Buckle Up! A Suspenseful Ride with Brandilyn Collins—By Linda Kozar

Seatbelt Suspense Author Brandilyn Collins

Today I'm sharing an interview with multi-published, award-winning author, Brandilyn Collins. This woman runs deep, and like her books, leads a fast-paced, fascinating, faith-filled life complete with glorious twists and turns and unparalleled surprises. Buckle up! The adventure is just beginning...

About Brandilyn..

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to    b r e a t h e . . ."®  She also writes insightful contemporary novels, often laced with humor. Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, the Inspy, Christian Retailing's Best Award (twice), and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice. She is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing in 2002.

Brandilyn, let's get personal. Tell us about your family.

I’m married to the best man on earth (not bragging or anything, just fact), and have three grown children. We have no pets, but do see lots of deer and turkeys on our Pacific Northwest property, as well as the occasional moose, elk, and (rare) bear. And I make a dynamite latte.

Name a few of your favorite things.

I love nature—I see God in it. Love music, especially classic rock and gospel. (In Heaven I shall go from concert to concert.) I've seen some amazing blessings from God, including a miraculous healing (Read about it here). 

And something more about you.

I was born in India (the daughter of missionary parents) and grew up in Kentucky. Which could make for a rather unique accent. However, I moved to California when I was 22 and promptly dropped whatever strange way of speaking. Except I still say "y'all." And if I get around Southerners too long … ooh boy. My husband and I now live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

I’m an introvert, but when I’m out in public you’d never know it. In fact, I’m very at home on a stage, teaching or speaking. Want to make me really happy? Buy one of my books. And love it. Then buy another...

How many books have you written?

I’ve written 31 books. Most of these are Seatbelt Suspense® novels. Others are in the contemporary genre. I’ve also written a how-to book for fiction:

              

—Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors.

It’s quite different in its approach, taking seven concepts from method acting and tweaking them for the novelist’s use. I teach these concepts at writers’ conferences, and many novelists have found them very helpful.

How did you get to be so killy?

When I was a kid I never thought I'd grow up to kill people for a living. Neither did my lovely mother, who often wondered where she went wrong. Fortunately for my victims, the killing is only in my books.

^{HOW CAN READERS FIND YOU?} 

^{Now and then I venture from behind my computer and teach fiction at writers’ conferences. I’m also an inspirational keynote speaker. I love to interact with readers. The best place to find me on a daily basis is at my Facebook page, where I post Today's Word, crazy "Creative Captioneer" pictures, book sale news (mine and other authors'), topics of interest, and who knows what else.}

Upcoming Events:

Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, June 23-24, Elizabethtown, KY. Teaching 4 hours. http://www.kychristianwriters.com/category/2017-conference/ 

Fantastic Fiction Retreat, June 2-3.  Classes held in my lake/forest home in the resort town of Coeur d’Alene, ID. 7 hrs. of teaching concepts from my book Getting Into Character. Limited to 15 attendees. Three slots left. http://brandilyncollins.com/fantastic_fiction 

ACFW Annual Conference, Gaylord Hotel, Grapevine, TX (near Dallas), September 21-24. Emcee and facilitate prayer room. http://www.acfw.com/conference 

Listen to the full podcast interview here

Want to be a winner TODAY?

Leave a comment or ask Brandilyn a question 

and we'll throw

YOUR NAME into the hat!

 Vain Empires reviews:

 "Wonderfully plotted.” 

 RT BookReviews

“Perfect for fans of Stephen King.” 

Library Journal

"Agatha Christie readers will be riveted.” 

Publishers Weekly

INTRODUCING A NEW SUSPENSE SISTER!

Meet our newest Suspense Sister - Patricia Bradley!

Honoring God through my writing is top priority for this Mississippi Writer. I am a Romantic Suspense writer living in the Deep South. My short stories have been published in Woman's World, and I am releasing my fourth book this summer. Gone Without a Trace is book three in the Logan Point Series which is set in Memphis and the surrounding area.

Book one in the Logan Point Series, Shadows from the Past, has won several awards…the 2008 Maggie (Inspirational Category)…1st Place in the 2012 Touched By Love and Daphne du Maurier contests…finaled in the 2012 Genesis…bronzed in the Frasier.
I’ve also done the unthinkable–written a straight romance–who would’ve thought it’d be such fun?

I’m also an abstinence/healthy relationship speaker and have spoken to many students…and adults. I would love to have the opportunity to speak to your group. If you are would like to invite me to speak, feel free to contact me.

When I’m not writing or speaking, I throw mud on a wheel and try to make something beautiful.
Find out more about Patricia by visiting her website!
 
Here's a sneak peek at her newest release!

JUSTICE DELAYED

 It’s been eighteen years since TV crime reporter Andi Hollister’s sister was murdered. The confessed killer is behind bars, and the execution date is looming. But when a letter surfaces stating that the condemned killer didn’t actually do it, Detective Will Kincaide of the Memphis Cold Case Unit will stop at nothing to help Andi get to the bottom of it. After all, this case is personal: the person who confessed to the crime is Will’s cousin. They have less than a week to find the real killer before the wrong person is executed. But much can be accomplished in that week–including uncovering police corruption, running for your life, and falling in love.


With the perfect mixture of intrigue and nail-biting suspense, award-winning author Patricia Bradley invites her readers to crack the case–if they can–alongside the best Memphis has to offer.

Leave a comment below welcoming Patricia. You might win a $10.00 Amazon gift card! You must leave your contact information so we can contact you if you win!

 

Hot new inspy suspense!

Jack and Rachel leave Culpepper for their long-awaited honeymoon trip, a driving tour through New England. On day three, they stop at a little bayside town in Cape Cod to visit Jack’s grandmother. After he gets called away to handle an emergency, Rachel stays and listens as Jack’s grandmother shares a remarkable story about how she and Jack’s grandfather met in the early days of World War 2. It’s a story filled with danger, decades-old family secrets, daring rescues and romance. Jack is named after his grandfather, and this story set the course and direction for Jack’s life to the present day. After hearing it, Rachel is amazed that anyone survived.

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 our review page, senior reviewer Iola Goulton reviews PURSUED by Lisa Harris. Iola says: “Pursued is a standalone novel and you don’t have to have read the earlier books in the series to understand it. But if you’re a suspense fan, you’ll want to read them all and it would be best to read them in order: Vendetta, then Missing, then Pursued. Recommended for all Christian suspense fans.”  

You can find her complete review HERE. 

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

On Wednesday we’ll introduce a brand new Suspense Sister. Can you guess who she is?

Here are some hints:

* She’s a romantic suspense writer who lived in the south. 

* She’s an abstinence/healthy relationship speaker. 

* When she’s not writing, she creates beautiful pottery!

Leave your guess below. We’ll pick a winner from the correct answers and that person will win an ebook copy of our sister’s newest book!

 

Friday we’re interviewing the awesome Brandilyn Collins. She’s giving away a copy of her exciting new book, VAIN EMIPIRES! 

Six people arrive on a remote island--contestants in the “reality show of the century,” Dream Prize. The winner will be the person who learns the most facts about the others and gains the most viewer votes. Sounds simple. But the three men and three women soon discover nothing is as expected. 

They are alone on the island. Cameras surround them, filming twenty-four hours a day. And their challenge? Discover which of the Seven Deadly Sins each contestant, including themselves, represents.

 Turns out each person has a damning secret--one that could ruin his or her life. Those secrets are about to be revealed on live television.

 And this is only the beginning of the twists in the game.

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!