Friday, August 14, 2026
THE WRITING LIFE - WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
The writing life can be interesting. When I started writing, manuscripts were sent in the mail. (Yes, I’m that old.) I remember when the idea of sending work over the Internet was something publishers weren’t sure about. The change came slowly. Now, our work is sent back and forth in seconds. The idea of going back to paper is…ridiculous. However, this fast-paced digital life can present problems. Like when a manuscript disappears and there’s no way to retrieve it. So…you have to write it again, making your release date much longer than anyone, including me, my publisher, and my readers, expected. After a long wait, FATAL FINALE, the third and final book in my “The Erin Delaney Mysteries” series, will release on August 18th. This series brings back one of my most popular characters, Kaely Quinn. Here’s a little something about the book:
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out.
"Run!" Kaely said.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
Nancy Mehl delivers thrills like no one else in the closure of her high-stakes Christian romantic suspense series full of action, investigations, cryptic clues, and dangerous threats. This promises to captivate fans of Criminal Minds, Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, and Elizabeth Goddard.
And by the way, I email my work to myself every day now. A very successful author told me that no matter what advice she’s received, it’s the only way of saving her work that she trusts. Wise words and very helpful. Thanks, Colleen.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
A VISIT WITH CARRIE STUART PARKS
Join us today for a great interview with Carrie Stuart Parks. I met Carrie many years ago at an American Christian Fiction Writers conference, and we just hit it off. She is a fascinating writer with a great "Day Job" as a forensic artist. Check her website out for more details. She also raises Great Pyrenees!
Now for our interview. We'll be talking about her book, Survival in the Mountains. Carrie is giving away a print copy so be sure to leave a comment.
Carrie: I think two things came together in my mind—one was the tricky sales claims of various products: “bestselling suntan oil” doesn’t mean it works, “Doctor recommended” could be a doctor of literature, “Over one million bottles sold” could mean there are a million chumps. There are a lot of ‘miracle’ products advertised that claim to cure anything from hangnails to cancer. What if someone wanted to exploit that? Add to that, when I was going through chemo for breast cancer, one of the chemo drugs came from the lowly yew tree. Soooooo, what if a couple of like-minded bad guys decided to exploit a common berry that could, supposedly, keep you looking young?
Patricia: Oh, wow! I love the way your mind works. What’s your favorite scene? And why.
Carrie: Any scene with Izzy, the Bull Terrier.
Patricia: I can see that. :-) What keeps you at the keyboard, especially on days you would rather do something else?
Carrie: Deadlines.
Patricia: I'm with you there. Is there a part of the book that comes from your own life?
Carrie: I mentioned the chemo drug. Izzy—we’ve had bullies for 37 years. Idaho. Horseback riding.
Patricia: How long does it usually take you to write a book from thought to finish?
Carrie: It used to take a year. Now more like 4 months.
Patricia: Deadlines usually make us write faster...or at least make writing a priority. What’s your favorite beverage? Coffee, tea or something else?
Carrie: Coffee and wine.
Patricia: Ah, a girl after my own heart! What are you working on now?
Carrie: Edits for two books—Dead File Whispers and Tracked in the Wilderness
Patricia: Oh, wow, you are busy! Thanks for taking time to visit The Suspense Sisters Blog!
Be sure to check out Carrie's website and social media. She's giving away a copy of Survival in the Mountains to someone who leaves a comment on the blog. (US addresses only) You can ask Carrie a question or comment whether you've read any of Carrie's books. I've read Survival in the Mountains, and it is awesome!
You can connect with Carrie here:
Monday, August 10, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
Brand new release this week! What a tempting read!
Wild Fire
by Kendra Cross
A deadly cover-up.
And a truth someone is willing to burn to keep hidden.
Fire Captain Cole Brennan
has faced danger before—on the battlefield and in the mountains he now
protects.
But nothing has prepared
him for this.
When a series of
wildfires ignite across the Colorado backcountry, Cole knows something isn’t
right. The patterns are too precise. The timing too perfect. And as the fires
spread, so does the uneasy feeling that someone is using the chaos to destroy
more than just land.
ATF Special Agent Bennett
Jameson has spent years hunting arsonists. For her, fire isn’t just
destruction—it’s personal. When her investigation brings her to Brennan Ridge,
she quickly realizes these fires are part of something far more calculated… and
far more dangerous.
Because someone is using
the fires to erase evidence.
Evidence tied to a secret
the Brennan family has been chasing for years. And if Cole can’t face what’s
burning inside him as well as what’s raging around him, he may lose more than
the mountains he’s sworn to protect.
A powerful Christian romantic suspense about purpose in the fire, healing from the past, and finding faith when everything feels lost.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley interviews author Carrie Stuart Parks about her book, SURVIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS. Carrie is giving away a copy of this exciting book to someone who leaves a comment.
SURVIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS
Someone is hunting them.
But she can’t remember why…
ORDER IT HERE
On Friday, author Nancy Mehl talks about her new release, FATAL FINALE. Leave a comment, and you could win a signed copy of her latest novel!
