Sarah Hamaker Fiction: Recent Episodes
Sarah Hamaker Fiction
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 four authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for August 2026, with the book’s release date if not available now. Lynette Eason/Twilight Tactics Elizabeth Goddard/When the Silence Breaks Monique DeVere/Guarded by the Sheriff […]
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 173) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“Probably the hardest part of [writing romantic suspense] is … keeping the characters in danger, direct threats to their lives, throughout the book. It can be hard to keep them in that kind of danger without them taking stupid risks or the villains coming out as inept,” Carol said. “I enjoy the suspense part—that’s always my favorite part to write.”
The post How Carol J. Post Keeps Her Characters in Danger (Episode 172) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“My husband and I went to Scotland on our honeymoon, and all we did was run around visiting all these estates [with all their stories],” Joanna said. “It made something come alive in me. … There’s something so unique about a house that has lasted so many generations and seen so many stories. … That makes these houses worth something that’s so unique.”
The post Why Joanna Davidson Politano Loves Old Houses (Episode 171) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from three authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 170) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I’ve always been a prolific writer—nothing ever gets in my way. I’ve never had writer’s block,” Ciara said. “When I first moved onto the trawler, I did. I was writing sweet, small town romance among other genres, and I just was having problems [writing]. So I took all of my fears—if I’m scared of something, I go for it. I don’t hold back. I think part of [writing] was my therapy when we got onboard. It was learning to live on a boat with storms and … those first two books in my Harbor Secrets series were a kind of therapy.”
The post Ciara Knight’s Therapeutic Writing (Episode 169) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 June 2026, with the book’s release date if not available now. Darlene L. Turner/Scent of Peril (5/26) Jennifer Chastain/Guardian (6/16) Megan Short/Alaskan Abduction […]
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 168) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, and I did spend 22 years in the classroom before my spinal cord injury and other health issues sidelined me,” Marisa said. “But I also wanted to write. Oh, to be able to write a book—everyone will remember my name if I write a book. That was as a child. Of course, as an adult, I think ‘Lord, what do you have for me? And how can I use this gift of encouragement that I have and this gift of wanting to reach out to people?’ That’s what became more important than just having a name out there.”
The post The Why Behind Marisa Materson’s Writing (Episode 167) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 May 2026, with the book’s release date if not available now. Suzanne Woods Fisher/Chase the Light Donnie Stevens/Back to You Jessica R […]
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 166) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
With several romance and historical romance books in her background, Seralynn asked herself, “Where do I go from here? I was having a chat with my editor and she said, ‘You know, all of your stories have elements of mystery and suspense in them, … so you should really be writing romantic suspense.’ I’m thinking, okay, I can do that, so that’s how [I made the switch to romantic suspense].”
The post Seralynn Lewis’s Crossover Into Romantic Suspense (Episode 165) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I’m definitely the type of writer who starts with scene one and goes in chronological order from there,” Hannah said. “I hear so many different ways that people do it, and it’s fascinating to me how different people write words and how they can organize it. … I try really hard as I’m writing it to get it [to as clean a first draft as possible].”
The post The Chronological Order of Hannah Linder’s Writing (Episode 164) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from two authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for February 2026, with the book’s release date if not available now. Joanna Politano/The Life She Forgot (4/21) Carol J. Post/Witness Safeguard Mission (4/28)
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 163) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I can write the fastest and the most if I write within an hour of getting up in the morning,” Camy said. “But then my wrists starting getting worse, so I started doing voice to text dictation. I found it was really hard at first to get into the dictation, but after I got used to it, I found myself writing at least at the same speed as I was when I was typing.”
The post Why Camy Tang Started Dictating Her Novels (Episode 162) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post March Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 161) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“Character development is my favorite part of writing,” Lori says. “I love making people and living with them. I’ll live with them for a few weeks before I’ll actually start writing the story. … I know their birth order, their love language. I know what they drive, where they live and how they dress.”
The post How Lori DeJong Gets Into Her Characters’ Heads (Episode 160) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books.
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 159) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
Jacqueline’s stories start “with an inciting incident. It could be from a show, or from the news. There’s just that little bit of a granular, that little spark. Once that happens, sometimes, I’ll think this would be really cool,” she says.
The post The Spark That Sets Jacqueline Adam’s Stories Ablaze (Episode 158) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 January 2026, with the book’s release date if not available now. Jodie Bailey/Buried Mountain Justice Megan Short/Trapped on the Alaskan Glacier (1/27) Jessica R. […]
The post Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 157) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
When Jennifer wrote her first book, “I didn’t know what I was doing, but it kind of felt natural to me, this kind of storytelling. … I had a lot of crafting to learn, but the story was still there.”
