CITY SUSPENSE Vs. ISLAND SUSPENSE

                                 

Hi all,

As this is my first blog on Not Your Usual Suspects, let me introduce myself. I’m Laura Carter (*waves*) and I write sexy romantic suspense novels. My debut series, Vengeful Love, follows Scarlett Heath, a high-flying London lawyer, as she pitches to work for devastatingly attractive billionaire, Gregory Ryans. She wins the work, only to find out that the takeover Gregory is about to embark on is hostile. Cue a dark and twisted thriller, underpinning a passionate romance that sees Scarlett and Gregory mingling with high society in the glossy skyscrapers of London and Dubai.

I started writing Vengeful Love as a business lawyer living and working in the heart of London. It seemed like the perfect setting for an erotic, white-collar thriller. I had the backdrop of glitz and glamour—champagne, cocktails, sky views, limousines and black tie dinners—mixed with the ominous streets of the city. My hangouts looked something like this…

(View from the Shard, London)

Here’s the thing, six weeks ago, I changed my life by moving to a small island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. And as I sat down to my laptop in my new surroundings for the first time, I thought, Oh Crap! What have I done?

I went from dry martinis and the hustle and bustle of the city, to bottled beer and a sleepy, small-town beach life. My new style…

(Sunset British Virgin Islands)

Don’t get me wrong, the serenity of the island is wonderful. Being able to read and write in a hammock is pretty great. But I write CITY suspense novels. How am I supposed to make a beautiful sandy beach grave and threatening? I thought.

I worried about this for a couple of weeks, no kidding! Then I had that ‘lightbulb’ moment we all know so well. It came one day as I was driving past the island’s prison. It’s kind of idyllic for a prisoner—a low security compound with a garden and, from what I hear, pretty relaxed rules, with an outstanding view out to sea. I mean, this place would make the Count of Monte Cristo giddy!

So, I started wondering, what could a person possibly do to wind up in prison on this peaceful rock? And a few things dawned on me…we’re in the middle of the sea, accessible from all angles by boats and private planes…in other words, perfect for trafficking people and drugs—erm, hello gang crime and cartels! Then I thought, if you’re on the run, this is actually the PERFECT place to hide. It’s so small it barely gets a spot on the world map! And, given the fine waters for sailing, the low taxes and little regulation compared to, say, London or Manhattan, this is a billionaire’s paradise! Put all of that together and you get dark and (potentially) glamorous with no rules (*excited dance*).

It took some time and it was unexpected, but I started to see the small-town, island setting as having endless possibilities for crime and suspense novels. As an author, I think it is incredibly important to be able to draw inspiration from just about anything, to conjure a story from nothing. It’s what makes us a quirky (?) breed of species and, in my opinion, what makes our job one of the best in the world.

So, I ask you, authors, what is the most unexpected source of inspiration you have had? And to you, readers, do you prefer the backdrop of the dark and dangerous city, or the unsuspecting, kind of eerie, sleepy town?

If you’re interested in the Amazon bestselling Vengeful Love series you can check it out here:

Amazon US: amzn.to/1Tle3O3

Amazon UK: amzn.to/1M2lfqT

Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/1pd17Nm

Kobo: bit.ly/21mwLnN

iBooks: apple.co/1WeIGD2

GooglePlay: bit.ly/1RceZxQ

Come hang out with me:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauracarterauthor 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lcarterauthor 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lauracarterauthor 

Website: www.lauracarterauthor.com 

Finding Your Bliss

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you
where there were only walls.” ~ Joseph Campbell

I’ve been trying to finish a light amateur sleuth mystery (yay! Finally a series to write!) but another story keeps nagging at me. It’s one I’ve picked up and put down about a dozen times; changed the focus; the motivation; everything except the central characters and the theme.

I’m not sure why that book keeps pulling me back. Maybe it comes from the idea that each one of us has something special to contribute—maybe work we feel compelled to do. By doing it, we feel fulfilled and enrich the world. Joseph Campbell talks about finding your own path (“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path.”). How do you find that path? Some refer to it as following your bliss. Others say, find your heart’s passion.

