Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Writers Chat Recap for October Part 1
From Author to Agent: The Inside Scoop on the Publishing Industry
Bethany Jett shares her journey from reluctant writers conference attendee to literary agent. She gives advice on querying, marketing, and other aspects of the publishing industry plus insightful nuggets of wisdom.
Watch the October 3rd Replay.
Bethany Jett is an associate literary agent with the C.Y.L.E. agency, as well as a multi-award-winning author, and a marketing strategist who earned top honors in her master’s program, where she earned her MFA in Communications focusing on Marketing and PR. Her motto is “Teach as you go,” which she lives out as the co-owner of Serious Writer, a company that teaches and empowers writers and authors. Bethany is married to her college sweetheart, and together they’re raising 3 teen/tween sons and their Pomeranian Sadie
Crafting Thrillers and the Magic of Mentorship
Author Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes presents a two-in-one program on writing thrillers and the the value of mentorship. She shares effective ways to craft a thriller story that has a fast pace and a plot that keeps readers guessing. Katherine also explains the benefits of mentorship. For more on this jam-packed episode be sure to catch this week’s replay.
Watch the October 10th replay.
Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes is an editor, author, speaker, and educational consultant. Katherine hosts the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She’s authored a Christian Bible study and is working on the sequel to her first general market thriller, A Fifth of the Story, debuting on 2/27/2024.
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
How many times have you read a book or watched a movie and thought to yourself: that could never happen! Fiction is filled with stories we know would never happen. But there’s always been a fine line of what we will or won’t accept in our subconscious in stories leaning toward real life. Covid has done a subtle brain segue to all of us. Did we really believe watching Dustin Hoffman in the 1995 film Outbreak that a deadly virus could take over as it did? Wasn’t the excitement palatable because deep down we couldn’t conceive of it taking place? We read mystery/thriller novels and see movies because we want to experience pseudo-trauma with no prospect of living it in real life. I mean, winter looks enticing in the movies and on the page, but sludging through it year after year is less than ideal!
Now we have an unwelcome greater sense that all of the ugliness is possible. And we’re not reading about it in someone else’s life. We’ve lived it. We’ve seen too many things happen rapidly that most people alive today have never experienced. Only those who remember World War I and II can relate to the constant fight and flight feelings that have invaded our beings, and those dear souls are few and far between.
This is true for mystery, thriller writers—even for stories set in the time before Covid. If you’ve ever axed a plot, you liked but thought wouldn’t be possible, that has changed. The public will now believe things can change quickly in America because we saw it happen. The government can lock down countries, including countries throughout the world. Vaccines can become political, controversial and make neighbor rise up against neighbor. The essence of what we experienced has opened our thoughts up that what was once unthinkable, can happen.
Could it be that some of the greats did push boundaries because they, too, were living in a “fight or flight” atmosphere in their real lives? Think Agatha Christie. In 1914 she was one of the 90,000 Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses enlisted to help with the war, tending to seriously wounded soldiers. She also lived through the horrors of World War II, something everyone thought couldn’t happen after such a horrific first world war. It affected how she wrote. What was known as “shell shock” in her day is now what we call PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. And, not to lessen anything that someone in war or a traumatic experience is living with, everyone today probably has some feelings that fall into the trauma category simply by being alive in today’s world.
And, what about the writer’s approach to stories told after 2019? Does Covid have to be a part of every story? Are writers and readers emotionally prepared for that? How many novels will come out with Covid as crucial to the plot? How will the writers manage the emotional aspect of writing in this era? Will writers choose to skip the era all together to not deal with the pandemic? Or will intense novels appear centering on the covid heroes who gave their all in the medical field day after day?
How many years will have to be in the rear-view mirror before nostalgia, lessened awareness, and even humor can surround what we’ve been living through with Covid? Or is that left to the scribes who will continue long after we’re gone?
So many questions without answers right now. One this is sure. Covid changed our minds and our words, no matter the genre, forever.
Michele Olson writes stories set on Mackinac Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan filled with suspense, romance, friendship, faith, and quirky characters. A top seller in Mackinac Island Fiction to the million people who make a trip to the island every year to experience life with no cars, amazing scenery, and the glorious Grand Hotel, she enjoys opening up this incredible island to even more visitors. Incorporating her work as an artist and a voice professional into her writing whenever she can, she enjoys creative endeavors of all genres and fueling faith with fiction.
Michele lives in the shadow of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI with her husband and thoroughly enjoys being a wife, mom, and “Gee Gee” to two adorable grandsons.
What’s the secret of using others’ stories to beef up our own without plagiarizing?
I’m always looking to craft my suspense/thriller manuscripts into something that’s worthy of publication. I find reading a well-crafted novel in my genre is one of the best ways to improve my own writing.
Recently, I finished one of the many suspense novels by an author I enjoy, but I wasn’t keying in on any kind of errors (there were none to my eyes) in order to dash off a negative tweet or post, or to simply lose myself in the story, but to learn.
So, I studied how this author assembled everything throughout her book. It’s harder than it sounds because I kept getting lost in the story and characters, but I forced myself to maintain my scholarly approach and stay in critique-mode. I even jotted down actual notes. (A great way to make sure your Comparables and their summaries in a proposal aimed toward traditional publishing are accurate.)
I noted the following:
What was the author’s first sentence, first paragraph, first page? How did she end the first chapter?
How did she make use of the second chapter? Did she introduce the antagonist or the love interest with a second Point of View? If so, how often did she bring it in? Every other chapter? Every few chapters? Did she give each POV several chapters in a row before changing POVs? Did she bring in more than two POVs?
I made special note of how she ended the third chapter because the first three chapters are included in a book proposal and potential publishers base acceptance or rejection on these. From these chapters, I tried to figure out what drew this particular manuscript to the publisher when it was just a few pages within the author’s proposal. Hint – end the third chapter with a tasty cliffhanger, something to encourage the acquisition editor to ask for a full manuscript!
In what ways did the author end the first quarter of the book? Was there a transition in the main character’s journey?
What about the midpoint of the book? Was there a ‘pow’? A major main character realization? A big reveal? An unexpected twist? Some authors do a big midpoint and the reader can actually turn to the middle of the book and find it exactly on the page half-way through the book. Dean Koontz is big for his midpoint ‘pows’. And yes, my ‘template’ author provided one as well.
