Writing books when life gets in the way.....and a free book! ____Roxanne Rustand

When you start out with dreams of becoming a published author, you have no deadlines. No pressure. 

But when you finally have a publisher, or become truly serious about an Indie career and set up your first book as a pre-order on Amazon or other platforms, everything changes.  Deadlines loom and must be met.  

But still, life happens. 

Computer crashes. Illnesses or deaths in the family.  Other situations that can't be put on the back burner.  Spiders.

I was struggling with a tight deadline, with at least fifty pages left and less than a week to do them, when I saw it: The biggest wolf spider I'd ever seen. These spiders are especially creepy because they are clearly sentient. 

They see me. Freeze. Clearly watch for my next move. Consider their next move. Then they race for cover.  If I move, they change course.

It's all fine if I encounter them outside, but this behemoth was on the workbench in the shop downstairs.  Which meant I would eventually see him again.

I love all animals. Our kids grew up owning every kind of indoor pet — rodents, lizards, fish, cats, dogs, and even snakes.  But their pet tarantula was a bridge too far, as are random and uninvited spiders.

This one raced underneath a crumpled paper towel. I impulsively slammed my hand down. The creature escaped, but a heavy piece of angle iron was lying in wait under that towel, and I broke a bone in my hand. 

Trying to type with my new cast was a disaster, and the clock was ticking toward my book deadline.

Fortunately, speech-to-text programs for Mac computers have been evolving over the years and were fairly good at that point in time. Trying to dictate my story helped me inch toward my final chapter.

And then...I caught a cold, which swiftly turned to severe bronchitis and then laryngitis. However much that speech-to-text program had improved, it could not read my thoughts when I couldn't speak...so I was back to typing with one hand.

I did meet that deadline, but barely, and this experience taught me some lessons:

Appreciate the normal capabilities I (usually) have. 

Be kind to spiders. 

And never again let myself get behind on deadlines!

That book was out several years ago.  But I do have a new book that was released earlier this month!

Leave a comment, and you will be entered in a drawing for a free e-copy of Dangerous December, the book that precedes it in this Northern Pines Suspense series

DANGEROUS SUMMER is a heartwarming, character-driven, small-town romance. This clean, faith-friendly romance has a light touch of suspense.

Sophie is a widowed mom focused on her child. He’s hiding from the world. But with forced proximity and her job at stake, can opposites attract and become an unexpected chance at love?

It's a heartfelt story of second chances, family, and the power of love to heal even the deepest scars.


All my best to you in 2026!

Roxanne Rustand

Catching Up On Characters

 by Patricia Bradley

Do you like to catch up on characters from books you read years ago? I do. Not only that, I always have a character or two that I've written into a story that I want to find out what happened to them. I know that sounds strange--an author should know what happens to their characters, right? 

Wrong. Or at least for me, it is. Most of the time when I write a book, I don't even know who committed the crime until almost the end. In more than one book, I've had to go back and add information when the killer turns out to be someone other than the person I thought it was. 

And then there are the characters who didn't get their story, and I want to write it. Wade Hatcher from Shadows of the Past is one character. He always took his girfriend, the librarian, for granted, and I always wanted to show him the error of his ways.

I did get the chance to catch up on Scott Sinclair in On the Edge of Trust, which releases on November 4. When we last saw Scott in Shadows of the Past, he was seventeen and trying to stay sober after almost being murdered. I always wanted to redeem him, and ten years later, he's 27 and a decorated undercover FBI agent recovering from a shoulder wound that threatens to end his career.

I enjoyed catching up on some of the other characters from the Logan Point series, like Ben Logan and Nick Sinclair. By the way, during the month of September, the digital copies of the series are on sale, including Shadows of the Past.

He's remained sober, but recognizes he's only one drink away from falling back into his old pattern. Of course the heroine has been hurt deeply when she learns her father is a recovering alcoholic who she believes is responsible for her mother's death. So she believes all alcoholics will fail eventually. Makes for really good conflict. 

Here's the cover and back copy for 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.



