in some stage of editing or pre-release. My next two fiction releases are coming in November 2018 and January 2019.
What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress? David: I like to work in my home office, with Gumby and Pokey staring at me. They are relentless taskmasters.
How do you connect with your characters? David: We usually go out for imaginary breakfast sandwiches, like bacon and egg.
How do you come up with titles for your books? David: Seriously speaking, I pray about them. I feel like God gives me a thumbs-up when I find the right one.
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing? David: I’m a Diet Pepsi fiend. Some of my friends try to get me to stop, but I quote them Mark 16:18 about “drinking any deadly thing” and it not hurting me.
Why do you like writing romantic suspense? David: I’m a romantically suspenseful kind of guy. When they meet me in person, women often think to themselves, “I’ll bet he’s romantic and suspenseful.”
What’s the weirdest way someone has died or been killed in your novels? David: In my next release, Stock Car Inferno, the female protagonist is a stock car driver. She bumps the car of her major rival and it blows to smithereens. With that initiating event, the plot goes airborne (with the other driver.)
How do you research ways to kill someone for your books? David: I drive on the Washington, D.C., beltway. It provides a lot of inspiration as some drivers go 80 mph and others 50 mph. Seriously though, I enjoy police investigation shows on television.
Where do you get the inspiration for your plots? David: They just come to me. I start with a basic premise, pray about it. Then, I think about the major moral lessons I would like believers and non-believers to take away from the book. Then, I do a loose outline and start writing. The characters and action tend to drive the direction of each chapter.
Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Why? David: Without spoiling anyone’s fun, I kill off a likable character in Stock Car Inferno. Test readers hassled me about it, but the plot needed it. So, he or she had to go.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels? David: I start in Washington, D.C., then branch out to other places I’ve lived or visited. My next book has a sizable number of scenes in Oklahoma where I lived for a few years.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? David: Safe. My family had a lot of turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s. People made choices that affected my sense of well-being. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t have a specific direction.
What does your family think of your writing romantic suspense? David: The only immediate family member still alive is my sister, Susie. She is crazy supportive and I depend on her for feedback and suggestions. She is always test reader number one.
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers? David: I like live events. People can be so kind, and I love to get to know a little about them. My selfies with readers are among my most prized possessions.
What are some of the questions you hear when you say you write romantic suspense? David: “Can I date you?” My answer is: “Will you use carbon dating?”
How do you ensure your books are accurate? David: I do a lot of research and I trust my editors.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? David: A keyboard, a computer and bacon.
What has been most frustrating about writing romantic suspense? David: Reading big-name Christian romantic suspense writers and finding their content too steamy. It makes me feel like I’m in a club that I want to drop out of…but maybe some readers prefer their characters to keep their clothes on, unless they are married.
What has been most rewarding about writing romantic suspense? David: Meeting fans.
Current book: Driver Confessional A Christian Uber driver is plunged into a world of espionage, murder and secrets by a mysterious passenger.
Leeann Betts writes contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens historical suspense. Leeann has released eight titles in her cozy mystery series, By the Numbers, with A Deadly Dissolution as the most recent. She publishes a free quarterly newsletter; subscribe at www.LeeannBetts.com or follow Leeann at www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com.
How do you connect with your characters? Leeann: I usually end up writing a chapter of yak-yak-yak until I hit the ground running, but the conversation time helps me reconnect with my recurring characters, and start to develop a relationship with the new characters.
How do you come up with titles for your books? Leeann: The funny thing is, usually the title comes first, then the book flows from that. This time around, the story was first, and I struggled with the title. I also struggled getting the story started, because without a title, I didn’t know where it was going. Once I figured out the title, the story flowed from there.
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing? Leeann: Coffee. And chocolate.
What’s the weirdest way someone has died or been killed in your novels? Leeann: I’m pretty much old-school, so I guess the weirdest way was drowned in two inches of water. That was in Petty Cash.