At the start of the second half of the book, what happened in the plot? What did the characters do differently?
Did the second half build toward the climax in a logical way? Did the climax keep the reader turning pages?
How was the denouement handled? Did the story answer all the questions the author presented? Did it set up a second book in a series? Even if the book is part of a series, it should still end with all loose ends neatly knotted.
Finally, was the ending satisfying and did it make sense? There’s nothing worse for a reader than to lose themselves in a story only to slam against an ending that leaves them hanging. Don’t be that author.
I also studied details––word choice, sentence structure, paragraph structure, use of phrases versus full sentences, dialogue, character description and development, scene description, and cliffhangers. What were the mood, tone, and pacing, and how did they create the feeling the author was trying to portray?
I use books from my favorite genre––mystery, suspense, and thriller––as a sort of textbook for crafting my own stories. But don’t get me wrong. I often just read to lose myself in the author’s fictional world and escape my own for a few hours.
“As writers, our greatest instructors will always be other stories. Novels, television, movies, graphic novels, video games — anything that tells a story is our mentor and our muse.” John Matthew Fox
Every story can serve as a catalyst for ideas and a conveyer of information to guide us.
It’s good to know we have multiple ‘craft’ books at our fingertips with every novel we read. In fact, they hold important secrets for our own. It’s best we mine each one.
Write well, my friends.
PJ Gover
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill one story at a time. She wrote her first thriller at age nine, all of six pages, but only returned to creating suspense/thrillers years later after unearthing her deceased father’s secret work designing missiles for the government. After thirteen writing awards, including five for first place, her high school English teacher must be shaking her head in disbelief. A ranch in Texas serves as home base. Offer her well-crafted chili rellenos or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a friend for life. Jim Hart of Hartline Literary represents PJ.
Ever heard someone say, “I love a good mystery!” That’s more likely than hearing “I love a good suspense story.” What they may mean is they love a good thriller. It turns out the technical definitions of what makes up a story categorized as mystery, suspense, or thriller can be way off from a reader’s understanding of the words.
So, who cares?
All authors should! A greater understanding of what your book means in the eyes of the greatest number of readers can make a significant difference to your sales.
From the industry and technical standpoint, each term has a definition, albeit not agreed upon by everyone. Here’s a stab at the definitions.
Mystery has a main character who may not realize there is danger ahead at first. Once they sense something, they are preoccupied with getting to the bottom of the truth about an event. This can be a murder, but not always. The reader is exposed to the same information as the detective or crime solver.
Thriller’s cause what the names says- supplying a thrill to the reader because the protagonist is in danger, usually from page one.
Suspense has the main character possibly unaware of the danger in the beginning, but the reader is clued in on things that are unknown to the protagonist. The reader may know someone is lurking in the home or see a bomb planted and live with the suspense of wondering what will happen. The argument could be made that suspense must be an element in most books, so the reader doesn’t close the book with a yawn!
After reading those simple definitions, you may strongly agree or disagree. Why? Your preference as a reader is bubbling to the top!
And, what about when the genres cross? This is especially true in mystery and suspense.
Another authority in the book world may have a different definition – the library. Some books with word counts under 75,000 automatically go to the mystery category.
What if you were forced to describe each category in six words or less?
Mystery: Solve the puzzle of what’s happening.
Thriller: Keep the heart pounding on high.
Suspense: Creating tension of what could happen.
What would your six-word description look like for each category?
The truth is, people read books because they like them, not because they understand the genres assigned by the publishing industry. One thing every author and reader can agree on is the need for pacing. Too fast, and you could lose your reader. Too slow, and you could lose your reader! Hooking and keeping your reader is crucial. Definitions become problematic when you think you’re one genre, but your readers use a different moniker to describe your books. This is more common between mystery and suspense. When that happens, readers rule!
To further complicate the genres, sub-categories such as the cozy mystery are a big hit. Usually more light-hearted, involving a small town and an amateur sleuth solving the crime opens up the door to more personal definitions. You know what that means. Soon there will be another new sub-category that doesn’t exactly fit the mold. Readers have a love-hate relationship with genre deviation, but when done well, they will get on board.
So, where are we left when it comes to solving the mystery of mystery/suspense/thriller writing? Right back where we started with everyone having their own opinion.
Here’s what we know for sure:
The industry can make definitions, but none of them is the definitive answer for everyone.
Be sensitive to what your readers are telling you are the “descriptive words” they like over time and adapt to what they say.
Good pacing, hooks, and writing will always keep readers reading no matter the category or labels assigned to a book.
So, go ahead, how would you describe these genres?
Michele Olson writes stories set on Mackinac Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan filled with suspense, romance, friendship, faith, and quirky characters. A top seller in Mackinac Island Fiction to the million people who make a trip to the island every year to experience life with no cars, amazing scenery, and the glorious Grand Hotel, she enjoys opening up this incredible island to even more visitors. Incorporating her work as an artist and a voice professional into her writing whenever she can, she enjoys creative endeavors of all genres and fueling faith with fiction.
Michele lives in the shadow of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI with her husband and thoroughly enjoys being a wife, mom, and “Gee Gee” to two adorable grandsons.
Outside of studying the necessary and ever-increasing number of how-to books on writing, character building, plotting, showing and telling, or conflict and suspense, there is another step in the learning process. Reading.
What does a suspense writer gain by reading novels in the mystery, suspense, and thriller genre? You’ll connect with the character and feel what she feels in a gripping scene, experience an awkward moment between characters, or feel the pause in action. You will discover how well those situations work within a story. Does it present the unexpected and capture your attention? Are you drawn deeper into the plot? Does the heroine react naturally?
Learn the differences in these genres by purposely reading novels in these categories. As Lisa Betz states in her article on the Almost an Author blog from May 31, 2018, a mystery is about solving a crime or puzzle, a suspense novel is about suspense, and a thriller is about action and danger.
Make time to read and purposely take notes. Referring to them when questions arise could be beneficial and less time-consuming.
Write a review. Authors appreciate positive reviews, and the exercise may help you learn how to write a back-cover blurb.
Writing skills have the potential to grow stronger when reading becomes a priority. Reading helps you:
Increase your imagination.
Gain ideas on characters’ reactions to stressful conditions.
Discover how authors describe internal conflicts in their heroine, hero, and villains.
