The Romantic Side of Suspense: Recent Episodes
Sarah Hamaker
In each episode, Sarah talks with your favorite romantic suspense authors. They will take you behind-the-scenes of the writing process, give excerpts from their writing, and share stories about their writing life.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from six authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
“There’s so much in ordinary, everyday life that can create this micro tension. There’s huge tension, like car chases and things like that, but what I really enjoy is micro tension, like a conversation where two people don’t quite agree,” Joanna said. “It’s those common, everyday things that readers can identify with what they’re going through but you still get a lot of tension in there.”
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from six authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
“The hardest part of writing romantic suspense for me is ensuring I don’t reveal the identity of the villain too soon but at the same time, I need to plant enough clues that when the reader discovers who the villain is, she goes, ‘Oh, of course, that makes sense,’” Amanda said. “It’s that balancing act that I find to be the hardest part.”
“There’s a coffeeshop near me that is perfect for me—I actually like to be in a noisy place because it makes me concentrate on what I’m working on,” Janice said. “I find that if it’s too quiet, I want to do anything but write. So I go to this coffeehouse when it first opens, sit down with a cup of coffee and open my [laptop], and that’s usually where I do my best, most productive work.”
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
“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.”
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
“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.”
“I think as Christian romantic suspense authors we can all say Lynette Eason’s [books inspired us],” Rebecca said. “How she captures real people in her stories—it’s like I’m watching somebody’s life play out. … I just really loved everything about the genre.”
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors—including me!—about their romantic suspense books available this month.
“The Christian part is the easiest part [for me to write] … because it’s my worldview. It’s how I see God active in the world around us,” Sarah said. “It’s really hard for me to write a story where God isn’t part of it.”
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with award-winning author Carmen Peone, who lives with her tribal husband, Joe, on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation in Northeast Washington. Carmen has gathered cultural knowledge from family and elders and studied the language and various cultural traditions and legends under the late Marguerite Ensminger. A horse and photography enthusiast, she has a degree in abnormal psychology. The thought of writing never entered her mind until she married her husband and they moved to the reservation after college. She came to love the people and their heritage, and desired to create a legacy for her family. She loves to write inspirational stories of hope, healing, and horses that lead to a happily ever after.“In the summer, I’ll just be outside, especially in the morning or evening. My office overlooks mountains, trees, hills—it’s a beautiful place,” Carmen said. “I write mostly in the mornings and evenings. … It’s a very peaceful [setting to write in].”Connect w/CarmenWebsite: http://carmenpeone.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarmenEPeone/X: https://twitter.com/carmenpeoneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcpeone/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carmenpeone/Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-peoneGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4862063.Carmen_PeoneListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from four authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for March 2024, with the book’s release date if not available now. Lynn H. Blackburn/Never Fall Again (3/12) Rebecca Hemlock/A Nurse’s Revenge Karen Randau/Last Stop Sally Jo Pitts/Sweet Deceit (3/26)
“I think I write in first person in my male protagonist because when I was growing up, my dad would bring home books from the library mostly sci-fi fiction and mysteries,” Luana said. “They looked much more interesting to me than the Bobbsey Twins I’d finished reading. I asked if I could read some, and I was hooked on the genre from that moment on. The unique thing about my dad was that he never read a female author, … so most male authors write male characters. I think it never occurred to me when I started writing that I would ever write in anything but as a male protagonist and as in first person.”
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking F.D. Adkins, a Christian fiction author and freelance writer. Her hope is to pass along the comfort that comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus while offering her readers a brief escape from life’s struggles through an action-packed story full of suspense, twists, turns, love, and a few laughs. In other words, her passion is sharing her faith through fiction.Her Christian suspense novels include Truth in the Name, which placed third for first novel in the Selah Awards, and Truth in the Word. She has had freelance articles published in Focus on the Family and Faith on Every Corner magazines.She has been married to the man of her dreams and her best friend for 25 years. She loves spending time with her family, reading, writing, and always enjoys a good cup of coffee. She also has a soft spot in her heart for all animals, especially dogs. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, Steve, their two children, Landon and Layna, and their dog, Lucy.“It’s more about my journey and what God is calling me to do,” F.D. said. “I had been a stay-at-home mom, … both of my kids were teenagers, and I was beginning to feel like I was doing th same thing every day. … My first priority was to be there for them, but I kept having this weight on my heart that I wasn’t fulfilling God’s purpose for my life. But I never thought I had any talent and never thought of myself as a writer. I continued to pray about it and one morning I ahd an idea for a Christian fiction novel.”Connect w/F.D.Website: fdadkins.com/Facebook: facebook.com/fdadkinsInstagram: instagram.com/fdadkinsTikTok: tiktok.com/@fdadkinsauthorYouTube: youtube.com/@fdadkinsauthorListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Truth in the Name.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with award-winning author Loretta Eidson, who loves writing romantic suspense. She believes in the power of prayer and enjoys putting her characters in realistic situations where they must trust God to pull them through. Loretta is an AWSA-certified coach and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray. She is published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense.Loretta has four grown children, thirteen grands, and four great-grands. She loves chocolate, caramel, iced tea, and coffee. She lives in North Mississippi, close to her family.“I came to writing later in my life. I was in my fifties when I actually started and it took me about 10 years to break into the publishing market,” Loretta said. “It took a lot of persistence on my part.”Connect w/LorettaWebsite: www.lorettaeidson.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/loretta.eidson.7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorettaeidson/X: https://twitter.com/lorettajeidsonListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Marine’s Deadly Reunion.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from three authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for January 2024, with the book’s release date if not available now. Laura Conaway/Silencing the Witness (1/23) * Robin Patchen/Rescuing You (1/9) * Loretta Eidson/The Marine’s Deadly Reunion*
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from three authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for December 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now. Darlene Turner/Buried Grave Secrets (12/26) * Terri Reed/Undercover Christmas Escape * Kerry Johnson/Christmas Forest Ambush*
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Laura Thomas, a published Christian author who writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul and is a hopewriters certified writing coach. Her Laura’s Christian romantic suspense books are published by Anaiah Press: The Glass Bottom Boat, The Lighthouse Baby, The Orphan Beach, and The Christmas Cabin. She also has a Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, and middle-grade short novel published by Dancing With Bear Publishing, as well as several anthology books, devotionals, articles, Sunday school lessons, and stories published in magazines and online. She is represented for future romantic suspense novels by her literary agent at Credo Communications. Laura is a book-loving chocoholic mom and nanny, and is married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they live in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, as audacious empty-nesters.“When is it not a good time for romantic suspense?” Laura says, “Titles are really important and it can be a little bit intimidating to come up with them. I’ve come up with all of my titles, … I feel like they find me in the end. I don’t think I’ve ever started a book with a title.”Connect w/LauraWebsite: www.laurathomasauthor.comBookbub: https://bit.ly/2Uj4gyRFacebook: @LauraThomasAuthorGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5837074.Laura_ThomasInstagram: @lauracthomasPinterest: lauracthomasTwitter: @Laura_Thomas_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAIg1LlXedxtfqmEAssdgnQListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Christmas Cabin*.