Current book: A Deadly Dissolution Carly loses more than daylight when the total lunar eclipse and crime come to town. Can she figure out what’s going on before the suspects escape?
A Widow’s Hope by Vannetta Chapman — After tragedy claimed her husband’s life and her son’s ability to walk, Hannah King doesn’t want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Firestorm by Laura V. Hilton — Bridget Behr can’t shake the guilt that it was her fault her family moved—and is too afraid to trust anyone, especially the flirtatious, overly-friendly Amish man who lives next door. Just as Bridget is finally settling into friendship, a new life, and maybe even love, a devastating forest fire ravages the county, destroying both land and the Behrs’ dreams. Now Bridget and her family must decide: will they leave behind the ashes and start anew in another Amish community? Or will they dare to fight for the future they’d hoped for in Mackinac County? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House)
General Contemporary:
Ride to the Altar by Linda W. Yezak — Cattle are dying on the Circle Bar, putting the Texas ranch in financial jeopardy. Newly engaged Patricia Talbert and Talon Carlson must root out the cause before they can concentrate on wedding plans—which involves Patricia’s traveling to New York to patch things up with her domineering mother. While she is away, Talon discovers that the attacks on the ranch are connected to the murder of his first fiancée over eight years ago. Before they can move forward together, each have to resolve the past. Will they be able to start their new life with a clean slate? (General Contemporary from Canopy Books of Texas)
General Historical:
My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas by Kathleen Y’Barbo — Dodging bullets takes a simple missing person case to a new level as Jonah Cahill, a Pinkerton agent, and Madeline Latour, an investigative reporter, form a tentative truce in Galveston, Texas, 1880. Are they on to a much bigger story when their best witness is suddenly kidnapped? (General Historical from Barbour Publishing)
Historical Mystery:
The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright — Two women, separated by a hundred years, must uncover the secrets within the borders of their own town before it’s too late and they lose their future–or their very souls. (Historical Mystery from Bethany House [Baker])
Historical Romance:
This Freedom Journey by Misty M. Beller — Adrien Lockman left France to finally live life on his own terms, but when he discovers a half-starved and half-frozen woman in the treacherous Canadian mountains, the truth soon becomes clear—the only way they’ll survive is together. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
The Widow’s Plight by Mary Davis — After moving to a new town and joining a quilting circle, a single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves? (Historical Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)
River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart — Orphaned during an early 19th century cholera epidemic and helped by a slave to find a new home, Adria Starr must now stand up for his freedom—and maybe find her own in the process. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])
A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano — A young heiress is suddenly the poorest wealthy woman in all of England when her father dies without telling anyone where he put his money. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])
Mystery:
Shifting Sands by Elizabeth Ludwig — A mysterious key hidden in the depths of an ancient lighthouse unlocks family secrets hidden for generations. (Cozy Mystery from Guideposts Publications)
Guarded Prognosis by Richard L. Mabry — At first Dr. Caden Taggart feared for his freedom, then for his ability to cope, and eventually he feared for his life. (Medical Mystery, Independently Published)
Romantic Suspense:
Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll — When Adelaide Fountaine, the general manager of a hotel in New Orleans, finds the body of a guest who was stabbed with a kitchen knife, her childhood friend Detective Beau Savoie is shocked to discover a connection between his friend–the woman he’s quietly loved for years—and the murdered guest. But Beau can’t press Adelaide too hard . . . because he’s keeping secrets of his own. Can Adelaide and Beau afford to hide from the truth with a killer on the loose? (Romantic Suspense from Gilead Publishing)
Camp Hope by Sara L. Foust — Facing dehydration, starvation, and a convoluted kidnapper, will Amy succeed in recovering her precious foster daughter or get lost in a vast wilderness forever? (Romantic Suspense from Mantle Rock Publishing)
Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey — Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to join an elite team of terrorist hunters. Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he’s back, asking her help to stop America’s newest terrorist threat—an attack that would shake the country to its core. Together they must navigate secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster. Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next mark? (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])
Young Adult:
Launch by Jason C. Joyner — Teens with special abilities are invited to an exclusive conference where tech billionaire Simon Mazor is looking for those who can help him influence the world. (Young Adult from Little Lamb Books)
Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her husband, three children and two dogs. Her Christian romantic suspense stories combine heart-racing, nail-biting suspense with the delight of falling in love. When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? Sharee: The uniqueness of romantic suspense is the balance between the two. You want as much of one as the other. Personally speaking, romance is the harder of the two for me, but it’s also the most rewarding. There’s nothing like winning a battle over a bad guy, and it only gets better when my hero and heroine fall in love too.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels? Sharee: I think the best settings and locations are ones that I have personal experience with. They always say to write what you know. I’ve been blessed to have seen many places in the continental United States, so I try to draw from that. Writing about them allows me to share the place with my own reflections of the location including sights, smells and fun memories. A location doesn’t have to be eerie or scary to have great suspense built in. The Manitou Incline in Colorado is a huge part of Secret Past and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? Sharee: In elementary school, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I discovered I couldn’t handle blood and gore, plus the sight of an injured animal breaks my heart. By the time I reached high school, the veterinarian dream morphed into the desire to be a criminal forensic psychologist. There were many stepping stones to where I am today, and though I never got to be a criminal forensic psychologist, I love researching all things related to the topic.
What are some of the questions you hear when you say you write romantic suspense? Sharee: For the people who aren’t readers, they are often confused when I describe romantic suspense. They picture romance easily but get stuck on the suspense part and how to the two relate. I explain the nuances by saying my characters fall in love as much as they dodge gunfire and car chases. Men are often intrigued, and I’ve had several ask questions about the story and even buy the book once they realize there’s action involved too.
Current book: Secret Past Katie Tribani’s been in witness protection since childhood. Now, she and U.S. Marshal Daniel Knight must unearth her secret past…if they can survive long enough.
The Sleuth’s Miscalculation by Kimberly Rose Johnson — Librarian Nancy Daley loves a good mystery and enjoys moonlighting as a consultant for the sheriff’s department. When license plates go missing in Tipton County, she’s on the case. But she’s been partnered with the new deputy, Carter Malone, and he’s not interested in her help. When the minor case they are working morphs into something more, things quickly go from harmless to scary. Can they solve the mystery before it’s too late, and more importantly, what will they do about their growing attraction? (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)
Falling for the Cowgirl by Tina Radcliffe — Hiring Amanda “AJ” McAlester as his assistant at the Big Heart Ranch isn’t foreman Travis Maxwell’s first choice—but his sisters insist she’s perfect for the job. And AJ’s determined to prove she’s just as qualified as any man. But with money on the line, AJ and her innovative ideas could put him at risk of losing everything…including his heart. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Enduring Love by Toni Shiloh — Belle Peterson is hiding a secret. Seeking sanctuary in the small town of Maple Run, she’s intent on starting her life over—one she hopes honors Christ. The plan was going great until an undeniable attraction to Micah Campbell has her wondering if she’s changed at all. Can love really conquer all or will Belle’s past be too much for Micah to handle? (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit)
General Contemporary:
A Firm Place to Stand by Lori Altebaumer — Out of options, Maribel takes a safe enough seeming job, but soon finds herself in the middle of a murder, a search for a missing girl, and a race to find a lost treasure. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
Kuwaiti Seeker by Jim Carroll — A young Kuwaiti Muslim searches for truth in Islam, but God finds him anyway. (General Contemporary, Crosslink Publishing)
General Historical:
Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett — Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford has shed her humble beginnings to fashion her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region’s wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine, including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty. After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he’s faced with the opportunity to become a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling? As Clark opens Olivia’s eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park’s story as its vistas–a revelation that may bring her charade to an end. (General Historical from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Random House])
Historical Romance:
