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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Romantic Suspense

Romantic Suspense

Saving the World, One Romance at a Time

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 27, 2020
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Often I will receive submissions of novels tying in an element of mystery and suspense with romance. Writers targeting the romantic-suspense market will find difficulty in placing this type of story. Why? Because romantic-suspense readers have certain expectations that won’t be met with a mere element of mystery and intrigue.

In my experience trying to sell and market romantic suspense, I have found that the readers of this genre want all-out adventure and crime solving along with compelling romance. The suspense is foremost, with the romance being tied in so deeply that the story won’t survive without it.

The romantic leads must be the hero and heroine. Neither can be on the sidelines, witnessing the problem or contributing almost nothing to its solution. They must be intricately involved in solving the crime. This is why readers will often see a detective assigned to protect someone in danger. The detective can be either the male or female protagonist.

I think it is helpful for romantic-suspense authors to have ready access to a police officer or detective friend who can help with procedural accuracy. I also recommend that you become a fan of romantic-suspense novels by reading fine authors like Lynette Eason. (Our agency represents more than 20 fabulous authors in this genre. Go fill your to-be-read pile today!)

As for suspense, the genre is serious that the plot must offer true suspense in which the characters are put in life-threatening situations. Sometimes secondary characters may even be wounded or perish. However, the first level of secondary characters, such as the protagonist’s children, may be put in danger but must always survive.

Intrigued enough to try your hand at romantic suspense? If so, the current market is friendly to this genre. If you are talented in writing this type of story and willing to work hard, success may be yours.

[An earlier version of this post ran in September 2011.]

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Category: Genre, Get Published, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Tamela, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Pitching, Proposals, Tamela, Trends

First Lines in Fiction

By Steve Laubeon August 26, 2019
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The opening words of your novel may be all a prospective buyer will read before making their purchasing decision. Are yours an opening salvo; an opening punch; or an opening sigh, easily dismissed? They will also be the first words an agent or an editor reads when they see the sample chapters you have pitched. Every story starts somewhere. Even “once upon a time” is a beginning. I thought it would …

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Category: Pitching, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Writing Craft

Should I Write Genre Fiction for an Established Line?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 8, 2019
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Sadly, Heartsong Presents is no more (shut down in 2014). It was a very popular line of Christian romance novels published by Barbour Publishing. However, when I was a young mother with school-aged children, I appreciated the fact that I didn’t have to market my books when I wrote for Heartsong. Instead, Barbour mailed books to subscribed readers every month. The books sold themselves. They did …

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Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Romance, Romantic Suspense, The Writing Life, Trends

What is Inspirational Romance?

By Guest Bloggeron May 24, 2018
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Our guest blogger today is Angela Breidenbach. She is a Montana author & Christian Authors Network president, is the host of Lit Up! on Toginet Radio and Apple Podcasts. Angela went back to college for genealogical studies w/specialties in English & Scottish Records. She’ll graduate in 2019 as a professional genealogist. Find her at: AngelaBreidenbach.com …

Read moreWhat is Inspirational Romance?
Category: Branding, Genre, Guest Post, Marketing, Romance, Romantic SuspenseTag: Christian, Genre, Romance

Beyond the Hook: Writing Sympathetic Characters

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 26, 2017
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The first page may be promising. The opening chapters may be engrossing. But a reader might still abandon your book if it doesn’t deliver. How can you keep your readers going? Sympathetic Characters Some writers are talented in creating sympathetic characters from page one. Perhaps Page one occurs during a fire, when the characters have lost everything. Or the heroine has been abandoned by a …

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Romance, Romantic SuspenseTag: Characters, Craft, Reading

Trade Fiction Versus Category Fiction: What’s the Difference?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 25, 2017
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Often I’m asked, “What’s the difference between a trade book and a mass market category book?” Great question! Here are some primary differences and as always, the exception proves the rule. Trade books are: About 95,000 words in length, varying between 85,000 and 100,000. Trim size called “Trade Paperback” is usually 5.5″ x 8.5″ Not restricted by the rules of any category …

Read moreTrade Fiction Versus Category Fiction: What’s the Difference?
Category: Book Business, Romance, Romantic Suspense, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, The Publishing Life
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