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 November 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now.* Debbi Migit/November Knight (11/28) * Laurie Wood/Northern Redemption * Elizabeth Goddard/Shadows at Dusk * Kimberley Woodhouse/The Secrets Beneath * Rhonda Starnes/Abducted at Christmas
Will your Christmas be filled with holiday cheer…or Holiday Menace? Join nine of the authors featured in this collection of Christian romantic suspense novellas as they discuss why they wrote their stories and what they hope readers will take away after reading them.* Jerusha Agen, “Midnight Clear” * Mary Alford, “Christmas in the Crosshairs” * Lori Altebaumer, “Silenced Night” * Danielle Grandinetti, “Escape with the Prodigal” * Sarah Hamaker, “Christmas Cold Case” * Kendall Hoxsey “An Imminent Christmas Threat” * Pat O’Brien, “Deadly School Break” * Hope Welborn, “Hidden” * Terry Weldon, “Murdered by Christmas”
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Dave Pratt, who’s a native of most of the West Coast of the United States, and now makes his home in western Washington with his wife, Rafaela. A freelance writer since 1977, Dave has authored more than 60 published articles, poems, short stories and novels. A retired Army officer and business consultant, Dave has worked as a project manager for more than 20 years and taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels in Alaska, Washington and in China. Dave is a graduate of Washington State University, Webster University and Baylor University. He is a 4th degree master in Tae Kwon Do and life-long student of Tai Chi, Staff, Sword and Karate. Dave was a member of the 2015 USA Tae Kwon Do Poomse National Team.“When I’ve written articles in the past, I had a passion for horses, so I’ve written a lot about performance horses,” Dave says. “I love that active voice [in my articles]. … I think a lot of my experience [in my humor column] … came from trying to pack 900 words with actions and humor and things people can relate to. … It really exercises me as a writer.”Connect w/DaveWebsite: www.DavePrattBooks.comAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/daveprattbooksEmail: prattd2013@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dprattbooksListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Home Team.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from four authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for October 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now.* Kate Angelo/Deadly Holiday Hijack * Kari Trumbo/Deadly Yellowstone Secrets (10/24) * Robin Patchen/Running to You (10/17) * Paige Edwards/Skye Fall (10/24)
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Laura Conway, who grew up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania as an avid reader and writer while making every adventure a mystery to solve like Nancy Drew. As a former school librarian, she’s always on the hunt for the next best read but now spends her time creating stories that leave readers on the edge of their seat with a healthy dose of suspense and happily ever-afters. When she’s not typing away or inhaling sweet potato fries to motivate writing, Laura spends her time playing violin and guitar and sharing about the Greatest Story ever written.“I was a middle school librarian for a while. It was a pleasure to interact with kids of that age, … middle school has a special place in my heart,” Laura says. “I feel like I read the whole gamut with [genres] … but there’s something about romantic suspense that just keeps the story moving. It’s almost like this race against the clock—I can never put down a suspense book. I have to stay up and finish to find out who did it and what’s happening.”Connect w/LauraWebsite: https://www.lauraconawayauthor.comBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-conawayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraconawayauthor/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/lauraconawayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/conaway_laura/Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hd3t6DListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Expired Vows.
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 September 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now.* Dana R Lynn/Hunted at Christmas (9/26) * DiAnn Mills/Facing the Enemy * Kate Angelo/Hunting the Witness * Laura Conaway/Expired Vows (9/12) * Linda Rodante/Prevail (9/23)
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Linore Rose Burkard, a serious watcher of period films, a fan of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, and a hopeless romantic. An award-winning author best known for inspirational regency romance, her first book (Before the Season Ends) opened the genre of hristian Regency to the CBA. Besides historical romance, Linore writes contemporary romance and YA suspense (The Pulse Effex Series, as L. R. Burkard). Raised in New York, Linore earned an English literature magna cum laude degree from CUNY while taking herself far too seriously. A mother of five, she and her family now reside in Ohio, where she turns her youthful angst into heartwarming stories with happily-ever-after endings.
“When my kids were little, I was more intentional about carving out time to write. My first book was written after my husband was home from work,” Linore says. “But every book is different, and now [with my kids grown] it seems more challenging to have more uninterrupted time, especially since my husband recently retired.”
Connect w/LinoreWebsite: https://www.LinoreBurkard.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinoreBurkardFacebook Reader's Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LinoreBurkardReadersGroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/linoreburkard/ MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/linoreburkardPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/linoreburkard/
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from One Cinderella Night.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Kristen Hogrefen Parnell, who writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for women and young adults. Her own suspense story involved waiting on God into her thirties to meet her husband, and she desires to keep embracing God’s plan for her life when it’s not what she expects. Kristen’s books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. An educator at heart, she also teaches English online and enjoys being a podcast guest. Kristen lives in Florida with her husband and baby boy.
“Sometimes, for minor characters, [the name I pick] will just be a place holder and I’ll say I’ll come back and change it, and they just tend up being that person,” Kirsten says. “For the major characters, I have to make sure they’re not named after someone I know or somebody who thinks I named them after them. So I have to be very intentional about those names.”
