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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

D.L. Wood on being an introvert, plus Secrets She Knew giveaway!


Join me in welcoming my friend D.L. Wood today! She'll be giving away an eBook copy of her book, Secrets She Knew.  Please post a comment to be entered in the drawing! 




D.L. Wood is an award-winning, best-selling Christian Mystery & Suspense author who loves to curl up with a cup of Earl Grey tea and her Westies—Frodo and Dobby—while bingeing on the latest BBC detective series. She loves the art of storytelling and tries to give readers the same thing she wants: a “can’t-put-it-down-stay-up-till-3am” character-driven story, full of heart, believability, and adrenaline. D.L. writes her clean captivating fiction from her home in North Alabama where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. She loves to hear from her readers! You can email her at dlwood@dlwoodonline.com.








And now, let's hear from D.L. Wood!


Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Me, I’m an unabashed introvert. Not even one extroverted bone in my body. Not even a pinky toe.



Here’s what I’ve discovered during this pandemic and the resulting separation we’ve universally experienced: whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, this thing has been hard.



If you’re an introvert, being stuck at home initially sounds like heaven. But even as an introvert who normally needs time alone to recharge, it wasn’t long before I began to crave the in-person contact that was stripped from my life without warning.



If you’re an extrovert, the challenges presented by the lack of in-person interaction were likely more obvious. I have one sweet extroverted friend who just showed up one night with her husband and bags of fast-food asking if they could eat more than six feet away from us in our backyard just so they could be around people.



I’ve been reminded of many truths during this pandemic. But this one sticks out at the top: we need people.



We simply aren’t made to do life alone. Which is why, during this trying period when much of my human interaction ceased, I was so thankful for the amazing writers of the Dangerous Deceptions Boxed Set that I’m honored to be a part of.



Ten months ago when we started planning this brand new set of eight books with nine Christian Romantic Suspense authors, none of us knew what was coming. But here we are, less than a month until the release on October 13th, and I am beyond grateful to have had these friendships during this time. We have prayed together, shared hurts and needs, laughed and been crazy, and I am so in awe of God’s provision of these incredible women when I truly needed them.



Together we’ve created a collection of novels I know you’ll be thrilled with. These brand new books put hearts and lives on the line between pages that basically turn themselves…and the authors include a Christy Award Winner, Carol Award Winner, and Carol Award finalists among others award winners.



The craziest part? The entire set is only 99 cents. So, if you love suspense wrapped in romance and think spending 99 cents for 8 books is a steal, the set is available for preorder now at your favorite retailers (see links below) to be automatically delivered to your device on October 13.



One more fun fact—we are aiming for the USA Today Bestseller List. It’s a tough thing to achieve this time of year, but nevertheless we’re going for it. We thank you in advance if you choose to pick up a copy and help us get there!


PURCHASE DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS: A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set

Apple

Amazon

Nook

Kobo


Secrets She Knew by D.L. Wood





Boston police detective Dani Lake dreads returning to her small hometown of Skye, Alabama, for her ten-year high school reunion--and not just for the normal reasons.

At only fifteen, Dani tragically discovered the body of her murdered classmate, setting in motion the process that led to the unjust conviction of her dear friend and an unshakable burden of guilt she carries to this day. So when new evidence surfaces during her trip home which suggests the truth Dani’s always suspected, she embarks on a mission to expose the real killer, aided by Skye detective Chris Newton--who happens to be the man Dani’s best friend is dying to set her up with, and also the only person who believes her.

But when Dani pushes too hard, someone pushes back, endangering Dani and those closest to her as she unearths secrets deeper and darker than she ever expected to learn—secrets that may bring the truth to light, if they don’t get her killed first.


Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the drawing!




Tuesday, September 29, 2020

What's Hot in Inspirational Suspense by Mary Ellis

 Happy Tuesday, Readers! Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? Sarah Varland has a new romantic suspense, Alaskan Showdown, from Love Inspired Suspense. 




Here's a little bit about the story: The discovery of a dead hiker's body sends Adriana Steele and her search and rescue dog, Blue, on the run from a serial killer. Adriana, though shaken, is determined to help Officer Levi Wicks catch the killer, will they be able to catch the killer before it's too late?

