Fight or Flight?

I’ve often wondered how I would act in the face of danger. For instance, if a mugger cornered me, would I be calm, cool, and collected? Would I freeze up? Would I kick him in the… um, shins, and run? I’d like to think I could make a wise decision based on a split-second analysis of available exit routes, strengths and weaknesses, and whether I’d had my Wheaties for breakfast.

I probably think about scenarios like these more than the average person, though likely not more than my dear fellow suspense writers. Because – spoiler alert! – there is DANGER in my books. And maybe even the occasional mugger. So I have to think about the myriad ways my various characters would respond in such a situation, and why. What’s more, I have to consider how their actions shape the way they act in the rest of the book.

Behavior is a combination of three factors: biology, psychology, and social environment. For a character to behave in a believable manner, writers must consider each of these factors when deciding on the appropriate sequence of events.

• What is the character physically capable of (e.g., has she had her Wheaties)?
• What is his/her mental state and thought process at the time of the event (e.g., is she thinking about her grocery list when she is surprised by her attacker or is she expecting an ambush)?
• And what is going on in the character’s surroundings that promote or inhibit one reaction over another (e.g., is there a gun, or are there others present who could get hurt)?

There are so many combinations of factors a writer can put together. My characters probably hate me for what I put them through. But hey, they come out stronger in the end, right?

For example, my heroine in ONLY FEAR is being stalked. When she first finds out it’s Serious (yes, with a capital “S” AND italicized), her home has been invaded by the man, her sanctuary desecrated. Despite her experience as a psychiatrist, she crumbles. (Well, just a bit, anyway… I love my strong heroines, after all.) But her growth arc in the book shows her growing stronger as she faces each dangerous encounter. And when family members are threatened, her behavior changes. She’s willing to take on more risk for those she loves.

My hero, on the other hand, is an experienced ex-Secret Service agent. He already knows how to deal with danger on a daily basis, and welcomes the opportunity to face it head-on if it means defeating an evil force. But he’s also dealing with something from his past that hinders his confidence. His reaction to danger is quite different than the heroine’s.

And of course, when you get the hero and heroine together, they can do anything. Because love crosses into physical, psychological, and social realms. And love conquers all.

What about your characters? How would they act when faced with danger and why?

Love Those Chase Scenes

The pursuit. The hunter and the hunted. Chase scenes are the primal throb of thrillers. Our palms sweat, our hearts pound and our blood races as we revel in the chase, whether by foot, animal or machine.

A good chase scene not only will have action and suspense but will also reveal character. Put Keanu Reeves, Harrison Ford, or Steve McQueen on motorcycles and you’re going to have three very different scenes. Here are a few of my favorite cinematic chases.



Raiders of the Lost Ark. A legend for all time. From “Truck? What truck?” Indiana Jones overtakes the truck by horse, tosses a few bad guys off, is shot and is thrown out the front window. The look on his face when the hood ornament bends and cracks off is classic Indy. Before the scene is over, Indiana Jones makes his way under the truck and then uses his whip to be dragged behind the truck before climbing back on and regaining control.

The Italian Job. Most fun. Mini Coopers driven where no car dares to tread including the LA subway.

Return of the Jedi. Obstacle course. Luke and Leia race on flying speeder bikes through a dense forest with Storm Troopers smacking into trees.

Bourne Ultimatum. Wings on feet. Bourne’s breathtaking foot race across the roofs of buildings in Tangier makes one think he stole the god Mercury’s winged shoes.

Live Free or Die Hard. Best knock down. After being chased throughout DC, Bruce Willis’s John McClane takes out the pursuing helicopter with a car.

Live and Let Die. Spectacular boat chase. Have to list at least one James Bond movie. Gotta love speed boats peeling around the Louisiana bayou with one ending up in a pool and Bond leapfrogging in a boat over the redneck sheriff’s patrol car.

As an aside and on a lighter side, I also want to pay homage to the chase scene in What’s Up Doc? when Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal drive a Volkswagen Beetle down San Francisco’s famous ‘Lombard Street’. Hysterical.

What are your favorite chase scenes, whether cinematic or literary?

:) Carol

Fever

Many of my writing friends have recently returned from a big, annual professional conference. A few are about to head for a fabulous summer workshop. Their energy buzzes against my skin. Hot and dazzling.

I remember this feeling.

It’s Conference/Workshop Fever.

Talking jag or tongue tied, sweaty palms and dry mouth, the symptoms vary but victims agree there is one constant. It makes writing even harder than usual.

No matter how I’ve tried to inoculate myself, I’ve come down with a case once or twice. For me, it starts with a burst of energy. My brain is jazzed. Comparisons get the upper hand. “That woman tweats everyday and still finds time to write books AND wear nail polish?” I start waxing lyrical as a beatnik, “Boom! Pow! Feel that? Communication is life!” Then imagine the alpha and omega of career scenarios occurring before the end of the month. No, the end of the Week!

I’m a wreck.

