Featured Post

Monday, February 29, 2016

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS!




It’s another great week on the Suspense Sisters!

From Marji:

Catch up on all the great book reviews on our Review Page!








On Tuesday, Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery!






On Wednesday we’ll hear from Suspense Sister Nancy Mehl!   




 

This week’s question is: “What is your favorite activity when you’re not writing?” Check out the Suspense Sisters on Thursday for our answers!

If you have a question for us, leave it below. You could win a book by one of today’s top suspense/mystery writers – or a gift certificate to Amazon! (Questions submitted without contact information won’t be considered.)



Friday, Elizabeth Goddard interviews Sandra Orchard! Should be a great interview!     









That’s what’s happening this week on the Suspense Sisters! Don’t miss a single day. Sign up through email so you’ll get updates in the exciting world of inspirational suspense and mystery!


The Suspense Sisters! We love books!

Friday, February 26, 2016

Interview with Lynette Eason

By Marji Laine
I'm so delighted to chat with best-selling Christian suspense author, Lynette Eason. Her latest, Always Watching, is brand new and already sparking a huge buzz. And for good reason. Make sure you check out my review coming out next Monday! And enter for a chance to win a free copy. Keep reading!

Lynette, thanks so much for visiting at Suspense Sisters! I have to tell you, I opened it to just get a little taste before turning out the light and had trouble putting it down!
Obviously, that makes me glad to hear! LOL. It means I’ve done my job. :)

Where does your story seed start? Characters? Setting? Or some twist on a news story?
Usually, I get the idea for the story first. Just a glimmer of something. Like “what if there were a team of female bodyguards who went into business together, and they all had some time of law enforcement background?” Then I think, “Who would these women be?” And then I start putting together their backgrounds. Before too long, the story starts coming together for the first one, then the second and so on.

Your stories are so vivid.
Thank you!

The action, characters, setting all take on life. Do the words flow that way on first draft or do you use a lens for that when you revise?
For the most part, they do come on the first draft. I can write anywhere from three to six books in a year, so I don’t have a whole lot of time to edit. I get the story down as best I can and then send it off to my beta readers. Fortunately, they’re both in law enforcement, and they both have an interest in writing. That helps tremendously as they catch some line/copy edit things as well as correcting my police procedural stuff when it needs it. Of course, as I’m working through the story, I’m editing, or I’ll go back and add details as they occur to me, especially red herrings, etc. but when I’m done with the story, I’m pretty much done. At least until my copy editor gets ahold of it.

Lol! What would you say was the strangest thing you came across while you wrote this story? (Detail from research, scene that you dreamed up, maybe something you experienced that inspired an event?) 
I don’t know that I really came across a strange thing. Does it count that I think it’s strange that my brain even comes up with what it does? LOL. I think when I was writing Always Watching, I had a few friends who were going through the adoption process. I worked adoption into the story, and I think it came out great. It’s not a big part of the story, but it does affect my heroine to a large degree.

I know Always Watching is the first of a series. What characters are involved who will return, and who is the star of book #2? Is there a backstory in one of your characters that you’re tempted to flesh out?
All of the major characters in book #1 will return. Book #2 is Katie Singleton’s story. I introduce a new hero, Daniel Matthews, who I think readers will fall in love with. I also go a little deeper into the backstories of the characters who will show in books #3 and #4. Book #3 deals with Maddy McKay, who is fully healed from her harrowing ordeal, and Quinn Holcombe, the surly detective that I hope readers have come to love in spite of his grouchiness. I just turned their story in and think readers will love it. I’m now working on Haley Callaghan and trying to get to know her a little bit before dropping her into the middle of trouble.

I can't wait! Here's a little more about Always Watching from the Amazon summary of the book:
The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.
But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she's next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.
Bestselling author and fan favorite Lynette Eason drops readers right into the action in this fast-paced new series with a unique twist. Readers will love these strong female characters who put it all on the line to save lives.
Want a copy of Always Watching for yourself? You know you do! Leave a comment (make sure you include you EMAIL) and share your vision of a bodyguard. Have you had experience with one? Or maybe simply your impression of what they should be like!

Thursday, February 25, 2016

ASK THE SUSPENSE SISTERS!



This week Kim asks: "Of all the characters you’ve created, do you have a favorite? Why?"  

For submitting her question, Kim has won a copy of DOLLED UP TO DIE by Lorena McCourtney!

 If you have a question for us, leave it below. You might be our next winner! You could win a book by one of today’s top suspense/mystery writers – or a gift certificate to Amazon! (Questions submitted without contact information won’t be considered.)

It's always either the hero or heroine of my current manuscript in progress, because as I'm writing, this person is facing emotional struggles and trying to move forward--with ultimately takes courage and strength.  And along the way,he or she  is also coming to terms with faith issues and the realization that they were never truly alone--they just didn't understand that God was with them.  The process  of struggle and growth fascinates me.

Roxanne Rustand


I suppose I love my first wacky batch of characters from my very first mystery series...Trouble Up Finny's Nose. That first book is always the book of your heart, and I see a lot of myself in the protagonist, Ruth Budge.

