WHEN LIFE GOES SIDEWAYS

 By Patricia Bradley

I think I've posted about this subject before. That said, I don't know about you, but it seems the older I get, the more life goes sideways. This time, I had just received my edits, and they were due in three weeks. Did I say they were extensive? 

But the death of a beloved family member trumped everything. Focusing on edits or anything else was impossible. What do you do when something like that happens?

You do the next thing, starting with prayer. Thankfully, my publisher was understanding when an emergency came up and granted me an extension, but what if it's one of many emergencies? That happens sometimes--you've heard of the rule of three, right? Actually, the rule of three doesn't exactly refer to things happening in threes, and is a whole other blog post, but have you ever noticed how bad things sometimes come in clusters?

Even with an extension and getting back to the new normal--don't you just hate that phrase, new normal? Anyway, I'm finding it hard to wrap my head around how to make the changes the story needs...Like, I need to take a character out, and that means a whole storyline...so what do I do?  

I procrastinate. 

But procrastinating can be bad, you say. Yes and no. Yes, it will put pressure on me a few weeks from now when the deadline approaches, but since I work better under pressure, that might be good. And no, procrastinating is not always bad because it gives the girls in the attic (guys call the subconscious the boys in the basement) time to sort out what I need to do. 

Again, all of this is bathed in prayer, which is my first line of defense. Because bad things are going to happen. All.The.Time. We have to learn how to adjust to things as they happen, and if we're prayed up, it's easier. I'd also been praying that if my brain doesn't start working soon, could I have more time on the deadline? 

I learned Friday that was a real possibility and I didn't even have to ask for it. The downside is that the book is being pushed back a couple of months, but at this point, I'll take it. But see what prayer does? God knew my brain wasn't ready to start working yet.

I guess the point of this rambling post is that when life goes sideways, do the next thing after doing the first thing -- pray. At least I'm really excited about this book, and I trust my editors, so the changes will make this a really good book. 

So what do you do when life goes sideways? Leave your answer in the comments, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a $10 gift card. And don't forget to enter our $100 giveaway!

SUSPENSE SISTERS: OCTOBER GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: October Giveaway

WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense

Marji Laine here. 

This collection was brought to my attention because the second part of the collection includes our own Suspense Sister Kristen Hogrefe Parnell! I'll be sharing that next week, when it releases, but for this week, here is the first part of this thrilling Christmas suspense collection! 

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Christmas Under Fire:
A Christian Romantic Suspense Collection

By Dana R. Lynn, Jenna Brandt, Jessica Ashley   

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Stolen Silence – Dana R. Lynn
Jenna Stone has spent her life believing she was adopted—until private investigator Brody Carson arrives with a stunning truth: she was kidnapped as a child. Hired to find her by the family who never stopped searching, Brody is determined to uncover the truth before Jenna vanishes again. But someone has spent years keeping her identity buried . . . and will kill to protect the lie. Haunted by the loss of his own little sister, Brody sees this case as a last chance at redemption. As danger closes in, Jenna must decide if trusting him will save her life—or cost them both everything.

A Hope for the Heroic Firefighter – Jenna Brandt
Brandon Holloway just got his dream job—fire chief of his small hometown. He’s barely settling into his new routine when a huge arson case falls into his lap, one so complicated he’s forced to call in the county for assistance. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself interested in the arson investigator sent to help him.

Desiree Garcia fought her way into the arson division after years of being iced out. Now that she finally has the chance to prove herself, she’s not willing to let anything stop her from solving her first big case, not even the handsome fire chief at the epicenter.

Will Brandon give into his growing attraction? Will Desiree let down her guard for a chance at love? And what happens when the danger surrounding the case threatens both their lives?

Proof of Life – Jessica Ashley
Maverick built his life on quiet control. He doesn’t even touch the alcohol he serves, but the bar he inherited from his grandfather is his sanctuary, far from the man he used to be.
Until she walks in.

Haunted and on the run, she’s everything he should turn away. Instead, he gives her a place where no one will touch her.
The closer they get, the more the lines he swore he’d never cross start to blur.

And when her past catches up, Maverick will have to decide just how far he’s willing to go to keep her alive.

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Get your own copy of this first book of A Thrill Before Christmas HERE! 

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

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

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

Wednesday, Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley talks about what to do when life goes sideways. She’s also giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. Here’s something about one of her most recent releases – ON THE EDGE OF TRUST.

