By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Most writers read and write in the same genre. Professionally speaking, that’s the way it should be. If I’m not as excited about the romantic suspense story I’m writing as the one I’m reading, then quality suffers.
This applies to all genres, and not just my chosen one of romantic suspense.
Here are the five reasons why I write romantic suspense.
- My favorite reading is a romantic suspense novel. I crave the action and adventure with a thread of romance. I also have a passion for a story that reaches into the hearts of a hero and heroine and finds a lasting love while the two risk their lives to stop or prevent a crime.
- Characterization is a crucial part of my writing, the hows and whys of a character’s behavior thrill me. In a romantic suspense, I have the ability to fashion complex characters—protagonists and antagonists who amaze and thrill the reader.
- We live in a dangerous and sometimes fearful world. I want to create a realistic story that offers hope to readers who fear the unknown. Through characters who are trained to battle crime, I can depict real people in real crisis situations.
- My faith leads me to write stories that show good always overcomes evil. My goal is to have at least one character who approaches life and solves problems according to a Christian worldview. This focus eliminates preaching while the reader observes and experiences the character’s role. Even if the name of God or Jesus were omitted, I believe the reader would still see me writing a Christian story.
- I love developing the twists and turns of plot that (hopefully) are unpredictable yet totally credible to the character’s personality.
We all have genre preferences. What is your favorite and why?
DiAnn’s Library Corner
Librarian – Have you created a Valentine display? Initiate a craft night for young and old. Show examples of Valentines or allow the patron to design his or her own. This is a great time for families to join together for a time of fun.
Available for Pre-Orders Now
Deep Extraction by DiAnn Mills – April, 2017
Comments 32
I love your twists and turns! Keep turning them out DiAnn!
Oh, thank you!
I love mystery and suspense–a romantic thread seems quite natural! A strong humorous flavor really adds. I also love historicals and the fun of researching them. I enjoy your books, DiAnn!
Hi Rachel, thanks so much for reading them – and posting. 🙂
Romantic suspense, Crime suspense and many others. I really follow authors as well.
Hi Lisa, thanks for your comments and posting on my blog.
I love romantic suspense love the action and the romance your books are some of my favorite!!
Hi Debbie, thanks so much for reading my books!
I enjoy mystery, thriller, suspense (with and without romance), True Crime, romance, history, humor. I also enjoy “magic” novels like Charlie Holmberg writes, I think those are called “Speculative” fiction.
You, Ann Tatlock, Deb Raney, Lynette Eason, Steven James, Al Gansky are at the tip of the iceberg of my favorites. Like others who responded, there are several authors I adore which I have marked to receive notifications when their novels are going to be released. I am a “rabid reader,” I admit it!
Am barely hanging on until I receive your new novel! I know it will be fabulous!!
Hugs!!
Thanks, Jann, you are always an encourager!
Excellent. This provoked me to ask the writers in my critique group “why?” And I posted your blog as an example.
Thanks, Julie!
I love romantic suspense novels. Yours are great, by the way. I also love reading Dani Pettrey, Dee Henderson, Patricia Bradley, Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon or Terri Blackstock. I read sweet Christian romances in between suspense novels just so I can get my heart rate back down?.
Hi Patti, thanks so much for reading my books – and the books of my friends. We are all one family.
I love to read Christian books. I especially love your Christian suspense novels. Keep up the great work.
Hi Jan, thanks so much for the encouragement!
My favorite genre is Christian suspense with romance. There are a good number of great authors in this area including you. You continue to get better and better as do some of my other favorite authors. That’s fantastic for all of us as we grow and mature in Christ.
However, I actually enjoy various other stories a lot also. I like historical romance and contemporary romance as well. May the Lord Jesus Christ pour out His Blessings upon you!
Hi Faith, thank you for reading Christian fiction. Your desire for stories that honor Jesus is why we write.
I am into Historical Romance right now. I guess I’ve always liked history. But I like to mix it up with Suspense . You are one of my favorite authors. I tend towards Christian fiction but if it’s a clean read , that’s OK. After reading a brainy book, I like to alternate to a cozy mystery. Not much for Contemporary Romance, even Christian but I have come across some good ones. The ones from you, Dani Pettrey, Dee Henderson or Patricia Bradley, Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon or Terri Blackstock are the best! There are too many good historical Christian fiction authors to name.
I have two notebooks full of handwritten pages with Christian authors and their books to choose from and mark off as I read them. What can I say: I’m retired, I like to read!
Hi Paula, You are so organized to keep track of writers and their books. Thanks for reading our books!
It’s my fav genre at this time. I REALLY enjoy yr books.
Hi Dottie, thanks so much!
Historical romance, suspense and sometimes a good spy novel as long as the characters have depth and interesting lives beyond their spy craft. Daniel Silva’s series with Gabriel Allon is wonderful. Rosamunde Pilcher’s, Shell Seekers, is my all time favorite book; not suspenseful but amazing characters I visit at least yearly.
Hi Cathy, there are so many great writers, and I do enjoy a suspense novel that keeps me turning pages.
I love a good suspense book because i want to see if i can solve the crime before the hero does. Also love a good christian romance to just relax and enjoy myself
Hi Sheila, like you, I look for the subtle clues. Sometimes I’m successful and sometimes not. Those written by writers who surprise me are my favs.
Historical fiction is my favorite read. I think it helps me escape to another time era.
I have added Deep Extraction to my TBR list. I am from West Texas and we have lots of pumpers there.
Hi Lena, I had so much fun writing Deep Extraction. I hope you enjoy it!
I love romantic suspense!!! Just the romance novels leave me missing something! We are blessed to have several excellent novelists, especially YOU!
Hi Vee, thanks for your kind words!
My favorite is historical fiction, although I love romantic suspense stories as well. I enjoy learning of other cultures and customs within the framework of the time and place.
Hi Teresa, I use to write more historical fiction, but I found I preferred the romantic suspense. But there are some fabulous historical fiction that are filled with suspense!