 Dana Mentink


My favorite character was a young Amish schoolteacher in A Marriage for Meghan.

Meghan was thrown into a classroom situation with students who were bigger than her and almost as old.

Although I'd had 4 years of college and student teacher training, I felt unprepared for my first year teaching eighth grade math. I had nightmares for years of my confrontation with thugs during a cafeteria study hall. The veteran teacher had ducked down the hall for a cup of coffee.

Mary Ellis


I have several favorite characters, but Vern Thomas--the taxi-driving, smart-mouthed grad student with a heart of gold--has a special place in my heart. (My sister-in-law swears he's based on my nephew, John. I didn't know that until she pointed it out.) In my
first book, he was only supposed to drive my main character Amelia from one place to another, but he sort of refused to fade into the background. In subsequent books, he's become a pivotal character. I've given him a girlfriend, an alcoholic father and an insatiable curiosity and I've gotten him into some pretty bad trouble on occasion. Amelia and I both love Vern. 

E.E. Kennedy

Funny how both Doc Mabry and Cynthia went with their first characters. Mine isn't my first, but she is definitely the one I've spent the most time with. 

My favorite is actually the second main character I wrote. Cat McPherson, from my upcoming romantic suspense COUNTER POINT, is a sassy, Texas redhead, dealing with the loss of everything she's held dear. Yet with spunk and determination, along with more than her share of clumsiness, she pushes through insurmountable obstacles to keep hold of her dreams.

Marji Laine

I think my favorite would have to be Summer Meadows, the
heroine of my Summer Meadows mystery collection. She's crazy, quirky, and got me started on this roller-coaster ride called writing.

 Cynthia Hickey (Melton)

My favorite character is one who still lives on my hard drive, although he appears to be coming to life in a novella I’m writing. Dr. Ben Merritt was the main character in my initial attempt to write fiction. He was a failed baseball player who thought he might have a second chance to make it in “the show.” Unfortunately—or possibly quite fortunately—no editor thought his story was good enough to merit a contract. I’ve learned a good bit in the intervening years, so maybe I can resurrect his tale.

Richard Mabry

This was an interesting question. For some reason, I feel like if I pick a “favorite” character, I’m betraying my other characters.
LOL! There is one that stands out though. I really loved Hilde Higgins. They protagonist in my “Curl Up and Dye” series. Beautician for the newly departed, Hilde had guts. I miss her.

Nancy Mehl

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Getting into the groove...

Even after writing a number of novels, I often find myself looking at new (and old) books on the craft of writing during the brief lull between manuscripts. I grabbed some favorites from my shelf for the photo, when I started to write this post, but there are at least a hundred more on my shelves. Some are true treasures. The others have gone to the annual library book sale.  :)  I started to highlight good passages in Writing the Breakout Novel by Maass, but when I got to the end I realized the whole book was yellow!

There is a wealth of wonderful information and inspiration that can be found in just such books, in writing magazine articles, at workshops and conferences and in online classes. It's one of the many things I love about writing.  One never ceases to have the opportunity to learn more, to work on being better.  

That said, there are many writers who don't want to/need to seek out such resources  (which is sometimes contradictory)  and have developed their talent  to become instinctively stellar writers all on their own.

Sooooo....what camp are you in, as a writer, or a reader---do you prefer to find your own way, or are you one who enjoys looking for encouragement and information?

PS:  If you are a writer, I would love to hear about some of your favorite books on the writing craft!  :)





Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerstand.com
www.facebook.com/roxannertustand


Tuesday, February 23, 2016

A February roundup of hot new inspy suspense!

Monday, February 22, 2016

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS!








It’s another great week on the Suspense Sisters!

From Marji:

Sybil Bate McCormack reviews The Aleppo Code by Terry Brennan.

Having chased the secret of the Cipher through a maze of treachery, death, and destruction, Tom Bohannon’s band of explorers seems to be at a dead end. But the discovery of a tenth-century scriptural text holding the final key to the ancient code hurls them right back into the fray.

 Hunted by the relentless assassins of the Prophet’s Guard, Bohannon’s intrepid squad struggles to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Amidst the chaos and conspiracy engulfing the Middle East, they doggedly comb the ruins of ancient Babylon in pursuit of this crucial element of end-timers prophecy. Bohannon and his team risk everything in a desperate attempt to save the world from destruction.

Read the entire review on our ReviewPage!



On Tuesday, Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery!

 
 


On Wednesday we’ll hear from Suspense Sister Roxanne Rustand!   




 

This week Kim asks: "Of all the characters you’ve created, do you have a favorite? Why?"  

For submitting her question, Kim has won a copy of “Dolled Up to Die” by Lorena McCourtney!

If you have a question for us, leave it below. You might be our next winner! You could win a book by one of today’s top suspense/mystery writers – or a gift certificate to Amazon! (Questions submitted without contact information won’t be considered.)
 



Friday, Marji interviews the awesome Lynette Eason! Don't miss this interview!
 







That’s what’s happening this week on the Suspense Sisters! Don’t miss a single day. Sign up through email so you’ll get updates in the exciting world of inspirational suspense and mystery!


The Suspense Sisters! We love books!