Sometimes the closer you get to justice, the deadlier it becomes

When decorated FBI undercover agent Scott Sinclair suffers a gunshot wound in his right arm, the injury threatens his future career in the field. He is determined to regain his former job by training himself to use his left hand, and failure is not an option--especially when he's unofficially pulled into an investigation.

Tori Mitchell is a passionate crime reporter and podcaster who has dedicated her life to seeking justice. Her relentless pursuit of the truth has freed a wrongfully convicted man from prison, making Tori an enemy of the true killer. When her nephew is accused of a different murder, nothing can stop her from getting involved and clearing his name.

Soon after Tori and Scott reconnect on the case, shots are fired, leaving them to wonder which of them has been targeted. As the investigation intensifies, so do the threats and the sparks between them, but Tori's doubtful if she can extend grace and trust to Scott. They'll have to combine their skills and rely on their growing relationship to outsmart the killer.

Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Elizabeth Goddard, and readers who love faith-based fiction and edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this riveting, clean romantic suspense delivers heart-pounding danger and forced-proximity romance.

ORDER IT HERE 

Friday, author Nancy Mehl will answer more reader questions. She’ll also talk about her newest release, 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.

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.


ORDER IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

Interview with Suspense Sister Marji Lane

 I'm so honored to have the privilege of interviewing our very own Marji Lane regarding her latest release, D-Valued! Let's dig right in to the interview and learn more about Marji and her book. 

What first drew you to writing suspense, and what makes you keep coming back to the genre?

I was a fan of Christian mystery and suspense before I started seriously writing. The “Smart Chick” mysteries by Mindy Starnes Clark inspired me to stop dabbling and actually finish some of the stories I’d started. I had an agent interested within the year and writing mysteries with suspense became a delight. Like a mid-week vacay when I could shut everything else down and delight in the stories the Lord gave. 

How does your faith influence the stories you write?

That has developed throughout the last couple of decades. I guess how my own faith has grown, the faith of my characters has become more prominent. I’ve always written broken characters in impossible situations who have to rely on the Lord and the people He puts into their paths for their very survival. In this series, Tasha’s faith has grown over the last few years, stemming from a difficulty in her past. In this book, she’s reeling, trying to turn the page to a new chapter in her life. Her faith-filled habits take a back seat for a short time until she recognizes her self-reliance. The same self-reliance that has made terrible problems for her in the past. But this is a developing part of her full story – the complete series. It’s gonna take a while for her to go beyond all of her issues. I look forward to walking with her through it.

I love reading characters who grow over time! Can't wait to see how Tasha develops! What do you love most about writing characters who are facing fear, danger, or impossible choices?

Usually, my characters have no idea that they wear a target on their backs. The reveal of the truth of that is one of my favorite parts of the book! In fact, revealing truth to the characters, and revealing Truth through the characters, has to be one of my favorite parts of writing. In this book, Tasha believes all sorts of lies that she tells herself. She has a lot to sort through, from past situations and new people in her life. She comes in like she’s living as closed as a clamshell. Her friends and her aunt have trouble breaking through, but the desperate situations that develop shatter her shell at the most inopportune times. Bringing characters to that position is the most fun part of writing for me. 

How do you balance darkness and danger with themes of hope, redemption, and faith?

Funny you should ask. In a recent introduction, when I told the man that I wrote Christian murder mysteries, he asked, “How does murder and Christian work together?” 

I thought my answer was clever. “How does murder work with anything?” But the truth of the matter is that sometimes we have to be brought to the pit before we recognize our need to look up. 

Being an author, I get to experience the joy (and often write with tears streaming down my face) of that situation again and again. In a recent manuscript, a man who has lost everything and assumed he’d lost his faith looks up at the sky and says, “I’m trying to trust You. I just don’t know how.” I find that question is true for believers as well. That’s what the growth of our relationship with the Lord is all about. As the old hymn says, we have to learn to follow - to Trust and Obey. I think authentic faith displayed in the characters is essential. 

Authentic faith in relatable characters is a great way to show Christianity without getting heavy handed. What is something about your writing process—or your personality as a writer—that might surprise your readers? 

I am a planner. A HUGE plotter. I outline the tar out of my stories. And my characters grow from a six-page list of questions. I even take the characters through a personality test. I’m not exaggerating when I say that those initial 6 pages of questions quickly become little miniature novels all by themselves. 

