Welcome back to another episode of great writing advice on the CRAFT OF WRITING blog. This year we’re focusing on Genres, and we’re learning about approaches to writing thrillers, mysteries, romances, and more. Each month I interview an accomplished author who writes in a particular genre, so get ready to learn from the experts!

Today’s guest is my good friend and USA Today bestselling author Patricia Bradley who is here to give us insight into the craft of writing romantic suspense. and it just so happens Patricia’s latest romantic suspense novel, On the Edge of Trust, is being released today!

Click the image below to go to the Amazon book page.

The name of each person who enters a comment on today’s blog will be put into the drawing for a copy of On the Edge of Trust. So join the conversation and earn a chance to win. I’ll post the name of the winner after 9 PM Central Time tonight, and Patricia has agreed to provide a copy of the book to the winner.

Now sit back and enjoy this conversation with Patricia.

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What is your definition of romantic suspense?

My definition is probably a little different from others in that I lean more toward the suspense side than the romantic side. After all, it’s a little hard to have romantic moments when you’re running for your life.

Why did you decide to write romantic suspense? Have you ever written in another genre?

Romantic suspense and thriller/suspense are what I have always read, starting with The Black Stallion and then Mary Stewart’s Airs Above the Ground, onto Mary Higgins Clark…and yes, I have written sweet romances for Harlequin’s Heartwarming line. I missed the suspense, though.

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest book is On the Edge of Trust, and picks up with my very first book, Shadows of the Past ten years later. When decorated FBI undercover agent Scott Sinclair suffers a gunshot wound in his right arm, the injury threatens his future career in the field. He is determined to regain his former job by training himself to use his left hand, and failure is not an option—especially when he’s unofficially pulled into an investigation.

Tori Alexander is a passionate crime reporter and podcaster who has dedicated her life to seeking justice. Her relentless pursuit of the truth has freed a man from prison who was falsely convicted, making Tori an enemy of the killer. When her nephew is accused of murder, nothing can stop her from getting involved and clearing his name.

Soon after Tori and Scott reconnect on the case, shots are fired, leaving them to wonder which one of them has been targeted. As the investigation intensifies, so do the threats and the sparks between them, but Tori’s doubtful if she can extend grace and trust to Scott. They’ll have to combine their skills and rely on their growing relationship to outsmart the killer.

Can you give us a brief outline of the process—from concept to completion—that you use to write your books?

Every book is different. Some I outline more than others. With On the Edge of Trust, I outlined kind of like I drive in fog—only as far as I could see. I always start with the two characters, a villain, and the crime. My first question is always why did this crime happen now? Why not last year, ten years ago or sometime in the future. Once I know that, I start to work on my characters.

I must have their names and know what they look like before I begin writing, and if the name doesn’t fit once I start writing, I have to find one that does fit. Then I put descriptions of my characters into AI, and the image I get is very close to what I see in my head. Once I have the name and description, I can work on their inner demons like what their greatest fear is, what are they hiding. But I can only go so far with that. It takes the actual writing and putting them in jeopardy to bring the characters to life.

I lay down the suspense/crime line first and see how that part plays out, then I go back and beef up the romance…it’s much easier to kill someone off than to get two characters together!

Do you have a particular audience you write to?

Most of my readers are women 35-65+, but I really just tell the story that God gives me.

What advice would you give an author who decides to write romantic suspense?

Study the craft. I can’t say that enough. There are so many good craft books out there and you never go wrong with one of James Scott Bell’s.

Then write—I once had a friend who wrote the screenplays for the early Tarzan movies tell me it takes a million words to become a writer. And he was right. I would also tell them it takes discipline to sit in front of a computer and pound out a story. Most of the time it’s like pulling dandelions out of the ground. Then there are those moments when I’m in the flow and the movie I see in my head flows through my fingers to the keyboard. There is no high quite like it.

Who are your favorite authors? And besides your own books, what other novels would you recommend?

As for my favorite authors, I have so many and for different reasons. James Scott Bell for his awesome Mike Romeo series and craft books, Charles Martin for his Shepherd Murphy series, Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck, not only for their awesome books, but for the way they poured themselves into showing me what was missing in my manuscripts.

For other novels I would recommend…again so many. Anything by the authors I mentioned above. Any Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard novel, Nancy Mehl’s latest, Dark Design. I’m sure I’ve left many out!

Are you working on a book now?

I am. I soon will go to the Elephant Sanctuary just off the Natchez Trace near the Meriwether Lewis Monument to explore the setting. It will be a Natchez Trace Park Ranger book set in the Northern District and will feature a forensic anthropologist along with a park ranger…both get involved when a murder the ranger is investigating ties into a human bone one of the elephants brings to the barn…

Where can we find out more about you and your writing?

You can find me best on my blog. Every Tuesday I feature a Mystery Question—right now it’s four dumb crimes, three that are true and I make up one…and you wouldn’t believe how hard that is! And on Fridays I review a book I’ve read.

I’m on all the social media sites:

Websites: https://ptbradley.com/  https://www.patriciabradleybooks.com/

Blog: www.patriciabradleyauthor.com/blog

X: @ptbradley1

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptbradley1/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ptbradley/

Thanks so much for this opportunity, Kay!

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Meet Patricia Bradley

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Whether they’re hunting for hidden treasure or tracking down dangerous thieves in Manhattan, the Reen & Joanie Detective Agency is on the job.

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Click the image to go to the Amazon Series page.