Here's where you can buy the book:  https://www.christianbook.com/alaskan-showdown-sarah-varland/9781335402981/pd/402982?event=EBRNL

Monday, September 28, 2020

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS!

 

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:


 

On Tuesday Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery. 

Wednesday we have a guest blogger. D.L. Wood will be telling us how an introvert collaborates with other writers. She’s giving away an eBook copy of her book, SECRETS SHE KNEW. 

Boston police detective Dani Lake dreads returning to her small hometown of Skye, Alabama, for her ten-year high school reunion--and not just for the normal reasons.

At only fifteen, Dani tragically discovered the body of her murdered classmate, setting in motion the process that led to the unjust conviction of her dear friend and an unshakable burden of guilt she carries to this day. So when new evidence surfaces during her trip home which suggests the truth Dani’s always suspected, she embarks on a mission to expose the real killer, aided by Skye detective Chris Newton--who happens to be the man Dani’s best friend is dying to set her up with, and also the only person who believes her.

But when Dani pushes too hard, someone pushes back, endangering Dani and those closest to her as she unearths secrets deeper and darker than she ever expected to learn—secrets that may bring the truth to light, if they don’t get her killed first.

A Secrets and Lies Suspense Novel.

Thrilling, clean suspense and mystery laced with romance and faith.

Buy it here!

On Friday, Suspense Sister Mary Alford will introduce us to each author featured in our upcoming Christmas anthology, MISTLETOE and MURDER. She’ll be giving away two copies of this exciting collection!

Silent Night, Deadly Night. Welcome to a Killer Christmas!


Danger and suspense await you this Christmas season in Mistletoe and Murder: A Christmas Suspense Collection featuring 10 individual novellas of suspense from some of today’s most talented Christian Suspense authors.

Come with us on a heart-racing journey through the holidays as USA Today, Christian Booksellers Association, and ECPA Bestselling authors Mary Alford, Adam Blumer, Liz Bradford, Vicki Hinze, Shaen Layle, Loree Lough, Nancy Mehl, Cara Putman, Lynn Shannon, and Virginia Vaughan, weave tales of suspense that will have you flipping pages well into the new year.

Preorder it here!

The Suspense Sisters

We love books!

Friday, September 25, 2020

Be Careful What You Wish For

Sorry I'm late on the post, but it's a hazard of writing! How so? you ask.

Well, before I was contracted, I had all sorts of time. Time to blog, time to write, time to clean...you get the idea. Writing was sort of a hobby, one that I loved. Not that I don't still love writing, but it certainly isn't a hobby any longer. 

No, once you become contracted, writing becomes a job. Most of the time when readers think of authors, the picture below is what comes to mind.


Signing books, speaking at different functions, teaching classes on writing, and I've certainly done all of those things. 

But most of my time is spent behind my computer. Six, eight, maybe ten hours a day. Mostly eight, though. 

Since 2013, I've written twelve books and three novellas, plus a ton of blog posts. Those twelve books represent over a million words. Can you believe that writing is all I've done since 2013?

Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but I don't think many writers who yearned to be published realize how much work goes into this writing gig.  

Or how little respect others have for your time. Since I work from home, it's automatically assumed I can drop my writing and do whatever: go out to lunch, attend a meeting in the middle of the day, entertain drop-in company, answer the phone--no one understands when I turn my phone off, but it takes at least thirty minutes to get back into a story when I'm interrupted. 

I do hope you don't think I'm whining, because I'm not, just stating facts as any writer will tell you. I would be writing even if my publisher didn't pay me. Let me rephrase that. I love writing even when the words are like pulling up dandelions. (ever tried that--those suckers don't let go of the ground). I have friends who question my sanity. They can't understand why I would sit for eight hours every day when I don't have to. 

They don't understand that I DO have to. Writing is in my blood, and I'd rather be writing than doing anything else, even lazing on a beach in Hawaii.

So, just in case you're one of those people who yearn to write and get published, go for it! But count the cost. There's always a cost to doing what you love. 

Comments? What do you want to do more than anything in the world? Leave a comment and I'll enter you in a drawing for a copy of one of my books--your choice. 