The post Jennifer Pierce’s Natural Storytelling Abilities (Episode 155) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 November 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Camy Tang/The Lone Rice Ball Danielle Grandinetti/His Boss’s Little Sister (11/18) Kerry Johnson/Abducted […]
The post November 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 154) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
Charlene started writing romantic suspense “probably for the same reason I started to teach. I like action, I like tension,” she says. “You never walk into a classroom two days in a row and have the exact same thing happen. It’s always different. It’s always changing. [That’s what I like about writing romantic suspense.]”
The post How Charlene Amsden’s Teaching Career Pushed Her Into Writing Romantic Suspense (Episode 153) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I actually find the romance part hardest [to write] but the most satisfying,” Megan says. “On the other side, I love putting together the mystery, the whodunit. I’m kind of a diehard fan of mysteries from a young age, so that’s the most fun part for me.”
The post Why Megan Short Likes Writing the Mystery Part Best (Episode 152) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 October 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Sarah Hamaker/Fatal Past (10/14) Jacqueline Adam/Kidnapped for Ransom(10/28) Terri Reed/Texas Christmas Cover-Up […]
The post October 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 151) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“It is very difficult [to combine the four threads of faith, romance, history and suspense together in my stories],” Cindy says. “It takes a lot of time, a lot of research, … a lot of rewriting and a lot of editing.”
The post How Cindy Kay Stewart Mashes Four Threads Together in One Story (Episode 150) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 September 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Lynette Eason/Final Approach Danielle Grandinetti/The Recluse’s Vindication (9/12) Jennifer Pierce/Trail of Suspicion (9/30) […]
The post September 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 149) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I have met the most wonderful people through my writing journey, and some of them have become such dear friends to me,” she says. “Writing can be pretty isolating, and when I can call another writing friend … to talk me through [whatever I’m struggling with], I’m really grateful.”
The post Why Traci Summeril Phones a Friend (Episode 148) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from two authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for August 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Darlene L. Turner/Danger in the Wilderness (8/26) Heidi Glick/Gazing Into Darkness (8/12)
The post August 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 147) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“[My inspiration for plots] comes from everywhere,” Rebecca said. “I’ll start typing and something will pop into my head or I’ll here something and it’s interesting.”
The post Rebecca Lake Seeks Inspiration Everywhere first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Cindy Kay Stewart/Unending Hope (7/22) Danielle Grandinetti/The Neighbor and the Gifts (7/15) Megan […]
The post July 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 145) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I mainly live in the 1800s [in my books], and I’ve always wanted to write romantic suspense,” Penny said. “I love reading it. My grandfather was a police officer with the San Diego Police Department, and he had amazing stories to tell us. So I thought why not try my hand at writing one? Of course, I fell in love with [writing romantic suspense].”
The post How Penny Zeller’s Personal History Informs Her Romantic Suspense Writing (Episode 144) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 June 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Laura Thomas/The Final Word (6/5) Darlene Turner/Echoes of Darkness (6/24) Sally Jo Pitts/Sweet […]
The post June 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 143) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“The real answer to that is my playlist,” Cate said about what she needs to write. “Because one of the first things I do when I start a new book is to find the music I need that connects me with the characters and the story.”
The post Cate Nolan’s Musical Muse (Episode 142) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 May 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Jessica Ashley/Echo Jamie Jo Wright/The Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse Megan Besing/Rescued Heart (May […]
The post May 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 141) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this special episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from 13 authors in the Long Hot Summer: Christian Romantic Suspense collection. The four volumes will release May 2 through July 4 with ebook as well as print versions. You can check out the series here. Sami Abrams/Mine Jersuha Agen/Trapped Jessica Ashley/Lima […]
The post Long Hot Summer 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 140) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“Adding in those emotional layers [is the hardest part for me in writing romantic suspense],” Kelly said. “You can have a suspenseful theme, and that’s great, but you also need to have some romantic tension as well. So knowing when to add in certain beats and how to layer those emotions [can be difficult]. You just want characters people care about.”
The post How Kelly Underwood Layers Suspense and Emotions in Her Writing (Episode 139) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post April 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 138) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“[I like writing romantic suspense] because there’s no lull,” Jeannine said. “If things start getting boring in this genre, you can throw in a car chase or gun shots can ring out and then you’re off on another leg of your adventure.”
