My latest
release, The Soldier’s Seduction, is a romantic suspense, and writing in that
genre is a unique balance between the love story and the thriller. It’s great
to have this chance to share my thoughts with you.
I suppose,
before I started writing romantic suspense, I had a vague idea that it was a
romance with a mystery thrown in. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Romantic
suspense stories have to give equal weight to both the romance and the
suspense. And that can be hard to get right. As an author, you have to keep the
threads of both stories entwined throughout.
Here are some
of the key ways to do it:
Get the
research right
That whole
‘writing what you know’ mantra is more important than ever in romantic
suspense. The details matter. If the killer couldn’t have fired the gun that
way, the whole plot falls apart. Police procedures, legal terms, murder
weapons…my search history is eye-popping.
Use the
setting to add tension
Setting makes
every book come alive. In romantic suspense, it does double duty. Nightfall can
evoke fear. Enclosed spaces tell us the characters are in danger. Immersion in
water or ice evokes urgency. Changing from one location to another gives a
sense of movement. Unexpected happenings in a setting can shake the reader out
their expectations. The Soldier’s Seduction starts out in a small town, but the
events take the characters on a thrilling journey.
Create
characters who are worth turning the page for
Romantic
suspense is about danger and romance happening at the same time, but none of it
is meaningful if we don’t care about the characters. That means investing in
villains as well as heroes and heroines.
In “Seven
Secrets of Romantic Suspense” Lisa Gardner says:
·
Every character (including the villain) should have a goal and something
personal at stake in the conflict.
·
Every character should have a few key strengths that mold and form them.
·
Every character should have some vulnerability.
·
Every character should have their own moral code, the things they will and
will not do.
·
Everyone must evolve.
Reveal the
plot slowly
Start dramatic,
then there should be lots of twists and turns along the way with the end always
appearing to be in doubt.
Sexual
tension
Sexual tension
adds to a mystery story. It complicates the plot—there’s nothing simple about
love and lust. Sex makes people vulnerable and in a suspense story, the
character can’t afford to be vulnerable. As danger mounts, so does desire. As
the future becomes more uncertain, the need for personal connection becomes
heightened. In The Soldier’s Seduction, Bryce and Steffi (if that’s really her
name…) have some very steamy encounters!
Give
glimpses of hope
We need to have
doubt and fear in the story. But there needs to be a glimmer of light at the
end of the tunnel. Harsh setbacks should be followed by fresh ideas and new
plans for attack. The hero and heroine can feel cornered, afraid, and
overwhelmed, but they should never feel hopeless.
A happy
ending
Romance readers
know what they want. A happy ending is not a formula, it’s an expectation.
Readers have raced at to the finish line, now they need a celebration. They
need a big ending, one that ties up all the loose ends. Then they need to see
the hero and heroine being happy. After
all the torture they’ve been through, we all need a little warm glow before we
turn the final page.
Bryce and
Steffi were two of the most tortured characters I’ve ever written. Giving them
their happy ending was sooo satisfying!
I love writing
romantic suspense…torturing my characters until the final page! I hope you
enjoy the twists and turns of both the mystery and the love story of The
Soldier’s Seduction and the other stories that are coming soon in the Sons of
Stillwater series.
About the Author
Jane Godman writes paranormal romance for Harlequin
Nocturne and SMP Romance, thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and steamy
historical and gothic romance.
Jane also writes erotic romance as Amanda Stewart.
Her latest book is the romantic suspense, The
Soldier’s Seduction.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
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About the Book:
Title: THE SOLDIER’S SEDUCTION
Author: Jane Godman
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 288
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Jane Godman
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 288
Genre: Romantic Suspense
BOOK BLURB:
From
the front lines to unexpected romance—and danger—in small-town Wyoming
After
a war zone bomb nearly destroyed Bryce Delaney, he’s worked hard to hide his
scars. Back in his Wyoming
hometown, he can pretend the nightmares don’t exist. But when a secretive,
beautiful new woman in town disappears, Bryce’s protective instincts put him on
the front lines again.
Wanted
for murder and on the run under an alias, former A-list actress Steffi Grantham
can’t return to her life until she clears her name. It’s her boss, Bryce, to
the rescue, but desire ties them together, and she’s forced to make a choice
that could cost them both. Trusting the wrong man once before almost stole her
freedom. Now it might take her life.
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