SUSPENSE SISTERS: FEBRUARY GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: February Giveaway

Finding Writing Inspiration in Conspiracy Theories

I recently stumbled across a conspiracy theory that has bent my brain. Photos of celebrities and historical figures that bear a striking resemblance to one another. One doppelgänger might be considered a coincidence, but as I tumbled further down the worm hole, the sheer number of side-by-side images sent a tickle up my spine. Here are just a handful of the photos that brought bits and pieces of story ideas to life. 

The first picture shows Alec Baldwin on one side and President Millard Fillmore on the other. The resemblance is jarring. 

Donald Trump looks an awful lot like Elvis Presley. 

Ryan Gosling could easily pass as a close relation of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

Robin Williams and TikTokker Uncle Pappy look the same and have the same voice. Many on TikTok fully believe that Robin Williams retired the character of Robin Williams and is living a quiet life as Uncle Pappy until he resurfaces again in Hollywood someday. 

So many other photos show current Hollywood elites and politicians who look just like Hollywood elites and politicians of the past.  

There are a few running theories in conspiracy theorist circles that try to explain how these seemingly carbon copied faces might be jumping through historical timelines. Some think that celebrities are vampires who remain youthful through terrible means. Others claim that celebrities are nothing more than fallen angels wearing human flesh, immortal and changing identities to avoid letting regular people notice their agelessness. Then, of course, there's the theory that they're being cloned. 

If I wanted to write a fantasy suspense, I'd use the vampire theory. At first, the vampire theory seemed to bleed too far into fairytale (pun intended) for the suspense I typically write, but the recent release of the Epstein files and all the horrors they contain make the idea of vampires feel almost reasonable. (Note the resemblance between Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Jackson above.) 

The fallen angel option is an interesting one, too. Like the vampire option, this brings with it the idea of immortality and offers an explanation for why people throughout history have looked alike. Down to the scars on some celebrities' faces, they line up in a scary way. The more I consider it, the more I think it would be fun to run with this idea. Spiritual warfare could play a part and fans of Frank Peretti might like it. 

The use of cloning to ultimately explain the doppelgängers would make for an interesting Sci-Fi suspense novel. The thing about Sci-Fi that I don't particularly care for is how much research I'd have to do to understand cloning. 

Setting writing aside, these photos still raise questions. I realize all these options are conspiracy theories, but the funny thing about conspiracies is that people think they're crazy until they're proven right. Will we learn someday that fallen angels walk among us or that more cloning is going on than we think?

Comment below with a conspiracy theory you think would make an interesting story to be entered for a chance to win a copy of The Purple Nightgown!

WHATS HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new in inspirational mystery and suspense? Our fearless leader, Nancy Mehl, has a new suspense, Dark Design, #2 in the Erin Delaney Mystery series, recently released from Bethany House. 

Here's a little bit about the story: As she began to lose consciousness, she realized that she'd just made a very serious mistake. . . .
She tried to call out for help, but she couldn't see anyone on the shore.
There was no one to save her. When Erin Delaney learns that a serial killer has mimicked the murder portrayed in her bestselling novel, she joins her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI profiler, in Virginia. Their reunion, only a few months after fending off an eerie killer in the woods of Tennessee, is bittersweet, as Kaely has been tasked by the FBI to recruit Erin's help to identify a suspect. The FBI's team is stumped by the murderer who re-creates killings from the books of multiple authors, with only ominous notes left behind. As Erin is drawn further into the web of fear and chaos, Kaely begins to fear for Erin's safety.

On top of tracking down a murderer, Erin must shoulder the weight of a haunted past and claims that she stole the plot of her novel from one of her sources. As she struggles on multiple fronts, the enemy looms closer than ever--and Erin's life hangs in the balance.

"Readers will be riveted by this non-stop, twisty thriller."--Elizabeth Goddard on Shattered Sanctuary

Bestselling author Nancy Mehl threads a plot of police investigations and shadowy evidence with heart-drumming suspense in this clean, high-stakes read that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.

You can buy Dark Design #2 in the Erin Delaney Mystery series HERE from Christianbook.com

Have a great week of reading, lovers of inspirational suspense and mystery! ~ Mary Ellis

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Mary Ellis will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.

Wednesday, we’ll hear from author A.D. Lawrence who will talk about finding story inspiration from conspiracy theories. She’s also giving away a copy of THE PURPLE NIGHTGOWN.

Step into True Colors -- a series of Historical Stories of Romance and True American Crime

Marvel at true but forgotten history when patients check into Linda Hazzard's Washington state spa in 1912 and soon become victim of her twisted greed.