Learn proper application of tag lines.
Get familiar with realistic dialog.
Understand the value of consistent point-of-view
Where does one go to find well-written books? There is an endless supply of fabulous mystery, suspense, and thriller authors. You won’t go wrong delving into the depths of novels written by these authors or many, many others on the market.
Jerusha Agen
Christy Barritt
Lynn Huggins Blackburn
Patricia Bradley
Robin Carroll
Colleen Coble
Ted Dekker
Rachel Dylan
Lynette Eason
Elizabeth Goddard
Ronie Kendig
Dana R. Lynn
DiAnn Mills
Dani Pettrey
Shannon Redmon
Susan Sleeman
Darlene L. Turner
Virginia Vaughan
Natalie Walters
Susan May Warren
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Christian Book Distributors, and many of your local bookstores carry novels written by these authors. Christmas is the perfect time to request a suspenseful book as a gift and start the New Year, digging into the art of writing through reading.
Quote: “Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
Stephen King
Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She has won and been a finalist in several writing contests, including first place in romantic suspense in the Foundations Awards at the 2018 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, a finalist in ACFW’s 2018 Genesis, was a finalist in the 2018 Fabulous Five, and a double finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence.
Loretta lives in North Mississippi with her husband Kenneth, a retired Memphis Police Captain. She loves salted caramel lava cake, dark chocolate, and caramel Frappuccinos.
Somewhere along the way doubts may have bubbled up and spilled over. Is the mystery, suspense, thriller genre still the best course for me as a writer? After all, it’s not romance which always seems at the top of book sale charts. Will my mystery sell? Will my suspense catch the attention of an agent? Will my thriller be picked up by a publisher?
As a writer, what drew you to this category?
Perhaps a special book, a captivating movie or TV show, or teacher, parent, friend launched your interest.
Whatever avenue our genre took to travel into your life, you fell, as my grandmother used to say, hook, line, and sinker. When you stepped into writing mystery, suspense, or thriller stories, it felt like comfortable jeans on a lazy spring day, fuzzy slippers on a chilly evening, steaming vanilla roast as the golden glow peeked over the horizon. By now, you’ve either whipped out your first manuscript or are trying to craft something spectacular. Something different to merit a second look from agents and acquisition editors.
But the question arises, am I wasting my time?
When you first jumped into our special pool of intrigue, I imagine you had confirmation of some sort. It came from your personal interests, a trusted friend or family member, or winning a contest. You may have invested hours and energy into designing charming clues, crafting the unexpected, or storyboarding global conspiracies. You’ve plotted, developed character arcs, delved into inner and outer journeys. You’ve created realistic settings and back stories. Each chapter ends with a compelling cliffhanger, and each incident raises the stakes.
Don’t give up now. Go back and find what first drew you to this genre. Reread those early books that captured your heart and mind. Watch that favorite movie you couldn’t stop talking about. Pick the brains of those who know you best.
Read the latest releases––general market and inspirational. What is selling now? Peruse authors and their books at your favorite publishers’ websites. Scan bookseller catalogues. For the Inspirational market, Christianbook.com offers titles and brief synopses of its latest and upcoming releases. Know what compares to your work. Know what is selling.
Maybe you’ve had enough of the writing world and its technology. Take a break, take a breath. Change your surroundings. Go for a walk, explore a park, or take a drive around the city or into rural areas or through wide open spaces. A place where you draw strength. Bask in solitude or in the bustle of high energy.
Embrace free-range writing. Write whatever comes to mind. Something for your eyes only. No goals, no deadlines, no pressure.
Visit with or read about inspirational people.
As I’ve learned from English mystery shows, you can always put the kettle on. As you wait for the water to boil, let your mind wander and guide you back.
Failure is not final. Failure in a chosen genre is not final either.
The fragrance of the lowly rosemary bush, native to my part of Texas, is enhanced when pressure is applied by rubbing the stalk between warm hands. It’s most useful when crushed for the oils or dried for cooking. Heat ramps up its use and flavor.
Channel the pressure you feel into perfecting your craft, and creating the best plot and characters ever. Better days are ahead!
Let me know how it goes. You’ve got this.
Write well, my friends,
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time, whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received eleven writing awards including first place in the Write-to-Publish and North Carolina Christian Writers contests and a two-time winner in American Christian Fiction Writer’s First Impressions contest. Her one-year devotional book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore.com/devotional-books.
A ranch in Texas serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel. Offer her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a friend for life.
Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency represents PJ.
Technology today offers a wide selection of resources for writers in the form of YouTube instructional videos, simulcasts, zoom meetings, etc., as well as stacks upon stacks of how-to
books by professional and successful authors. Regardless of the genre, writing basics remain the same.
Bookstores stock genre-specific educational books. Utilizing these valuable resources will aid in effective writing. Below are some Mystery/Suspense/Thriller instructional books in my
writing library.
BOOKS:
Conflict & Suspense, by expert thriller author and writing instructor, James Scott Bell. This book offers proven techniques that help craft fiction, tap into suspenseful power, build conflict, and maximize tension.
Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plotby Jane K. Cleland. According to the front cover, this book offers instructions on how to write gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron provides a complete guide to writing mystery, suspense, and crime. It explains twisting the plot, creating a compelling sleuth, and much more.
Deadly Doses: a writer’s guide to poisons by Serita Deborah Stevens offers correct information about poisons, methods of administration, symptoms, and reactions.
YouTube:
YouTube videos are available, too, with a plethora of topic selections. Decide on a topic and search for the desired video. If you’re
looking for a specific person’s teaching, then add the name to your video selection. Sample videos are listed below.
ACFW.com offers member resources, writing tips, writing help, writing software, books on writing, on-line courses, and more. Join the ACFW Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Group on Facebook.
Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference:
blueridgeconference.com offers daily informative and instructional blog posts for every genre, along with Facebook Live videos targeting writing specifics. Like or join the conference Facebook page for more information.
Killer Nashville International:
killernashville.com This conference is for the criminal-minded writer and happens in Franklin, TN. Be sure to check out their Facebook page.
Serious Writer Inc.:
seriouswriter.com offers simulcasts and teaching in their Academy. The Serious Writer Club is where you’ll receive over one hundred hours of training and more.
