NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Making Monsters

As romantic suspense authors we are familiar with crafting monsters. In my last romantic suspense book, DUSK, my villain was a young man who murdered a couple on a remote road in South Africa. Twenty years later he went after their daughter. Monsters are the nature of the beast in this genre. Romance doesn’t come easily for the protagonists of a romantic suspense novel. They have to overcome such nefarious characters to reach their happy ever after.

Well, in addition to romantic suspense, I am the author of a young-adult science fiction series. In the last installment of the BEYOND series, which will be released next month, I had to truly create a monster. The Dallek. It's not so easy crafting a real monster, but that is why I enjoy this brief diversion into Science Fiction. I have a blank slate. This creature lives in a chasm high up in the mountains of an alien planet, and I can make him into anything I want. Suffice to say, the end result isn't too pretty. You wouldn't keep one in your house as a pet.

As a writer, is it a challenge to create your monsters–be they real, or some rogue beast on an alien planet? 

As a reader, does the monster in the book make the plot that much more beguiling?

And yes, if we're going to talk about monsters, you know I have to throw in a picture of the creature that stalks my home. She is a beast. If you don't believe me, look at her puppy training certificate. This was Level 1. The trainer suggested Level 43 for her!! 






5 comments:

Anne Marie Becker said...

Love your post, Maureen. One of the best perks of being an RS author is the freedom to create villains. For me, the most interesting part is delving into the villain's psyche. I love the psychological stuff! ;)

Elise Warner said...

Your sci villain may not be lovable but Tink is. Looks as if she has trained you beautifully.

Maureen A. Miller said...

So true, Anne Marie!

Tink makes the perfect villain, Elise. Intelligent and dastardly, with a handsome face. :)

Rita said...

Busy lady. Love the covers. Tink the monster. Hmmm. Perhaps she needs another name. LOL!

Unknown said...

I love creating villains. Love delving into their souls.

Think - beast or not - is simply adorable. :o)

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