Guest Author FAY LAMB
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Friday, March 23, 2012 • Fay Lamb
Dear Gentle Friends~
Please welcome my new friend and fellow-member of American Christian Fiction Writers, author, Fay Lamb. Fay's guest blog today takes us into the world and popular genre of Romantic Suspense. She also shares the gripping story of her debut novel, Because of Me. So hold on to your hat for the thrilling ride with Fay Lamb!
Romantic Suspense:
The Anticipation of Love and Fear
One look at the man of your dreams and
your heart beats a rapid tempo. You might even break out in an unladylike
sweat. You can't catch your breath. Then he heads your way, his gorgeous eyes
taking you in, meeting your gaze with an intent that isn't hard to guess. You
go to speak, but no words come out. You look for an escape route. This can't
be happening. He really is coming toward me. What do I do?
Now replace the handsome man with a
ruthless killer. He looks in your direction. Your heart beat races. You
definitely begin to sweat-unladylike or not. Your breath has deserted you. Then
he heads your way, his murderous eyes center on you, meeting your gaze with an
intent that isn't hard to guess. You go to speak. Nothing comes out. You want
to run and for a moment your feet won't move. This can't be happening. He
really is coming toward me. What do I do?
Confronted with the two extremes, our
reactions are most likely the same, but the creation of the events, the
lingering moments that make the reader want to know what's coming next, whether
it's in the romance or the suspense-that's what brought about my love for
writing such tales.
In Because of Me, I wanted to make
the romantic anticipation, the moment when hero and heroine are reunited just
as suspenseful as the anticipation of the villain's revenge. The heroine of Because
of Me is Issie Putnam. She hasn't seen the man she loves, Michael Hayes, since
the night she suffered a vicious attack. On that night, Michael was set up by a
ruthless killer and arrested for a crime he did not commit.
Issie waits eight years for Michael's
return, knowing that if he does come home, her son-a child born of the attack-could
possibly keep them apart for the rest of their lives. But she loves her little
boy and recognizes that despite all that has happened to her, he is a gift from
God. If Michael can't love her boy, Issie will have to face life without the
man who holds her heart in his hands.
Issie and Michael aren't reunited in the
first few chapters of the book, and when they are, Michael doesn't take well to
the fact that Issie never told him about her child. The tension rises as they
each struggle with issues, including the fact that the man who harmed Issie so
long ago will soon be paroled. Michael plans to protect Issie at all costs.
Issie's sole thought is keeping the lunatic who fathered her son from finding
out about him. And so suspense grows from both the romance and the murderous
intent of the villain.
When writing romantic suspense, it is
helpful to realize the reactions that go along with both love and fear aren't
too far removed from each other. The job of the author is to bring the reader
into the experience. Leave them breathless, worried, and afraid to run with the
turn of each page. Add some twists, turns, and some quirky characters that
provide some lighter moments, and the author has a winning combination-a
mixture of fear and love, and readers who are clinging with anticipation to
every word.
Because of Me
Not your typical Christian fiction.
Michael's fiancée, Issie Putnam, was brutally attacked and
Michael was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. Now he's home to set
things right.
Two people stand in his way: Issie's son, Cole, and a madman.
Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her
heart and protect him from the man who took everything from Michael so long
ago?
Available through all fine book retailers, Amazon.com, and
Mountainview Publishing, a division of Treble Heart Books.
Purchase the book at Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Because-of-Me-ebook/dp/B00722KIME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327670357&sr=8-1
BIO~ Fay Lamb works as an acquisition/copyeditor for
Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her
services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and
romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God
is always in the details. Because of Me, her debut romantic suspense
novel is soon to be released by Treble Heart Books/Mountainview Publishing.
Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging
fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she
co-moderates the large Scribes' Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes'
critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members
Service Award in 2010. In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretary
on ACFW's Operating Board.
Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville,
Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy
continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.
We'd love for you to share a thought or two. Thanks for stopping by, friends. Until next time. . .
All Gifts by Grace,
Barbara
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