I'm giving away a digital copy of Shadows of the Past. Leave a comment by September 15, and let me know if you like to catch up on characters from past books.

Mark is the winner of Deadly Revenge from July's post!

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE 

There's Trouble Up North...

Meet Doyle, who finds peril in paradise in this rivals romance, book 3 in the Minnesota Kingston series by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren

When love and danger collide, paradise plays by its own rules.

When Tiana Pepper lands on the lush island of Mariposa, she just wants to put her sad past behind her. Her goal is a new beginning as fundraiser and director of Hope House, a local orphanage.

Except she’s not the director. She’s co-director, and nobody told her she’d have to work with an impulsive, out-of-bounds, depend on his charm, annoying disaster rescuer, named Doyle Kingston.

She can run this show on her own, thanks.

Doyle Kingston, bearing the weight of his own grief, arrives at Hope House ready to leave behind a history of loss. He hopes to find forever homes for these orphans, and the last thing he expects is to have to work with a woman who thinks she’s the boss of this island paradise.

And yet…they have problems.

Like becoming the target of a local gang.

And boss, Billionaire Declan Stone has invited his fancy friends to the island to see Hope House up close, in hopes they’ll donate and get the orphanage on its feet. So…please, could they work together?

And wouldn’t you know it but among the donors is a treasure hunter who believes a pirate left a stash under Hope House. What-ever.

Then an earthquake rocks the island, kids go missing and Tia and Doyle have no choice but trust each other if they hope to save the children and each other.

Doyle is a pulse-pounding romantic suspense featuring rivals turned rescuers, where opposites attract amidst peril in paradise, are two hearts scarred by tragedy just might find a second chance at true love.

You can purchase Doyle by Susan May Warren here.

WE LOVE BOOKS!

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE by Patricia Bradley

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense? Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn was released just last week! Check it out! 

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. After serving as the artist-in-residence, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home in which to grow up.

Former Marine Callum Shaw always knew he would someday join his family's construction business in Gossamer Falls. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. The beautiful artist who has hired him to build her new house is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. He's loved--and lost--someone like her before.

When Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire, it becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but from whom? Cal will have to risk his heart again if he has any hope of protecting them.

You can buy Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn at Baker Books or these other sites.

WE LOVE BOOKS!

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

 by Patricia Bradley

Wondering what's Hot in Inspirational fiction this week? OPEN WATER by Betty Thomason Owens releases today! 

Here's the cover and back copy and links to buy.

As much as Lisa Oliver wanted to believe that she could be safe in the small Kentucky village, she knew that wouldn't be the case when Agent Farrow's car pulled next to the school where she had been working. They'd found her again? Who was stalking her and why?

Jake Bradley uses his widely popular "Jake on the Road" articles to help him continue to follow leads into Lisa's past, but he didn't expect the people whom he spoke with to be attacked and killed. How could he possibly protect this woman who had become so important to him when he so miserably failed at learning about her past and why someone had killed her parents?

So many secrets whirl around in this second chronicle of the Home Found series. Lisa and Jake learn more about her past, and about each other, in this dramatic suspense. 

You can purchase it here.

We love books! 

 

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

 BY PATRICIA BRADLEY

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? DANGEROUS TEXAS HIDEOUT (A Cowboy Protectors novel #3) by Virginia Vaughn was just released last week!

Seeking refuge from danger…with threats at every turn

When her daughter is the only witness able to identify a group of bank robbers, single mom Penny Jackson knows their lives are in danger. These men will do anything to keep Missy quiet—permanently. Escaping to a small Texas town was supposed to be safe, but when the criminals track them down, police chief Caleb Harmon becomes their only hope for survival…

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith. Cowboy Protectors.

You can find buy links here. Or purchase at ChristianBooks.com

We love books!

 

Thank you for your cover help! Roxanne Rustand

On Friday, October 13th, I posted about a mistake I'd made with the  book covers for the upcoming third and fourth books in my  DEA Special Agents series.  I almost always have book covers show the dogs in the story, but I forgot to tell my cover artist to add them! 

