What's in a Name?

When it comes to novels, particularly romantic suspense or romantic mysteries, the names of the main characters re extremely important. 

It's funny how it works, but more often than not, a female lead will have a short name or go by a shortened nickname. Gabby instead of Gabrielle, Dani instead of Danielle, Sam instead of Samantha, or Mac instead of MacKenzie. 

And then there are the unique names for female sleuths. Names like Lyric, Stella, Addie, Londyn, Bristyl, and Teagan. You might even recognize some of these names from some recent bestsellers. 

Names that you don't often see nowadays as main characters are some of the most popular names from a past generation like Lauren, Karen, Natalie, Janet, Candice, or Carolyn. In fact, a few of these are found more often as the main antagonist or a secondary antagonist. 

Names with three syllables are not often used. And neither are those names with the accent on the second or last syllable, like Colleen, Breana, Denise, Elaine, Elizabeth, Victoria, Catherine, Valerie, or Eileen. 

The same situation is true of the male counter parts in romantic suspense or mystery. Names like Paul, William, Charles, Benjamin, and Larry can make great other guy names - bestie, antag, side kick, or voice of reason, but not usually the romantic interest. Even Joe or Dale can fall into this category. Is it the soft consonants that are used? 

The male lead will usually have one or two syllables with hard consonants. There was a time when names like Clint, Flint, Skeet, Rick, and the like were the most popular. Single syllables with and ending in the t sound have become a little passé at this point. 

But the rule still holds with those names that are a little more normal. Names like Scott, Matt, Eric, Travis, Quinn, Wade, Steve, Dan, Mike, and Matt are pretty well-used. 

So what are the main character names in the book you're reading right now. Or what are the characters from your favorite book? Do they support my thoughts or blow them out of the water? 

Share your thoughts in the comments below for a chance to win a free e-copy of one of my books. 

Book Review: CROSSHAIRS

I just spent the last few days reading a gripping suspense called CROSSHAIRS, by our beloved Suspense Sister, Patricia Bradley. As a reader, it was cool in that I was aware of more going on than the main characters, but the plot was so full of twists and turns, I truly didn't see the end of it coming. 

There's a difference between suspense and mystery genres. You probably already know that, but in case you don't, the mystery genre has secrets - hidden things that must be discovered. The suspense genre has something of a ticking clock. An anticipation of something about to happen. Oftentimes, the "clock" is more like a target on one of the main characters - a mortal threat of which they are unaware. 

And in really juicy stories, there are elements of both suspense and mystery. CROSSHAIRS is definitely one of those. The book is a little different in that there are several mysteries that converge to create a chair-gripping story. I was delighted to see all of the different mysteries tied up in neat little bows. 

Oh, did I mention the romance. True confessions - I love clean romance. Especially when they seem real with elements of doubt, vulnerability, and insecurity. I gotta tell you, the main characters in this story have an undeniable chemistry that is palpable. 

I highly recommend this book for those who love the twists and turns of a juicy mystery and the intensity of a strong suspense. You're going to be delighted from the first page to the last! 

Here's a little more about CROSSHAIRS by Patricia Bradley: 

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target - nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley continues her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series with a story about how good must prevail when evil just won't quit.

**Just another little note here. I know this is Book 3 of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, but it is a completely stand-alone story. You'd probably get a kick out of reading them in order, but I didn't miss a thing by reading this one before I read the others. Which I will DEFINITELY be doing!

I was delighted to find CROSSHAIRS as an audiobook. Do you like listening to stories? I love it because I can do something more productive as I indulge - like crochet or cooking or cleaning. Leave a comment about your experience with audio books. I'm giving away a free kindle copy of one of my own books.  

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 3)

 

I love a good mystery! I think I’ve mentioned that before. And I’ve been sharing my thoughts on what makes a good mystery and suspense story. Have you been following along?

So far, we’ve chatted about how the story has to have intensity:

    Lucy Reynolds agreed, "It has to get my heart pounding and maybe looking over my shoulder at least once."

     Rachel T says, "I like when an author weaves pieces of the puzzle into a larger whole. I usually can't figure it out until the reveal."

    Carolyn Hutson adds, "The unexpected makes for a good suspense, but I also want some scenes that make me jump out of my skin and make me not want to stop reading."

Then, we talked about the twists in a story. Y’all had a lot to say about those. 

