Balance Between Suspense and Romance by Marji Laine

We're in a period where romantic suspense novels are hot. So what do they require? Balance, for one thing. Author Marji Laine shares her thoughts. -- Sandy

Marji: Most publishers will spell out that a romantic suspense novel must be equal parts romance and suspense. That’s an easy thing to say, but not always easy to put into action. Either genre can make a complete story without the other, but they are so much better together. However, when the intensity of either the romance or the suspense begins to amp up, it’s hard to weave in the other element.

At the beginning of a romantic suspense, the romance usually takes a back seat. Before there is a “they,” there is a “she,” and she’s most often in trouble. Desperate. Frightened. Sometimes in survival mode from the first chapter. Or the first page. Or the first few words. As the action begins to roll, there’s no time for romance. 

My own book, COUNTER POINT is a little different. The action begins on HIS side of the story, a desperate chase through a jungle in southern Mexico. My heroine doesn’t realize her danger until her hero returns to their small town from his failed mission. But even in this case, the romance isn’t evident before the danger becomes critical.

The romance begins, even in the midst of the action: the chemistry, the attraction. I love it when characters, in deadly situations, think romantic thoughts and then fuss at themselves for getting distracted. 

But then romance is a great distraction! Between each jarring attack or last minute escape, the romance peeks in again. Thoughts, looks, laughs will ignite the sparks into a palpable connection. At that point in the story, the romance is as gripping as the suspense. Well done, the readers are as much awaiting the ultimate vulnerability of the romance as they are the revelation of the culprit and the unraveling of the mystery.

And if the story is done really well, the readers will have at least half of the book to anticipate the delicious ending.

Is romantic suspense your genre of choice? Do you have a formula for making sure you balance the romance and the danger?

~~~~~~

Marji writes what she loves to read: mystery, suspense, and romance all with a deep thread of faith and hope. A home-schooling mom of four, she's nearing retirement with her youngests, twins, in their senior year. In addition to her writing and editing, she is also the high school coordinator and web designer of a large co-op, and works at her church as the children's music director, a teacher in the Sunday youth classes, an assistant in the youth choir and an alto in the adult choir. AND, she has just begun her newest career as Executive Director at Write Integrity Press and Pix-N-Pens.

COUNTER POINT (e-book) is available at 40% off this month as a pre-order special. AND anyone who orders it and contacts Marji (freebookforpreorder@gmail.com) with the receipt by October 30, 2016 will receive another book, an e-collection of short romances, for free.

Recipe for Successful Marketing by Marji Laine

Let's face it, as writers we're determined to get our stories into the hands (or e-readers) of as many book lovers as possible. Sometimes, that's not an easy task. Today, author Marji Laine gives us her recipe for successful marketing. -- Sandy

Marji: SUCCESSFUL Marketing can be compared to the Loch Ness Monster: avoids description, difficult to visualize, and impossible to capture. Yet authors continue to search for the elusive creature.

Though there are countless possibilities for promotions, the success of any given one depends on too many variables to list. Despite that fact, a successful plan will always have 3 ingredients:  

• A great product
• Creativity
• Timing

The Product

Marketers and promoters will agree that the best strategy in the world won’t work for long without an excellent book. You can’t ignore the quality of your product. The things the author can control – editing, cover art, formatting, details of the book itself – shouldn’t scream “Home-made!” What’s great for bake sales and craft shows doesn’t work so hot for publishing.

The Plan

Marketers herald the need to get in front of our audience. That’s easy enough for non-fiction writers, but tricky for the rest of the literary world. One might attempt to write with a current high-profile topic included in the story, but the better approach is a creative one that doesn’t require a full re-write.

The best marketing idea hasn’t been developed yet. The standard and success fluctuations are always changing.

Try posting to the various book-lover groups on Facebook. After joining, an author can post promos as often as they want (within each group’s “rules”) see the promotions, both good and bad, from others. Readers do visit these groups for ideas about their next reads. 

With so many books in those avenues, however, unless your book has an amazing cover, you should be creative with your display. Do more than post your link. Build a cash of memes that you can use anywhere. I saw the cutest picture the other day – a cup of coffee, a gift with a tag that said 99¢ and a Kindle with the author’s book pulled up on it. Simplicity itself, but so clever and downright brilliant!

The Timing

And that brings up the final ingredient. While it’s important to get a good idea of when your readers are on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, it’s even more important that your name doesn’t conjure up visions of billboards that say, “Read my book.”

Social media is, foremost, social. Use a 6-1 rule of thumb. Post 6 things that aren’t about your book – repost others, use quotes, details about life or experiences. Then post something about your book. This rings especially true for Twitter, but is applicable for other outlets. Always interact more than you advertise.

Don’t forget we are a global market now. Make sure you post things for the overnight crowd. Schedule a one or two with connected buy links for India, Japan, UK, and Australia along with the other smaller markets. Those times can be lucrative opportunities.

Above all, don’t give up. Interact well with your chosen media. Support others. Share your message.