But is that passion the broader goal or a kernel that embodies it?

For many of us on this blog, our passion is writing. Taking intuitions, snippets, dreams and moments of pure fantasy imagination. Adding overheard conversations, glimpses of a vignette as we pass by. Grabbing that nebulous possibility, and shaping and turning into a polished story.

Is writing the passion we want to share with the world? Or is it a particular theme or story that we feel we have to tell to reach that bliss?

I really have no idea, so I keep putting one foot in front of the other and step by step find my path.

Right now, that path is strolling along with a snarky divorcee who's temporarily living on a tree farm... You might hear a bit more about her later.

But as much fun as the amateur sleuth is to write, that other story is still there, a siren song.

Even if we take the steps to become an author, maybe we chose a certain path because we fear the stories we want to write won’t sell. We love chic lit or romantic mysteries or literary stories where the characters rule and the words flow to a different rhythm, but we read online, hear from editors, agents, creative writing texts that D, all the above are passé. We’re tempted to follow trends rather than listen to the story inside us. I think most of us have cleared that hurdle, but the doubt is always there--should I have chosen a different path?

Overall, I'm happy with my path to "here." Sure, there have been highs and lows, joys and regrets. I'm happy our paths crossed, here on the blog, at Carina, conferences or any of the other places we've connected. I hope my passion for writing lives on and that I can share my joy and make a small corner of the worlds a better place.

And in the meanwhile, I think my other story is still growing—or growing up—quietly evolving in my subconscious. I have many books still to write.

But I suspect “that story” will one day be the one I have to tell.

What about you?

“As you go the way of life,

You will see a great chasm. Jump.

It is not as wide as you think.”

Joseph Campbell

More Highland Dreaming

Last night I dreamed I was in Scotland again. 

I'm sure it was because of the book I'm writing, currently called Too Far to Fall because it involves a fair amount of falling. Off high, twisty highland roads. Off high horses. Off the beaten path and headlong into love. In my case, I'm having an ongoing, passionate love affair not only with my hero, who's very hot indeed, but with the Scottish highlands themselves. I may be obsessed.

I've been fortunate to visit some stunning places. Santorini, for example, a Greek island that held me mesmerized with its beauty. And Bryce Canyon in Utah, with rock formations so otherworldly I decided I wanted to carve a little house inside one of them and just live there, completely off the grid, and make up stories about the other strange inhabitants… The Louvre at night when it's all lit up and the glass pyramids feel like crystal palaces planted in the wrong century. 

These are all places I hope to see again, but something about Scotland calls to me.  If this is an obsession, I don't want to be cured. Truth be told, I adore those sweeping Scottish historicals where the clans are all at war with one another and the handsome laird wins the heart of his enemy's woman. I can't get enough! 

In my book, two wounded but very different people meet by chance at the top of a treacherous highland road, brought together by a tragic accident that might have been murder. There are no clans at war, but Ben and Fiona must fight an elusive enemy to find the truth and

save an orphaned baby, nearly losing their lives in the process.

Have you ever visited a place that resonated with you so deeply you literally couldn't get it out of your head? —Ana

Carpe Duodecim

Today will be amazing. Are you ready for it? Have you had your coffee? (Or did I scare you away with the Latin title?) If you’re still here, hold on, cuz here it comes…

Today is 12-12-12. It’s the last of those “repeating” dates for a long, long time. At least in our lifetime. There is no 13-13-13 or 14-14-14 or…well you get the idea. So, today I’m urging each of you to carpe duodecim. Seize the twelve.