Take it from me, Conference/Workshop Fever is a serious condition. Complications can go on for weeks. I’ve known people whose writing has been paralyzed by a severe case.
If you’ve just come back from a conference or plan to head out soon, here’s my tried-and-true medicine:
Start with Decompression. Take off the heels, the suitcoat, the badge. Get into your softest slouch clothes. Your work in the yard shirt. Your flipflops. Outer transformation signals inner transformation. (That’s why Cinderella needs a dress to go to the ball, people.)

Core Dump. Call a friend, your spouse, a dog…tell them everything. The horror of the cab ride. The funky smell in the hall. The man who tried to pick you up in the elevator. The woman who tried to pick you up at lunch. (We’re a randy bunch, we writers.) The only rule about the core dump is—do not write it down. No emails. No blogs. No loop posts. Seriously. You are not in your right mind and cannot be trusted with public speech. Step away from the keyboard until the fever passes.

Slow down. Sit down. Too fast on the reentry to real life causes heart aches and pains like a diver ascending too quickly from the pressurized depths of the sea. You need a few days in a conference -free hyperbolic chamber of space. The bathtub? Couch in front of the TV? The gym? You know where you best decompress. Plan to spend some time there.

What do you do in a hyperbolic chamber? Nothing. Chill. Conference and workshops are about doing, absorbing, reaching out. Believe it or not, similar all the other life forms on the planet, you too are affected by the rule that growth is followed by stasis. The rest period. Don’t fight it. It’s part of the process.

Next comes….

Sleep. You thought changing back into your usual clothes and going to the gym were enough to fuel you back to normal? You’re funny.

Get a good night’s sleep. Or a weekend full of naps. Your subconscious needs to work on all you’ve seen and done. You need a couple of REM cycles to process that avalanche of new information. Sleep helps your instincts read the people you met, filter the ideas you have, focus on the next important step.

Send a Thank You. Someone at the conference taught you something. Someone’s workshop lit the lamp of inspiration. Someone was a pleasure at the dinner table. Tell them. It’s an important part of getting past the fever, trust me.
Download. Now it’s time to write everything down. Journal. Make a To Do list, however you work best. Flush it all onto an empty sheet. Random images, odd thoughts. People to contact. Dates to remember. A phrase you heard. A new drink you tried. The striking intimacy of being in an elevator with someone whose work you know, whose words moved you. The way that time shifts, elongating then snapping back, over before you know it.

Note the things you need to do in your calendar. Stuff everything else (receipts, hotel key, notes) into a folder. Close the top. Push it to the back of the desk. Don’t look at it for a while. Days, weeks. However long you need.

The fever’s past. You’ll live.

The Secrets Behind THE FIFTH KINGDOM Romantic Suspense

I'm so excited about my upcoming release, THE FIFTH KINGDOM (July 11, 2011) a romantic suspense.

I loved writing this novel because although it is a romantic suspense, there was something very magical going on and it wasn't just the sizzling energy between the hero and heroine. It was some very special powers from an unexpected item.

In THE FIFTH KINGDOM, those powers come from an ancient relic discovered in what could be Montezuma's tomb. The relic is a copy of the Aztec Sun Stone sitting in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The original sun stone is about 12 feet in diameter and weighs about 24 metric tons. You can read more about the original here.



The relic in the book is similar in terms of its look, but it is small enough to hold in your hands and made of obsidian and silver on stone. Pure black obsidian was actually quite rare to the Aztecs and that's the reason that many of their sacrificial knives and the like, were made from this precious substance. Obsidian was more prized than gold in fact.

The obsidian and silver relic is very different from the original in one important way: It has mystical powers which are released once it comes in contact with something very sacred.

What can be so sacred? What about blood?

Now I won't spill about whose blood awakens the energy in the relic or what it is because I don't want to spoil the story for you.

For the Aztecs, the original sun stone was not only a calendar or sorts, but also a way to tell the history of the Aztec people. It tells the story of the four kingdoms of their past history and hints at what might end their fifth kingdom. The fact that some believe we are now living in that FIFTH KINGDOM is what inspired the title of the book.

I'll leave you with the Aztec Sun Stone and it's supposed abilities to predict the end of THE FIFTH KINGDOM and also, the video premiere for the novel.

I'd love to hear from you as to whether you believe in the possibility of ancient relics having special powers.

Bringing Your Characters to Life

As writers, especially romantic suspense and mystery writers, it is important that our characters come to life for our readers. A useful technique is to make a sketch of as many of the characters in the story as you can. Of course, it's normal to spend considerable time on your protagonists (including the villan), and a lot less on your secondary characters. Here are some tips to get your started.

A.) Use your computer, index cards, a notebook or journal to keep track of all the important aspects of your characters. Some people swear by collages, although I haven't tried one myself.

B.) Try to live just ONE day in the head of your protagonists. How would THEY react to the events going on around you? This is fun to do even if you just do it in your head. Unfortunately, people will still think you're spacey, nuts or in need of medication.

