Small Town Mysteries. Big Time Suspense.
A Valentine’s Day haiku seems an appropriate writing prompt for this week. I wrote this haiku for my husband. And I know I have six syllables instead of five in the last line. I tried it a couple different ways, and I think this line best conveys my meaning. If you’re inspired, please leave a haiku or any kind of Valentine’s Day poem in the comments.
A blaze, a whisper,
A sigh, a laugh, or a touch–
However you need love.
So pleased to share another author interview with Bettie Boswell. You can read her previous posts and interviews here. Today we’re discussing her latest novel, Hidden Names, her first novel in the romantic suspense genre.
You write in so many genres, for a wide variety of age groups. What made you decide to write a romantic suspense novel?
Bettie: My reading interests have expanded over the last few years and I decided to give this genre a try. It is a fun challenge to add another level, beyond pure romance, to my novels. I like variety in my life and love to explore both new and favorite genres. Hidden Names is a big leap away from my picturebooks and chapter books, but the craft lessons I learned, regarding children’s books, taught about good writing techniques for any genre. Each genre has its own appeal and I find it refreshing to change things up.
What was different about writing romantic suspense compared to the other genres you’ve written in?
Bettie: The biggest change was weaving in the imminent danger that would be lurking around the bend in every scene. I learned to leave more dramatic cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter during the process. The romance stayed at bay because of the danger involved. While there was plenty of interest between the couple all through the story, they needed a year between the end of the book and the prologue for an off-stage courting to occur before a proposal took place.
I like the idea of the couple dating a year before the proposal. It makes the story seem more realistic. Your main character makes jewelry. Is this something you know how to do or did you have to research this art?
Bettie: I did some research, but I have always had an interest in gemstones, rocks, and minerals. As a young teen, my father and I joined a rock hound club. We went to shows where people talked about how to put rocks into jewelry. I still have a few purchased bracelets and necklaces in the bottom of my jewelry box from those events. One of my bookshelves contains some rocks that we collected. We also went to digs and dug for particular types of stones. Some of our rocks came from a local creek bed. We were in Virginia at the time and there were beautiful quartz pieces in many colors, which inspired me to use white quartz in the jewelry for Hidden Names. There is also a verse in Revelation about names revealed in a white stone.
It’s so much fun to weave our own interests in our stories. Your plot also involves cybercriminals. Since I know you don’t have experience in that field, what research did you have to do for your novel?
Bettie: I didn’t do a lot of research in that area, other than being aware that it is something that is happening in our world. That part of the crime ring appeared off-stage, other than the threat of them wanting to get the information revealing their names before Amber and Agent Graham did. The real research occurred in remembering some electronic technology that my father taught me as a child. You’ll have to read the book to see how Amber uses that information to discover the message her father left behind after his death.
Nice teaser! Since this is the first book in your Forest Glen Suspense series, what can readers look forward to in the next books?
Bettie: I am about one-third of the way through the next novel in the series. One of the characters in Hidden Nameswill have her own spin-off story that parallels a similar timeline. Winifred Grimsley’s adventures will take her in a whole different direction when the past confronts the future. Hidden Names hints that there are more people involved in the cybercrime ring and Winifred, aka Miss Freddie, is a witness to some of the earlier crimes at MAX Enterprises. Her testimony is vital to putting the criminals away. The enemy will seek to make sure she doesn’t testify now that she’s been located. Agent Kent Russell can’t believe she’s shown up to ruin his life again.
Sounds like the second book has a lot that romantic suspense fans will enjoy. And now for some personal questions … which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
Bettie: I’m mostly a water drinker.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Bettie: I usually use the family computer in a room in our house that was originally a breakfast nook. Home computers were getting really popular when we moved into the home and that’s why it became the computer room, instead of a place to eat breakfast. I also have a small laptop that goes with me when going out of town and know I will have time to write.
What is your favorite season?
Bettie: Fall and spring are both favorites because neither is too hot or too cold. The temperatures provide comfortable conditions to walk in the neighborhood or a park. Each season has colors that appeal to me. Blossoming flowers in the spring and colorful trees in the fall appeal to me as an artist. The air seems fresher and I can breathe in the scents of each season.
