An author of 10 books, Carole Brown loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy. She and her husband reside in Ohio, but have ministered nationally and internationally. They enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food and the simple life.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? Carole: Keeping the flow going. When I write suspense, I throw in romance, too, and like to have spots of romance to lighten the suspense. It gives the book a warmer sense, and depending on how much romance, can woo romance readers to your writing. But to bring scenes together, so that they flow realistically, is harder. I work hard to make it happen.
When do you find time to write? Carole: I don’t. We’re very busy people, so if I left it to chance, it wouldn’t get done. I have to be determined and persistent to get my writing done. I’m not one of those who can sit down and throw together a book (I write longer books—mostly) in a couple weeks. But if I persist and push through the hang-ups and stuck-in-the-middle sections, then I find my writing gets done.
What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress? Carole: In the car, traveling long distances, with my husband. I like to read portions to him so he can point out flaws.
How do you connect with your characters? Carole: By placing myself within their lives—by being them. I want to feel their emotions. I imagine their pains, their excitement, the danger, the times when they’re feeling overwhelmed or puzzled. I like to feel the warmth of the romance and how I would feel if I was in that same situation.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? Carole: A detective, a nurse, an airline attendant, and though I didn’t realize it at the time, a writer. Only the writer came true, but I can live my earlier desire of detection through my novels—which is far more realistic for me. The others? Only momentary, passing desires. 🙂
Current book: A Flute in the Willows (WWII Spies series book 2)
She’s determined to keep his love…and help him thwart the German spy who’s out to destroy her husband.
Deborah Piccurelli enjoys reading and writing romantic books. She has authored three novels and writes a fiction column for Book Fun Magazine. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is an advocate for sanctity of life. Deborah lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.
Why do you like writing romantic suspense?
Deborah: Even as a child, I always liked reading books that had an air of mystery or suspense to them. Then as I grew older, romance came into play, and so I almost always like to have an element of that to whatever I read. That being the case, it was only natural to write what I enjoyed reading the most.
What’s the weirdest way someone has died or been killed in your novels? Deborah: I can’t really say anyone has in my novels has ever died in a weird way, but there was an unconventional attempted murder in my very first novel, In the Midst of Deceit, when someone had tried to kill the hero through skydiving.
What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)? Deborah: Probably most authors wanted to be writers from when they were young, and I had tried writing books a couple times as a child, but that wasn’t my dream back then. Don’t laugh, but my dream as a young girl was to be a secretary. I would watch movies or TV shows where some of the women characters worked in an office and that looked so glamorous to me. That dream never changed as I grew up and it did actually come true. Most of my secretarial career was in legal work, which helped provide some material for my subsequent career as a writer. Oh, and learning to type was bonus!
Current book: Hush, Little Baby Hired by the doctor responsible for her twin sister’s death, investigative reporter Amber Blake goes undercover to expose him for the crime of fetal harvesting.
Leeann Betts writes contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens historical suspense. She has released six titles in her cozy mystery series, By the Numbers, with Petty Cash releasing in December. In addition, Leeann just released her first Christmas-themed romantic suspense, In Search of Christmas Past.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? Leann: I think for me the hardest part is making sure there are equal parts romance and suspense. I don’t have a problem writing suspense—it’s the romance that always gets me. I usually come up with the suspense plot first, and then spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to weave the romance in.
When do you find time to write? Leann: I don’t find time—I make time. I am blessed to not have to work outside the home, and I’m married to my biggest supporter, but that doesn’t mean I’m not busy. But I am very badge-oriented (read goal-oriented or project-oriented), so I give myself a deadline and stick with it. I think of every month as National Novel Writing Month.
How do you connect with your characters? Leann: I tend to do it the hard way—I write about two chapters of backstory, then I end up going back, writing down what I discovered to use somewhere else in the story, then start my story where it really begins.
Current book: In Search of Christmas Past Can Grace and Luke solve uncover the truth about their real feelings, or will their differences in goals and faith drive them apart?
Lynne Tagawa is married with four grown sons and three grandbabies. A biology teacher, she teaches part-time, writes and edits. She’s written a Texas history curriculum in narrative form, Sam Houston’s Republic, and has just published her debut novel, A Twisted Strand. Lynne lives with her husband in South Texas.
When I was fourteen, I was going to be a scientist. You see, I had discovered Isaac Asimov’s nonfiction essays about all kinds of scientific topics, which may sound boring to some of you—maybe all of you—but he wrote so well.
He had a knack of communicating things in such a way as to make the subject interesting, and no longer was physics or biochemistry arcane and inaccessible—they actually seemed fun.
He didn’t use textbook style, but instead began sentences with words like, “You see,” And maybe I learned something then that I am only fully realizing now.
When in college studying engineering, I soon discovered I was a square peg in a round hole, or perhaps the reverse. Now that I understood what being a scientist or an engineer really meant, I knew it wasn’t for me. But I still liked science and liked to explain scientific things.
So I ended up in the college of education, then found employment as a science teacher, which I’ve enjoyed.
Then came a day when I was asked to review a textbook for an entirely different subject: Texas history.
Predictably, it was boring, written by committee. Where is Asimov when you need him? Plus, there were important things that the textbooks left out, such as Sam Houston’s conversion to Christ and rifle-toting Baptist preachers. To make a long story short, those types of things made it into my personal textbook rebellion: Sam Houston’s Republic.
Later, I wondered what I would write if I made the full leap from narrative nonfiction (my “textbook”) into real fiction. What would I write about? And where would the setting be?
It was like learning to drive a car, and I didn’t want to make it too hard on myself; I decided to stay close to home—South Texas. And if you know that I’m a science teacher, it might not surprise you to discover that one of my characters is a virus.