Connect w/KristenWebsite: https://kristenhogrefeparnell.com/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristen-hogrefe-parnell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KHogrefeParnell.author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4774818.Kristen_Hogrefe_Parnell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khogrefeparnellauthor/ Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/g8f8x7 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kristenhogrefeparnell/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/khogrefeparnell
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Take My Hand.
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 August 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now. * Kellie VanHorn/Dangerous Desert Abduction * Jerusha Agen/Unseen Danger * Sharee Stover/Defending the Witness * Lynette Eason/Countdown * Traci Abramson/Unseen (8/15)
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Sheri Schofield, an award-winning Christian author and president of Faithwind 4 Kids, a ministry to children and families. Her books reflect and encourage the Christian life and help build good relationships with God. Sheri spent nearly 30 years in Montana, many of them in her family home high in the Rocky Mountains. Her fiction writing, set in the wilds of Montana, tell of the challenges of living among mountain lions, bears, elk, moose and the many smaller animals inhabiting the same area. Blizzards and forest fires are part of life in Montana. Sheri brings living in rural Montana to life in her writing, both in her fiction books, and in the devotions she writes for Arise Daily Devotions, a ministry of Advanced Writers & Speakers Association (AWSA). Lately, Sheri has begun writing Christian romantic suspense with her first book in that genre, Before You Find Me, recently released. She is now writing her second love story with a hint of mystery entitled Legend of Thechihila Point (pronounced Teh-chee-HEE-lah).
“The switch [to writing for adults, rather than children] was difficult because you have to have more content when you’re writing for adults than when you’re writing for children,” Sheri says. To generate enough content in the first romantic suspense book, “I picked four characters to highlight, one female and three men, and put myself in the place of those people as I wrote about their perspective on the crime that had happened.”
Connect w/SheriWebsite: www.sherischofield.com Facebook: SheriSchofieldAuthor Twitter: SheriSchofield
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Before You Find Me.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from six authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for July 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now. * Carrie Fancett Pagels/Lilac Cottage * Jodie Bailey/Olympic Mountain Pursuit * Danielle Grandinetti/Refuge for the Archaeologist (7/18) * Loretta Eidson/Blue Ridge Mountain Escape * Robin Patchen/A Mountain Too Steep (7/18) * Nancy Mehl/Cold Pursuit (7/11)
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Tina Wheeler, an award-winning author, wife, mother, grandmother, and retired teacher. With two pen names, she published 10 novels and two novellas (romances and cozy mysteries) through The Wild Rose Press, Amazon’s Kindle Scout program and self-publishing before selling to Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Decades of living in Arizona, a love of TV mysteries, her military and law enforcement family, plus her romantic husband, nicknamed the Irish Charmer, all contributed to her choice of genre and writing style.
“My very first book was a romantic suspense, and I felt like I was trying to copy what everyone else was doing,” Tina says. “I loved cozy mysteries, so I thought I’d have a lot more freedom if I got away from all the rules that there are in romance and just kind of have fun with it and do what I want to do. It was great because it gave me time to develop my voice.”
Connect w/TinaWebsite: https://www.authortinawheeler.comBookBub: Tina Wheeler Books - BookBubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_tinawheelerGoodreads: Tina Wheeler - Glendale, AZ (21 books) | GoodreadsNewsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/i5w9h8Twitter: https://twitter.com/tina_author
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Ranch Under Fire.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Caitlin Smith, who, after working in schools, took her passion for teaching into the fitness world as a personal trainer. She graduated from Lock Haven University with a degree in education, and segued into the dental industry, where she spent time working as a mentor for new business team members. In 2017, she left her job as a practice manager of operations to pursue her career as an author. Through her books, Caitlin aims to inspire hope, provoke thought, and demonstrate the power of God’s unconditional love. When not rendezvousing with her fictional characters, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her husband, lifting weights and flexing her creative muscles through crafting and dancing.“I have a whole lot of different interests, and the fun thing about writing is that I get to use that creativity in creating characters or inventing plots,” Caitlin says. “My vision when I was going to write full time was to wake up and write in the morning, then I’ll have lunch and I’ll want to write again in the afternoon, and I’m going to get so many books written this way. That didn’t happen.”Connect w/CaitlinWebsite: CaitlinMSmith.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/writercaitlinInstagram: @caitlin_m_smithTwitter: @caitsmithwriterListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Love’s Lost Star.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Kate Angelo, an author, minister and public speaker from Southwest Missouri who works alongside her husband strengthening and encouraging marriages and families through their ministry. As the mother of five mostly grown children, she is fluent in both sarcasm and eye rolls—subjects she never intentionally taught while homeschooling. With her chihuahua taking up half of her desk space, she writes suspenseful stories of imperfect people who encounter hope and healing through Jesus. Kate is a tech enthusiast, coffee lover, productivity guru, accomplished knitter, avid boater, prayer warrior, and known klutz.“[With our busy ministry], people are asking how am I also writing a book? Doing it on the run,” Kate says. “What’s awesome is my husband bought the an iPod Pro, so it’s always connected to 5G, it has Scrivener on it, which is what I use for writing, So I can open it up and write… and get that writing done in the car or on an airplane.”Connect w/KateWebsite: https://kateangelo.comAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kate-Angelo/author/B09Q6GWHSCBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kate-angeloFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateangeloauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateangeloauthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekateangeloListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Driving Force.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from nine authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for May 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now. Traci Abramson/Covert Ops (5/9) * Patricia Bradley/Counter Attack (5/16) * Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee/The Long March Home * Kelly Irvin/A Deadly Wilderness * Ann H. Gabhart/In the Shadow of the River (5/9) * Stephenia H. McGee/The Swindler's Daughter * Robin Patchen/Vengeance in the Mist (5/9) * Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse/The Heart’s Choice (5/16) * Dani Pettrey/The Shifting Current*
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Linda J. White, the author of multiple award-winning mystery/suspense books, including the HOLT Medallion-winning Seeds of Evidence, Selah finalist The Fear That Chases Me, and HOLT double-finalist, When Evil Finds Us. Her husband was a video producer/director at the FBI Academy for nearly three decades. She lives in Yorktown, Va., with her current canine buddy, Keira.“All of my books are set in the mid-Atlantic, mostly in Virginia,” Linda says. “I know the weather and knows how the weather moves across the state. … I like the mountains and I like the beach. It’s got everything I need as far as setting is concerned.”Connect w/LindaWebsite: www.lindajwhite.netFacebook: http://on.fb.me/12aLiJ7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindajwhitebooks/Twitter: @rytn4hmListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from When Evil Finds Us.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for April 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now. Mary Alford/Amish Wilderness Survival * Laurie Winter/Safeguarding the Witness (4/25) * Kimberly Woodhouse/26 Below * Tanya Stowe/Yosemite Firestorm * Megan Besing/Expired Hope (4/25) * Jamie Jo Wright/The Vanishing at Castle Moreau * Natalie Walters/Blind Trust* (4/11) *