    Cindi Knowles commented, "I love a good mystery, suspense, or thriller that has lots of twists and turns, that keeps me guessing and turning pages because the story is that enthralling." 

    Alicia Haney puts it this way, "I love the twists and turns, also when the unexpected suddenly shows up!"

    Barb D. adds, "I enjoy the twists & turns, and just enough things about the various characters in a story, and then suspect everyone! I like endings that I didn't see coming!"

This week, I want to talk about something that actually is necessary for ANY fiction story.

Character Depth Some of you think it's important too! 

    Gail H. has an opinion about the antagonist. "The best to me is a culprit that seems unlikely and is not revealed until the very end. Those I would have never guessed."

    Winnie says, "I love engaging characters and a little romance."

    Carolyn suggests, "The way the characters respond to stress is important as well. I have to like the characters and really feel what they are feeling."

    And Amy adds, "It's best when I'm completely invested in the characters and story. 

Interest in characters is no surprise. If you think of your favorite books, likely the characters are what stick in your mind. I bet you can name these books!

• Darcy and Elizabeth 
• Scout  
• Jo and her sisters 
• Lucy and her siblings.

To me, the main characters need to be as real as my next-door neighbor with history, burdens, mistakes, dreams, and values. A really good character is a broken one because we are all broken, right? I know “Mary Poppins” is likely a favorite story, but characters that are practically perfect in every way can get tedious and annoying when it comes to mystery.

I prefer characters that have something in the past that affects their decisions and actions. In fact, if done well, the character will have a difficult time in their history that they have to relive at some point near the end of the story.

That’s not to say that the “brokenness” has to be tragic and heavy, though. Give me the girl that dresses to the nines and then walks into the post office with donut icing under her nose or the guy who dunks his chip into habanero sauce thinking he’s Texan enough to take it. I love laugh-out-loud characters who are willing to laugh at themselves, too. It makes them real and memorable.

So what about you? Tell me about your favorite characters or the character you’re reading about right now. What makes the character stand out? Share your thoughts about characters in the comments and you might be the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth magnifying glass. And you might just find yourself in an upcoming volume of What Makes a Good Mystery!

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 2)

 

Last month, I asked the question, what makes a good mystery? I love a good mystery, and I’ve found a number of things in some of my favorites that end up giving me that ahhhhhhh at the end of a story.

Several of you shared your favorite elements in mysteries, and the one I have for today was mentioned over and over again in last month's comments. It is a must for a good mystery or suspense!

Plot Twists

I love it when I see a story headed one direction, and it suddenly doubles back or goes down some alley I didn’t even notice. Like a magician, an author of excellence will give us a slight of hand trick, capturing our attention in one way while working a little mischief in another.

Twists make mysteries great, but they have to be reasonable. 

Decades ago, there was a movie where a number of fictional detectives were gathered together for a special dinner party. They (and their authors) were accused of “criminal acts” such as introducing the antagonist for the first time at the very end of the story, allowing the hero to have information that isn’t given to the reader, and so on. It was a spoofy movie, but it makes a good point. Have you ever read a book that had something like these “literary misdeeds?” What other twisted "misdeeds" have you seen besides the two that were mentioned?

Twists are a necessity for a mystery or suspense, but they should have a few rules.

•          Be logical
•          Connect
•          Have roots

Being logical is self-explanatory – “Elementary, my dear Watson.” The twist might come from right field, but once it has been revealed, heads should nod. “Of course” or “Why didn’t I see that?” might come to mind.

A twist should also connect to something. This leads to a pet peeve of mine, something like one of those misdeeds. A crucial clue just appears out of thin air. Total coincidence. It happens, but the twist should at least be connected to something that the characters know or do within the logical progression of the story.

Finally, I think a well-conceived twist will have its roots at the beginning of the story. Then when it does surface, a reader gets an extra aha! because it’s been there all along.

Have you enjoyed a good twisted mystery? One where you really didn’t see something coming and then wham? Tell me about it! Share your experience in the comments. One lucky commenter will win a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth, lighted magnifying glass.

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 1)

I love a good mystery, but what is it that makes a mystery good? Is it the plot – the whodunnit with twists and turns? Is it the characters that fill in the gaps and the detective – amateur or not – whose shrewd observations reveal the truth? Maybe it’s the conflict between good and evil?

