Dangerous Love: Writing Romantic Suspense

Book excerpt: Are you interested in writing a thrilling romantic suspense but not sure how to start? Do you love reading romantic suspense novels and wonder how they’re put together? Romantic suspense is one of the most popular subgenres of romance to write. However, it isn’t easy to juggle a strong and compelling romantic relationship with the intrigue and suspense of a well-crafted thriller. In this book, you’ll learn: • The expected elements of a romance. • The expected elements in a suspense. • The different types of heroes and heroines. • How to design a worthy villain. • The eight basic romantic suspense plot types. • How to blend romantic and suspenseful story elements in an organic way. • When and where to choreograph romantic and sexy scenes between the breakneck pace of action and danger. • How to start a romantic suspense, with the meet cute or the crime? • How to structure and develop each of the eight romantic suspense plot types. o The Protector o The Investigation o The Pursuit o The Mission o The Secret o The Underworld o The Victimized o The Disturbed • How to pants a romantic suspense • How to plan and write a romantic suspense series. • Recommended reading for each plot type. I’m been writing for over ten years and have currently written and published more than sixty romances and romantic suspense novels. I learned everything I could about story structure, writing romances, and reading mystery and suspense thrillers; however, it was hard to find books or courses on writing romantic suspense. Therefore, after reading hundreds of romances, mysteries, thrillers, and romantic suspense novels, and studying story structure and characterization, as well as on-the-job writing and critiquing, I put together this book to help you write thrilling and successful romantic suspense novels.