Writer’s Police Academy/Murdercon:
writerspoliceacademy.com focuses on the mystery/ suspense/thriller writers dealing with almost every area of crime imaginable. This conference is highly sought after and sells out fast when registration opens. They have a Facebook page as well and offer Facebook Live videos.
The list of helpful resources is ongoing, but it takes training, determination, and persistence to develop mysterious, suspenseful, and thriller scenes. Attend writer’s conferences,
connect with a critique group, and join your local monthly writer meetings.
Feel free to add other helpful resources to the list.
Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She has won and been a finalist in several writing contests, including first
place in romantic suspense in the Foundations Awards at the 2018 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, a finalist in ACFW’s 2018 Genesis, was a finalist in the 2018 Fabulous Five, and a double finalist in
the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence.
Loretta lives in North Mississippi with her husband Kenneth, a retired Memphis Police Captain. She loves salted caramel lava cake, dark chocolate, and caramel Frappuccinos.
Why do you write fiction? Why cloak your
story in the mystery, suspense, or thriller genre?
The right answers enhance your writing and
create a dynamic relationship between writer and reader. The wrong answers,
well…
Fiction writers need to tell a story. We do so by expressing both the tangible and intangible of our imagined world through words––the perfect verb, an engaging phrase, a well-designed sentence. Perhaps we write for a sense of fulfillment or to work out a problem. Is writing a way to relieve stress or collect your thoughts? Maybe you’ve always considered yourself a writer or others tell you you’re a natural storyteller. Or you view yourself as a Wordsmith and simply desire to express your creativity through nouns and verbs. Do you want to relay a message, share an idea, or push an agenda? Be careful. I give a fat thumbs down when agenda-driven messages rise above a plotline.
Consider the quotes of famous authors of
why they write.
“…to rephrase the world, to take it in and
give it back again differently, so that everything is used and nothing is
lost.” Nicole Krauss
“I write because I
don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Flannery O’Connor
“Any writer worth his
salt writes to please himself…It’s a self-exploratory operation that is
endless.” Harper Lee
“Life never works
except in retrospect. You can’t control life, at least you can control your
version.” Chuck Palahniuk
“I write because I love
writing. I think I became a writer in order to explore my ideas and responses
to the world around me…I liked my autonomy, and a writer can choose his or her
own working hours…if you’re a writer you don’t have to retire….” Alex Miller
“Writing is a great comfort to people like me, who are unsure of themselves and have trouble expressing themselves properly.” Agatha Christie
As I wrote my first thriller, I
discovered it was one way to unravel the mysterious, untimely death of my
father. Plus, his adventures as a rocket scientist during the height of the
Cold War, a time when the threat of Soviet (Russian) communism marched as a
formidable threat through Eastern Europe, made for a fascinating read. Encasing
his account in the thriller format provided the perfect fit.
Why do you package your narrative as a mystery,
suspense, or thriller?
Perhaps you grew up reading Nancy
Drew-type mysteries and the genre stuck. Are you unraveling a private issue? Do
you simply enjoy reading and creating confounding puzzles, wild adventures, and
compelling quests? Or is it because our chosen genre is popular, usually in the
top five of most sales charts.
“We write thrillers because we want to
prove to ourselves and to our readers that right will win out over might, good
over evil.” Peter Pollack
“I write thrillers
because they’re the only stories I know. If I exorcise a few demons in
the process, that’s okay, too.” John Gilstrap
Perhaps Octavia E. Butler best expresses
why you write mystery, suspense, or thrillers. “I
just knew there were stories I wanted to tell.”
Once we discern the why of our story––provided
our personal agenda slides under the obvious goal of a solid plot, interesting
characters, exciting cliffhangers, and a satisfying ending––our words can resonate
with our readers’ deepest emotions. They identify with our characters and our tale.
Our depth of expression offers the “aha” and the “I love this book” moment, touching
the innermost part of our readers’ life-story. This connection strengthens
their commitment to our stories, our voice, our message. They share our books. Word-of-mouth
spreads our message, sells our books, but more importantly, can change lives.
Why do you write fiction and wrap it in the mystery, suspense, thriller genre? Your answer can either enhance your literary influence or destroy a promising career.
It’s the personal depth we’re willing to
reveal that keeps readers coming back for more and winning fans for life.
Write well, my friends.
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time,
whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received eleven writing
awards including first place in the Write-to-Publish and North Carolina
Christian Writers contests and a two-time winner in American Christian Fiction Writer’s
First Impressions contest. Her one-year devotional book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore.com/devotional-books.
A ranch in Texas
serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel. Offer
her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a friend for life.
Jim Hart of Hartline
Literary Agency represents PJ.
Chasing the White Lion is a mash-up of thieves and spies. This book is the second in a series described as “Ocean’s Eleven meets Mission Impossible.” Talia Inger is a rookie spy who must wrangle a pack of elite thieves as the team attempts to infiltrate the world first crowdsourced crime syndicate. Their objective? Save a group of kidnapped refugee children from human traffickers tied to the organization. While they’re at it, they might have a shot at toppling the organization and exposing a traitor in our very own CIA.
Why do you write? Do
you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
Choose your adventure! That’s my overall theme. I’ve applied
it to life and writing. In the old days of the Bantam Choose Your Own Adventure
series, I wanted so much more than “Turn left or right” or “Take the path or
enter the cave.” I’d always been a storyteller, but that’s when I started
creating stories in earnest, writing new paths and new endings in my head.
My most recent story has a much larger goal, though. Chasing the White Lion is the first spy
thriller highlighting a real charitable organization. My goal with that story
is to help spread the world about the work Compassion International is doing to
fight child poverty and to support them with a portion of every book sold. I
hope the story helps readers see how meeting those in need right where they are
helps slam the door on human traffickers.
How long have you
been writing?
I’ve been writing my whole life. I tried to write my first
book at the age of 4 (a story about pandas playing soccer which was
suspiciously similar to a recent library book about raccoons playing
basketball). My first short story was read over the radio at age 12. At age 17,
I entered the military, so all of that got put on hold for a while, but my time
there filled up my bucket of experiences to aid my future stories.
And how long did it
take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published
non-traditionally? How did that come about?
