D. P. Lyle

Do Series Characters Change?

Do series characters change? A better question might be: Should series characters change? Go through some upheaval that arcs their life into uncharted waters? But, first, what is a character arc? Where does it come from? How do you create this in your fictional stories? More importantly, do you even need one? What is a… Read more »

Sara Farmer

Jo March’s Twisted Sisters: The Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott

Web Editor’s Note: Hey there Word Nerds! I am SO excited to introduce Sara Farmer, our newest columnist, and her column, From Cozies to Cold-Blooded. She’ll be talking about all things mystery, suspense, thrillers and more! For her first article, she’ll be discussing the lesser-known and absolutely fascinating thrillers of Louisa May Alcott.  — Bess… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Tips for Writing Nail-Biting Suspense

Halloween is just around the corner, which means it’s prime time to read — and write! — some spooky, scary stories. And whether you’re a fan of the classic ghost story à la M.R. James, the darkly imaginative tales of Stephen King, or Gillian Flynn’s unique brand of psychological horror, you probably realize that all… Read more »

Episode 229: Ratcheting Up the Suspense — Interview with P.J. Tracy

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Traci Lambrecht, of the mother-daughter writing team P.J. Tracy, perhaps most well-known for their Monkeewrench thriller series. Traci spent most of her childhood riding and showing horses, then graduated with a Russian Studies major from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She then began… Read more »

When is a Story a Romantic Suspense?

I was sure my first novel was a romantic suspense. At least I thought I had structured it that way. The story has danger, mystery, and an escalating romance between two people, who, under any other circumstances, would unlikely get togeter. Eager to see how readers would receive the initial draft, I entered my story… Read more »