Orphan Train Sweetheart by Mollie Campbell — Spring Hill is the orphan train’s last stop—a final chance for Simon McKay to find homes for his young charges. When his fellow placing agent quits, Simon enlists help from the frontier town’s pretty schoolteacher. Cecilia Holbrook is as intriguing as she is independent, yet Simon’s devotion to his mission will soon call him back to New York. Long overshadowed by her flirtatious sister, Cecilia is done with waiting for a man to choose her. She’s already fighting the school board to keep her position. Now she’s struggling not to lose her heart to Simon. Could their shared concern for the children show them how to follow a new dream, together? (Historical Romance Love Inspired [Harlequin])
A Love Restored by Kelly Goshorn — She was nothing like the woman he’d envisioned for his bride, but he was everything she’d ever dreamed of-until a promise from his past threatened their future. (Historical Romance from Pelican Book Group)
The Road to Magnolia Glen by Pam Hillman — In 1792, Quinn O’Shea leaves Ireland for Natchez, Mississippi, ready to force his oldest brother to reclaim the role of family guardian so Quinn can be free to pursue his own adventures. While aboard ship, a run-in with tenacious yet kind Kiera Young and her two Irish sisters lands him in the role of reluctant savior. Upon arriving in the colonies, Kiera realizes her intended groom never existed and a far more sinister deal has been negotiated for her and her sisters. Quinn offers to escort his charges safely to Breeze Hill Plantation and his brother’s care, fully intending to seek his freedom elsewhere. But the longer he remains, the greater his feelings toward Kiera grow and the more he comes to realize true freedom might be found in sacrifice. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)
A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter — When Katherine “Kit” FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she’s forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. Graham, intent on finding his friend’s missing sister, is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she’s telling. After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different, but long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. As much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn’t worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])
More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer — Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes–one bright blue, the other dark brown–Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. She’s made a safe haven with Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. Seeking justice against the gambler who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father’s death. Instead, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach’s sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])
Romantic Suspense:
Justice Betrayed by Patricia Bradley — It’s Elvis Week in Memphis, and homicide Detective Rachel Sloan isn’t sure her day could get any stranger when aging Elvis impersonator Vic Vegas asks to see her. But when he produces a photo of her murdered mother with four Elvis impersonators–one of whom had also been murdered soon after the photo was taken–she’s forced to reevaluate. When yet another person in the photo is murdered, Rachel suddenly has her hands full investigating three cases. Lieutenant Boone Callahan offers his help, but their checkered romantic past threatens to get in the way. Can they solve the cases before the murderer makes Rachel victim number four? (Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
A Vast and Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter — After losing his closest friends and now his girlfriend to the ravages of war, Caden Wallis arrives on the Outer Banks for one final mission–to thank the woman who sent him a quilt while he was recuperating at Walter Reed Army Hospital. McKenna Dockery knows about loss. She juggles the family business, her ailing father, and an aging grandmother. Much to Caden’s surprise, she–not some elderly lady–is the quilter. The quilt was something she’d begun for her future husband but shipped to the military hospital after the tragic death of her fiancé. When a man is found snared in a net and murdered on McKenna’s property, she and Caden must work together to bring the killer to justice. (Romantic Suspense from Gilead Publishing)
Ransom of the Heart by Susan Page Davis — Police Captain Harvey Larson’s exhausting day takes a big detour when a teenaged girl approaches him at the diner, announcing that she is his daughter. When Harvey is on his way home from work a few hours later, his sister-in-law Abby calls him. She went to meet her husband for a dinner date and found a dead man on the floor at his place of business, and Peter has vanished. Harvey calls in his detectives and turns his car around. It’s going to be a long night, too. Once again, Harvey depends on his wits, his faith, and his squad, the Priority Unit, to solve a tough case and carry out Maine Justice. (Romantic Suspense from Tea Tin Press)
Speculative:
Song of Leira by Gillian Bronte Adams — Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged. Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie’s aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair’s sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran’s schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army—singers who can shake the earth and master the sea—and monsters rampage across the land. As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer. (Speculative High Fantasy from Enclave Publishing)