I began writing my first real novel in 2006. Once I
completed it in 2008, I had to wait an additional nine weeks for the military
to review it and make sure I didn’t expose classified information. I sent it
out in late 2008, and a small publisher picked it up at the end of 2009. They
turned out to be unscrupulous. Even so, the book managed to gain accolades from
Publishers Weekly and Clive Cussler, which helped me land my first real
contract in 2012. I was working on my fourth book when my second book was
finally picked up, and I have 42 rejection letters in a file to remind me how
hard I worked to get there.
Which of your books
is your favorite?
We’re not supposed to have favorites, but usually mine is the book I’m working on at the time. However, if I was forced to choose, The Clockwork Dragon would be my current fantasy pick and Chasing the White Lion would be my thriller pick.
Do you have a
favorite character or scene in one of your books?
Again, we’re not supposed to have favorites, but I do share
a lot with Jack Buckles. When I sought to re-create the Sherlock Holmesian hyper-observant
detective in a new way, my wife advised me to use my own synesthesia. This is a
merger of the senses where both Jack and I see and feel sounds, hear and feel
movement and flashes of light, see and feel smells, etc. Of course, we
embellished it a little to help Jack see into the past through the history
recorded in the molecular vibrations of stone, steel, and jewels (I can’t do
that), but many of our experiences are the same—including using our synesthesia
to catch bad guys.
How long does it take
you to write a book?
Longer than my publishers would like. I spend the first several weeks developing the beats of the story and understanding the theme and characters. From this, I create a short story version of the book, anywhere from 20 to 40 pages. At this point, we might be at 6 weeks. From there, I go deep into writing and usually go in chronological order. Depending on the genre, a story can take anywhere from 6 to 9 months. After that, I like to spend another 4 weeks revising.
What’s your writing
work schedule like?
Haphazard doesn’t even begin to cover it. I have two other
jobs which both take up a great deal of time. I write when I can, stealing
every moment possible.
Do you have an
interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I walk. I walk for twelve miles at a time on some days. This
really fuels my creativity, and I’ll write multiple chapters by recording them
on my phone via Dragon Dictation.
What has been your
greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
Without a doubt, the greatest joys come from receiving fan messages telling me how a story has impacted their lives. In one case, I received word that a Compassion child who had read the Spanish edition of The Lost Property Office who found encouragement from the story and finally realized that he too was a synesthete. Understanding our neurological phenomenon at an early age can be life changing, and I know it will be for that boy. I’m grateful to Compassion for bringing my work to those kids and following up to show me its impact.
What has been your
darkest moment(s)?
Beware. There are many dark moments in a writing career.
I’ve lost two movie deals that could have ended my need for another job and let
me focus entirely on writing, one thanks to financial shifts at Sony and the
other due to political pressure from China (no kidding). I’ve seen more
rejections and harsh words than I can count. And I’ve received multiple death
threats. Thank God my wife is always there to remind me that He is in control.
How many times in
your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
As I said before, I have 42 rejection letters in a file. And
those are just the ones I remembered to save. Plus, most agents don’t bother to
send rejection letters. Add to that rejections in Hollywood, angry reviewers,
etc. Tallying them all up is impossible. If you want to work in this business,
you’d better grow a thick skin fast.
Where do you get your
ideas?
Ideas come from knowledge, experience, and inspiration. You
can’t have the latter without the former two. So, fill up your knowledge and
experience buckets in every way you can—reading, living, etc. That when, when
the spark of inspiration comes, you’ll be ready.
Example: My biggest seller by far has been The Lost Property Office. Inspiration
struck while I was in London, looking for 221B Baker St. The real Lost Property
Office happens to be a few doors down at 200 Baker St. The world of secret
societies that opened up for me on that day—The Ministries of Trackers, Guilds,
Secrets, and Dragons—appeared only because of my previous study and experience.
Without filling those buckets first, I’d have missed that chance.
Who is your favorite
author to read?
I always go back to four: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Tom
Clancy, and Clive Cussler. But I absorb a lot of other great authors in the
meantime: Steven James, Brandon Sanderson, DiAnn Mills, Mark Greaney, to name a
few.
What advice can you
give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you
would have heeded?
Keep writing. I can’t count the number of aspiring writers
I’ve met who’ve been tinkering with the same story for the last five years or
more. Put it down. Write the next one. After my very first book, Tom Young told
me “It’s not a book. It’s a career.” I can’t offer any better advice than that.
What are common
mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
Impatience. On the opposite end of the spectrum from the
“I’ve been working on this for five years and I think I’ve almost got it”
crowd, we have the “I don’t have time to wait for an agent or publisher because
people need to read my story now” crowd. No, they don’t. And most likely they
won’t. The process of locating an agent and publisher is a crucible that makes
us better writers. We’re losing that because of impatience, and the level of
literature in our society is suffering.
Where/How do you
recommend writers try to break into the market?
See my answer to the “common mistakes” question. To sum it
up: patience.
Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He has been shot at, locked up with surface to air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion award-winner for his Section 13 mysteries, a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series, and a Selah Award finalist for his Clandestine Service series. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.
Find James’s books wherever books are sold, and get all the info about the different series at his website.
How do mystery, suspense, and thriller writers produce an authentic novel and achieve believability?
Consider the seven “R’s”.
Ready an
organizational system for the material you gather, whether it be an online file
or old-school file folders. Utilize whatever makes sense to you.
Restrain from spending too much time on research.We’re fiction
writers, not Ph.D. candidates working on dissertations.
Restrict your focus. Is your setting real or
fictional? Is it set in the city or country, suburban or rural, present-day or
historical? Determine key locations and the world beyond.
Readers bring no preconceptions to a fictional site. The author
breathes life into the narrative by creating everything. Customs,
history, climate, natural surroundings, people, food, the hobbies and jobs of the
characters, maps, and even language must emerge from your imagination.
If your setting is a real place and
you’ve failed to do the work, an agent, editor, or a reader who knows the area
may label your book as implausible. Or worse, toss it onto the rejection pile.
“Stories set in real locations, then, demand detailed local knowledge and/or meticulous research of the setting.”
Harvey Chapman
Read magazines, journals,
and books on your subject and in your genre. Learn the occupations of your
characters. Dig into past events, the natural surroundings, and the latest news
from the area. Make your backdrop as familiar as your own living room. Make the
details as accurate as an FBI manual.
