When my publicist for Undercover with the Nanny asked me what my brand was, it was hard for me not to respond, “Say what?” I had no clear idea what she meant. All I knew was that plot ideas hit me in the head, and I tried to make them into stories. Sometimes they were historical plots, others were rom-com, and others were romantic suspense. How do you create a brand when you like writing everything?
For example, I love writing westerns from the Old West, reminiscent of Gunsmoke or Bonanza, though my husband and sons say those aren’t what readers today are looking for. Who doesn’t like a cowboy? I tried my hand at pirates, and those two books were met with some success. Yet it still didn’t feel like my brand.
And then, my latest book came out last week, and the inevitable reviews started trickling in. I grit my teeth, afraid to open them up. After all, my last romantic suspense had had mixed reviews. The heroine in that book cried too much, the action scenes were good, but there needed to be more sex, yada yada yada. What would Undercover with the Nanny bring?
So far, readers and reviewers love it. They like the blend of action, adventure, and romance. They love how strong Kate is, how tortured Sawyer is. And they really like the twist at the end. These reviews have buoyed me up, and I want to ride this wave of success. I want to write more romantic suspense. I want it to be my brand.
Yes, I’ve decided to make contemporary romantic suspense my genre. I’ve read that type of book my whole life, after all. I enjoy a good pirate yarn, and there’s a special place in my heart for westerns; but romantic suspense is where I’ll concentrate my writing. That zing of pride I get whenever I hear that a reader didn’t see “the twist” coming is the clincher. I get so excited to know I’m “pulling one over” on readers until the final pages.
For example, I love writing westerns from the Old West, reminiscent of Gunsmoke or Bonanza, though my husband and sons say those aren’t what readers today are looking for. Who doesn’t like a cowboy? I tried my hand at pirates, and those two books were met with some success. Yet it still didn’t feel like my brand.
And then, my latest book came out last week, and the inevitable reviews started trickling in. I grit my teeth, afraid to open them up. After all, my last romantic suspense had had mixed reviews. The heroine in that book cried too much, the action scenes were good, but there needed to be more sex, yada yada yada. What would Undercover with the Nanny bring?
So far, readers and reviewers love it. They like the blend of action, adventure, and romance. They love how strong Kate is, how tortured Sawyer is. And they really like the twist at the end. These reviews have buoyed me up, and I want to ride this wave of success. I want to write more romantic suspense. I want it to be my brand.
Yes, I’ve decided to make contemporary romantic suspense my genre. I’ve read that type of book my whole life, after all. I enjoy a good pirate yarn, and there’s a special place in my heart for westerns; but romantic suspense is where I’ll concentrate my writing. That zing of pride I get whenever I hear that a reader didn’t see “the twist” coming is the clincher. I get so excited to know I’m “pulling one over” on readers until the final pages.
I find writing suspense challenging, that’s for sure. You have to leave bread crumbs for the reader, and you have to support all your clues, make sure you don’t leave any loose threads hanging. Sometimes I write, and then have to delete a good chunk because the scene just doesn’t fit the plot! Annoying. But the finished product is oh, so satisfying.
I come from a family of puzzle solvers. My mom read cozy mysteries her entire life. My dad loved to fix things. I don’t think he hired a repairman until he was close to seventy. He’d puzzle out the problem until he found a solution. And now, I’ve taken their love of riddles and raised them to a new level. Writing the contemporary romantic suspense. Making my name synonymous with that genre. I know they’d be proud of me. And my mom would be “tickled pink” to read a book with my name on the cover.
What type of suspense plot would you like to see me write? Drop me a suggestion. I may just use it! While you’re at it, check out my books.
I come from a family of puzzle solvers. My mom read cozy mysteries her entire life. My dad loved to fix things. I don’t think he hired a repairman until he was close to seventy. He’d puzzle out the problem until he found a solution. And now, I’ve taken their love of riddles and raised them to a new level. Writing the contemporary romantic suspense. Making my name synonymous with that genre. I know they’d be proud of me. And my mom would be “tickled pink” to read a book with my name on the cover.
What type of suspense plot would you like to see me write? Drop me a suggestion. I may just use it! While you’re at it, check out my books.
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