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The Exciting Life of a Published Author


Nancy Mehl is a USA Today best-selling author. She’s been a finalist for the Carol Award twice and won the award once. She was also a finalist for two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews, and was a finalist for the coveted Christy Award. She lives in Missouri with her husband, Norman, and her Puggle, Watson. She’s authored over forty books and is currently working on a new series for Bethany House about an FBI profiler, and a cozy mystery series with Guideposts, set in Savannah, Georgia.

Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook.


Writing is a tough profession. If you want to be published, don’t jump in with rose-colored glasses. Yes, you get to stay home and work in your p.j.s., which is appropriate because you may be working through many nights when you’d rather be in bed. You will probably gain an addiction to caffeine. You may miss family get-togethers, vacations, and hanging out with friends. You’ll deal with good editors, bad editors, good reviews, terrible reviews, and requests for rewrites that make you wonder if you’ve suddenly lost the ability to write. Sometimes good writers get dropped by their publisher for reasons that are hard to understand. (Usually poor sales.) Thankfully, this hasn’t happened to me, but I’ve watched some incredibly talented authors go through this. Rejection is painful and can make gifted people question their career choice. And please don’t plan to get rich. I read once that the average published writer (leaving out the Stephen Kings and J.K. Rowlings) makes between $10,000 and $12,000 a year. Yep. Exciting, huh?

Then there are the little surprises in life. You know, like family emergencies, illness, injury, etc.  You can’t plan for these, they just drop into your life like unpleasant visitors from out of town who knock on your door and insist they stay with you for a while. Suddenly, the deadline you were certain you could make becomes impossible. So now you have to ask your publisher for more time. That in itself is scary…and it’s where I am right now. So…this post will be short.

I realize I sound a little negative, but the truth is, I love being a writer. I can't imagine doing anything else. (I may need professional help. Sigh.)


Leave a comment below, along with your contact information. Someone will win an eBook copy of DEAD END. I’ll pick a winner on Monday.

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” Douglas Adams

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

What's Hot in Inspirational Suspense by Mary Ellis

 Happy Tuesday, Readers! Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? Colleen Coble has a new romantic suspense, Two Reasons to Lie, just released from Thomas Nelson. Book 2 of the Pelican Harbor series. 


Here's a little bit about the story: A lie changed her world.

Police Chief Jane Hardy is still reeling from the scandal that rocked her small-town department just as she took over for her retired father—the man who wrecked her life with one little lie. Now she’s finally been reunited with her presumed-dead fifteen-year-old son, Will, and his father, documentarian Reid Bechtol.

A crisis looms.

When a murder aboard the oil platform Zeus exposes an environmental terrorist’s plot to flood Mobile Bay with crude oil, Jane and Reid must put their feelings for each other behind them and work together to prevent the rig from being sabotaged.

A killer targets her son.

Then the terrorist puts her son Will’s life on the line. Protecting him could be the common ground they need . . . but then ghosts from the past threaten to ruin Jane and Reid for good.

She’s got plenty of reasons to run. But what if she stays?

"Colleen Coble’s super power is transporting her readers into beautiful settings in vivid detail. One Little Lie is no exception. Add to that the suspense that keeps you wanting to know more, and characters that pull at your heart." —Terri Blackstock, USA TODAY bestselling author of If I Run

Here's where you can buy the book:  https://www.christianbook.com/two-reasons-to-run/colleen-coble/9780785228486/pd/228485?event=Fiction|1000643#CBD-PD-Description

Monday, September 21, 2020

THIS WEEK ON SUSPENSE SISTERS





We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On Tuesd
ay MaryEllis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery. 

On Wednesday Nanch Mehl will talk about how exciting being a Published Author must be, right? She'll be giving away a Kindle copy of Dead End, Book 3 in her Kaley Quinn Profiler series.



When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before--Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn's father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.
Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She's always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she's hated for years.
As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?


On Friday, Patricia Bradley will follow up with more on the writing life! She will give away a copy of her latest book, Standoff, Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers, Book 1


The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for park ranger Luke Fereday, lately it's being used to move drugs. Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers.

John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley introduces you to a new series set in the sultry South that will have you wiping your brow and looking over your shoulder.

BUY IT HERE
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS



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