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with DeeDee Lake, The Connection Expert. A speaker, author, blogger and columnist, she builds relationships one conversation at a time using humor, storytelling and purposeful communication. The owner of Cherish Relations Retreats, she lives out her faith and passion while writing, speaking, and guiding individuals how to have extraordinary relationships.“I think that writing is just one more way to connect,” DeeDee says. “We all desire those relationships and that connection, and some of us are better at it than others. … It’s important for us to have those relationships, have those connections because we were made for that, for relationships.”Connect w/DeeDeeWebsite: www.deedeelake.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/deedee.smithlakeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deedeesmithlake/LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedee-lake-Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DeeDeeLakeTwitter : https://twitter.com/D2LakeYouTube: DeeDee Lake, The Connection ExpertListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Operation Camouflage Christmas.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Elle E. Kay, who lives on a hobby farm in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, three dogs, and many farm animals. She’s a born-again, Bible-believing Christian who keeps perennial gardens and enjoys the wildflowers strewn about her property. The wildlife who visit the property are a joy for her, but nothing beats the excitement of a kid being born to one of her many goats. Shadowing Stella was Elle's debut novel. Elle also wrote for the multi-author Lawkeeper series and has released three contemporary romances with a suspense/mystery thread in that series. She also released four historical romances. The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride was her first book in the multi-author Blushing Brides series. She recently published a book for another multi-author series, The Heroes of Freedom Ridge. Elle is also working on a romantic suspense novel with ties to the Rattlesnake Roundup in Noxen, Pa. She writes children’s books under the pen name, Ellie Mae Kay.“Starting with my debut, I’ve put a couple of farms scenes in my book,” Elle says. “[My farm and its animals] are in my books a lot. … [To write,] I sit on my screened porch in fall, spring and summer because I can look out over the acres and enjoy the animals. That’s my favorite go-to place to write. In the winter, … I usually sit on my couch to write.”Connect w/EllieWebsite: https://www.elleekay.com/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elle-e-kayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElleEKay7Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15016833.Elle_E_KayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elleekay7/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elleekay.author/Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Grave Pursuits.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from X authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for March 2023, with the book’s release date if not available now. Patsy Conway/Theme Park Abduction * Karen Randau/From Chaos (3/13) * Rebecca Hopewell/High-Stakes Blizzard * Lynn Shannon/Tactical Force * Jessica R Patch/A Cry in the Dark * Danielle Grandinetti/Confessions to a Stranger * Dana Mentink/Targeted in the Desert (3/28) * Lynn Blackburn/Under Fire* (3/7)
Please note that the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with PeggySue Wells, a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of 30 books translated into eight languages including The Patent, Chasing Sunrise, Homeless for the Holidays, The Slave Across the Street, Slavery in the Land of the Free, Bonding With Your Child Through Boundaries, and The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make. When not writing, Wells parasails, skydives, snorkels, scuba dives, and takes pilot training. She also founded SingleMomCircle.com.PeggySue collaborates often with writers and others to get their stories told. “I write well with others,” she said. Her co-author Max Garland gave her 10 bullet points and told her to write The Patent, and the two collaborated on the details and plot.Connect w/PeggySueWebsite: PeggySueWells. comListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Patent.
I’m debuting a new format for “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast—Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense. The first Wednesday of each month, I’ll bring you the latest books in the genre with mini-interview with the authors about their new releases. I hope you’ll enjoy hearing from your favorite romantic suspense authors talk about their latest books.Here’s the list of authors and books for February 2023, with the book’s release date if not available as of February 1. Sarah Hamaker/The Dark Reckoning (2/6) * Liz Tolsma/What I Would Tell You * Terri Reed/Forced to Hide * Elizabeth Goddard/Cold Light of Day (2/7) * Lynette Eason/Critical Threat * Robin Patchen/Courage in the Shadows (2/14) * Darlene L. Turner/Alaskan Avalanche Escape (2/21) * PeggySue Wells/Chasing Sunrise (2/14) * Lisa Harris/Shattered* (2/28)
Please note that some of the above Amazon links are connected to my Amazon Associates Affiliate account, which means I will make a small percentage from any purchases through those links.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Debbi Migit, who lives in central Illinois, surrounded by pumpkin patches and corn fields. Her Justice, Montana, series begins with September Shadows. Debbi’s first book, Child of Promise, tells the true story of the adoption of her three children. She has won multiple awards and contests, writing stories that are filled with faith and hope. Debbi's hobbies include reading, writing, and avoiding arithmetic. Her favorite color is turquoise, and she collects Trixie Belden books and typewriters. If playing Candy Crush was a paying gig, she would be rich.“I’ve been a writer since I was seven years old, “Debbi said. “I wrote my first story when I was in first grade even though I couldn’t read or write. … I told my mom a story and she wrote it down for me and I took it to my teacher and she read it. That was my very first entry and I continued to write all through grade school … and won my first writing contest in seventh grade.”Connect w/DebbiWebsite: Debbimigit.comFacebook: Author Debbi MigitInstagram: authordebbimigitListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from September Shadows.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Michelle Aleckson, who, after growing up on both the East and West coasts, now loves living the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and four children. She rocks out to 80s music on a Saturday night, enjoys playing board games, and is a hopeless romantic. And if you're wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name. She writes contemporary romance with plenty of suspense and a dash of sass.“I love different genres in romance,” Michelle said. “Now I write both straight romance and romantic suspense. … But I do have suspense elements in my contemporary romance. … I feel like it enhances the romantic side of the story. … I really love playing in both worlds, so it’s been a good fit for me.”Connect w/MichelleWebsite: michellealeckson.comBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michelle-sass-alecksonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_aleckson/Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Hidden Ranch Peril.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Amy Schisler, a novelist, poet, children’s book author, spiritual writer, blogger, reader and avid traveler with years of professional experience in all manner of writing-related endeavors. Whether she’s writing novels filled with faith and inspiration, books that children will love, or her weekly blog devoted to family life and faith, she loves connecting and resonating with her readers. Amy’s first novel, A Place to Call Home, a romantic suspense, debuted in 2014, and her much-loved Chincoteague Island Trilogy has won numerous literary awards. Amy lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband, Ken, their daughters, Katie and Morgan (and sometimes their daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Anthony), and their dogs, Rosie and Luna. When she’s not writing, Amy can usually be found on a boat in the Chesapeake Bay or hiking in the Rocky Mountains, most often with a good book in her hand.