Heiress Stella Burke is plagued by insincere suitors and nonstop headaches. Exhausting all other medical aides for her migraines, Stella reads Fasting for the Cure of Disease by Linda Hazzard and determines to go to the spa the author runs. Stella's chauffer and long-time friend, Henry Clayton, is reluctant to leave her at the spa. Something doesn't feel right to him, still Stella submits herself into Linda Hazzard's care. Stella soon learns the spa has a dark side and Linda a mean streak. But when Stella has had enough, all ways to leave are suddenly blocked. Will Stella become a walking skeleton like many of the other patients or succumb to a worse fate?

ORDER IT HERE 

Friday. Suspense Sisters Melissa Koslin talks about her pet peeves in fiction. Do you agree with her picks? Do you have any others? Here’s a little about her latest release, DESCENDED.

Thousands of miles from home, Isa sees a man who looks intensely familiar. After she thwarts an attempt on her life, she escapes down the mountain with the familiar man, Xander, and he explains about four ancient bloodlines, each with its own unique set of skills: Cicero, Solomon, Sun Tzu, and Lilith. He belongs to a secret society devoted to observing and recording, but never interfering. Until now.

As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer's motivations and identity be too much to handle?

ORDER IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

Review of Raging Waters by Dana Mentink

 Last week, I had the opportunity to read Raging Waters by Dana Mentink, and the story blew me away! This is the first of Dana's books I've read, and it made me want to read everything she's ever written. 

Back Cover Blurb:

When Mackenzie Bardine's brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing "Bullseye," the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron's best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he's certainly not interested in helping her after he's already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron's fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it's clear to Gideon she's in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can't bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

There were so many things to love about Raging Waters, so I'll limit myself to three. 

1.) I love that Raging Waters is not just suspenseful because of a killer. So much of the nail-biting stems from the flood and fight for survival. It's not very often I run across a story that includes the element of surviving nature as well as a villain, and I must say, it adds a lot to the plot. When danger is literally hitting from all sides, the stakes are high, and I can't turn the pages quickly enough. 

2.) The characters in Raging Waters are memorable. For starters, the characters have much better survival skills than I would in their situation. I'm pretty certain I would have collapsed and longed for the sweet release of death a third of the way into the perils they faced. Not only were the characters skillful, they also had deep wounds and personal hurdles to overcome. Mackenzie, in particular, had big goals, but those goals often conflicted with the severity of the storm and the persistence of the villain, which created major problems and gave so much room for growth. Both Mackenzie and Gideon made me feel the gamut of emotions as the story unfolded. They didn't feel one dimensional. Instead, they behaved like real people, and I loved it!

3.) Dana's writing style set Raging Waters apart, in my opinion. Not only is her voice unique and fun to read, but her ability to write such extreme weather in a believable way made me feel as if I had been plunged into the middle of the story right along with Gideon and Mackenzie. At certain points of the book, I was left shivering even though I was huddled under a blanket. From beginning to end, this story pulled me in, and I was sad to reach the final page. 

I can't recommend Raging Waters enough! It releases on March 3rd, and you can pre-order a copy here. 

Comment below with your favorite book for a chance to win an eBook copy of Raging Waters.

PIVOT--THE LIFE OF AN AUTHOR

 Pivot (verb): to adapt or improve by adjusting or modifying something (such as a product, service, or strategy)

An author never knows when words will flow or when writing the next sentence will be an exercise in pulling dandelions. When you're "in the flow," it's great. Pulling dandelions, not so much. Many times, that's when you have to pivot.

In January, I was 26,000 words into a new manuscript, rolling right along toward my mirror moment at 40,000 words with the book set at a unique place. I’m in my happy zone because everything is falling into place…

Then I check my email and find an email from the unique place denying my request to set the book there. It seems murder and violence do not fit with their mission statement. Gulp. Major setback and problems since my deadline is March 16.

Pivot time. 

Should I create a setting similar to the unique one? Or scrap the idea altogether? And why didn't I send the request before I wrote 26,000 words? And how was I going to meet my deadline? All good questions that I set out to answer. 

First, I did contact the unique place about setting my book there, and their answer was lost in cyberspace. Thankfully, when I asked again about a month ago, and the PR person got back to me, it wasn't lost.

I contacted my editor, and we set up a Zoom meeting for a couple of days later. Immediately, I took time to pray and ask God for guidance before starting to brainstorm. Then I took out a blank sheet of artist paper--hey, it works for artists--and came up with a plausible plot line that my editor loved when we met, but it would take major revision on what I'd written. She extended my deadline to September 7, and I got to work.

That's how this author adapted when an unexpected challenge threw a monkey wrench in my writing path. It seems that making these changes will be harder than I initially thought, so every extra day of my extended deadline will come in handy. I'll also spend a lot of time talking to God...at least I'm really enjoying the story!

How about you? How do you pivot when faced with a challenge? Leave a comment, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a mug to enjoy your favorite beverage in.