A Writer's Life

 by Patricia Bradley

A while back I decided to try my hand at writing a shorter romantic suspense novel for Love Inspired Suspense. So I put together a proposal after reading a couple of LIS books and sent it off to my agent. 

Then I read more LIS book and thought Uh, Oh ...can I catch that proposal before it hits a LIS editor's desk? Nope. It was too late. The chapters I emailed in the proposal did not start off with the hero and heroine in jeopardy. That's a must for a Love Inspired Suspense book.

*Sigh* At least the editor was amenable to me reworking the proposal since I realized my mistake. All this to say, if you're a writer and you're targeting a particular publishing house, be sure to read a LOT of their books. 

What I discovered was, the hero and heroine must meet in the first chapter and be in jeopardy. No cute meet here. They are immediately thrown into danger and the reader is left on tenterhooks as they escape.

And the jeopardy is always there, hanging over the couple. Once they're on their journey to capture the bad guys, they encounter them about every chapter, until the end where they overcome the villain(s). Oh, and while they're battling the villain, they are also falling in love, and battling that as well. The writer needs a good reason why they can't be together, but not such a good reason that they can't overcome it.

If you're like me and targeting Harlequin's Loved Inspired Suspense,  or you're looking for a great suspenseful story, look no further for good examples than the Suspense Sisters! Here are some perfect examples of what LIS is looking for:

A dangerous reunion they may not survive

In this Mount Shasta Secrets novel

FBI agent Tori Peterson intends to find her sister’s murderer, even if someone’s willing to kill her to keep the truth hidden. But that means returning home and working with the lead detective—her ex-boyfriend, Ryan Bradley. Though sparks still fly between them, Tori and Ryan must stay focused on catching a killer…before they are silenced for good.

You can buy it here.

An Amish woman targeted by a serial killer

is the only living witness…

As the sole woman to escape the Dead of Night Killer, Catherine Fisher’s the key to catching him—if he doesn’t kill her first. Now it’s up to FBI agent Sutter Brenneman to protect her. But with her memory missing and all clues indicating the serial killer took her for very personal reasons, it’ll take everything Sutter has to keep her safe.

You can buy it here.

From a dangerous reunion at sea…


To undercover as husband and wife.

Forced to jump ship during her investigation, undercover DEA agent Grace Young’s rescued from criminals and raging waters by her ex-husband, Coast Guard swimmer Dakota Young. Now to save the mission, Grace and Dakota must pose as a married couple to take down a drug ring. But will facing danger together reunite two broken hearts—or place targets on both of their backs?

You can buy it here.

I hope you've enjoyed my journey into publishing. I'll let you know if Love Inspired Suspense likes my new proposal. 

Leave a comment telling me if you've ever ventured into a new area and had to learn a new way of doing something, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a digital copy of one of the LIS books listed. Be sure to leave your contact information.