~~~~~

Marji Laine is a homeschooling mom with teenage twins left in the nest. A new indie-author with her debut,  GRIME BEAT only out for a couple of weeks, she spends her non-writing time transporting to and from volleyball, teaching writing classes at a local coop, and directing the children’s music program at her church. Raised in suburban Dallas, she got her first taste of writing through the stories of brilliant authors of their day, Mignon Eberhart and Phyllis A. Whitney, and through stage experience. After directing and acting in productions for decades, Marji started writing her own scripts. From that early beginning, she delved into creating scintillating suspense with a side of Texas sassy. She invites readers to unravel their inspiration, seeking a deeper knowledge of the Lord’s Great Mystery that invites us all.

Archetypes for Your Heroine by Marji Laine

Two weeks ago, Marji Laine gave us information on Archetypes for Your Hero. Today, she's back to talk about various types of heroines. -- Sandy

Marji: Once you have a great hero, he needs a fabulous heroine. Again, Tami D. Cowden’s book, The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes, provides an excellent diving board along with Hippocrates temperaments and Carl Jung’s personality categories.

• Boss is totally in control. (Hippocrates=choleric, Jung=visionary) She has her plan, and has no problem spouting orders to accomplish her goals. Margaret Tate in “The Proposal makes a perfect example, as does Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.”
• Librarian is an expert. (Hippocrates=melancholy/choleric, Jung=thinker) She unearths things others miss because she’s committed to her projects. Think Kathleen Turner’s character in “Romancing the Stone,” Marian the Librarian in “The Music Man,” and Abby Scuito on the TV show NCIS.
• Waif is the damsel in distress. (Hippocrates=phlegmatic/sanguine, Jung=”nurturer”) She needs rescuing, though she harbors inner strength. Maybe not every Disney princess, but more than half fit this category, as does Juliet, Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” and Buttercup in “The Princess Bride.
• Nurturer is the mommy, nurse, or teacher. (Hippocrates=phlegmatic/melancholy, Jung=caregiver) Happy to be in the background, she’ll encourage when needed or give swift kicks in the right direction. Mrs. Crawley of Downton Abby, Eleanor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility, and Mary Poppins round out this group.
• Seductress is a manipulator. (Hippocrates=choleric/melancholy, Jung=inspirer) Though her name reeks of sexuality, this woman will use anything to achieve her goals. Think Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, Evita, Cleopatra, and Black Widow from “The Avengers.”
• Free Spirit is artistic, uninhibited, and spontaneous. (Hippocrates=melancholy/sanguine, Jung=idealist) “The Little Mermaid,” Jane Austen’s Emma, and Phoebe from the TV show “Friends” make good examples.
• Spunky Kid is a grown-up tomboy. (Hippocrates=sanguine/phlegmatic, Jung=giver) She’s just one of the guys, seldom seen in a romantic light. Lucy from “While You Were Sleeping” fills this category, as does Kathleen Kelly in “You’ve Got Mail,” Gidget and Maryann from the TV show “Gilligan’s Island.”
• Crusader is the female version of the warrior. (Hippocrates=sanguine/choleric, Jung=duty-fulfiller) She’s prepared to go down fighting if need be. Think Helen Hunt from “Twister,” Ziva from the TV show NCIS, and Sandra Bullock’s character in “Miss Congeniality.”

Archetypes are the characters at the root of their being. Figuring out a personality type helps to anticipate the way they react to the story-rocks thrown at them. For example: at a sudden fire, the Boss will step in, sending someone to call the fire department. The Waif will likely be trapped inside the burning building. The Seductress will be using the excitement to her advantage. The Free Spirit might stare at the design the flames make against the sky. The Spunky Kid will chat with everyone watching. The Crusader will haul out the hose. And the Librarian will glance at the whole scene from her window across the street.