“My writing has evolved over my lifetime,” Amy said. “From when I was a little girl and up through college, I wrote poetry and short stories. … But I’ve always loved fiction—it’s been my escape from everything. … When I decided I was going to write a book, … I just naturally went to fiction.”Connect w/AmyWebsite: http://amyschislerauthor.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/AmySchislerAuthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmySchislerAuthorGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8436890.Amy_SchislerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyschislerauthor/Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Seeking Tranquility.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is D.L. Wood, a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author who writes thrilling suspense laced with romance and faith. Her books have won multiple awards and her novel Unintended Target was selected as the May 2019 American Christian Fiction Writers Book Club book. D.L. writes CleanCaptivatingFiction™- fiction that entertains and uplifts. In her novels she tries to give readers the same thing that she wants: a "can't-put-it-down-stay-up-till-3am" character-driven story full of heart, believability, and adrenaline. She lives in North Alabama, where, if she's not writing, you'll probably catch her curled up with a cup of Earl Grey (light milk, one sugar) bingeing the latest BBC mystery series.“As a child, I wanted to be a teacher, and I ended up being a lawyer, but what has been consistent throughout my life is my love of books and my love of story,” D said. “I read a lot as a kid. … I think I really had a dream of having one of my books in the library one day.”Connect w/D.L.Website: https://www.dlwoodonline.comAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/D.L.-Wood/e/B0165NBAMCBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-l-woodGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/dlwoodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlwoodonline/Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlwoodonlineAudible: https://www.audible.com/author/DL-Wood/B0165NBAMCBook Trailers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMYV7dogFR49f_Z0bZnahOA/Apple Audiobook Author Page Link: https://books.apple.com/us/author/d-l-wood/id1457913505?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/search?query=dl+woodChirpbooks: https://www.chirpbooks.com/authors/d-l-wood-audiobooksListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Unintended Target.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Sara Blackard and Dani Pettrey. Among other topics, we discussed how they picked the locations for their series.“I picked Alaska because I love it up here,” Sara said about where she lives and writes. “There’s a lot of adventure that happens just out my front door. … I like writing from an Alaskan point of view.”This series “is spread out through North Carolina, from the Outer Banks all the way down to Wilmington,” Dani said. “We actually vacation in [that area … ], and I just think the area is so beautiful.”Sara Blackard is an award-winning romance novelist who writes stories that thrill the imagination and strum heartstrings. When she’s not crafting wild adventures and romances that make readers swoon, she’s homeschooling her four adventurous boys and one fearless princess, keeping their off-grid house running (don’t ask if it’s clean), or enjoying the Alaskan lifestyle she and her Hunky Hubster love.Connect w/SaraWebsite: shop.sarablackard.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sara.blackard.authorTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarablackardauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.blackard/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19758019.Sara_BlackardPublishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.Her novels stand out for their "wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters" (Publishers Weekly), "gripping storyline[s]," (RT Book Reviews), and "sizzling undercurrent of romance" (USA Today). She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.Connect w/DaniWebsite: danipettrey.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/DaniPettreyInstagram: authordanipettreyTwitter: www.twitter.com/DaniPettreyListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for The Deadly Shallows and A Rebel’s Trust.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with award-winning author Linda Wood Rondeau, who writes stories that grip the heart, inspired by her nearly 30 years of social work. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys the occasional round of golf, visiting museums, and taking walks with her best friend in life, her husband of 45 years. The couple resides in Hagerstown, Md., where both are active in their local church.“I used the term ghosts for several reasons,” Linda explained. “My hero … calls these disturbances [in a house] ghosts because he doesn’t know what else to call them. … I choose the ghosts for the title because I think it’s important for us to understand as Christians that Satan will use any means to deter or deflect our relationship with the Lord.”Connect w/LindaWebsite: www.lindarondeau.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindawoodrondeauTwitter: https://twitter.com/lwrondeauInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlindawoodrondeau/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5352394.Linda_Wood_RondeauBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-wood-rondeauListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Ghosts of Trumball Mansion.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Lori Altebaumer and Wendy Wilson Spooner. Among other topics, we discussed how the past has implications for the present and future.“The repeat pattern of my [book] themes is taking a woman who has been broken … and walking her through the steps of forgiveness, things like that, to show her that her past doesn’t take away her future,” Lori said.“My books are dual timeline,” Wendy said. “This is a wonderful, rags-to-riches immigration story that has God woven through all of it and how he carries us through so many things.”Multi-published author Lori describes herself as a wandering soul with a home-keeping heart. Her tagline of head in the clouds, boots on the ground, and heart in His hands isn’t just a catchy phrase, but sums up the way she lives her life. Lori has enjoyed both traditional and independent publishing. Her debut novel, A Firm Place to Stand, has been recognized as 2020 AWSA Golden Scrolls Awards winner as well as being selected as a finalist for multiple Selah Awards and the BRMCWC Director’s Choice Awards in 2021. Her work has been included in multiple compilations including Arise to Peace published by Right to the Heart and The Power to Make a Difference published by Lighthouse Bible Studies. Lori enjoys engaging with all facets of the writing industry and people who are passionate about the craft of writing. A life-long Texas, she loves her Southern roots, things that make her laugh, and the company of family and friends.Connect w/LoriWebsite: https://lorialtebaumer.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorialtebaumerwritesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori_altebaumer/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lori-altebaumerGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/15304811.Lori_AltebaumerWendy, Lic. G., LCoT, is a genetic genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between. Her love of what we can learn from history compels her to write the true stories she unearths during her research because she has found that truth is indeed, much more exciting and inspiring than fiction. She’s a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogist, The Association of Professional Genealogists, Romance Writers of America, and The American Night Writer’s Association. As an award-winning author of professional articles and poems, she’s turned to novel writing to share what she has learned with a greater audience. When not writing or researching, Wendy paints, hikes, binges on Bollywood movies, and spends time with her greatest loves—her family.Connect w/WendyWebsite: https://wendywilsonspooner.com/Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for A Far Way to Run and Celtic Winter.