Many of you were so kind, and offered opinions on what I should do: go with the dog-less book covers as-is, or have them redone ASAP, to include the correct dogs that appear in each of the books. 

The Suspensesisters authors usually post just once a month or so, but I asked Nancy Mehl if I could post again just to express my thanks to everyone who left comments.   
 

Though I was in a bit of a tizzy, since the release dates are so close, all of you helped clarify both the situation and the solution.

I hope these new Deadly Evidence (release date 11/14) and January's Deadly Betrayal covers now coordinate better with the first two books in the series.

For comparison, look at the bottom cover. Deadly Noel is the book  released on October 18th--and it has a dog on the cover.   :)  

I hope the newly added dogs lend a bit more warmth and appeal. What do you think?

Thank you to everyone who offered advice.  

You are all so kind!

Roxanne Rustand    

AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LYNN SHANNON PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

 

Hello everyone. Today, we are featuring inspirational romantic suspense and sweet contemporary romance author Lynn Shannon here at Suspense Sisters.

Lynn has graciously agreed to giveaway 2 eBook copies of Ranger Protection, Book One of her Texas Ranger Heroes Series.

I will announce the 2 winners NEXT Friday, August 21^st.  To enter, please leave a comment with your email address!

You can read more about Lynn and Ranger Protection, at the end of the interview.   

Welcome, Lynn!

First of all, tell us about YOU.

Well, I spend most of my day writing, petting my dog, or chasing after my kids. There’s nothing very exciting about my life! I love baking, especially anything with chocolate, and I can’t keep a plant alive. Reading is my number one hobby, and I reach for Christian romantic suspense first every time. I also love to travel.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t know that there was a single moment that I decided to become a writer. It’s been in the back of my mind since my teenage years. I’ve been an avid reader all my life, so writing is a natural extension of that. Becoming an author has been an amazing journey. It’s such a blessing to write stories that bring people joy.

What authors have influenced you the most in your career?

Oh, how much time do you have? I love reading all of the Love Inspired Suspense books. I’m a member of several author groups on Facebook. The advice and guidance from the community has been invaluable.  

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like a “real author”?

When I held a copy of my first book, Ranger Protection, in my hands was the moment I felt like a real author. It was an amazing moment because my daughter was with me when I open the package. I even have a photo of her holding the book. I’ll never forget it.

How does your faith play into your writing?

My faith is part of who I am, and it comes out in my writing as a natural extension of the characters. The same themes tend to show up in my books: forgiveness, love, patience, and holding on to faith in difficult times.

What are you working on now?

I’ve got two projects in the works. One is a new book I want to submit to Harlequin. I’m also writing the next book in my Texas Ranger Heroes series, Ranger Faith.

What is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?

Joy. Books, for me, have always provided an escape from real life. In particular, Christian romantic suspense. From the time I open the book I know that the hero and heroine are going to fall in love and the bad guy will be caught. There’s real comfort in that, especially since real life can be so complicated and messy. My goal with every book is for the reader to close it with a happy sigh and say, “That was great.”

Anything else you want to share with us?

If you love search-and-rescue dogs, check out my debut release from Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Following the Evidence is still available in eBook format from all major retailers.  

About Lynn:

Lynn Shannon is a Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romantic suspense and sweet contemporary romance.

After an international move from Texas to Greece, Lynn turned her passion for reading into a love of writing. She lives with her husband, two children, an extremely spoiled dog, and a couple of chirpy lovebirds. The experience of a different country has provided new foods--like Yemista and Kourabiedes--to accompany pecans and Blue Bell ice cream on her favorites list. She also never passes up coffee, chocolate, or the chance to watch cute animal videos. You can learn more on her website at: www.lynnshannon.com

www.lynnshannon.com

Amazon: Lynn Shannon

Twitter: LynnSWrites

About Ranger Protection:

When Dr. Tara Sims is robbed, she fights back to protect her daughter and nearly pays with her life. She’s rescued by Texas Ranger Grady West. Her childhood friend is now a handsome lawman, but Tara refuses to acknowledge the chemistry sparking between them. With a little girl to raise and a growing medical practice, she has no room in her life for romance.