To read more author interviews, click here.
*****
Amber’s father, Max, betrayed her and her mom when she was sixteen. Determined to make it on her own she refused all contact with the man and paid her way through college by making jewelry. Now, she finds it hard to let any man get close to her heart.
Months ago, he asked her to make some jewelry. She reluctantly agreed, needing the money he offered to set up her new venture, a studio for artists. Then he died, leaving a jeweled trail of trouble connected to a ring of cybercriminals.
Against her will, Amber must team up with Federal Agent Graham to gather up clues and stay one step ahead of people who don’t care who they hurt to protect their secrets.
The wounds of Graham’s past complicate their cross-country race as he becomes attracted to Amber. As they uncover the secrets her father left behind, they must learn to trust each other, before time runs out to defeat their nameless enemies, and find long-delayed healing.
*****
Bettie Boswell always loved to read and create stories for family and friends. In 2016 she began writing and illustrating stories to share with the world. She is now an author/illustrator of both children and Christian adult fiction and non-fiction books. Her efforts include contributions to educational works, leveled readers, magazine articles, and devotional and short story anthologies. Bettie has two grown sons, one daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and a busy minister husband. Follow Bettie on her website, Bettie Boswell Author/Illustrator.
My theme this month is love and friendship, so I have a prompt for writing about friends. What’s the relationship between these two characters? I’d love to read your inspiration. Mine’s below.
Amelia rubbed my nose. “Do you want more fish?”
“No.” I swiveled on my belly to bring Amelia’s mother, my “trainer”, into view. “Tell your mom to come over here.”
She kissed my nose. “Okay …” she did her best to reproduce my name, but humans can’t possibly make the clicks sound right.
Amelia raced over to Jessica and grabbed her hand. “(squeak, click) wants to talk to you.”
She broke into a smile. “You mean Racer does?”
“Yeah.” Amelia pulled on her mother’s arm. “But that’s not his name.”
As Jessica crouched beside me, Amelia release her hand and patted my head.
“Jessica, I need you to listen to me,” I said. My voice was high-pitched but intelligible.
Jessica’s smile vanished, and she collapsed out of her crouch.
For more writing prompts on friendships and relationships, click here.
I’m reposting this review of “A Scandal in Winter” by Gillian Linscott because this month’s theme is love and friendship. It’s one of my favorite Christmas mysteries. I first found it in the anthology Holmes for the Holidays. It’s also been collected in The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. Sherlock Holmes and romance seem like polar opposites, but Ms. Linscott writes a very convincing romance, fitting perfectly in the Holmes canon. Maybe that’s why I like it so well. It’s a romance that makes sense.
In 1910, tween age Jessica is spending the Christmas season at a Swiss resort with her wealthy family. Her family stayed at the resort the previous year when another guest fell to his death. Jessica was the only witness. The official verdict declared the death an accident, but both guests and staff believe the victim’s wife has gotten away with murder.
Jessica and her sister Amanda notice two elderly men they nickname “Silver Stick” and “Square Bear”. They are the only two guests who are polite to the widow when she returns to the resort. Silver Stick questions Jessica about what she saw, and Jessica, who savors the attention, plays amateur detective. Why Sherlock Holmes is on the case gradually comes clear through Jessica’s observations.
Jessica’s voice is distinct. It was the first aspect of the story to hook me. She’s a privileged child, but she’s old enough and smart enough to question the privileges and conventions she’s been raised in. Ms. Linscott also has some wonderful descriptions. I picture Jessica’s mother perfectly — “Then Mother arrived, wafting clouds of scent and drama.” And the widow — “This year she was thin, cheekbones and collarbones above the black velvet bodice sharp enough to cut paper.”
In the end, Holmes proves his devotion to the widow in his own way. And his understanding of what’s most important to Jessica.
To read my other posts on writing about love and friendship, click here.
What romances have you read that surprised you, maybe providing fresh twists to the rules of the genre?
JPC Allen Writes