I have a growing list of the elements that I like to see in a mystery/suspense story—way too many to put down in just one article. I’ll share them with you a little at a time, though. Here’s the first one.

Intensity

While the story doesn’t have to be a full-fledged suspense for me to enjoy it, there has to be at least one scene full of foreboding where the creepy music enters my mind. A moment when the hero realizes what’s going on and puts a target on his or her back.

This is the moment that, in novelist vernacular, is called MEP – at least in my notations. The explanation of which is full of abstracts and higher-level cognition . . . okay, okay. It stands for Most Exciting Part. Really cultured and professional, huh! LOL! But if this piece of the story isn’t intense, then it’s a meh MEP for me. Entirely forgetful.

On the other hand, if the hero is suddenly and unexpectedly (well, at least the hero doesn’t expect it) thrust into danger, painted into a corner where I can see no escape, I’m up all night making sure that there is indeed escape, and justice is done!

As I read exceptional mysteries and suspense, I have some things that are a must for me to feel that ahhhhhhh at the end of the story. I bet you have some of those as well. 

Share your idea of the most important element of a great mystery/suspense in the comments, and you might just be the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth lighted magnifying glass.   

Hot new suspense!

The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions are scheduled for Easter Sunday. The president ordered the best America had to offer, a SEAL team to break them out, while she watched on live video stream from their leader's helmet camera. The mission failed horribly and now the president is under scrutiny for her involvement and the potential for political gain. Attorney Paige Chambers assembles a case which tests one of our nations motto's "Equal justice under law", when the defendant is one of the most powerful politicians.

Hot new inspy suspense from Ronie Kendig!

A sniper shot hits Cole Tox Russell. The enemy is one of his own; a rogue Special Forces team operator and old friend, Alec King. Tox discovers Alec commits several horrific murders that he claims is vengeance against the wrongs committed by his victims. Then he begins targeting innocent people and tries to blackmail Tox into joining him, expressing they are the same type of soldier. Tox must come to terms with what type of soldier he really is, as it is a soldier’s duty to kill with honor in the pursuit of justice, not murder for one’s own vengeance.

Hot new inspy suspense!

Traces of Guilt, by Dee Henderson

Gabriel Thane is the sheriff and lifetime resident of Carin County Illinois, committed to upholding the law and keeping the residents safe. Lieutenant Evie Blackwell is a State Police Detective skilled at investigations. She launches a new task force to reexamine unsolved crimes across the state. She begins work with the sheriff’s department on a few of its most troubling missing-persons cases, a deputy, his wife and eleven-year old son’s disappearance, and in an unrelated case involving a six-year-old girl abducted from a hotel. As she examines old evidence, she finds a connection to a third cold case.

INTERVIEW: Romantic Suspense Author Mary Alford

 SS (Interviewer E.E. Kennedy) : When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

MA: I’d say I realized I wanted to be a writer when I was a pre-teen. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to read just about anything I could get my hands on. As a child, I discovered Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys and was hooked on suspense. As a preteen, I found Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew in my heart of hearts that romantic suspense was what I wanted to write.

I wrote my first book as a pre-teen, but didn’t really pursue writing seriously until about fourteen years ago. During that time period though, I fine-tuned my writing and found myself drawn to inspirational romantic suspense. Then, in 2012, I entered the Speed Dating contest hosted by Love Inspired Suspense and later received “the call” that I’d sold Forgotten Past, my first LIS book. I truly felt like a writer for the first time and it was a dream come true. It’s still hard to believe at times.    

SS: Your books seem to have a good sense of place. Are you familiar with the Rockies or with Maine? What made you choose these locations?

MA: I am very familiar with the Rockies. My husband and I took a trip there about fifteen years ago and fell in love with the mountains. We bought a small cabin at the foothills of the Southern Rockies. I love that the mountains have a way of creating their own weather. The day can go from sunny a warm to dark and foreboding in a matter of no time. A great backdrop for a suspense book. In Forgotten Past well, I’ve never been to Maine before but have read about it and it is on my must see list. The rugged coastline of Maine made the perfect setting for a killer stalking his prey.   

SS: Fear and danger are integral parts of your books. Imagination or experience?

MA: Imagination and probably too much time reading suspense books and watching ID TV. The fear and danger my characters face is the same challenges we as human’s deal with on a much lesser scale. We may not be facing a killer bent on ending our lives, but we each have things we’re afraid of and keep us awake at night. Our own set of monsters so to speak.   