The post Jeannine Nichole Talks About the Versality of Romantic Suspense (Episode 137) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 March 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Sarah Hamaker/Justice Denied (3/18) Jerusha Agen/Waylaid (3/27) Jane Daly/Lipstick and Gunpowder (3/15) Kristen […]
The post March 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 136) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I have a bit of a wanderlust in me, and every know and then, I think where are we going to move next?” Christina said. “My husband’s retired now and he said, ‘I don’t know that we’re moving again.’ That gives me a little bit of fear sometimes.”
The post Christina Rost is a Traveler Who’s Finally Settled Down (Episode 135) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 February 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now. Jennifer Chastain/Lethal Connections Terri Reed/Trained to Protect (2/25) Robin Patchen/Protecting You Sarah Sundin/Midnight […]
The post February 2025 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 134) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I am a romance junkie—any kind of romance,” Jennifer said. “But if I’m going to sit down and watch a show, it’s always been a mystery, a murder, a crime. There’s going to be something that needs solving. So when I started writing, … I realized writing romantic suspense is just as fun as watching it on TV.”
The post Jennifer Carr Confesses to Being a Romance Junkie (Episode 133) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post December 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 132) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I have a one-year-old in one hand and type with [the other] hand, and then I have a three-year-old next to me on the couch,” Jessica said. “They can be kind of tricky but it works for me. … I try to [write for] two, two-and-a-half hours but sometimes the baby tries to delete with his feet what I’m writing because he wiggles in his sleep.”
The post Jessica West Shares How She Writes With Kids (Episode 131) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 2024, with the book’s release date if not available now. Terri Reed/Search and Detect Jaime Jo Wright/Specters in the Glass House Katy Lee/K-9 […]
The post November 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 130) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I hardly will ever order hot tea when I’m out because I know it won’t be good enough. … I worked in a tea room and that kind of spoiled me for properly brewed tea,” she said. As for writing romantic suspense, “ultimately it’s because that’s what I most love to read. So I already loved the genre, and when I had an idea for my first book, that’s what I naturally gravitated to.”
The post Sipping Tea With Angela Carlisle (Episode 129) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“I’m a huge reader,” Shelley said. “I’m always drawn to mysteries, romantic suspense, thrillers—I find those books fun to read. Even though I do write a lot of straight romances, I love to have a romance suspense book in my back pocket. … It was fun as a writer to keep the pace going.”
The post The Fun Shelley Shephard Gray Has Writing Romantic Suspense (Episode 128) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 October 2024, with the book’s release date if not available now. Kelly Underwood/Guarding Truth (10/15) Jessica West/Deadly Stalker Kimberly Woodhouse/70 North (10/15)
The post October 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 127) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“There’s only character I sort of regret killing off,” Amanda said. “But it had to happen for the story. I just loved this character so much and I enjoyed writing the character in The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocer and he has a tragic ending to his story.”
The post What Amanda Cox Regrets in Her Writing (Episode 126) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 post September 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 125) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post How Joanna Davidson Politano Creates Micro Tension (Episode 124) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 post August 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 123) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Amanda Cabot Writes for the Big Reveal (Episode 122) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post How Janice Cantore Uses Noise as Her Writing Background (Episode 121) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post July 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 120) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Terry Toler’s Writing Factory (Episode 119) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post June 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 118) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Sara Davison’s Fall Into Romantic Suspense (Episode 117) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Rebecca Hemlock’s Love of Romantic Suspense (Episode 116) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 post May 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 115) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post How Sarah Sundin Weaves God Into Every Story (Episode 114) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post April 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 113) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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].”
The post Her Renewing Landscape With Carmen Peone (Episode 112) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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 […]
The post March 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 111) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Writing as a Male Protagonist With Luana Ehrlich (Episode 110) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from seven authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post February 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 109) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Answering the Call to Write With F.D. Adkins (Episode 108) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Writing as Her Second Act With Loretta Eidson (Episode 107) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from three authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post January 2024 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 106) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from four authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post December 2023 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 105) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post The Titles of Laura Thomas (Episode 104) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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.
The post November 2023 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 103) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
Will your Christmas be filled with holiday cheer…or Holiday Menace?
The post Holiday Menace Collection Bonus Episode! first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“When I’ve written articles in the past I had passion for horses, 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.”
The post How Dave Pratt Exercises His Writing Muscles (Episode 102) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from four authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
The post October 2023 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 101) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
“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.”
The post Laura Conaway’s Race Against the Clock (Episode 100) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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.
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 post June 2023 Quick Takes in Christian Romantic Suspense (Episode 92) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
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.
