Katie Reus, Stephanie Tyler, Elle Kennedy discuss RS

Authors Katie Reus (Bound to Danger), Stephanie Tyler (Vipers Run) and Elle Kennedy (Midnight Action) have an action-packed discussion about their genre, romantic suspense ...

Q: What's the absolute best part about writing for this genre?

Stephanie: I think because I get to blend several different genres into romantic suspense. I'm all about survival (and the fight for it) and RS really lends itself to so many different genres, like paranormal (even if it's just to add someone who's psychic to the mix) or contemporary — there's always room for suspense.

Katie: The escape and the nerd in me really loves the research, even while I simultaneously curse it. I love reading non-fiction and learning procedural stuff.

Elle: I'm with Katie. I love the research. And then taking that research and inserting my characters into the world I've created. I'm also a sucker for the super alpha, super sexy hero. I can't NOT write alpha.

Katie: Same here, Elle! All my guys are alpha to the core.

Stephanie: Is there something besides alpha?

Katie: Exactly.

Elle: Touché.

Stephanie: I mean, they can be quiet and they can be loud — there's so many "colors" to the alpha male.

Katie: For me, alpha can't be defined by one thing, but when I think of true alpha males (whether quiet or loud), they're the men who step up and are the leader the situation calls for.

Q: Do you think you could survive in the worlds you create?

Stephanie: No. I'm a princess.

Elle: I'm too scared of my own shadow to handle any of the situations my characters find themselves in. If someone put a gun in my hand, I'd probably end up throwing it at the bad guy and running away.

Katie: As a whole I think humans are incredibly resilient and we can all survive things we never imagined when put in dire situations but … I'm mean to some of my characters. I don't know that I'd want to deal with the situations they face. I freak out when I stub my toe so I probably wouldn't survive my worlds.

Elle: Dude, I FAINTED when I broke my toe. Couldn't handle the pain.

Katie: I would be right on the floor with you, passed out.

Elle: But I think Katie's right — you never truly know how you'll react when you're in a dangerous situation.

Stephanie: I'm VERY good with pain. And honestly, I think Katie's right — you never know how you'll react, so who knows? We might be ninjas when it comes down to it!

Elle: For Pete's sake, Steph. We really are the same person.

Stephanie: Then why aren't you doing my revisions?

Katie: I like to imagine I'd be all ninja awesome!

Stephanie: It also drives me a little crazy when people characterize the heroine as TSTL if she does something like, goes to investigate a noise in the middle of the night. I mean, I've done that. Sometimes you just act and you don't "think."

Katie: Yes! I think heroines get judged much harsher even though they're completely out of their element and for the most part handling their s*&% better than I (or most people) ever would.

Q: What is it about romantic suspense that you think draws readers in and keeps you writing it?

Elle: Hmmm. Well, for me, I love the excitement in RS books. The fast pace that keeps you turning the pages, wanting to know how the characters are going to live through whatever crazy situation they've landed in. And then there's the romance. I love watching two people fall in love while the whole world is falling apart around them.

Stephanie: Yeah, it's that element of danger that makes the romance both hard-won and all that much more intense. People bond more quickly in dangerous situations than they normally would, so to watch a romance unfold in the middle of a hellish situation is always such a beautiful thing to me — it gives that much-needed element of hope. In my latest book (Vipers Run) the H/h fall in love very quickly — over a phone call where the hero calls to say he's dying. Their conversation's really intense and raw, and they say things to each other they definitely wouldn't if the situation hadn't been so dire.

Katie: I'm going to basically repeat what Elle and Steph said. When two characters are in intense situations, they're going to bond faster, and I love reading about (and writing) two characters who show their true selves in gritty situations. The sexual tension always feels a bit more raw.

Q: What's one of the first romantic suspense books you remember reading?

Katie: All the Queen's Men by Linda Howard. I read it before I knew romantic suspense was even a genre and long before I had a clue I wanted to be a writer. To this day, I reread it at least once a year, and it's just as good every time. The emotional push/pull in that book is amazing and really stands the test of time.

Elle: The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen. I was hooked from page one. After that, I devoured every Iris book I could find, and then went on a search for more RS.

Katie: Elle, I love that book! Iris Johansen is also one of my early RS reads. Her books also helped introduce me to the genre.

Elle: I devoured her historicals, too. She is such a prolific writer.

Stephanie: Lucky's Lady by Tami Hoag — such a great blend of romance and suspense. Then I moved to Cherry Adair's Kiss & Tell (my copy is falling apart!). And, OMG, Linda Howard's Dream Man. *swoon* Talk about alpha. Romance + suspense = breathless when done well.