SS: Another either/or question: Outliner or pantser?

MA: Pantser. I’ve tried being the outliner type, but I just don’t operate that way.

SS: Do you have any favorite author(s) who have inspired you?
MA: Along with Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt, I love inspirational romantic suspense authors such as Susan Sleeman and Shirlee McCoy. These women are great at weaving suspense, inspiration and an amazing love story into each of their books.

SS: Everyone always asks, so we will, too: Are your characters based on people you know? Which ones?
MA: Certain characteristics of people I know find their way into my books. For instance, most of my characters drink coffee. That’s all me. I love coffee, what can I say? But for the most part, my characters are totally made up.   

SS: Here’s another question that everyone asks: Where do you get your ideas?

MA: Most of my ideas start from something I’ve seen or read about. From there, the story begins to take fruition in my head. I let it simmer for a while until I’ve got a good outline worked out in my mind and then I grab my laptop and start writing. The idea for Rocky Mountain Pursuit came from my love of spy stories. I can’t get enough of espionage stories. I think it’s the danger, the drama, the intrigue attached to espionage that makes it so appealing to me. These people risk their lives daily to keep our country safe.  

SS: You write in Christian genres. What is the spiritual takeaway for your books? Is there a recurring theme?
MA: I think in all my books the spiritual takeaway is that no matter what we’re facing in life, no matter how dark the world around us may seem, we are never alone. God is right there with us through it all.  

SS: How do you mold your villains? They are very frightening!

MA: I think we all have “worst fear” villains hidden deep down in our inner psyche. Some of us fear the unknown. Someone stalking us. A killer on the loose. I like to take those fears and create villains who hide in plain sight. Like the people we know and trust. In Forgotten Past, the villain was the cousin she loved and trusted to protect her. Faith never saw the monster lurking inside her cousin until it was too late. In Rocky Mountain Pursuit, the villain is a former teammate as well as the woman our hero Jase Bradford had once been in love with.            

SS: Would you characterize your books as romantic suspense? Are there any other genres that you’d like to tackle?

MA: Yes, I guess I would consider my books to be romantic suspense because they contain equal parts of each. In addition, I also write inspirational contemporary romance, another one of my favorite genres to read.

SS: What are you working on now?

MA: I currently have a stand-alone inspirational suspense with my agent. It’s about two FBI agents searching for a serial killer. It is 85,000 words and delves into some interesting aspects of human nature. I am currently working on a second book featuring an FBI agent.  

SS: Do you enjoy research? Is there any research subject that you’ve found especially fascinating?

MA: I typically don’t go overboard on research, but it is something that is necessary to make the book believable. In Rocky Mountain Pursuit, well, loved researching the CIA and the spy angle of the book. It was fascinating for me.

SS: Okay, just for fun. Tell us three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

MA: Hum, well, I’d say that my hubby and I used to raise Emus and Ostriches. I still can’t believe we did that. That I’m trying to teach myself the guitar, (It’s going very slowly…), and I’d love to do some gold panning on my next trip to Colorado. Oh, and I’d also love to write a children’s book one day. 

SS: What are your other interests besides writing?

MA: Music. I love playing the piano and as I’ve said, I’m learning the guitar very slowly. I also love gardening. I want to learn to make quilts as well. I also love doing crafts with my three granddaughters. They are very inspiring.  

SS: Tell us about your current release. When is it available, and where?

MA: Rocky Mountain Pursuit is available now at:

http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=62853

http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Pursuit-Inspired-Suspense-ebook/dp/B015MO40KO/ref=zg_bsnr_7259440011_8

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rocky-mountain-pursuit-mary-alford/1122293234?ean=9780373447237

And at most online booksellers. 

Rocky Mountain Pursuit is about former CIA Agent Jase Bradford who is forced to fake his own death and live under an alias because of something Jase and the rest of his Scorpion team witnessed while on a mission in Afghanistan. As one of the last members of the Scorpion team still alive, Jase lives a life of seclusion at his isolated mountaintop retreat. Then, Reyna Peterson shows up at his doorstep looking for him and his cover is blown. Things quickly escalate from there. Jase and Reyna are being tracked down because of some computer files Reyna’s deceased husband smuggled out of a war zone. With the enemy mere steps behind them, Jase and Reyna must stay alive long enough to figure out what is so important in the files that someone is willing to risk coming after them with great force to keep the contents secret.     

