NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

CUSP

1.   : point, apex: asa : a point of transition (as from one historical period to the next) : turning point; also : edge, verge <on the cusp of stardom>
(from Merriam-Webster online dictionary)


 A cusp is a point that marks the beginning of a change. Being on the cusp of something means you are facing change, usually a big change.

Cusps are uncomfortable things. There’s always a “bated breath” feel about them, a hovering between things past and things future, with only uncertainty ahead—and possible instability, insecurity and dismay.

Maybe that’s just me.

That’s where I am now: teetering on the edge of a new beginning. I am about to retire. After 45 years of working (I started very, very young), I am now contemplating a life free of wage work and structure, free of determining my days according to someone else’s priorities.

I’ve been looking forward to it for years. I’ve enjoyed my working life tremendously, but just thinking of all the free time I will have to write leaves me giddy with joy. It sounds like a grand adventure, doesn’t it?

But that’s the thing about adventures: they are uncomfortable, sometimes even dangerous. What if I’m leaving too early? Should I have a fatter cushion before I throw myself off the ledge?

And what about the social aspects? I’m an introvert, so I get most of my social needs met at work, interacting with colleagues and clients. Will I now turn into that strange lady who lives down the street?

The future is a little murky.

But really, is it that much different from how I write my stories? With every story I start, I am sailing off into the darkness, with no idea where I’m going or what’s going to happen…

<gulp>

I may be in trouble…

But… I mean… the process works for me. I never know where I’m going to end up in my stories, but that’s what keeps the process interesting for me. It keeps me writing. So, maybe we all have our own ways of coping with change, and cusps. Maybe this retirement thing will work out, after all.

Now, please excuse me—I have to go check my sails.

What about you? Any “cusps” in your life? How have you dealt with the major changes you’ve encountered? With panic? Grace? 


Monday, November 28, 2016

Telling a Good Story

Long before the written word, there were verbal story tellers. These tales offered entertainment, an oral history of the people, or means of survival for the listeners. Because of the necessity to remember the stories being told, the teller had to present his tale in the most memorable and appealing way, much like a writer today.

This came to mind as I sat with my family over the holidays listening to stories. A group of us sat outside around a big stone fireplace with wine in hand and asked everyone to think back to an event from when they were nineteen or eight years old. A few hours flew past as the tales flowed from young and old. One thought led to others and soon we had lots of laughs, gasps, and smiles. Through it all, I noticed the most effective stories had the same basics as a good novel. What are these basics? I picked out several, so see if you agree.

 Know your audience. This was easy for my family gathering. We were interested in how grandpa ended up being a pilot, since his goal had been to attend college for a business degree so he could go into the insurance business with a family friend. Or his rendition of what living during World War II was like for the kids at home. Grandpa went through the day of a boy living in a coastal city, tending his block of victory gardens, raising chickens to sell eggs, and the necessity to be inside by dark (no gasoline to drive anywhere, headlights of those that did had the top painted black as no lights were allowed in the city). Grandma talked about beating the odds of transferring into Stanford as a woman by achieving the top score on the entrance exam. The listener or reader must know from the start for whom the author is writing the book (young adults, fantasy lovers, romantics, thrill seekers?). Each category requires a different path, and a unique touch to the method of revealing a story.

What is the purpose of the tale? To teach, to entertain, to make the reader retain the memory of the characters or simply the overall message? A history book reads quite differently from fiction, but even history can be told in various ways. Is it the leadership or heroism of an individual or the achievement of a team that matters? Is it the failures of one battle that leads to success in the next? Is it the story of one of Henry the VIII’s wives, or the changes in religion brought on by his marriages to them?

Lead into the story, perhaps with a hint at the “punch line,” but reveal it in bits over time. Grandma did this with her story of how she married Grandpa. Grandpa attended Stanford University in California when she met him, but she was going to college in Oregon. Since we all knew the outcome, she stated the obstacle they faced upfront. Women were not usually accepted as transfer students into the school back at that time. If she wanted in, she’d have to do something to prove herself. Thus, the tale included the difficulties she had to overcome, the odds of getting into the college, and her process to defeat them.

Don’t forget the emotional impact of a story. Does your hero or heroine leave behind those they love? Have they nothing else in life except the love interest who is torn from their grasp? Has their home and country been destroyed, leaving them lost and looking for hope? Or has the cherished mare that is carrying the heroine across the country, been bitten by a snake and will likely die? Has your dancer suffered a devastating injury and the doctor must reveal she will lose her leg? Each of these touches emotions for readers.

Don’t forget to bring your story full circle. This weekend we watched the movie Moana. A young girl leaves home, knowing she alone is the one to save her island from dying, but also fully aware her father nearly died attempting to leave the safety of their island reef. Once she achieves success through her trials, the story would feel empty without her returning to the island. In my latest release, Under the Radar, my heroine leaves a base in South Africa for a mission and doesn’t return in the expected time. To bring the story full circle, she must eventually return, not to prove she could succeed, but to get more resources to complete a second mission and save someone she has come to love. The catch is that returning with success places her in grave danger from an unknown enemy.

