When the Writing Journey Turns Into a Suspense Plot…

 

Every suspense writer knows the irony.

We spend our days crafting danger on the page—missing persons, ticking clocks, secrets that refuse to stay buried. We outline for control. We plan for contingencies. We believe that if we do our part, the story will behave.

And then real-life leans in and whispers, Your turn.

It always starts small.
A distraction that shouldn’t matter.
An obligation that can’t be ignored.
A day that derails the one you had planned.

You adapt.
You improvise.
You tell yourself you’re still in control.

You’re not.

Because life doesn’t announce itself with flashing lights. It slips in quietly—through responsibility, through relationships, through moments that suddenly demand more than you have room to give.

A need rises unexpectedly.
A burden lands heavier than you were prepared for.
A moment arrives when writing has to wait—because life won’t.

And that’s when the real tension begins.

Not on the page, but in the heart.

Because writing isn’t just something we do. It’s something we steward. Our stories carry pieces of our faith, our hope, our wrestling. They’re shaped by prayer, perseverance, and long nights when the words come slowly but the calling doesn’t let go.

Have you ever felt like your life’s journey is a plot twist you didn’t see coming?

Well, you’re not alone.

You’re just living the kind of suspense we suspense authors know best.

And just like every good story, it isn’t over yet.

The chapter may look different than you planned.
The pace may have changed.
But God still holds the ending.

And the story?

It always finds its way back on track.

I’ll be giving away an eBook copy of Hunting Truth, a K-9 Anthology when it comes out February 13^th.

It includes my book, Deadly Showdown.  

https://amzn.to/48PhGGT

Leave a comment for a chance to win and be sure to include your email address.

Here’s a little about the book!

Hunting Truth: A Christian Romantic Suspense Collection (Scent of Justice Book 1)

Deadly Showdown - Mary Alford

FBI Special Agent Ava Blake has spent years trying to outrun the past and the serial killer who nearly destroyed her. But when a woman’s body is found encased in wax near Glacier National Park, Ava knows the “Wax Saint” has returned. Teaming up with Shadow, a scarred military K-9 who is part of the FBI’s new Redeemed K-9 Unit, and Caleb Ward, the man she once loved, Ava must face her deepest fears to stop a predator who’s turned murder into ritual. As the killer’s twisted game closes in, Ava realizes his ultimate target isn’t just another victim…it’s her.

Three Fine Days - Katy Lee

When a brutal murder shatters the serenity of a private North Carolina island resort, manager Jerard Buchanan will do anything to protect his billionaire boss’s reputation by keeping the press out. But when Eden Hartwell, a compassionate dog trainer he forgot he hired to help with his rambunctious retired K-9 arrives, he can't turn her away, especially as the murder has increased his PTSD symptoms. Quickly, Eden becomes a bright light in his dark world of secrets, both business and personal. For three perfect days, they share laughter, trust, and unexpected love. Then the story leaks. The press descends. Lies unravel. And the killer isn’t finished. Were their three fine days just an illusion? Who is she really? And is she worth fighting for?

Bullets - Terry Toler

Bullets is a gripping romantic suspense about redemption, loyalty, and second chances. When former Navy SEAL Peter Lawson reaches the end of his rope, his suicide attempt is interrupted by Maddie, a woman with her own secrets, and her newly adopted retired police K9, Bullet. Drawn together by fate and danger, Maddie’s compassion and Bullet’s unshakable devotion pull Peter back from the brink. As threats close in and secrets unravel, the three form a bond that would be tested to its core. In a story where healing comes through love, trust, and courage, Bullets proves that sometimes the ones we save end up saving us.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Mary