Since the topic is about romance I thought I’d add a comment. I love romance novels but I also love mystery, action, and thrills as well. I think weaving a tale that keeps people guessing as to what will happen next in books, is what keeps people turning the pages. At least from books I have read. Not to mention throwing in romance to keep the heart thumping for the reader is a juicy page turner as well. I love it all! Another reason why after years of debate I’ve decided to write one of my own stories to see if these details are what people want in book. I have yet to publish but from the response I’ve received about writing a story, the page turning book is what I hope to produce. And I look forward to finding your book RIDDLE IN BERLIN and reading it.

Great guest blog. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

What I want to know is how you knew “thriller” was your genre verskus mystery or adventure?

I would love a signed copy of your book!

Keep up the good work.

I think romance can be an important aspect of any story because it does help to establish a connection with characters. When there is some wonderful interaction between characters that is written well…it helps to pull me into their lives, connect with them. With that said, I do not like when romance is the complete focus of the story because as you mentioned, I then think it starts to veer off into a bit of voyeurism and frankly…a bit boring. I am a character driven reader. I love reading about relationships, budding romance, romantic longevity, etc. I like to read about the relationships as they fit into the overall storyline. I think I am mucking my explanation. Hopefully you understand what I mean.

Anyway, what you said here pretty much sums up how I feel about any story I read… “I love to combine an exciting thriller story-line with situations in which real people, like you or me, could find themselves ensnared.” I think your statement can fit several different genres.

Oh yes, I would love to win the signed copy.

Dear Witchy –-
You are not off base at all. Your overall comment about thrillers vs. romance is certainly correct at a high level, though there are degrees of variation in all directions. As noted in the comment to Virginia above, I think the human story is the real story in any novel, otherwise it is really non-fiction. In my writing, I know that I begin with the human emotion I want to explore and then build a story around it. I tend to enjoy conflict and confrontation, as well as international finance, so probably lean toward thriller as a genre. The story could just as well be told as a romance. In Riddle of Berlin, the human story is about two lost souls who find each other, solve a critical global problem, and then address where they go from there (coming from completely disparate cultures and backgrounds). Since I was fascinated with what happens, I wrote a sequel (30,000 Camels) also in a thriller format. That story could also be told in a manner than did not involve action or violence.

I hope that you win a copy of Riddle of Berlin. I would be fascinated with your thoughts about telling the human story in a different format.

Dear Melanie –-
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I enjoyed reading your blog as well. A mystery series set in Paris. One of my favorite cities, where I have spend huge amounts of time over the years. I have the tough job of having to be there for several days twice a year in the Spring and Fall. Indeed, Riddle of Berlin is significantly set in Paris for that reason.

I agree with your comment about the poignancy of the protagonist having lost love before the story begins. A material human element of the Bourne series is the overhanging question of whether Jason can not only find out who he is or was, but find a way to be who he will be with a love interest that is not consumed in the fire of the moment.

In Riddle, I began wanting to explore the extent to which people who have lost everything can find happiness once again; and, if they do, how they then decide whether to return to a life before finding the new happiness, remain with the new, or be fearful of losing it again and do something stupid.

I am curious to read your work and see how you blend romance into mystery. Specifically, I would love to do a review if you would like for me to do so.

Warms-CYM

You’ve gt me thinking now about the Bourne films (I read the books sooo long ago that I can’t recall if this applies to them as well). But I wonder if perhaps what makes the romance angle so interesting in thrillers is the air of tragedy hanging over it all. Initially Bourne is happy, but we somehow just know the fuse is lit, the clock is ticking, and the woman he loves will ultimately be taken from him. For me, this makes it all much more poignant. Also, aren’t there a fair few thrillers where the premise is that the protagonist has lost the great love of their life before the story begins, and so this is somehow central to their make up and is what is driving them?

Anyway, you’ve given me a lot to go and mull over here in terms of how I’m using romance in my own crime fiction. So many thanks for this!

I’d love to win a print copy of “Riddle of Berlin” : )