Elle: And sex! When I discovered Shannon McKenna, I couldn't believe how sexy RS could be. She was definitely an inspiration. She showed me that RS could be as hot as you want it to be.

Q: What's the weirdest thing you've had to research for one of your books? And do you have someone assigned to clear your search history, you know, just in case?

Stephanie: I do have someone assigned to delete my hard drive :) (No, seriously.) And the weirdest thing was more funny than weird. I needed to write a scene where the hero had to cut a bomb vest off someone. I was asking a former Army Ranger and I was like, "So what would I have him do — what wire would he cut? I want this realistic." And he paused and then said, "I'd just take the batteries out of the bomb." And I was like, "OK, forget realistic — give me movie realism."

Elle: Oh, I love that story! It's true — so much of the time the solution really is so mundane that you've got to find a way to romantic-suspense it up.

Katie: I like that you just turned that into a verb, Elle.

Elle: I use the English language fast and loose to suit my whims.

Q: Who are some authors that inspire you?

Katie: Cynthia Eden is an incredibly prolific writer and I'm amazed by her steady output. Her characters are strong, especially her heroines. I always know I'll get a kick-*** woman when I pick up one of her books. I'm also impressed with the amount of research that Kaylea Cross does. She writes military romantic suspense and the research she does puts me to shame. She won't rest until she gets every little detail right.

Stephanie: I used to read a lot of thrillers and so I've got to say that I feel like I learned pacing from Patricia Cornwell, Tami Hoag and Karin Slaughter. And the entire romance genre is really my inspiration — I've got too many authors to name. They always fascinate me with the new worlds and twists they come up with — as a whole, romance authors are a kick-*** group who inspire me daily.

Elle: Like I mentioned before, Iris Johansen. I'm also pretty fond of the two awesome chicks in this roundtable with me! :) I pretty much read anything I can get my hands on, and I learn something from every book I read. I'm constantly striving to get better as a writer, and seeing how other authors weave romance and danger into the worlds they create motivates me to create my own kick-*** books.

Q: What's the most important thing you've learned about writing romantic suspense so far?

Stephanie: My characters like to have sex in the jungle. I wouldn't, but they do.

Elle: So do mine! WHY AREN'T THEY SCARED OF SNAKES???

Katie: This! It doesn't seem to matter that they're running from drug lords or rogue CIA agents or whatever, they're fearless.

Stephanie: I just try to think, if I was running for my life and there was a hot guy with me who could kill with his pinky ... I'd probably enjoy jungle sex. I think it takes a special kind of crazy to write the RS sex scenes. :)

Katie: THIS, so much.

Elle: Very good point. I've also learned that it's impossible to control my characters. When I'm writing, they take on a life of their own, and I let them do whatever the heck they want. Example — in my next Killer Instincts release, Midnight Action, there is a scene that is so violent I couldn't believe it was happening. And it was a sex scene. But my characters just wouldn't stop hitting each other, and I was like, OK, sure, if that's what you want to do, go for it.

Stephanie: *wonders why Elle's book isn't in my inbox*

Katie: Wondering the same thing ...

Q: Are action scenes harder to write than you initially thought?

Katie: Actually, no. Action scenes are one of the easier types of scenes, mainly because I have someone (my husband) to bounce ideas off of and check to make sure what I'm writing is correct. Sometimes we'll act them out and go in slow motion so I get a feel for certain fighting techniques so I can "see" the scene. Each time I'm once again reminded why I would not survive my worlds or a zombie apocalypse. My reflexes are embarrassing!

Elle: I'm with Katie. I find action scenes easier to write than the intense, emotional scenes. I can write a pulse-pounding car chase or shoot-out scene in a snap, but once the characters are having an emotional moment, I analyze every single word and action.

Stephanie: I don't love writing them, but I can "see" them pretty easily. I usually picture it all happening in my head first (I plot on the treadmill — and talk to myself, too, and wave my arms a lot, which is why I cannot do the treadmill at the gym because I appear insane) — that makes it easier for me to put the scene down. But I actually find them the hardest, I think. Intense emotional scenes filled with angst? Love.

Q: Who's your favorite pop-culture suspense/action/thriller lead male right now (movies/TV/books)?

Katie: It's off the air now, but I love Michael Westen's character from the Burn Notice series (and I really should read the books!). His core beliefs are so good and patriotic and I find it incredibly noble that he's willing to put other people before himself on a continual basis, simply because *he can*. So many times the stronger prey on the weak and I love that someone who is the ultimate bad*** helps those weaker (even if he sometimes grumbles while doing it).

Stephanie: OMG — I totally remember watching the first episode of Burn Notice and going "THIS!" That show is brilliant. And the romance and the bromance? So perfect. Talk about well researched. And I also love love love the movie Red. It's so completely over-the-top and fun and sad at the same time.

