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9 Oct

Throwback Thursday: the book wherein I changed my hat

Posted October 9, 2014 by dana mentink in books, fiction writing, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

 

Killer Cargo Cover

 

This throwback Thursday I’m casting my memory back so far I might hit a dinosaur! WAAAAAAAY back in 2008, I wrote my very first book for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense. Here’s the blurb for this ancient tome.

Blurb for Killer Cargo: Transporting pet supplies–and the occasional bunny–is routine for pilot Maria de Silva. Discovering drugs amidst her shipments of kitty litter is not. Out of fuel in the Oregon wilderness, Maria barely escapes with her life when dealers meet her on the runway. She finds refuge at Cy Sheridan’s idyllic animal sanctuary–a whole new world for this girl. But Maria fears that her drug-smuggling client will take revenge against the man–and animals–she’s come to love. Is there a wolf in sheep’s clothing lurking in the woods?

The writer’s problem: This was the first time I switched from writing mystery to suspense. Sure they both involve following clues and yes, there is a mystery to be solved in each one, but the genres are different. In mystery, the focus is on solving a puzzle. In suspense, the protag is running for his/her life while solving the mystery. It’s tricky to get the hang of the pacing for a suspense vs. a mystery. No time to be cogitating on those clues and sipping tea, people! Suspense is a breakneck speed business, and it was a challenge for me in the first book to get into the swing of it.

Do you prefer mystery or suspense? Why? Giving away a signed book, an Amazon card and a fall surprise this month.

 

24 responses to this post.

  1. Posted by Sarah Postma on October 30, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    I prefer suspense, I want to be kept guessing after every page and chapter until the end of the book.

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  2. Posted by Shanda on October 12, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    I enjoy both, but I prefer puzzles to panic. 🙂

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  3. Posted by Samantha on October 11, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    I never realized there was a difference between suspense and mystery before reading your post.
    I have to admit I prefer suspense because it’s fast-paced 🙂

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  4. Posted by Aerykah on October 10, 2014 at 12:22 am

    Hm… I guess I never really thought of the difference before. I prefer Suspense, though I really like Mystery too. 🙂

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  5. Posted by Tiffany on October 9, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    I like a good mystery book, but love suspense books. I love getting a hold of a good suspense book that grabs you from the first page and makes you not want to put it down.

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  6. Posted by Valri Western on October 9, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    I prefer suspense now but when I was a teenager I loved mysteries! I can’t tell you what made me “change” or what books made me gradually go over to suspense but I just did! I can still read mysteries but I like suspense better!

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  7. Posted by Beth on October 9, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks for explaining the difference. I enjoy both very much, but I think I lean more toward suspense. It usually takes me forever to read a slow paced book, so the suspense books really keep my attention and I read them really quickly.

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  8. Posted by susanmsj on October 9, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    I enjoy both, but I usually prefer mystery over suspense because it is slower paced. I tend to feel like I am running when I read suspense and have to take frequent breaks.

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  9. Posted by Cozynookbks on October 9, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Thanks for clarifying the difference between mystery and suspense. I knew they were similar, but didn’t know the exact meaning of a suspense novel. That said, I like both genres and don’t necessarily prefer one over the other. My mood at the time determines which one I’ll select to read.

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  10. Posted by Pat Moore on October 9, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    I love both mystery and suspense. I used to read some of the top mystery writers. Then I discovered Christian suspense and mysteries and now that’s about all I read. I still have a couple of mystery writers that I love to read. However, my bookshelves and gradually changed over to Christian Fiction. Depends on my mood whether I want to read mystery or suspense. Also, a lot depends on the author. I just love to read both and see if I can pick up on the clues early on. However, I do hate to start reading a mystery and within the first chapter I know who “done it”.

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  11. Posted by Karen Meyer on October 9, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    I prefer mystery. It better matches my skills. My protagonists have been chased or have run away from danger, but rarely fear for their life. Ramping up the tension for a whole book–that’s difficult!

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  12. Posted by D.L. Kamstra on October 9, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    Suspense novels are definitely my favorite. I love how much they just pull you in and don’t let go. I do enjoy the mystery and trying to figure out “who did it”, but having to race the clock while doings it? That makes it even better!

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