If you hadn’t noticed, I’m kind of fond of symbolism. I love numerology, word patterns, fractal images, etc. In fact, when naming my children (I have three), I considered syllables and abbreviated nicknames when naming them so that when I chose names, I had a nice, neat, reciprocal pattern. My husband’s nickname is three letters. My name (Anne) is four. Our first child has a one-syllable, five-letter name, second child has two syllables and four letters, and, you guessed it, third (and final!) child has three syllables and his nickname is three letters long. (Now, if only that last child had been a girl, it would have been girl-boy-girl-boy…you get the idea. It’s okay, though. I’m kind of fond of the tot, so I’ll keep him.)

And no, my love of thought-provoking patterns doesn’t end with numbers. I love juicy words. Words that have meat and flavor and evoke emotion. For instance, why say “walked” when you can say “jogged,” “strutted,” or “stumbled?” So much more meaning there. So much more elegant.

And, images! Well, the world is founded on fractals…tiny, repeating, beautiful patterns (see the image above, captured by the author "Eequor" on Wikipedia).

Okay, so maybe my passion isn’t so much fondness as fanaticism. I like patterns. I like things nice and neat and symmetrical…and packed with flavor.

So, today is special. Go forth and do great things. Heck, do 12 great things. Breathe fresh air, create new art, say hello to someone new, or do whatever makes you happy (as long as it’s legal…according to the Mayans, we may only have a few days left before the end of the world and you really don’t want to spend them in jail, do you?).

Go do something fabulous. Carpe duodecim. Cuz this won’t happen again for another 100 years... If the Mayans were wrong.

What are you going to do with your special day? Do you have any “quirks” centered around words, numbers, or calendars? (Or is it just me?)

Do or Die

The 2012 Summer Olympics are over and our Olympic fevers have broken. We’re well on our way to leading normal lives…but the amazing displays of physical stamina, as well as the difficult heartbreaks, live on as inspiration.

Why do I find the Olympics inspiring? I love the people. The stories. It’s not the events I enjoy—well, okay, I like most of the events—but it’s the personal stories that clutch at my heart. It’s the mental and emotional feats…the real-life hurdles that these athletes faced and overcame through inner strength and persistence. And the reminder that the sky’s the limit if you try hard and focus your energy.

It reminds me of why I write, as well as why I read…and it’s probably the same reason most of us do. I like to write/read about characters overcoming the odds and surviving, even thriving. And the Olympics add that time crunch that surely we suspense aficionados can appreciate—it’s do or die within a couple of weeks’ span, even if the athlete has been preparing a couple of years or an entire lifetime for this moment of triumph. And yet, for every athlete who succeeds, there are many who didn’t reach that gold medal.

But they're all winners because they were all brave enough to risk failure. Knowing only a few can be in the spotlight, they are willing to dedicate hours and weeks and months to their passion. What a fantastic message of persistence and shooting for our dreams.

What were some of my favorite stories from this Olympics?

•  Misty May and Kerri Walsh (USA) – Women’s Beach Volleyball

This pair has dominated the beach volleyball circuit for over a decade, but what inspired me most was how they communicate, both on court and off. Their interviews show a deep and abiding friendship and mutual respect.

•  Usain Bolt (Jamaica) – Track

Fastest man ever – holy moly! He’s got reason to be confident. The story they presented on his home country showed his father joking that it was eating the homegrown yams that made Bolt so fast.

•  Oscar Pistorius (South Africa) – Track 

Double-amputee runner. Simply amazing. Not only has he overcome odds most of us will never face, but he does everything with a beautiful smile. He's moved on from the Olympics to the Paralympics.

•  Michael Phelps (USA) – Swimming

He's won 22 medals in 4 Olympics, 18 of them are gold medals. He's become the standard by which many swimmers judge themselves. Chad de Clos from South Africa beat him in the 200-meter butterfly, and said he was honored to swim against his hero.

• Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwanda) – Mountain Bike

He lost dozens of members of his family, including six siblings, in 1994 to genocide. Cycling saved his sanity. He told reporters that he knew he didn't have a shot at a medal. His goal was simply to finish the race, and to represent his country. 

What are some real-life stories (Olympic or non-Olympic) you’ve found inspiring? What do you do/watch/read to get inspired to either tackle or shake up your daily routine?