Utilize the resources of libraries,
colleges and universities, museums, or law enforcement. Maps give us direction
and perspective, and the placement of landmarks, roads, stores, houses,
schools, and cemeteries. Data from contracts, marriage and birth licenses, and
census records add authenticity.
Record observations. Watch others who are similar to your characters to
see how they talk and behave. Visit places that serve the same food your
characters would eat and places they might frequent.
Often a visual image will spark ideas. Watch videos on YouTube,
catch documentaries, or even cruise Pinterest for ideas, inspiration, and
information.
Road trip.
The journey may be as close as the local library, or as far away as a
long-distance car ride or flight. If you’ve never been to your novel’s
location, consider discovering the area with a hands-on approach.
Notice details as you travel. These can contribute
to your characters’ motives and choices.
Once there, talk to the locals. Discover
the area’s activities, customs, traditions, where people shop, eat, go to
school, and even select where your characters might live.
Walk the area and feel the ambiance. Use your senses. Find out what things taste like, smell
like, feel like, sound like.
Research for my latest WIP required an
eleven-hour road trip. Even though I was familiar with the area, I hadn’t
visited in years. The lonely two-lane highway leading to my destination was now
bustling with oil-field trucks, pump-jacks, new refineries and hotels, and
clouds of grey haze. But fortunately, my ideal locale was as I remembered––
craggy mountains graced by long stretches of prickly pear cactus and mesquite
scrub, remote and raw. Perfect for a mystery or suspense.
Once there, I bee-lined to the local
diner and feasted on the house special, green chili burgers and thick-cut fries.
I chatted with the owner and her employee. (Yes, just one.) They shared how the
clear night sky bursts into sparkles of light, where one gets mail and
supplies, and how chili cook-offs and cow patty throwing contests are a
‘thing.’ Of course, Elizabeth and Debbie will find a place in my book’s
acknowledgments!
Roadblocks. No one likes a data dump. Weave your discoveries into
the novel and never let it rise above the plot, characters, and setting. A bit of true-life
flavor goes a long way
Don’t use fact-finding as a means to delay writing.
Complete your searches ahead of time. If you need to add a detail
later make a note, but keep the writing flowing.
Let research inform the story, not smother it. Do the work. It may be the difference between a book contract and a rejection letter.
“Though we invent tales that didn’t really happen, we drape them over a framework of real-life facts.”
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time,
whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received ten writing
awards including first place in American Christian Fiction Writer’s First
Impressions contest, the North Carolina Christian Writers, and the
Write-to-Publish contest. Her one-year devotional book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore .
A ranch in Texas
serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel. Offer her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll
have a friend for life. Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency represents PJ.
Voice and style can make or break an author’s novel, so how can we
make it stand out from all the rest? Style is the technical aspect of the
story while voice relies on character, point of view, and attitude (can be referred
to as tone). How can we give the reader a voice they’ll remember or a style
that will keep them reading?
The following are aspects of voice and style I’ve been learning
about from other authors. Every writer should think about these before they
start to plot their novel.
Voice
The challenge can be to write in a voice that comes across as
unique and authentic. Let’s think about the following.
Character and attitude – The tone of your story will set your novel apart if
done correctly. Your characters need an attitude as it can add emotional stake
and give the reader what they want—a cleverly woven story. If they don’t have
attitude the tale will fall flat. The author needs to show how the character is
going to deal with the issues that plague them. How will their attitude show?
It will become their distinctive voice.
POV – Most thrillers are written in first-person past tense or
third-person past tense POV. Why? Some feel first-person reads well and is a
friendlier voice. Normally first-person is the voice of the hero. Think Patrick
Bowers in Steven James’ series. He puts the reader right into Patrick’s life.
Is there a downside to using first-person? The author must stay in
that person’s POV for the entire novel, so it’s hard to show scenes with other
characters. Also, the reader may get tired of all the “I’s” throughout the
chapters.
What about third-person? Seeing the events through the eyes of a
character is like a movie camera rolling while reading. It puts the reader
directly into the story. They feel what the character feels, sees what they
see, etc. Usually in a mystery, the sleuth narrates most of the story.
Which POV is right for the author? Why not try both out on some
beta readers? Give them a snippet in both POVs and have them decide which they
like better. Once decided, the author can better plot their novel as it will
come naturally.
Style
How can style work hand-in-hand with voice? These are technical
choices authors make to weave their tale. Here are some examples of how style
can enhance your story.
Flashbacks/Background – They can add suspense for the reader. However, use
these sparingly. Too many flashbacks or background information can pull the
reader from the story, but placed in the right spot can have them turning the
pages. We’ve been told not to include background info in the first fifty pages.
If it’s necessary to add them early, just give hints to entice them.
Setting – Every suspense/mystery/thriller needs a powerful
setting. Perhaps it’s a sleepy town now plagued with intrigue or a supposed
haunted mansion. The setting is a character of its own. To see more on this
subject, see my previous post here.
Dialogue – This can make or break a novel. Dialogue needs to be
authentic, but we also don’t want to include hum-drum snippets of a conversation—for
example: “Hi. How are you?” “I’m fine, thank-you. You?” We know these types of
questions are in our everyday conversations, but they will bore the reader.
Keep dialogue snappy and moving the plot forward.
Rhythm — The use of short and long sentences can enhance the pace of a
novel. Need suspense? Use short, choppy sentences to thrust them right into the
action. Need to give the reader a break? Use longer sentences and paragraphs to
slow the pace, giving them a chance to think through all the clues. However,
don’t add too much detail. You know what they say—less is more.
These are just some areas to consider when writing a novel. Practicing
in different POVs and using the above information can make the author’s style
and voice authentic. Why not try this today?
What are your thoughts on voice and style?
Darlene L. Turner writes romantic suspense and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She won the 2019 and 2016 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence contest. She was a finalist in the 2019 ACFW Genesis contest and won in 2017. She lives with her husband in the Forest City of London, Ontario. Darlene’s debut novel, Border Breach, will release in April, 2020 and is now available to pre-order. Click here to order.
Should I worry about
trends? Do I write what I want and hope it sells? Is the mystery, suspense,
thriller genre still marketable?
“When we look at the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists, one genre that has surged in popularity is mystery and suspense/thriller.”
Jennifer Silverwood, NQD (Book Designs), 4.25.19
“Psychological Thrillers and True Crime are Taking Over Not Only Literature, but: Movies, Podcasts and TV Shows.”
