How difficult is it to balance of all the necessary elements for a Christian romantic suspense story?
It can be a challenge at times to balance a romance, a complicated suspense plot, and a spiritual message. I try to make the characters romantic conflict also have to do with their spiritual issues so when they resolve the spiritual issue they realize they can love again. This makes it easier to balance the elements, and I also think it’s more powerful for the reader because loving God is an integral part of a Christian’s life and effects everything we do.
So many general market “romance” and “suspense” novels include a lot of unnecessary graphic content. To you, is writing Christian fiction more about keeping it “clean” or about infusing it with a message?
It’s about the message for me. As a Christian both a clean story and a message come naturally to me. When I first began writing I committed myself to including real-life spiritual struggles in my books so readers could see themselves in the characters and strengthen their faith walk or help resolve an issue in their life.
I find in reading Christian fiction that I often learn or reinforce spiritual concepts in my life more than other methods. It’s the tying of a character I have to care about with seeing how they grow in their faith that does it for me. I only have to think about the character, and I am again reminded of the message.
You also have another series in progress. What’s the Cold Harbor series about?
My Cold Harbor series features the Blackwell Tactical group. This law enforcement training group and protection services agency is made up of former military and law enforcement heroes whose injuries keep them from the line of duty. When trouble strikes, there’s no better team to have on your side, and they would give everything, even their lives, to protect innocents.
When I started the series, there were six team members each with their own book in the works. But as the series has unfolded, additional people are joining the team, so readers can expect even more books.
Click through to find out more about Susan’s latest suspense novels–and what she’s got coming next…