Going Out on a Limb

By Kaye George, who has offered to give a copy of her new book to one lucky commenter!

First of all, thanks so much WWK, for having me here today! I once blogged here, until I got overwhelmed by a number of things and had to drop out, so I feel like I’m coming home for a visit.

 Going out on a limb. I think I’ve really done that with my latest release. SOMEONE IS OUT THERE was released April 15th and could be classified as a psychological thriller, but my publisher tags it with “suspense thriller.” That’s much easier to type. Whatever it is, it’s an entirely new genre for me.

How did I get here from mysteries? The same way I got to mysteries, actually. I wrote literary short stories for many years without one ounce of success. When I realized I loved to read mysteries, I decided to write those. And, after learning that genre and querying a few hundred editors and publishers, I was a published mystery writer.

In spite of the fact that I have many folders of mystery ideas, I looked up one day and noticed I was reading a lot of suspense. So I had to try it. Right? I had to do that. It was like ABBA was in the room singing “Take a Chance on Me.”

I was grateful that it took me a lot less time to learn this new craft than it had for me to learn the ins and outs of mysteries. There is a lot of carryover, so that helps. You still need setting, characters, a plot, and lots of tension. In fact, it seems easier to build tension in a suspense thriller. It seems like it’s an inside-out mystery.

In mystery, something has happened and the sleuth must uncover who and why, at least. In suspense, something is happening to the main character right now and she doesn’t know who or why, so that’s what must be uncovered. It seems like the MC is in a lot more danger since it’s ongoing and escalating. At least, that’s the way I wrote it. 

In the course of meeting so many terrific mystery writers, those connections paid off. Marilyn Levinson, who has written mystery, suspense, and even children’s books, suggested I approach Rowan Prose Publishing with this project after I’d been turned away a few times. Much easier than hundreds of times.

Anyway, even if I’m on the same tree, this is a new limb and I’m sitting firmly on it. 

How about you? Have you taken a chance on something that paid off? 

I’d love to give a copy of SOMEONE IS OUT THERE to a reader here. I’ll pick a name Friday.

Thanks again!