Not a natural one—it’s engineered. So the suspense part was kind of prefab, in a way. The trick was to weave the strands of the plot threads—the relationship, the truth of the gospel, and the bad guys—all into one coherent narrative.
It’s not Asimov or Crichton. Just lil’ ole me. But it contains scriptural truth, and that made it worthwhile to write.
Current book: A Twisted Strand After her divorce, Rachel Davis heads to South Texas to raise her kids. Can she find the secret to making her heart whole again?
Rebecca’s Redemption by Lee Carver — A nurse seeking redemption for past sins joins a doctor contending against the jungle. Both healers need healing. (Contemporary, Independently Published)
Contemporary Romance:
The Christmas Baby by Lisa Carter — Mistletoe Mommy Anna Reyes is pregnant and widowed, and a Christmas homecoming isn’t so simple. Reuniting with her best friend, Ryan Savage, makes it easier—even though she knows he’ll soon be leaving their small coastal hometown. After putting his career on hold for his family’s business, Ryan’s finally ready to pursue his goals. But as he and Anna work to make the holidays special for a group of at-risk kids, Ryan wonders if he can give up one dream for another. They’re determined to make this a Christmas to remember, but can Ryan and Anna also make their holiday family last forever? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
You’re Gonna Love Me by Robin Lee Hatcher — Nick’s love of thrills and danger and Samantha’s love of safety and security drove them apart two years ago. After her worst fears came true, can they build something new upon the ashes of the past? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
A Christmas Kind of Perfect by Christine Schimpf — Conrad Hamilton thought his life would be easy. A great job running his own construction business, living in his hometown in Door County, Wisconsin, with Lila Clark by his side. He planned on marrying her as soon as she returned from her Chicago internship but it never happened.
Lila never expected to become a successful writer nor did she plan on spending the last decade in New York. But she did. Can the magic of Christmas turn two hearts back to one another again or is it too late to capture that special kind of perfect? (Contemporary Romance from Prism Christian Publishing)
Under the Mistletoe: A Christian Christmas Anthology by Jenna Brandt, Lorana Hoopes, Carol E. Keen, Elle E. Kay, Mary C. Findley, Judith Robl, Evangeline Kelly, C.J. Samuels — Christmas is the time when families get together and love abounds. Eight inspirational authors have teamed up to bring you 8 wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring you joy this season. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Making Spirits Bright by Cathe Swanson, Chautona Havig, Toni Shiloh, April Hayman — Christmas is a season for new beginnings and second chances. A time for hope and joy and laughter. A time for people of all ages to find love and come together in community. Making Spirits Bright is a collection of just such stories – four never-before-published inspirational Christmas novellas. From romance to cozy mystery, with a generous dash of humor, these contemporary stories are sure to warm your heart as well as brighten your season and lift your Christmas spirit. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Historical Romance:
The Calico and Cowboys Romance Collection by Mary Connealy — The Old West comes to life under the talented pen of bestselling author Mary Connealy. Enjoy a lighthearted ride alongside seven historical and one contemporary cowboys and the women who tame their hearts. (Historical/Contemporary Romance Novella from Barbour Publishing)
Would-Be Mistletoe Wife by Christine Johnson — Worried she might lose her teaching job if funding is cut for her boarding school, widow Louise Smythe must consider marriage. But the only prospective groom in town is lighthouse-keeper Jesse Hammond, and he wants children–something she may never be able to provide. While Jesse waits for the ideal woman to make his wife, though, Louise can’t help but long for something more than his friendship. If he wants to be promoted to head lighthouse keeper, Jesse needs to find a wife suited to his rustic lifestyle. But as he and Louise partner to give the town’s homeless orphans a joyous holiday, he’s drawn to the petite woman. Will the light of Christmas finally inspire them to trust in each other’s hearts? (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Circle of Blessings by Deborah Raney — A young college student is determined to win the love of her English professor at the university in the Dakota Territory where she is studying to be an architect. (Historical Romance from Raney Day Press)
Historical:
Return to Bella Terra by MaryAnn Diorio — When she receives word that her mother is terminally ill, Maria Landro Tonetta travels to her Sicilian homeland with her son Nico. She finds herself yearning for the life she once knew as a child on Bella Terra, the family farm, now on the verge of bankruptcy. Caught between two worlds, Maria dreams of moving back to Sicily with her husband and children to save the farm. When, however, Nico’s biological father unexpectedly appears at Mama’s funeral, Maria faces a new enemy to her dream.
But is there an even greater enemy within her own soul? (Historical, Independently Published)
Brides of Minnesota by Lena Nelson Dooley — Follow a Swedish family’s journey as they settle in Minnesota where each brother seeks a living—and wife. (Historical from Barbour Publishing)
Mystery:
Guilt by Association by Heather Day Gilbert — When the dead body of an overdosed teen turns up next to Tess Spencer’s mom’s trailer, it’ll take a miracle to keep Tess from becoming a casualty in her own personal war on drugs. (Mystery, ACFW Qualified Independently Published)
Romantic Suspense:
Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman — The police say the woman was a murderer. Emilie Wesley knows they can’t be talking about her client . . . can they? (Romantic Suspense from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
Holiday Secrets by Susan Sleeman — When his ex is thrust into the crosshairs of a deadly syndicate, FBI agent Gavin McKade will do whatever it takes to protect her. Even work the case with his stubborn sheriff dad. As if protecting Lexie from professional killers isn’t difficult enough, the unlikely reunion has rekindled their complicated romantic connection. But if Gavin can’t untangle Lexie from this dangerous web, the blurring line between duty and love may not matter…because this Christmas could be their last. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Speculative:
The Redemption of Jedidiah Pinkney by J.R. Pitts — A crippled and bullied young boy finds redemption and healing after an encounter with Jesus. (Speculative from Ambassador International)