Even with all of that planning, at least once in every book, I have an unexpected situation. I realized early on that the inspiration just jumped into the stories. Writing a book about a woman who had fled her home and gone into hiding, she visited a library and opened the news of her hometown to see if her disappearance warranted a news story. In her search, she found a picture of an empty burned out lot. Then suddenly she realized that she was looking through the lot to her backdoor neighbor’s house. The lot had been her house. The shock of that moment almost 15 years ago still resonates. And something similar happens at least once in everyone one of my stories. 

If your readers walk away from this book with one thing besides a good dose of suspense, what would you hope they take with them?

I hope Tasha stays with them. She’s complex and still has so much more to reveal – as do her friends. This series has twists and turns that I haven’t even fully fleshed out yet, but I’m excited to see where it goes!

I love behind the scenes information on how great books are written! Get your copy of D-Valued by Marji Lane here. Or comment below with your favorite part about fall for a chance to win an e-book copy. 

Coincidence...or Something More Sinister? Plus, A Suspense Sisters Giveaway!

 Hello, suspense lovers! Mary Alford here.

I have a question for you today.

Do you believe in coincidences?

I'm not talking about the little everyday coincidences, like running into an old friend at the grocery store or thinking about someone moments before they call.

I'm talking about the kind that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Imagine this…

Twelve years ago, a man was murdered along a lonely mountain road in a quiet Amish community. His killer was never found.

Now, more than a decade later, his son is discovered dead in almost the exact same location.

Authorities believe the young man took his own life.

But his sister knows better.

Two deaths. One lonely stretch of road. Twelve years of secrets.

Coincidence?

Or has someone been hiding a terrible truth all these years?

That's the mystery at the heart of my upcoming Love Inspired Suspense release, Secrets in Amish Country, coming October 27!

When Eve Lantz returns to Rachel's Crossing, Kentucky, following her brother's shocking death, she's forced to confront the painful memories that drove her away years earlier.

Eve has spent twelve years blaming herself for her father's murder. Now she's facing another devastating loss, and she's determined not to let her brother's death become another unsolved tragedy.

Fortunately, her childhood friend, Assistant Police Chief Casey Masterson, is there to help her search for answers.

But someone is watching.

Someone who knows what happened all those years ago.

And someone who will do whatever it takes to make sure Eve never uncovers the truth.

What happens when the past won’t stay buried?

One of the things I love most about writing suspense is exploring how the past can reach into the present.

Sometimes the most dangerous secrets aren't hidden in dark alleys or abandoned buildings. They're buried in the very places we consider safe.

And sometimes the people we trust most are the ones who have the most to hide.

But while I love creating mysteries that keep readers guessing, there's something even more important to me when I write Christian suspense.

I want my characters to discover that even in their darkest moments, God hasn't abandoned them.

In Secrets in Amish Country, Eve has carried the weight of guilt for twelve years. She believes her choices led to her father's death, and that burden has affected not only her life but also her relationship with God.

Now, as she searches for answers about her brother's death, Eve must confront something even harder than a killer.

She must learn to forgive herself and trust the God she's kept at a distance for so long.

One of the Scriptures that speaks to the heart of this story is Psalm 91:2 (KJV):

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

I love that reminder.

Life doesn't always turn out the way we expect. Sometimes we face heartbreak, unanswered questions, or circumstances that leave us wondering where God is in the middle of it all.

But even when we can't see what lies ahead, we can trust the One who does.

That's the kind of hope I want readers to carry away when they finish one of my books.

And it's a message that's especially close to my heart in Secrets in Amish Country.

Of course, before Eve can find peace with her past, she'll have to survive someone determined to make sure the truth stays buried.

And that brings me to today's giveaway!

I'm giving away one print copy of Secrets in Amish Country to a reader who comments on today's post!

Here's your detective challenge:

Two members of the same family die in nearly the same location, twelve years apart. The second death is ruled a possible suicide.

If you were the detective assigned to this case, what would be your FIRST move?

A. Reopen the father's murder investigation. There has to be a connection.

B. Investigate the son's final days. What did he know that might have gotten him killed?

C. Return to the crime scene. Maybe there's something investigators overlooked.

D. Start questioning family friends and neighbors. Someone knows more than they're saying.

Tell me your answer in the comments!

I'll randomly select one commenter to receive a print copy of Secrets in Amish Country. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment.

Mary Alford