It’s time to put a little Thriller into My Book Therapy.  No, we’re not going to dance (yet!) but it’s time we catered to the NON-romance author/readers of this blog. 

 

Yes, we know you’re out there, and you’ve been ever so patient last year as we talked about Romance. 

 

Hopefully, however, you learned a few applicable romantic secrets anyway.  This year, oh suspense writers, is for you. 

 

This year, on MBT we’re going to spend a year On the Edge, examining the craft of Suspense.  As fair warning, we will veer into how to weave romance into yoru suspense for a week or two, should we have those out there who want to straddle the fence. Still, the focus this year will be on the framework, suspense elements, flow, writing techniques and tricks of writing a suspense. 

 

In our chats, we’ll also be reading a book to apply these techniques, so if you want more information you may consider joining us on Monday nights.  (go to:  www.mybooktherapy.ning.com, sign in and click on the chat box on the bottom. 7-8pm CST).

 

I love mysteries, suspense and thrillers – especially the last two.  I’ve written suspense into most of my books, and have written six thrillers (three of which come out this year with Love Inspired Suspense) and four mysteries.  Just so we’re on the same page here, let’s define the difference between the three. 

 

Mystery – the dead body is at the beginning, and the protag spends the bulk of the book in detective work to figure out the villain.  There is often some sort of suspense built into the story, also, as the detective gets closer to the villain’s identity.  Aka: What DID happen.  

 

Suspense – the dead bodies are in the middle, and the threat chases the protags through the story.    The villain is often known, (although he may be unknown,), and elements of detective work are sometimes incorporated as the protags discover and apprehend the villain.  Aka: What IS happening.

 

Thrillers – the dead bodies are at the end.  Or the threat of dead bodies at the end.  A thriller is all about perceived threat, and it is often fortified by the discovery of dead bodies, and perhaps a threat that grows and becomes more personal as the protags move through the story.  Still, the major fear is concentrated at the finale of the story.  What COULD happen. 

 

Does that make sense?

 

Let’s try some Television shows/movies: 

 

The Fugitive:  A mystery

Eagle Eye:  A Suspense

Sum of all Fears:  A Thriller

 

 

The Sixth Sense:  A Mystery

Bourne Identity:  A Suspense

Dante’s Peak:  A Thriller

 

Can you name three examples?  Send them to susan@mybooktherapy.com and I’ll post them next week (and put your name in a drawing for my newest book:  Point of No Return).

 

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the overall framework of a suspense!

 

Thanks for reading!

Susie May