Hopefully these examples give you some ideas as you embark on writing that next great novel. Just remember some keys to good storytelling include:
1. Know your audience.
2. Know the purpose of the story.
3. Lead into the story. Hint at the punch line, but reveal it in bits over time.
4. Be sure to touch on emotions.
5. Attempt to bring the story full circle.

If you enjoy romantic thrillers and adventure, check out my latest two book release, Under the Radar and Off the Chart in the new TakingRisks series.







Wednesday, November 23, 2016

We Are Blessed

It’s the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, and people are in a mad scramble to get everything done so they can celebrate the holiday with family, friends, and loved ones.  The hectic roller-coaster ride of rushing to stores, climbing into cars and driving sometimes hundreds of miles, or jumping onto planes and flying across the country has begun. 


Let’s slow our roll for a bit, shall we, and take a moment to reflect on the things we’re thankful for.  The big things like, health, wealth and happiness naturally spring to the forefront of our minds.  Many of us are blessed with a prosperity we oftentimes take for granted.  We’re so busy keeping up with the Jones’s that we’ve forgotten everything we truly have accomplished in our mad dash. 

Instead, let’s pause a moment and take look around.  Do you have a roof over your head?  Be thankfulNot everyone is so fortunate.  Do you have food in the pantry and in the refrigerator?  Be thankful because many go without  How about that one special friend who’s always there for you, no matter what stupid stunt you’ve pulled?  Yep, be thankful they are in your life, even if it’s to stay I told you so. 

As a nation, we are blessed with an abundance of riches, and we often forget how much we have, and the costs associated with it.  Our Armed Forces don’t get to pack everything up and head home to their families for a big home-cooked meal and football on the TV.  Instead, they are out there, on the front lines, protecting us—so we have the freedom to sit down to that home-cooked meal and watch our favorite teams go for that game-winning touchdown. 

On a personal note, I am thankful to be able to do a job I love, and write stories that hopefully keep the readers on the edge of their seat, turning the page to figure out who the villain is, and if the hero will save the girl (or if the heroine will save the guy). 

My wish for you is a very blessed Thanksgiving holiday, and remembrance of what we have, big and small. 

For the holiday weekend, Deadly Justice (part of my New Orleans Connection Series) is on sale for only 99 cents.  (How’s that for a shameless plug?  

Buy Links: 


Monday, November 21, 2016

It's A Small World


I’m so happy to share my release day with everyone here!

Out of the Blue is the 2nd big book in the High Stakes series. (The 3rd if you include the novella, Over the Top.)



I thought it might be fun to test the ‘Small World’ theory with this book.  I don’t know about you, but I find myself in ‘small world’ situations all the time.

The most recent had to do to with someone I work with who knew someone at my daughter’s college who my daughter had already met and talked to in her chosen field (sports photography). (Sorry, I had to take a breath in the middle of that sentence too.)

Or my husband who interviewed for a job and discovered the man he was speaking with went to his church in Long Island, NY forty years ago.

My latest story... While at work a year ago, we had a guest actor on the show who is 6”6’ and built like a tank. We soon discovered that he also works as a cover model for romance novels. Not only that, but he’d graced covers of books by authors I know. Since we met, Michael Foster has been on even more covers and taken a ton of pictures with author friends of mine at several different conferences. Very small world.

In Out of the Blue, Casey Turner is looking to spice up the honeymoon that never happened because her fiancé dumped her at the last minute.

Brendan St. John is Casey’s target and once they meet the sparks fly. But Casey only wants to forget her ex and Brendan is the perfect man to help her do that.

Cut to the morning after, when the only thing left of Casey is her scent and the indent on the pillow. Brendan doesn’t even have a full name to search for her.

But remember that small world we live in? Who do you think he sees the first day on the reality show when he walks in the door and meets all the contestants at the same time? Yep. Casey. The problem is cameras are rolling 24/7 and they can’t talk about it without risking disqualification from the show. The fact is, neither one knew the other would be there. Small world.

I know how often small world scenarios hit my life, but what about you? Any fun ones you can share?

In the meantime, he’s the blurb for Out of the Blue.

Recently dumped by her fiancĂ©, Casey Turner is going for her dream career. Rebound sex with a hot stranger was eye opening, but she wants to leave her mark on the world. She’s sure that winning the new reality show Write Your Ticket will prove that she’s got what it takes to make it in the music industry. She never expects to be the target of a killer who’ll stop at nothing to see her die, even if it’s on national television.

Brendan St. John didn’t think he’d ever see the girl who disappeared after a sizzling one-night stand, but he won’t let her distract him from winning the reality show that could change his life. Of course, it’d be easier to ignore her if he didn’t have to keep saving her from disasters. But too many accidents on the set can’t be coincidence, and when Brendan interferes, Casey isn’t the only one in danger.

Despite being pitted against each other, Casey and Brendan grow closer, and the attraction that brought them together burns hotter with every look. Ultimately, only one of them can win the show, but that doesn’t stop either from being the target of someone with a mighty grudge.


Thanks for reading this far and if I still have your eyes… Happy almost Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a lovely holiday!

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