Grady suspects the vicious assault wasn’t a random act. What he can’t figure out is why anyone would attack the single mother. He vows to protect Tara and her little girl while keeping his growing feelings for them out of the equation. Getting romantically involved with his sister’s best friend is more hazardous than hunting criminals.

As the threats escalate and evidence links the robbery to a homicide, Tara and Grady realize nothing is quite as it seems. Untangling a web of secrets makes them the target of a madman, and it’s only a matter of time before the killer strikes again…

This novella kicks off the inspirational romantic suspense series Texas Ranger Heroes. Each book can be read as a standalone and guarantees a fast-paced mystery combined with sweet romance. 

Book Link: www.amazon.com/dp/B07JDZJG1Z

 

Thank you Lynn for joining us here at Suspense Sisters!

For a chance to win one of the 2 e-Book copies of  Ranger Protection, Book One of Lynn's Texas Ranger Heroes Series, leave a comment with your email address. 

I will announce the 2 winners NEXT Friday, August 21^st.  

Thanks so much!

Mary Alford 

 

FightWrite - How Women Kill

Female hostility is different than that of men. However, it’s the male version with which we are most familiar. That’s what is generally depicted on page and screen. But, be not deceived. Though the end result of female violence may be the same as a male, the path leading there is quite different.

Although statistically women kill less often than men, it is not because they are less violent. As a whole, women are as aggressive, if not more so, than their male counterparts. Marriage researchers have noted women are more likely to pick fights, quicker to escalate verbal aggression, and are just as likely to use physical aggression as men (1). However, that is in an intimate relationship. Women are far less likely to be as aggressive with those to whom they have no intimate ties. Yes, you are in far more danger around a woman you know than one who is a total stranger. 

So, if they are just as aggressive or more than men, why do they kill less? Well, that's for another post. In this post, we are going to look at how they get the deed done and it is much different than men.

First, the statistics I am going to show are U.S. statistics. I have a loyal contingency in Europe so I want to point that out. (Love y'all!) You will find that outside the good old U. S. of A. that gun violence will be much lower. In the U.K., according to the Office of National Statistics report in February of 2016, the number one method of homicide was knife. (2) The second most common was kicking and hitting without a weapon. Which is exactly what we saw in our post, Being Attacked, which took place in Glasgow, Scotland. 

However, although the modus operandi in other countries differs from the U.S., the difference in how the genders kill is pretty similar. Before I go any further, let’s look at the U.S. stats.  

Murder Weapons Used by Men Versus Women - FBI Supplemental Homicide Report 1999 - 2012

                                             Men          Women

Murders committed by           160,368          17,431    

Means of Attack                                           

   Gun                                    67%             39%

  Knife                                  12                23

Beating                                 7.1             12

  Other                                    7                12   

Blunt Object                         4.5             5.4

Strangulation                          .7               .9

Asphyxiation                           .6             2.6

Fire                                        .46           1.5

Poison                                    .4             2.5

Drowning                                .1                1

Explosives                               .03           .07

Defenestration                        .02           .04

Defenestration means throwing somebody out of a window. Yes, there's a term for throwing somebody out of a window that's not just "throw somebody out the window!"

Ok, what do we learn here? Yes, in the United States you are less likely to get shot by a woman. But, that may be because women simply own guns less than men. For every three male gun owners in the U.S. there is one female. And, women do tend to be at home more than men and folks don't generally carry their gun in their house. So, that could account for the lesser percentage of gun violence.

But, look at every other means of violence. Women are more likely to use an instrument to kill. And, the instrument is most likely a knife. Why do women use a tool to kill (statistically) more often than men? I see two reasons. If you see more, please put them in the comments. 

First, women do tend to be physically weaker than men. It's how we are and that's ok. I'm not sure who said we had to be as strong as a man or how we even starting comparing physicality of men and women. We are complimentary to one another not in competition with one another. Yeesh! Anyway, that disparity of strength can make overpowering a male victim difficult. Thus, women use a tool to even the playing field.