“[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.”
The post Kate Angelo Writes on the Run (Episode 90) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from nine authors about their romantic suspense books available this month.
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.
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 […]
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.
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 […]
“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.”
“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.”
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.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/D.L.-Wood/e/B0165NBAMC Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-l-wood Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/dlwood Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlwoodonline/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlwoodonline Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/DL-Wood/B0165NBAMC Book 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=1 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/search?query=dl+wood Chirpbooks: https://www.chirpbooks.com/authors/d-l-wood-audiobooks
Listen 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.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sara.blackard.author TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarablackardauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.blackard/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19758019.Sara_Blackard
Publishers 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.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/DaniPettrey Instagram: authordanipettrey Twitter: www.twitter.com/DaniPettrey
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus teasers for The Deadly Shallows and A Rebel’s Trust.
“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.”
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guests are Lori Altebaumer and Wendy Wilson Spooner. Among other topics, we discussed
“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/lorialtebaumerwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori_altebaumer/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lori-altebaumer Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/15304811.Lori_Altebaumer
Wendy, 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.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathymcdavidbooks Twitter: https://twitter.com/CathyMcDavid TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cathymcdavid
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Wildfire Threat.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“I used to do collections, where I based the books around the same town,” Susan said. “But then I thought … I should think more like a TV show like Dr. Who. There’s a thread that goes through Dr. Who that pushes us the story, so even though every episode has its own story arc, there’s also a series arc.”
“This is the hardest book that I have ever written,” Carrie says about Behind Love’s Wall. “I do normally plot my novels, and with this one I did also, especially the back-and-forth part. … My husband and son are good brainstorming partners too.”
“My first book, Fatal Flashback, was inspired by the setting,” Kellie says. “For example, my husband and I were living in Texas, and we went on a camping trip out to Big Bend National Park and I fell in love with the setting. I had never written anything book-length before and I thought this would be an amazing place for a romance between a park ranger and somebody else, and there’s going to be action and adventure.”
“It’s definitely a discipline to write,” Kimberly says. “I do teach a lot about writing … and people ask [how do I write when I get writer’s block] all the time. My answer is writer’s block is not an option. You have these big dreams [about the creative process], … but writing is hard work. It is a discipline—you have to make yourself sit down and write. You can’t wait for the muse to hit and you write something brilliant.
“Our lives revolved around electronic devices, Zoom and FaceTime, during the pandemic in 2020, but I think that was one of the pluses to staying connected with people,” Natalie says. “Being able to remain on social media and be able to communicate through FaceTime and video chats to keep people updated. … That was one of the best ways for me as an author to remain connected with readers.”
“I tend to write a lot of Navy SEALs, CIA type books, so basing them in DC, Virginia Beach, Virginia is often a favorite for me, but the characters being in the military or CIA are from everywhere,” Traci said. “So living in Virginia for so many years but being from the West is great. For example, if you’re talking about Virginia, one of the most common freeways is I-95, but if you’re in Utah, it’s the 15, with the in front of the number. Little things like that you wouldn’t know unless you’ve lived in different places.”
“What I wanted to do as a career as a child was archeology,” Sally Jo says. “Writing also has got that concept of digging, you have to dig into your subject and your topic and your characters and what’s going happen. Archeology fascinated me, finding the tombs and treasures… and writing fits that whole concept of discovery because as a writer I do that daily.”
“I was inspired by author Deborah White Smith, who did some updated versions or modern-day tellings of some Jane Austen books,” Melanie says. “I loved her books and I love Jane Austen, and thought, ‘I could do this’ with one of my favorite classics, Jane Eyre. … I love the whole gothic suspense thing that goes on in Jane Eyre and that could easily be reset to today.”
“I don’t write in crayon anymore but I do have a closet door with a map going up on the wall that some artist family members are building a mural of Miller’s Creek, which is where most of my books’ settings are just so I can keep track of the roads and who lives in what house,” Mindy says. “So they’re allowed to draw on the walls of my office for that.”
“As a younger man, I was really interested in filmmaking,” Andy says. “When I’m writing a scene, I may [visualize it as a movie]. In my Shepherd suspense series, there are scenes in each of the books that play out as if I were watching a movie in advance of me writing it. … I take that and start diving into how do I turn this into a written scene.”
“When I started blogging over 10 years ago, I decided that divine detour sums up my writing and life in general,” Kathy says. “Sometimes God takes us on a crooked path to the right thing. … We can’t always assume how God plans to get us to our calling and [divine detour] kind of sums that up for all of us.”