Columbia.edu. 3.5.19
As of late September
2019, Goodreads.com reports two of their top five bestsellers are in the
mystery, suspense, thriller genre. Amazon.com boasts two thrillers in the top
six of their bestsellers.
Our genre continues to
shine in the big leagues, encouraging news for those of us crafting puzzling
mysteries, intriguing suspense, and fast-paced thrills.
Even though our genre remains desirable and marketable, awareness of specific trends in our industry guides us as writers.
Before we draft one
word, trends help us select our book’s premise and plot, driving the attention we
receive from agents and editors. Eventually, it aids in determining our success
in book sales. Don’t waste time pouring our hearts into dead trends like
vampires, so popular years ago.
Basic interaction
between parent and child, man and woman, humans and natural elements doesn’t
change, but specific circumstances do. Instead of placing teenage angst in the
midst of vampires and werewolves, repackage the drama in an updated scenario.
Remember, “…the universal theme of “good versus evil” will always be a draw.”
Bestselling author M.J. Rose
If we write based on what’s popular now, our book’s thrust might be irrelevant when our work comes into print, often a year after a negotiated contract with a publisher.
“My suggestion when it comes to writing what you “want” to write is don’t narrow yourself to such a small hook. Authors who fall in love with a genre and then continually explore new and different ideas to write in that genre are far more successful than those who narrow their writing to one simple subject matter.”
Literary Agent Jessica Faust, 8.13.19
What about specifics
for your novel?
In perusing top-sellers
in our genre, recent ones utilize family drama as their core focus––missing spouse,
child, or teens, unexplained illness of a child, domestic violence.
Interpersonal trauma informs the plot of other recent bestsellers––disappearance
after an internet-arranged date, an avenging sociopath, an apartment complex
killer, a corporate killer at a team-building retreat.
What common threads
continue in our genre? Great surprises, and good twists and turns keep the
reader guessing. Interesting settings, and in some, the location serves as much
of a character as the protagonist. Themes rooted in psychological pain,
betrayal, and intrigue where no one is who they seem inhabit recent
best-sellers.
In fact, one of the
most publishable genres today is the psychological suspense thriller.
“Thrillers, by definition, are escapism. There’s a suspension of reality that the reader expects and which allows them to immerse themselves in the thrilling aspects of the story. To leave their troubles for a little while and enjoy the ride. And thankfully, that never gets old.”
Liz Berry
As always, a
well-crafted plot with unique premises keeps readers riveted to the page.
What about our
industry’s trends as a whole?
According to The Independent Publishing Magazine,
people still want paper-in-hand traditional books versus e-books, which as of
early 2019, were purported to be on the decline. Good news for those of us who
yearn to see our book on the shelves of book stores and libraries. However, we
live in a digital age and e-books are here to stay. We do well to offer our
books in both print and digital format.
As audiobooks gain in popularity, the Big Five Publishing Houses
see them becoming a large part of their digital revenue. For both traditional
and independent publishers, the big investment pays off.
Marketing and self-promotion
are also a reality. Even if traditionally published, a strong social media
presence is vital. Agents and publishers not only note the number of likes our
posts receive, but also our level of engagement. Social media includes blogging and podcasting,
even for those beginning a writing career.
Promoting
is not just about the book, but about you as the author. Be certain what’s on
your social media is who and what you want to represent as a writer.
“People follow you, then your book.”
Scott Mathews
A well-written book will find an audience, but research market trends before recording your first word.
Write well, my friends.
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time,
whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received eight writing
awards including first place in American Christian Fiction Writer’s First
Impressions contest and the first place Tar Heel Award
from the North Carolina Christian Writers. Write to Publish recognized her
second novel with their first place Blue Seal Award. Her one-year devotional
book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore.com. She is represented
by Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.
A ranch in Texas
serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel set in
west Texas. Offer her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a
friend for life.
What’s the secret to
creating a book worthy of catching an agent’s eye? Worthy of turning an
acquisition editor’s head? Worthy of securing a publishing contract?
Pacing.
The speed at which the action takes place in our story is one of a myriad of literary devices that informs all writing including our mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Correct pacing can drive our story to the next level, to the top of the pile.
How do I handle my
story’s action?
The hare demands
pounding hearts, stolen breaths, and jacked-up pulses at every turn. Throw in
scenes with car chases, a killer stalking our hero through darkened alleyways,
or a bomb disabled at the last second. For good measure include the click of
the action sliding back on a Glock, the creak of a wooden staircase, or the
gurgle of a faucet running in an abandoned cottage. Add a cup of tea laced with
strychnine, a virus released into the air ducts, or a poisonous needle prick on
a crowded subway.
“If you’re writing a thriller, mystery…you’d better keep things moving rapidly for the reader. Quick pacing is vital in certain genres. It hooks readers, creates tension, deepens the drama, and speeds things along.”
We want the reader
gripping the edges of our book, turning page after page into the wee hours of
the morning.
But the tortoise whispers, “Slow
down.” Give our protagonist time for processing clues. Whether it be with a
trusted confidant, behind a microscope, in front of an evidence board, or
beside a crackling fire in the drawing room. Who are the suspects? What is the
motive? When did the offense occur? Where do the clues lead? Why murder? How
was the crime committed?
Which pacing is better, the tortoise or the hare?
Pacing is all about balance. Correct balance provides variety and keeps the reader hooked. It involves more than racing hearts and tingling spines versus strolling through daisy-dotted fields.
According to Healthline.com, adrenaline makes the heart beat faster, increases blood flow to
the brain and muscles, and stimulates the body to make sugar for fuel. The body
responds so fast that you might not fully process what is happening.
While that may please
the writer in us, constant action might prevent the reader from fully processing
and delighting in our well-plotted story. We don’t want our reader dozing off, but
we can let them breathe.
Pacing depends on the
story you’re telling. Suspense and thrillers tend toward fast-paced, mysteries
come in at a slower pace––think Sherlock Holmes.
Our question becomes not the tortoise or the hare, but rather how do we join both voices to create a satisfying read where dangling threads are knotted and setups are paid off.
What is your story’s
goal? What does your genre require?
Read best-selling
authors in your genre and analyze how they pace their story. Create a template
of the plot. You’ll find they spread out the fast-paced action with more mundane
activities.