SS: What inspired the idea for this book?

MA: My love for spies. I think if I could have chosen a different career path it would have been a spy. I admire them greatly and appreciate their work.  

________________

Leave a comment for Mary along with your email address and you will be entered in a drawing for ane-book version of her latest release, Rocky Mountain Pursuit!

What's hot in suspense!

• 
  
• 

  The Tears of Dark Water

  Corban Addison

  (October 2015)

  Daniel and Vanessa Parker are an American success story. He is a Washington, DC, power broker, and she is a physician with a thriving practice. But behind the gilded façade, their marriage is a shambles, and their teenage son, Quentin, is self-destructing.
• 

  Embers (Abiassa's Fire Series Book 1)

  Ronie Kendig

  (October 2015)

  HE'S COMING FOR THEM. AND THE KINGDOM.

INTERVIEW WITH LISA HARRIS

Marji here. I was delighted to get an advanced copy of Vendetta by Lisa Harris. It was the first I'd ever read from her. Wow! Check out my entire review here.

Reading the book left me terribly curious about the author and the more I learned the more I wanted to know, especially about her work in Mozambique!

Lisa Harris is a Christy Award winner, the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times, and the author of nearly thirty books, including Dangerous Passage, Fatal Exchange, and Hidden Agenda. She and her family have spent twelve years living as missionaries in southern Africa. They currently live in Mozambique, where Lisa leads a women’s ministry and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

And then we got to do a little email chit-chat!

Vendetta is outstanding! I recently shared my thoughts about it on the Suspense Sisters review page. But it made me curious. After writing so many books – I’m counting 29 from your website, Lisa Harris Writes – how do you keep things fresh?

Yeah! I’m so thrilled that you enjoyed Vendetta. As for keeping it fresh. . .I guess it’s just as important for me to enjoy what I’m writing as for my readers to enjoy what they’re reading. Because when I really love what I’m writing, I think—hope— that will translate into something fresh and fun for my readers.

I’m also curious about how you organize your stories. Vendetta had great twists. Did you plan them way ahead, or did they surprise you?

I do a bit of both. I plan a lot of what I want to happen in the story since it’s pretty complex, but there are always twists along the way I don’t expect. It makes it fun and keeps me interested in the story too. In fact, my husband always laughs at me when something I write makes me cry or surprises me.

And along the same lines, have you ever cut things from your stories – where you expected your plot to go or subplots? Did any of them become new stories?

No. In fact, I usually end up short on words rather than having it too long, and usually I ‘know’ what scenes need to be there so I don’t end up cutting much.

Switching gears, I’m delighted with what I’ve read about your work in Mozambique, particularly with the ECHO project. Did you go to Mozambique to work with that program or was that project a bonus?

Our time in Mozambique has been challenging, but also a huge blessing to our family, and The ECHO Project was definitely a bonus. After we’d lived in Mozambique for a couple years, we realized we were dealing with so many physical needs that we needed to start a non-profit so we could help more people. That was the beginning of The ECHO Project. I’ve often had to remind myself that I still can’t fix everyone’s situation, or help everyone who has a need, but for that one person who’s life is changed, that is enough.

How did the ministry come about?

Everything is based on the needs we see on a daily basis. We provide food packets to families caring for orphans, medical treatment, housing, school needs, and some micro loans. My current dream is to build a compound where we can bring in people who need hospice care or children/women who need a home. This is a huge need for this. We will have some of the local Christians trained to help them as they run the small compound. I’m also hoping to begin a sewing project to help the single mothers, especially out in the villages, earn money for their families.

What type of work do you do with it daily/weekly?

My role has changed and shifted over the years depending on how many kids I have at home. :-) And that role varies with things like delivering food baskets, to driving people to the hospital for treatment, to visiting people in the hospital, handing out vitamins, medicine, and baby formula.

How can people in the states get involved with your work in Mozambique?

You can learn more about what God is doing through this project at http://theechoprojectblog.blogspot.com or our church planting ministry at www.africanoutreachministries.org

Thank you so much for having me on the Suspense Sisters!

And here's the skinny on her newest book that comes out October 1, Vendetta!

Christy Award Winner Invites Readers on a Spine-Chilling Case where the Hunter Becomes the Hunted

With this explosive first book in the new Nikki Boyd Files, Lisa Harris takes readers on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have them holding their breath until the heart-stopping finish.