Katie: Yes, the bromance is a huge part of what makes that show!

Stephanie: And the mom! She's great. That would totally be my mom — I'd be in the middle of saving the world, and she'd be like, "I don't care how busy you are — you haven't called in days!"

Katie: Yes! So would my mom, and I really hope she doesn't read this. :)

Elle: I've never seen Burn Notice (ducks so nobody hits me). I've heard it's fantastic, though.

Stephanie: *Makes note to send Elle Burn Notice Season 1*

Elle: What about Jack Bauer from 24? You guys like him, right?? Because I DO!

Stephanie: My turn to duck — I've never seen 24.

Elle: Trade — I'll send you 24, you send me Burn Notice. But what I love most about Jack Bauer is that he doesn't take S@!$ from anyone. He just takes command of any situation, sweeps in and saves the day, and has time to be super romantic to his leading ladies.

Katie: I'm in love, love, love with Jack from 24. I actually named my hero in Targeted Jack because I wanted a Jack somewhere out there to get a HEA. Seriously, Bauer is so tortured it breaks my heart! Someone give the guy a break.

Elle: I love the tortured hero. I think in RS, a hero like Jack Bauer is so much more appealing than one who's happy-go-lucky. The darker the hero, the better.

Stephanie: I see a 24 marathon in my future.

Katie: You're going to be hooked and wonder why you waited so long to watch it.

Q: Best fan e-mail/review you've ever received?

Katie: The best fan mail I've ever received can't be narrowed down to just one letter, but every time I receive an e-mail from a military wife telling me that I nailed the military persona of one of my heroes, it's an amazing feeling. I adore all reader mail, but those letters mean a lot because I've been there, waiting for my husband to return from a deployment, and I love that something I wrote connected with women who have been in the same situation.

Elle: I have gotten a lot of e-mails like that, too. A few have brought tears to my eyes. But I agree — it's not just one letter or review for me, either. I love hearing from readers, and their sweet, encouraging comments make this whole crazy business worthwhile for me.

Stephanie: I've gotten so many that, like Katie and Elle said, have made me tear up. I started writing in general to give other readers the escape I got from reading romance (specifically romantic suspense at first) and so I'd always said, if I can do the same for one person, I've done my job. And those letters are really what keep me going — they range from funny to intense and I can tell you they are one of the best parts of the job.

Q: What can readers expect from your next RS release?

Katie: In Bound to Danger (out now!), the next Deadly Ops book, the city of Miami is targeted by violent terrorists who don't care how many innocent people get in their way. Maria, the heroine, is the only survivor in an explosion that wiped out hundreds of the city's most influential people and she can't remember the night or why she was out of the blast zone when she's found by paramedics. Cade, a former Marine and highly skilled NSA agent, asks to be assigned to talk to Maria (even though it's more of a babysitting job) because they have a complicated history together. When it turns out she's been targeted by the terrorists, things go from a simple interview, to running for their lives and forcing Cade to revisit his past. I really loved writing their story for so many reasons, especially because of their history. I love it when couples get a second chance. At the end of their chapters I added their e-mail correspondence from eight years ago and I've already received e-mails from readers telling me it's one of their favorite things from the book. When my own husband was overseas we e-mailed and wrote hundreds of letters and IM'd whenever possible so it was easy to draw on my own experiences.

Elle: Well, I already hinted at some pretty explosive lovin' in Midnight Action. It's the fifth book in the Killer Instincts series, and this one has been a long, long time coming. Jim and Noelle were introduced in earlier books, and their rocky past and intense hatred for each other has had readers wondering how on earth they will ever find their way back to each other. This book was difficult to write, because there was so much backstory and angst to contend with, but I think fans of the series will be happy with the final result. Midnight Action releases on Nov. 4 (mark your calendars!), but there will also be a special Killer Instincts novella coming out in October, which revisits the hero and heroine from the very first book in the series, Midnight Rescue.

Stephanie: My next RS is the third in my Section 8 series — Fragmented comes out in January 2015 — it's Jem and Drea's story, one that continues from book two (Unbreakable, which is available now) — Drea's got amnesia — and she's wanted by the FBI and a dangerous motorcycle gang run by her ex-boyfriend. Jem's bound and determined to save her, no matter the cost to himself. But Fragmented revisits all the characters from Section 8, since they work so well as a team. And Vipers Run, which is book one of my MC universe, Skulls Creek, is available now! Cage and Calla make an instant connection through a phone call, and when they finally meet, it's danger all around.

Find out more about Katie, Elle and Stephanie at their websites: katiereus.com, www.ellekennedy.com, stephanietyler.com.