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Cathy McDavid. Since 2006, New York Times bestselling author Cathy McDavid has been happily penning contemporary Westerns for Harlequin. Every day, she gets to write about good looking cowboys riding the range, busting broncs, and sweeping gals off their feet — oops, no. Make that winning the hearts of feisty, independent women who give the cowboys a run for their money. With more than 55 titles in print, Cathy is blessed to share her Arizona home with her own real-life sweetheart. Her grown twins have left to embark on lives of their own, and she couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.She got started writing about wildfires because of a personal encounter with one. “A wildfire came [close to our cabin in Arizona] and we were watching it from our front porch,” Cathy said. “That gave me the original idea for the first book I did … about hotshots. … That was a subject that was personal for me.”Connect w/CathyWebsite: https://www.cathymcdavid.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathymcdavidbooksTwitter: https://twitter.com/CathyMcDavidTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cathymcdavidListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Wildfire Threat.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Elizabeth Goddard and Virginia Vaughn. We chatted about how each of them develop their characters throughout a series.“I wrote [my hero in Critical Alliance] into the first two books, but I didn’t really know who he was or what he was doing exactly,” Elizabeth said. “I really left him as an enigma—and even the other characters in the book were like, what is he doing and where is he going. I answered those questions in book three.”“I wish I was that clever that I could have it all plotted out beforehand,” Virginia said. “That’s my goal one day—to know all of my characters before I start my series.”Elizabeth is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 50 novels, including Present Danger and the Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold more than a million copies. She is a Carol Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.Website: www.ElizabethGoddard.comFacebook: @ElizabethGoddardAuthorTwitter: @BethGoddardVirginia is a multi-published author of inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger. Texas Buried Secrets is her 17th Love Inspired Suspense.Connect w/VirginiaNewsletter: https://bit.ly/3NYqzTlWebsite: www.virginiavaughanonline.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/ginvaughanbooksAmazon: www.amazon.com/author/virginiavaughanBookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/virginia-vaughanListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Critical Alliance and Texas Buried Secrets.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Jaime Jo Wright, author of time-slip suspense. She’s a winner of the Christy, Carol, Daphne du Maurier, and INSPY Awards. She's also the PW and ECPA bestselling author of three novellas. Jaime brings to life the stories of the past and intertwines them with the present, to bring readers award-winningtime-slip novels.“I’ve seen time slip done a couple of different ways, like when the characters are tied together by an event or an article in history,” Jaime said. “With my characters—whether they know it or not—the past is directly influencing the life of the current heroine. So you can’t separate the past heroine from the current heroine because the current day heroine wouldn’t be who they are.”Connect w/JamieWebsite: www.JaimeWrightBooks.comFacebook: facebook.com/jaimejowrightTwitter: twitter.com/jaimejowrightInstagram: instagram.com/jaimejowrightListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Souls of Lost Lake.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Mary Alford and Robin Patchen. Among other topics, we discussed how good and evil are played out on the pages of our books.“We see enough of the other kind of stories where the bad guy doesn’t get his in the end,” Robin said. “I like what they call whole stories, where good is good and bad is bad and good wins. I like to write whole stories.”“We live in a very fallen world, and it’s nice to get away from the reality that evil doesn’t always get punished right now,” Mary said. “It’s good to have books where the hero and heroine have everything worked out in the end, the bad guy gets punished and there’s usually a happily ever after at the end of the story.”Mary is a USA Today bestselling author. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.Connect w/MaryWebsite: https://maryalford.net/Facebook: @ MaryAlfordAuthor/Twitter: @maryalford13Robin is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the 26 letters of the alphabet.Connect w/RobinWebsite: https://robinpatchen.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinPatchen/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/robin-patchenGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5187882.Robin_PatchenAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Patchen/e/B00A289790/Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Among the Innocent and Lineage of Corruption.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Sami Abrams, who grew up hating to read. It wasn’t until her 30s that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a romantic suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story. She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list.Under Susie May Warren’s Sunrise Publishing, Sami worked with Lynette Eason in the Elite Guardians story world developed by Lynette in a previous series. “Lynette is my mentor for this book,” Sami said. “We collaborate as far as brainstorming, but she does help me if I run into a problem. … And she’s also the one editing it, so it’s a Lynette-style book.”Connect w/SamiWebsite: www.samiaabrams.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/samiaabrams/Twitter: https://twitter.com/samiaabramsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/samiaabrams2Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21487374.Sami_A_AbramsBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sami-a-abramsAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sami-A-Abrams/e/B094S4WWWXListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Impending Strike.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Dana Mentink and Terri Reed. Among other things, we chatted about the dangers of exploring Death Valley with GPS and introducing too many characters at once.“You can’t really hand over your brain to any electronic,” Dana said. “I say that as somebody who’s lost all the time—I’m perpetually lost everywhere.”“You don’t want people to have to have a roadmap to get through your book,” Terri said. “That’s the beauty of series, though. You can introduce a seemingly throwaway character in the first book that’s going to be very, very important later.”Dana is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Poisoned Pen Press.Connect w/DanaWebsite: danamentink.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordanamentink/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tY41VV_Velenocrku4LJwTwitter: https://twitter.com/DanamentinkInstagram: dana_mentinkBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dana-mentinkAward-winning, multi-published author Terri found solace from a chaotic childhood in the pages of books that took her far away to different realms and realities. When she discovered Christian fiction, she also discovered her own story telling voice. Now she writes books of heart-warming romance and heart-pounding suspense infused with faith. Her romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher's Weekly top ten and Nielsen BookScan top hundred lists, and have been featured in USA Today. She's a member of the Honor Roll of Romance Writers of America. Her books have finaled in Romance Writers of America RITA contest, National Readers' Choice Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. One of her romance novels was adapted into a Hallmark movie for Christmas 2019. Terri resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and running the agility course with her Australian shepherd.Connect w/TerriWebsite: https://www.terrireed.com/Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o4x4h1Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrireedauthorpage/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrireedauthor/Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/terri-reedAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Terri-Reed/e/B001H9VYCQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_shareGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178940.Terri_ReedListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Death Valley Hideout and Detection Detail.