FATAL FINALE
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out. "Run!" Kaely said.
When bestselling author Erin Delaney's novel gets picked up for a movie deal, she eagerly awaits her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter's arrival in Tennessee before they head to California to observe the film's production. However, when Kaely does not arrive at the scheduled time and Erin can't reach her by phone, her concern grows.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
PREORDER IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Irrational Fears I've Developed From Reading Suspense
One of the many joys of reading suspense is that I get to experience danger from the comfort of my favorite chair while sipping sweet tea. I can follow characters into abandoned buildings, investigate suspicious noises, uncover long-buried secrets, and narrowly escape people who seem far too comfortable hiding in the woods—all while wrapped in a blanket.
It’s safe. Mostly.
The only problem is that suspense novels occasionally introduce me to things I never considered dangerous before. A danger that suddenly becomes extremely relevant to my everyday life. I finish the book and go about my normal routine… only to realize that I am now suspicious of things others view as harmless.
Are these fears rational?
Probably not.
But those fears are stuck in my head somewhere anyway.
Here are a few irrational fears I’ve developed while reading suspense.
1. Swans
Before reading Haven of Swans by Colleen Coble, I thought swans were beautiful. Graceful. Peaceful. The kind of bird you might see gliding across a lake while inspirational music plays in the background.
Now? I have questions.
I’m not saying I’m afraid of every swan.But if I see one staring at me from across a pond, I may start mapping out an escape route. Because if Colleen Coble taught me anything, it's that swans look a lot more pleasant than they actually are. Their territorial nature and knife-like beaks don't make them the most hospitable creatures on earth.
Alfred Hitchcock gave me a healthy fear of all birds, but Colleen Coble gave me a specific fear of swans.
2. Driving Over Bridges
After reading Raging Waters by Dana Mentink, I developed a brand-new appreciation for solid ground. Bridges were never my favorite thing, but I used to view them as a normal part of driving. You approach one. You drive across it. You continue with your day.
Simple.
Suspense novels have added several unnecessary questions to this process: What is underneath the bridge? What if the weather changes suddenly? What if the road is damaged?What if my car breaks down at the worst possible moment? What if someone is following me and tries to bump my car off the bridge? What if the bridge is not nearly as trustworthy as it appears?
Now, whenever I drive across a bridge, I find myself paying far more attention than necessary.
I drive with my window rolled down in case the car ends up submerged and I need to quickly swim to safety. I’m checking the water. Checking my mirrors. Mentally calculating whether turning around would be socially acceptable.
It’s not that I think every bridge is dangerous. I just think bridges have a lot of opportunities to become dangerous, and suspense authors are very creative people.
3. Remote Cabins in the Woods
I used to think that a vacation to a cabin in the woods or mountains sounded relaxing. Beautiful scenery. No traffic. No neighbors.
Wait.
No neighbors?
That used to sound peaceful. Now it sounds like the opening chapter of a suspense novel. Specifically, Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl.
Now, I see a remote cabin vacation completely differently. Because if I scream, who is going to hear me? The nearest town is probably thirty miles away. I probably wouldn't have any cell service out in the sticks. The power goes out during a storm. And the only person who knows I'm there is the suspiciously friendly owner who said, “People don’t usually stay in that cabin this time of year.”
Absolutely not. I’ll take a hotel. With a front desk, security cameras, and at least three coffee shops in driving distance.
4. Nice People
Suspense novels in general have made me deeply suspicious of people who seem too nice. You know the type. They bring cookies. They offer helpful advice. They have an excellent reputation in the community. They smile until their cheeks must ache.
And somewhere around chapter twenty-three, you discover they have been hiding something behind that smile and that squeaky-clean reputation for the last decade. Spoiler alert whatever they're hiding is never good. They aren't secret philanthropists or animal rescuers. Typically, they're hiding dead bodies in the basement or garage.
Now, when someone is unusually helpful, a tiny part of my brain whispers: What are they covering up?
To be clear, I still appreciate kindness. I just think everyone should provide a brief background check along with their homemade banana bread. It would save time.
The Price We Pay for Loving Suspense
The truth is, I wouldn’t trade suspense novels for anything. I love the twists, the danger, the secrets, and the moments that make me stay awake far too late because I have to know what happens next. If the occasional book leaves me suspicious of swans or nervous while driving over a bridge, that’s a small price to pay.
Besides, irrational fears are part of the fun. They remind us that a good suspense novel doesn’t end when we close the book. Sometimes it follows us into everyday life. Sometimes it changes the way we look at a quiet lake. It makes us check the lock on the door twice.
And sometimes it makes us wonder whether that swan across the pond is watching us…
Or waiting to strike.
What irrational fear has a suspense novel given you?
Tell me in the comments. I need to know whether I’m the only one avoiding swans and side-eyeing bridges. Your comment will enter you in a drawing for an ebook copy of The Purple Nightgown.
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