No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Person Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels that this case is getting personal and that she is not the hunter at all—but actually the one being hunted.

We were planning to give away a copy of Lisa's book, Hidden Agenda, but Lisa is offering up a copy of Vendetta! Woohoo! Please leave a comment below with your email address to be entered in our drawing! (U.S. only, please.)

The most important rule in mystery writing....

In my humble opinion, the most important rule to follow in mystery/suspense writing is to give the reader a sporting chance! I've written plenty of novels, and the most successful ones have been those where the reader had a few plausible guesses about "who done it!" Personally, I rarely guess the ending of a mystery/suspense novel and if I do, I’m kind of disappointed. I want that author to stump me with a clue I didn’t notice or a twist I couldn’t see the significance of at the time. It’s a game I don’t want to win, but I do want the author to play by the rules and that means, sprinkling in those clues along the way. Bury them in backstory, dribble them in dialogue, subvert them in setting, but readers need to have the chance to solve the mystery themselves. The key is to sprinkle, not dump! The great Agatha Christie said she was “always wary of putting too many false clues into the plot, because with so many things to unravel the book would be not only difficult to solve but also difficult to read.” And there must be herrings, red ones! Just as the fish could be dragged across the trail to confuse the hounds, a red herring is a false clue dropped into the story to confuse the reader and perhaps the protagonist as well.

Do you usually solve the mystery before the end of the book? Does that leave you satisfied or disappointed? 

What's hot in Christian suspense!

       

 

Hot off the presses! Here are the top five sellers in the Mystery/Suspense category in July according to CBA news.org.

1. The Auschwitz Escape, Joel Rosenberg

 2. Twisted Innocence, Terri Blackstock

3.  The Twelfth Imam, Joel Rosenberg

4. The Last Jihad, Joel Rosenberg

5. The Third Target, Joel Rosenberg

Writers Conferences and a book giveaway!

Hi everyone,

As I was thinking of a topic for today’s post, I thought I’d tell you a little about how I spent my weekend. I had a great time teaching at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference.  We had about 100 attendees and it was just really exciting to see the eager anticipation on each writer’s face.

I know a lot of you who read this blog are readers and we thank you for that! However, I know some of you are also writers. If you’re new to the craft, now is a wonderful time to start thinking about a writers conference. There’s no better way to really focus and concentrate on learning the craft than going to a conference.

But you need to be picky. You need to assess your skill level (or get someone to do that for you!), and then find that conference that best suits your level. I remember my first conference. I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held at Ridgecrest in Black Mountain, North Carolina. I had two completed manuscripts and I felt sure someone would want to buy them. Well, as it turns out, no one wanted to buy them, but because I attended classes and talked to agents and editors, I was able to learn so much in those fully packed four days. Yes, it was rather expensive, but I have to say, I thought it well worth the price.

So, have you ever been to a writers conference? If so, did you consider it worthwhile? And if you’ve never been and want to go, is there one you’re looking at?

And while I have your attention, I just want to say that my book When A Secret Kills releases May 1! Woohoo! It may even be in stores now. Here’s the back cover blurb:

 

Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it's time to put the past to rest. She's tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She's no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do--ferret out the truth and expose it. Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago--and Jillian watched it happen.

Didn't she?

Not even the enigmatic and attractive Colton Brady, her ex-boyfriend and nephew of the killer, will be able to make her leave this alone. Get ready for the spine-tingling, nail-biting conclusion to an explosive series.

Leave a comment to win a copy of the book!

Lynette

The Difference between a suspense and a mystery

Hi everyone, Lynette Eason here. I was trying to think of a topic for today's post and thought I'd answer a question that I got the other day. What's the difference between a mystery and a suspense? Below are sixteen suggestions. I was wondering if you agree with them. Do you have any differences that you would add? Any you disagree with? Leave a comment and I'll put you in a drawing for my newest release, When A Secret Kills to release the first of May.

 

THE BACK COVER:

She's come home to put a killer behind bars.
But the killer plans to put her six feet under.

Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it’s time to put the past to rest. She’s tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She’s no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do—find the truth and expose it. And the truth is that Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago—and Jillian watched it happen.

 

Didn’t she?

 

Get ready for the spine-tingling, nail-biting conclusion to the explosive series.