Your reader’s adrenaline surges with shorter sentences and chapters. Short sentences tighten the action. Short chapters heighten the pace. Keep the action quick and physical. Pick concrete words and active voice. Call on machine-gun dialogue. Crank up the tension with hard consonants, such as: crashed into the cold night. Action-packed cliffhangers keep the pages turning.
Longer chapters and
sentences let the reader bask in the ebb and flow
of our prose, the nuances of our story, and the witty repartee between characters.
If action is more cerebral––analyzing clues, pondering results, consulting
colleagues––the reader can drop those shoulders, sip hot coffee, and enjoy the read. Flowery descriptions utilizing present
participles and gerunds slow the reading experience as well as the action. Dialogue
reflecting the slower pace employs complex sentences and longer action beats. Soft
consonants––gentle breezes on a summer morn––lighten the mood and invite the
reader to saunter, rather than rush, through the story. A slower pace doesn’t
mean anesthetizing the reader. We still want hanging cliffs and turning pages.
The tortoise and hare must work together, but one or the other will claim center stage depending on your genre. Correct pacing keeps our readers entertained, turning pages, and coming back for more. That’s what we all want.
Write well, my friends.
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time,
whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received eight writing
awards including first place in American Christian Fiction Writer’s First
Impressions contest and the first place Tar Heel Award
from the North Carolina Christian Writers. Write to Publish recognized her
second novel with their first place Blue Seal Award. Her one-year devotional
book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore.com. She is
represented by Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.
A ranch in Texas
serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel set in
west Texas. Offer her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a
friend for life.
Are you writing a mystery or a thriller? Do you know how to tell the difference between suspense, thriller and mystery subgenres?
The three categories are related and often overlap. Mysteries often have elements of suspense and a thriller may involve a mystery.
However, experts advise writers to identify the primary subgenre before pitching a manuscript. A story may be clearly in one genre, or straddle two, but it can’t be all three.
The following descriptions will help you determine which category fits best.
A mystery is about solving a crime or a puzzle. The protagonist’s goal is to uncover the clues, solve the mystery and bring the antagonist to justice. Typically, the crime happens near the beginning of the story the identity of the antagonist (murderer) is not revealed until the end. See a list of common mystery subgenres below. Examples include Agatha Christie, Murder She Wrote and Psych.
A suspense novel is about suspense. The reader knows the protagonist is endangered from the start, but the protagonist may only gradually become aware of the danger. The suspense genre covers everything from romantic suspense to psychological suspense and horror. Examples include Nora Roberts, Lynette Eason and Alfred Hitchcock movies.
A thriller is about action and danger. The protagonist’s goal is to stop the bad guy’s evil plan from succeeding. The protagonist and/or others are in danger from the start. Thrillers come in a wide variety of subgenres, including: espionage, political, legal, eco-terror, disaster, treasure, and sci-fi. Big names include Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and Clive Cussler.
Common mystery subgenres
Amateur Sleuth—the protagonist is not a P.I. or employed in law enforcement, and he or she does not get paid for solving the crime. Examples include Dorothy Sayers and the Hardy Boys.
Cozy—clever sleuthing without the gore, violence or naughty words. Miss Marple is a classic example. Modern cozies often feature a theme like cats (Lillian Jackson Braun) or cooking (Diane Mott Davidson).
Hard-boiled/Noir—crime fiction with a dark tone, plenty of gritty brutality, and tough-guy protagonists. Most definitely not cozy. Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler are classic examples.
Historical—a mystery set in the past. The sleuth may be an amateur, a PI or a policeman. Examples include Anne Perry, Elizabeth Peters, and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
Legal/Medical—the protagonist is a lawyer or doctor and the plot revolves around details of that profession. Usually written by medical or legal professionals. Big names include Lisa Scottoline and Robin Cook.
Police Procedural—the protagonist is a law enforcement professional, the solution involves detailed investigative techniques, and the story is more about proving guilt than discovering whodunit. Think CSI or Law and Order.
Private Investigator/Private Eye—the protagonist is a professional rather than an amateur sleuth. Like the police, solving crimes is how they earn their living. Think Sue Grafton, or The Rockford Files.
Psychological Suspense—these crime novels explore psychological issues, and typically feature a protagonist who is a psychologist or psychiatrist. Gillian Flynn and The Silence of the Lambs.
Romantic Suspense—a female protagonist is in danger, often while trying to solve a crime. In the end justice prevails and true love wins out. Authors include Terri Blackstock and Colleen Coble.
Since we’re on the eve of Memorial Day Weekend, it only seems fitting to highlight Rick Barry’s WWII novels, The Methuselah Project and Gunner’s Run.
However, The Methuselah Project is much more than a military thriller. The protagonist, a German POW, becomes a guinea pig for longevity experiments. By the time he escapes, seventy years have passed but his appearance hasn’t changed.
Fun fact: The cover model is wearing Rick’s bomber jacket. In fact, those are Rick’s shoulders inside that jacket!
If westerns are more your style, then tie your horse to the hitchin’ post and take a listen as Jennifer Uhlarik shares how a Florida gal fell in love with this classic genre.
Barbour Books has published seven of Jennifer’s novellas in their popular historical collections.
Among other topics, Jennifer and I talk about the Sand Creek Massacre, the inspiration behind her first full-length novel which releases next year.
The Novelists Unwind June Giveaway will be announced on Saturday, June 2nd at novelistsunwind.com. Be sure to enter for your chance to win a print edition of an amazing inspirational novel.
Your Novelists Unwind host:
Award-winning author Johnnie Alexander creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won’t forget. Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides (Tyndale), is a CBA bestseller and has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian. She’s also the author of the Misty Willow Series (Revell)–Where She Belongs, When Hope Arrives, and What Hope Remembers–and writes cozy mysteries and contemporaries for Annie’s Fiction.
Since talking about writing is so much fun, Johnnie hosts Novelists Unwind, which features videotaped interviews with inspirational authors, and Writers Chat, a weekly online show. She also teaches at writers conferences and for Serious Writer Academy. She is marketing director for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference and past president of both the ACFW Memphis and ACFW Central Florida chapters.
Johnnie recently moved to Oklahoma with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at johnnie-alexander.com and other social media sites via linktree @johnniealexndr.