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Shannon Redmon, who remembers the first grown-up book she checked out from the neighborhood bookmobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop teenage chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.Shannon hopes her stories immerse readers into a world of joy and escape while encouraging faith, hope, and love. Her debut novel Cave of Secrets released by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line in October 2020.Her other published works have appeared in Spark magazine, Splickety magazine, The Horse of My Dreams compilation book, Romantic Moments compilation book, the Lightning Blog and the Seriously Write blog. She won first place in the Foundation Awards and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.“I have been writing for a really long time,” Shannon said. “When I was a kid, I used to write poems and songs. I would [also] write breakup letters for my friends’ boyfriends. They would ask me … how to say this without hurting his feelings. [My writing] grew from that.”Connect w/ShannonWebsite: www.shannonredmon.comGoodreads: https://bit.ly/SRGoodreadsAmazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3suOv7FLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/shannonredmon/YouTube: https://bit.ly/SMRYouTubeChannelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.redmonTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/shannon_redmonListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Secrets Left Behind.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Michele Chynoweth and Michele Olson, who each shared how they incorporate faith and suspense into their books.“I write edgy Christian fiction, and The Wise Man is about a Supreme Court justice who is hearing a case … between two women who are fighting over custody of a baby born live out of a failed abortion,” said Michele C.“That’s a dance with the readers about predictable endings,” Michele O. said. “I didn’t do a predictable ending with Being Alice.”Michele Chynoweth is the best-selling and award-winning author of The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, The Runaway Prophet, The Jealous Son, and The Wise Man, contemporary suspense novels that re-imagine Bible stories. Michele is also a sought-after public speaker who has addressed a variety of writers’ conferences and other organizations across the country, a professional editor and book coach, college writing instructor and founder of “Your Book Done Right” Master Class and Elite Coaching. A former news reporter and marketing director, she’s a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and lives with her husband in North East, Maryland.Connect w/Michele ChynowethWebsite: https://michelechynoweth.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernDayBibleStoriesTwitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMicheleYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/michelechynowethInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelechynoweth/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelechynoweth/Michele Olson writes stories set on Mackinac Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan filled with suspense, romance, friendship, faith, and quirky characters. A top seller in Mackinac Island fiction to the million people who make a trip to the island every year to experience life with no cars, amazing scenery, and the glorious Grand Hotel, she enjoys opening up this incredible island to even more visitors.Incorporating her work as an artist and a voice professional into her writing whenever she can, she enjoys creative endeavors of all genres and fueling faith with fiction. She speaks to groups about authentic living and creativity and teaches doodling and sketch noting in seminars to build engagement, retention, and pure fun to everyone. She works within the creative imprint of Lake Girl Publishing.Connect w/Michele OlsonWebsite: https://www.LakeGirlPublishing.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakegirlpublishingTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/MoDawnWriterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeGirlPublishingPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MicheleDawnOlsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakegirlpublishingListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Being Alice (In a world lost in the looking glass) and The Wise Man.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Lisa Phillips, a USA Today and top 10 Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than 50 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible college graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). As a worship leader for Calvary Chapel churches in her local area, Lisa has discovered a love for mentoring new ministry members and youth worship musicians.“I think I’m kind of incapable of writing anything that’s not connected to everything else in some way,” Lisa said. “But I think it’s fun as a reader to get a glimpse of somebody who’s a side character who makes a phone call or sees somebody on the street and it’s somebody you know [from a previous book] … It’s so fun to see snippets of these characters you love years later.”Connect w/LisaWebsite: www.authorlisaphillips.comBooks website: www.lastchancecounty.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlisaphillipsInstagram: @lisaphillipsbksTwitter: @lisaphillipsbksListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Point of Impact.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Jodie Bailey and Laurie Wood. Among other things, we discussed how each develops their characters.“You want the name to match the personality a little bit,” Laurie said. The first name she selected for a character was “too soft. I wanted it to be a little bit more … punchy than that. So I renamed her with a stronger name.”“I’m a character first writer,” Jodie said. “Sometimes, the characters will start talking before I know what the story’s going to be, so I have to figure out where to put them in the story.”Jodie writes stories about freedom and the heroes who fight for it. Her novels have won the RT Reviewers Choice Award and the Selah award. She’s convinced the beach, good coffee, and great books can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.Connect w/JodieWebsite: www.jodiebailey.com.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebaileyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodie-baileyLaurie is a military wife who’s lived across Canada and visited six of its 10 provinces. She and her husband have raised two wonderful children with Down Syndrome to adulthood, and their son and daughter are a wonderful blessing to their lives. Over the years, Laurie’s books have finaled in prestigious contests such as the Daphne du Maurier (twice), the TARA, the Jasmine and the Genesis. Her family lives in central Canada with a menagerie of rescue dogs and cats. If the house were bigger, no doubt they’d have more.Connect w/LaurieWebsite: https://www.lauriewoodauthor.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriewoodreadersgroupTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/LaurieJeanWoodListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Witness in Peril and Northern Deception.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Lisa Harris and Jessica R Patch. Among other things, we discussed how they each pick the story’s setting.“I see the setting almost like another character,” Lisa said. “The setting depends on what your book is about. I know a lot of readers love small towns. In a big city, it’s harder to write suspense because [the character can just] go to the police station. So to make it more remote, it’s almost a given for romantic suspense.”“I did a lot of research of Texas and the setting and sometimes, that helps me decide what could happen in this part of Texas,” Jessica said. “And it kind of snowballs from there.”Lisa is a USA Today bestselling author, a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom, Vendetta and Port of Origin, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has forty plus novels and novellas in print. She and her husband work as missionaries in southern Africa. Lisa loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari.Connect w/Lisa Website: www.lisaharriswrites.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaHarrisTwitter: twitter.com/heartofafricaInstagram: heart_of_africa_photographyBookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/lisa-harrisAmazon: www.amazon.com/author/lisaharrisPublishers Weekly bestselling author Jessica is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense, a cold case thriller, or a small-town romance. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, watching movies with her family, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook.Connect w/JessicaWebsite: www.jessicarpatch.com.Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for The Catch and Texas Cold Case Threat.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Danielle Grandinetti, a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.“The story was originally contemporary romantic suspense but it was missing something,” Danielle says. A few years ago, “Wisconsin started having a milk shortage with farmers having to dump their milk [because there wasn’t a market for it]. … I learned that’s not the first time that’s happened. There was actually a huge milk strike in 1933. … So I took my contemporary romantic suspense and set it [back then] and it just brought it to life.”Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from A Strike to the Heart.Connect w/ Danielle Website/Blog: daniellegrandinetti.comNewsletter: bit.ly/FiresideNewsAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Grandinetti/e/B01BEU1602/BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/danielle-grandinettiGoodreads: goodreads.com/danielleswritingspotInstagram: instagram.com/danielleswritingspotFacebook: facebook.com/danielleswritingspotTwitter: twitter.com/dgrandinettiPinterest: pinterest.com/danielleswritingspot