Two, women tend to kill people they know. (3) And, when you are intimately connected to the victim, you sometimes want to experience their suffering. Almost every other noted means of death requires being in someone's intimate space. That's not an accident. (But, women might make it look like one! Again, another post.)

Well, writers, what did we learn today? One: women are as aggressive as men. Ask the marriage counselors. Two: women kill less often than men. (Or do they? We'll look at that in another post.) Three: when women kill in the U.S. they are more likely to use a means that isn't a gun more often than men. That may be due to a strength disparity or their connection with the victim. 

Apply all this warm, fuzzy info to your female characters that kill. I don't mean soldiers. On the battlefield a soldier is a soldier. I mean in any other instance a woman isn't necessarily going to kill in the same way a man might. And, if your setting is outside the U.S. that method of killing will not likely be a gun. Your character will employ a tool of some sort and that tool might be a window. (Beware of any woman who walks around with a window!!!!)

In our next round at FightWrite.net we will look a little closer at why women kill less often than men. Or, do they??? 

Until then, I leave you with the words of Rudyard Kipling...

When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride, 

He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.

But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.

For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

- The Female of the Species

Now, go out there and get blood on your pages! 

Oh! Wait, wait, don't go just yet. Comment below for a chance to win an Amazon gift card. BUT, you have to comment with the name of the most devious female character from literature! Ready...go!

(1) https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/201505/can-women-be-violent-men
(2) https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2015/chapter2homicide#method-of-killing 

(3) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/female-murderers-more-likely-motivated-by-love-financial-gain/9378404

Interview with author Lyn Cote, and a drawing for a free book!

Roxanne Rustand here, happy to share an interview with award-winning Christian author Lyn Cote!  For those who leave a comment or a question for Lyn, there will be a drawing for a free e-book!

Tell us about yourself.  What led you to become a writer? I was born to be a writer. I discovered this in 5th grade!

What is your writing schedule like? I'm beginning to slow down from 5 or 6 a.m. to breakfast to lunch to 2 p.m. After 45 books, I have decided to write less and live more!

What is the hardest thing about writing?   Has that changed, over the years? The hardest thing about writing is that so many people don't understand writers. They think coming up with the idea for a book is the hard part. That's easy. I have thousands of ideas. The hard part is putting it down on the page so that when a reader picks it up, she/he gets exactly what's in my mind--sights, sounds, feelings.

Tell us about this book. This is one of my most dear books. It is set in the place I love, the Northwoods, and is about real people facing danger and the demands of loving.

What inspired you to write it? 

Watching snowmobiles zoom past me on a frozen lake.

Give us some insight into your main character.

My main character is Wendy who never knew her father and whose mother didn't recover from this loss till Wendy was an adult. Wendy has to be "mother" to a younger sister and raise herself in the bargain and it makes her a strong and compassionate nurse.

What are you working on at the moment, that we can look forward to? 

I am polishing up a cozy romance (mix of the two genres) also set in the Northwoods. Again it's a heroine who has overcome personal tragedy and yet can love. It's had elements of coming of age too. (And her hero is dreamy)

8. Anything else you'd like to share?  Anything humorous about your writing life? 

The only thing I can think is that I like to include bits of humor in my writing. Laughter is so important to us all. 

Also, Winter's Secret is FREE on all online retailers. Here's the link https://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/book-table

About Lyn Cote:

USA Today best-selling author of over 40 romances, Lyn Cote writes award-winning contemporary and historical romance. Her brand is "Strong Women, Brave Stories.” Her books feature a strong heroine, usually a multi-cultural cast of characters and authentic history or contemporary life. She lives with her real life hero in a lakeside cottage in the Northwoods with two fun cats. Visit her website/blog at http://www.LynCote.com and sign up for her newsletter. Also look for her on Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest and Twitter

Website https://www.BooksbyLynCote.com/SWBS
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/LynCoteAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynCoteWriter
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyncote/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/101121.Lyn_Cote
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lyn-Cote/e/B001ITROW4/