With the basic traits of the archetypes, it’s easier to craft logical responses from the characters, assign flaws to them, and match them up in relationships.


Is there a particular archetype for heroines that you like to use in your stories? Do you have a favorite one to read about? Which one are you using now?

~~~

Marji is a homeschooling mom of 4 with the oldest a graduate of UT Dallas. She spends her days transporting to and from volleyball, teaching writing classes at a local coop, and directing the children’s music program at her church. Her first publishing credit, a collaborative novella, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt, soared to Amazon's best-selling list and a second, A Ruby Christmas, is due out in December. She hosts the Faith~Driven Fiction Blog.

Archetypes for Your Hero by Marji Laine

Author Marji Laine did a number of posts on her blog explaining the archetypes of heroes and heroines. I loved her analysis of the different types and her comparison to various book and movie characters. Today, she's sharing an overview of these types of heroes. On November 20, Marji will be back, giving equal opportunity to heroines.--Sandy

Marji: Crafting great heroes is essential to a story. Many best-selling authors would argue that the plot begins within the depths of the main character.

The book The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden helps with this task. Discovering the archetypes of the main characters means being able to anticipate how they should react to their circumstances.

Here are the 16 types, loosely connected to Hippocrates temperaments and Carl Jung’s personality categories.

•       Chief is the boss. (Hippocrates=Choleric, Jung=Executive) Will do whatever necessary to succeed. Viewed as tactless and cold. Believes the end justifies the means. Thrives on conflict. Think Joe Fox in “You’ve Got Mail,” Yul Brenner’s character in “The King and I,” or Nick Fury in “The Avengers.”
•          Warrior is confident. (Hippocrates=Choleric/Sanguine, Jung=Protector) Will also do whatever necessary, but success is more altruistic. He doesn’t flinch from conflict, nor will he fail. Think “Captain America,” Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbird,” or the Scarlet Pimpernell.
•        Professor is the expert. (Hippocrates=Melancholy/Choleric, Jung=Scientist) Focused and oblivious to everything outside his task, he avoids interaction with people, but will work long hours to accomplish his goals. Think Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, and Mr. Spock from Star Trek.
•         Bad Boy is a drifter. (Hippocrates=Sanguine/Choleric, Jung=Mechanic) He has trust issues and prefers to work alone. He appears to care little about anything, and loves to break rules. Think Danny Zuko from “Grease,” Ren McCormick from “Footloose,” and Huckleberry Finn.
•         Lost Soul has a creative mind. (Hippocrates=Melancholy/Phlegmatic, Jung=Artist) He cares about everything, though detaches from the life around him. He searches for healing, for forgiveness, for something to make him feel. Think Charlie Brown, Patrick Swayze’s character in “Dirty Dancing,” and the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast.”
•       Best Friend is laid-back and easy going. (Hippocrates=Phlegmatic/melancholy, Jung=Duty Filler) He is people-oriented but has trouble making decisions and doesn’t like center stage. Steady and dependable, he can vary from a hard-working style to a lazy style, depending on the character. Think George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Sheriff Andy Taylor, and Frasier.
•         Charmer is a salesman. (Hippocrates=Sanguine, Jung=Performer) All talk, little substance, and skilled at manipulation. Cares nothing about people, but will follow rules, pushing them to their limits. Think the Music Man, Maverick, Ferris Beuller, and James Bond.
•         Swashbuckler loves action. (Hippocrates=Sanguine/Choleric, Jung=Doer) Extreme-sports enthusiast, he’s in it for the ride. Low commitment levels. High involvement. Cares little for people, but loves an adrenaline rush. Think Indiana Jones, Peter Pan, Tom Cruise’s character in “Top Gun,” and Iron Man.

That’s the list. Your hero will probably fit perfectly into one of these molds. If he fits into two, he should at least share the Hippocrates temperaments. No character should have more than two of these temperaments at any time during the story. A character arch can change an archetype and often does, but only once during a story.

      Do you use an archetype like this when planning your heroes? Do you have other "types" you can add to the list? Does it make plotting your hero's reactions easier?

Marji is a homeschooling mom of 4 with the oldest a graduate of UT Dallas. She spends her days transporting to and from volleyball, teaching writing classes at a local coop, and directing the children’s music program at her church. Her first publishing credit, a collaborative novella, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt, soared to Amazon's best-selling list and a second, A Ruby Christmas, is due out in December. She hosts the Faith~Driven Fiction Blog.