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Sharon K. Connell and Tanya Stowe. Among other topics, we discussed how these two romantic suspense authors come up with their storylines.“Most of my plots come to me, but I’m sure it’s based on the news and life experience,” Sharon said. “Also from things I hear from other people, reading other books, and it comes of just evolves.”“I’m a full-time RVer,” Tanya said. “We travel the country and see a lot of places. … I get to park in the place, and get to know it, and get to feel things. … There will be something unique about the area that will trigger an idea.”Sharon has lived in many places across the United States. She retired from the clerical/medical field in 2012, and now writes full time. Sharon lives with her husband in Houston, Texas, from where she writes Christian romance suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story. She has three grown children, and eight grandchildren, all living elsewhere in the country. Sharon attended college in Illinois, graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, and holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa. Besides visiting all but six states in the United States, her travels have taken her to Canada and Mexico. The experiences she’s had while visiting and living in these areas has been invaluable in her writing.Sharon is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Scribes Critique Group, Houston Writers Guild, and CyFair Writers. She is the founder of the global Facebook Christian Writers & Readers group forum. Her monthly newsletter, Novel Thoughts, goes out every month to its subscribers in all parts of the world, featuring helpful information for writers and readers.Connect w/SharonWebsite: www.authorsharonkconnell.comAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/sharonkconnellFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianRomanceSuspense/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonKConnellGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SharonKConnellLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkconnellPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rosecastle1/AllAuthor: https://allauthor.com/author/sharonkconnell/Tanya is a Christian fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author who fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a train down a mountain or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary. Connect w/TanyaWebsite: https://www.tanyastowe.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TanyaStoweReadersPageTwitter: https://twitter.com/TanyaStowe1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.stowe/Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tanya-Stowe/e/B003UDYONSBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tanya-stoweGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4595413.Tanya_StoweListen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Ko'olau's Secret and Vanished in the Mountains.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Mary Dodge Allen, who has won two Royal Palm Literary Awards from the Florida Writer’s Association. She and her husband live in Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She’s been a counselor and social worker, and she worked as a USPS mail carrier during a college break. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate.
“My books are based in Florida and Florida’s a great place to base your books,” Mary says. “It seems like weird and crazy crimes are committed in Florida. There are also a lot of things in Florida that can kill you—sinkholes, gators, hurricanes. There are a lot of hazards in Florida.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Hunt for a Hometown Killer.
Connect w/Mary
Website: www.marydodgeallen.com
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Patricia Bradley and Lynn Blackburn. Among other topics, we discussed how fiction allows us to sometimes twist the facts to suit our stories.
“Some things can be fiction,” Patricia said. “In my very first series, I moved the Tennessee River down close to Memphis.”
“With the Secret Service, I have done as much research as I can, but it’s the Secret Service—they’re not going to tell me everything,” Lynn said. “I’m going to have to use my imagination.”
Patricia is a Carol finalist and winner of an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in Suspense, and three anthologies that included her stories debuted on the USA Today Best Seller List. She and her two cats call Northeast Mississippi home—the South is also where she sets most of her books. Her romantic suspense novels include the Logan Point series and the Memphis Cold Case Novels. Crosshairs, the third book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, released November 2021. She is now hard at work on the fourth book, Deception.
Writing workshops include American Christian Fiction Writers online courses, workshops at the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference, the KenTen Retreat where she was also the keynote, Memphis American Christian Fiction Writer group, and the Bartlett Christian Writers group. When she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.
Connect w/PatriciaWebsite: https://ptbradley.com/
Blog: https://ptbradley.com/blog/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTBradley1
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2S6DKGY
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/patricia-bradley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7789445.Patricia_Bradley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptbradley1/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ptbradley/
Lynn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!
Lynn’s titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Her newest series kicked off in March 2021 with Unknown Threat, a 2021 Christy Award finalist. She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children.
Connect w/LynnWebsite: https://lynnhblackburn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynnHBlackburn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynnHBlackburn/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lynnhblackburn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnhblackburn/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10631390.Lynn_Huggins_Blackburn
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for Crosshairs and Malicious Intent.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with DiAnn Mills, a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her FBI: Houston series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.
“It’s because we live in a dangerous and unpredictable world, and there’s a lot of people out there who are afraid,” DiAnn says. “And they often turn to fiction for an adventure. … The goal is to show the reader that yes, we live in this dangerous and unpredictable world, but there are trained people who will do whatever it takes to keep us safe and to prevent crimes from happening.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Trace of Doubt.
Connect w/DiAnn
Website: https://diannmills.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannmills
Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannmillsauthor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannmills/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/diannmills/_created/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/diannmills
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann-mills
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81639.DiAnn_Mills