C.) Use ALL the senses to bring your characters alive. You should know:
1.) Appearance -- how they look
2.) Sound -- tone of voice, accent, how they laugh
3.) Smell -- does the heroine wear perfume, have a signature scent? Does the hero always wear that sexy aftershave?
4.) Touch -- can you feel the beard stubble under your fingers? Is the gun in his hand cool or hot?
5.) Taste -- the tang of a nectarine, the melting of chocolate on her tongue

D.) Don't forget to carefully explore and list the things that your characters feel passionate about.

F.) Even if you won't use most of it in the story, sketch a quick outline of the character's birth and important life circumstances. This will be the foundation for the emotional aspects of your characters.

One more tip: When you introduce a character -- reveal who they are slowly, like peeling away the skin from an onion. The more aspects and tidbits you can drop into the story about your characters will make them multi-dimensional, more interesting and infinitely more relatable.

So, who are some of your favorite and most memorable characters and why?

Suspense at RWA 2011

My goals for my first day at the Romance Writers of America conference were simple…arrive in time for the luncheon and then meet with my wonderful editor at 2:00pm. With a 6:00am flight there shouldn't have been any concern with meeting these goals. But as some of you well know, my plans were thwarted by a 3 hour flight delay.

At 11:00am, when I reached Newark airport, I went in search of my shuttle. A man in a lovely knit hat asked me to lend him some cash so that he could book a hotel room. I explained to him that I don’t travel with cash, so the man in the lovely knit hat then asked if I had anything else I could give him. I should have said, “Yes. Advice. Stay away from airports.”

In an attempt to save money, I had booked the “Super Shuttle” from Newark airport into downtown Manhattan. At 11:25am a man steps inside Ground Transportation and yells out, “Meee-lah”, “Meee-lah”. I’m thinking, could he possibly be calling, Miller? Rather than respond with my given surname, I wave my hand and called out, “Meee-lah here.”

I am taken to a van with twelve people crammed inside, each being transported to unique and widespread spots in New York City. I'm reminded of Romancing the Stone as Joan Wilder sits on the Chilean bus with a chicken on her lap. The panic begins to escalate. A panic enhanced by Betsy Horvath's frantic texts of, "Are  you here yet?!" A blind passenger asks to be dropped off in Chinatown. He can’t see his suitcase, but describes it as being black with wheels. That depiction certainly distinguishes it from the eleven other black suitcases with wheels. We all begin searching name tags to find the blind man’s suitcase, and then remarkably, the blind man, his cane, and his black wheeled suitcase are left on the curb in Chinatown. 

We have now been on this shuttle for an hour and a half and any chance at reaching the hotel in time for the luncheon are lost. All that is left is to pray that I’ll make it in time for my editor appointment. I arrive at the hotel at 1:47pm and quickly check in, gauging that I can run up to my room with enough time to drop off  my bag and make it back downstairs for the 2pm tryst with my editor.  Then I see the elevator line…

Yes, I made it at 2:03pm, but the suspense of the day took a toll on my hair. :)  Here is me and my fantastic editor, Melissa.

Maureen A. Miller

ENDLESS NIGHT

Hug a Tree, Come Back Alive...the Things I Do in the Name of Research

First off, happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canucks. It's looking good here in Calgary and I expect the fireworks to be spectacular tonight.

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In mid-July, I'm going to spend a week out in the wilderness, hugging trees, singing Kumbaya, smoking a peace pipe, and running away from black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, moose, elk, and other large mammals that can eat me or squash me like a bug.

Two years ago, I wouldn't have sweat this. Not because I would've come out on top in one-on-one combat with any of the wildlife (not even in my wildest dreams), but because I practiced a lot of running at the dojo four times a week (it hurts less if opponents can't make contact) and know I wouldn't have been the slowest person in the group. These days, an octogenarian with a walker could probably outrun me. Sad, but true.

So, why is a city girl who enjoys winter sports because most wildlife are hibernating or gone south risking life and limb by going into the great outdoors during the peak of summer? Well, (1) this week communing with nature while slathered with SPF 100 sunscreen and mosquito repellant is a leadership course for my MBA. No, seriously. I will actually get credit for hiking and camping for a week. It (2) also gives me an excuse to visit MEC and buy new layers I can use for snowboarding. And (3) I may use it in a book someday. The heroine of the next book may find herself lost in the woods with a killer on her trail...or tripping someone to distract a grizzly while she runs away. I can make either scenario work.

While I'm a coward at heart, this trip is not the most questionable thing I've done in the name of research. I have white water-rafted, skydived, taken the controls of an airplane, pushed 130 mph on the Autobahn, eaten food from a street vendor in Asia, crossed a street in Paris, and a few other things that are a little fuzzy (probably for the sake of my sanity). Bungee-jumping and base-jumping are still on my list...which reminds me I still need to plan a trip to New Zealand in the next couple of years. (No, I really don't have a death wish. If I did, I'd try planking.)

What have you done for research?