Anne Marie Becker
Today fellow International Thriller Writers Debut Author, Anne Marie Becker, is here to talk about the math of romantic suspense. Her novel, AVENGING ANGEL, recently received a 4 1/2 star TOP PICK! from RT Book Reviews as well as a starred review from Library Journal, which compared her to Mariah Stewart and Mary Burton.
Romance + Suspense = Thrills + Chills
I apologize for beginning your week with math, but hang with me a moment. For those of you unfamiliar with the romantic suspense subgenre, I think you’ll soon see the appeal. And for those of you who are familiar, I hope you’ll chime in with why you love these stories that have (approximately) equal parts danger and love story.
I love a good challenge.
That must be why I chose a writing career in romantic suspense. Not only does the suspense have to build to a crescendo, so does the romance between the hero and heroine. And I typically include both of their points of view (which makes it a lot more fun for me). Then there’s the question of how to intertwine the two within the story, pace everything so it builds in a believable but fast-paced manner, and make everything come out all right in the end.
I love a story that makes my heart pound and puts my brain to work.
Here’s where the thrills and chills come into play. Both danger and love make your heart beat faster. A love story should remind the reader of that thrill of first love—the butterflies-in-the-stomach kind. But with suspense, you’ve got the added premier-pharmacy.com/product/lamisil/ chill of continued xanax danger. Not only is the reader’s body reacting to a steady supply of adrenaline jolts, but their brains are puzzling out how the characters will find that happy ending when the world is crumbling around them. As far as delivering maximum bang for your buck, romantic suspense has it all.
I love a happy ending.
While there is a place for literary fiction on our shelves, when I want something that is a feel-good, entertaining read, I reach for the romance section. For me, real life is hard enough. And for characters in romantic suspense novels, life is even harder. Yet I know it’ll all be all right. I read to escape, and I like being able to trust that, no matter what is thrown at the characters, they’ll come out okay—better, even—in the end.
What genres (or subgenres) are your favorites to read/write and why? Who are some of your favorite authors and/or what books would you recommend? (And thank you, Donna, for having me here today. I appreciate your hospitality!)
About Anne Marie:
Anne Marie has always been fascinated by people—inside and out—which led to degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Counseling. To date, as a tutor, waitress, personal and family counselor, and high school counselor, she has indulged her curiosity through sanctioned professions. Now, as a stay-at-home mom of three young children, her passion for understanding the human race is satisfied by her roles as mother, wife, daughter, sister, and writer.
She writes to reclaim her sanity.
Find out more at www.AnneMarieBecker.com, or visit her on Facebook or Twitter.
Purchase AVENGING ANGEL:
You’ve hit on exactly why I love reading and writing romantic suspense. I also tell people I love to see the bad guys get what’s coming to them and to see the hero or heroine (or both!) rise to the occasion, cast their fear aside and do what must be done.
Absolutely, Alexa. I think RS writers must have a thirst for justice (or at least a vengeful streak) in order to write the villain’s POV and make sure the protagonists give him what he deserves.
Thanks for stopping by!
Alexa, I can ditto that! Sometimes its hard to see the bad guy get what’s coming if the author has also made them sympathetic. And I definitely like to see the hero “act” and not just have things done to him/her.
Fantastic insight, Anne Marie. I’m so with you on the need to escape and knowing that, after a highly entertaining, captivating read, I’ll land at a believable, inspiring and hope-filled ending.
I’ve yet to embark on a romantic suspense novel writing-wise, not in the way you’ve described—the relationship peaking with the plot—though I tend to include romantic elements. Nothing raises the stakes quite like love. 🙂
“Nothing raises the stakes quite like love.”
I love that! 🙂 It makes the ultimate resolution of the book so much sweeter, too, when it all comes together and the hero & heroine learn they love each other. They’ve survived everything…the most dangerous of threats…and they’ve come through it stronger, and together. So powerful!
Thanks for commenting, August!
August, love indeed adds conflict and raises the stakes! I love a happy ending when love is involved, but its funny as two reviewers of my current book were wishing for an unhappy ending. That got me thinking if I should try that sometime. I am the last two scenes in my sequel now and may just write a separate ending that doesnt end so well…just to see how it works out. May spin new ideas!
Oh, that’s interesting, Donna! I don’t know if I could write an unhappy ending…or if I’d enjoy the writing process as much. 🙂
Great Post Anne Marie. Suspense is so much more fun with romance added to the mix.
I agree, Rita. I think the adrenaline rush of danger is perfectly complemented by the hormonal rush involved in falling in love.
I don’t think I read much of anything else. Nothing interests me like a good romantic suspense. Okay I do like some thrillers bur whether it is paranormal/fantasy or whatever I enjoy suspense mixed with the romance. A plain romance with no suspense bores me. Sorry to all who write those I grew up reading Agatha Christie novels and things like that. I would read some the early romance books and go ugh there’s nothing there for me. That made me not read them. Boy meets girl they fall in love they marry and have babies. End of story. So not me. I love they meet and begin to fall in love and scary thing begin to happen. Then I am on the edge of my seat waiting for them to escape and reach the HEA.
I agree, Kathy – sometimes (or often!) you just need that extra adrenaline that comes with danger. 😉 I grew up on Agatha Christie…and Stephen King, later. I think that’s why my thrillers turn out so dark and sometimes twisted.