 

“A fabulous read! Eason is a master at romantic suspense. I gobbled up the novel in two days and promptly ordered the first two books in the series. Highly recommended!” – Colleen Coble, author of the Rock Harbor and the Hope Beach series.

 

“Fast-paced romantic suspense with compelling characters who pull you into the story and make you care what happens to them.” – Margaret Daley, author of Scorned Justice and the Men of the Texas Rangers series.

 

“Clear the runway and fasten your seat belts. This novel captures the reader in the first line and doesn’t stop until the end. Eason has created a suspense-packed story that captivates.” – DiAnn Mills, author of The Chase and The Survivor.

 

Sixteen Differences between Mystery and Suspense

Taken from: Skillman, Trish MacDonald. Writing the Thriller. Writers Digest Books. 2000.

A mystery concerns itself with a puzzle. Suspense presents the reader with a nightmare.

A mystery is a power fantasy; we identify with the detective. Suspense is a victim fantasy; we identify with someone at the mercy of others.

A mystery can be likened to a myth. Suspense is more like a fairy tale.

In a mystery the hero or heroine already has the skills he or she needs to solve the puzzle. In suspense, he or she must learn new skills to survive.

In a mystery, thinking is paramount. In suspense, feeling is paramount.

The most important action in a mystery takes place offstage. In suspense, the important action happens onstage.

A mystery usually takes place within a small circle of friends. The hero or heroine of a suspense novel often finds him or herself thrust into a larger world.

Readers of mysteries are looking for clues. Readers of suspense are expecting surprises.

In a mystery, information is withheld. In suspense novels, information is provided.

The ideal reader of mysteries remains one step behind the hero or heroine. Those who read suspense should be one step ahead of the hero or heroine.

Mystery readers expect a series. Those who read suspense know a book can be a one shot.

The hero or heroine in a mystery is looking for suspects. The hero or heroine in suspense looks for betrayers.

A mystery hero or heroine must confront a series of red herrings. The suspense novel hero or heroine faces a cycle of distrust.

Mystery endings must be intellectually satisfying. Suspense endings must provide emotional satisfaction.

Mysteries are usually three hundred manuscript pages. Suspense novels can be longer.

Co-Authoring: Lessons I'm learning....

Good Morning from sunny South Carolina. Lynette Eason is here and it's finally stopped raining! 

So as I sit and look out over my back yard, I’m thinking about a new project. Of course I have a book due March 1, but that doesn’t stop my little brain from spinning with new ideas and excitement over this particular new project.

What am I working on?

So glad you asked!

Here’s the latest: Co-authoring a novel.

Recently another published author and I have started working on a little project.  It’s sort of an experiment for both of us. Neither one of us has ever done this before so we’re kind of learning as we go.

We’ve decided to co-write a story together. (Is that redundant? Using co-write and together in the same sentence?? Sorry, no time to look that up.) Anyway, we’re working on a story that we hope will turn into a series, but our goal is to work on the first story and see how it goes. So far, we’ve come up with character sketches, our character’s goals, motivations and some conflict and some plot elements. I find myself thinking about that story quite a bit. It’s my fun story, my stress reliever when I need to take my focus off the contracted one I’m currently working on. Without a contract on the fun story, there’s no pressure and no deadlines, except maybe self-imposed ones.

Some things/tips I’ve figured out just in this beginning stage of the whole co-author thing are:

1.     Respect each other’s talent and time.

2.     Co-writing is cool because you can bounce ideas off each other. One idea fuels another and soon you have some really great material to work with.

3.     Co-writing, brainstorming, sharing your work with another person/author is a pretty intimate thing. It builds a friendship, a trust that can be hard to find with just anyone. Be careful not to do anything to destroy that trust or friendship, it would be hard to get back! (No, I’ve not personally had this happen, but I sure can imagine!)

4.     Everyone who writes has their own voice, but with co-writing, the voices can blend to make a unique voice that tells a page-turner of a story.

5.     Realize that the story is the work of BOTH of you. Be open to suggested changes. Your partner, too, wants the best story the two of you can create!

As of today, I’ve finished the first scene of the story. I’m excited to hear what my co-author thinks about it. I look forward to her ideas on how to make the scene better. And I’m rubbing my hands in anticipation of the scene she will soon write.

Stay tuned as this new adventure in co-authoring progresses. I’ll keep you updated!