tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post3115362527633097623..comments2024-01-30T21:10:26.513-05:00Comments on Sarah Grimm: Romantic Mystery vs. Romantic Suspense...Is there a difference?Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-46129948978779388652012-03-08T20:19:35.576-05:002012-03-08T20:19:35.576-05:00Sarah, great blog. I was uncertain about the book ...Sarah, great blog. I was uncertain about the book I'm writing and said - oh that's it. Until I got to the part about the villain. Hmmm...have to rethink this. But loved your explanations.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-59285192015682297952012-03-08T18:35:48.499-05:002012-03-08T18:35:48.499-05:00Hi, Sarah: I once read a definition that said myst...Hi, Sarah: I once read a definition that said mystery is not knowing whodonit with the story figuring out who he is and suspense is knowing whodonit with the story trying to catch/stop him. <br /><br />According to that theory, Agatha Christie is mystery discovering whodonit. Columbo was suspense since we saw whodonit at the beginning of each episode and followed along as Columbo solved the murder.<br /><br />As you said, they seem to fall into the categories of mystery as the intellectual pursuit and suspense as the emotional.Samantha Gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-46228951241750649782012-03-08T17:47:31.724-05:002012-03-08T17:47:31.724-05:00ROFL, Nancy! It actually does make sense.ROFL, Nancy! It actually does make sense.Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-26305664304453889012012-03-08T17:46:43.379-05:002012-03-08T17:46:43.379-05:00Susan, I agree with you that any amount of suspen...Susan, I agree with you that any amount of suspense makes for a fast-paced read. Let me also add that I love an added dash of suspense to any genre. *shocking, I know* :-)Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-43774806890768422932012-03-08T16:45:06.357-05:002012-03-08T16:45:06.357-05:00Fabulous post, Sarah-even if I'm still a littl...Fabulous post, Sarah-even if I'm still a little unsure of what I write. It can be a minefield deciding what to call your submission. I've locally been calling my Monogamy Twist a contemporary history mystery.(TWRP Champagne General)My soon to be released TWRP, TAKE ME NOW, was tossed back and forth for months. It had a mystery to solve but it also had 'crimson' elements. Eventually I had to decide which to go for. I sublimated the crimson elements and upped the mystery. My current WIP, almost ready to send 'out', is a second history mystery with just a hint of suspense.(I'm still calling it a mystery without any history!- TWRP maybe a Champagne General) Does any of this make sense?Nancy Jardine Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12366248895961876075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-18707429075415699042012-03-08T14:36:03.405-05:002012-03-08T14:36:03.405-05:00Great explanation, Sarah! I used to read a lot of ...Great explanation, Sarah! I used to read a lot of mysteries, but often they included fast paced suspense, so the definition can be confusing.<br /><br />I primarily write historical romances, but my stories also include a lot of suspense and danger. <br /><br />I think any amount of suspense makes for a fast paced, not able to put the book down, story.Susan Macateehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476340887041053638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-81525335126039076142012-03-08T11:54:37.692-05:002012-03-08T11:54:37.692-05:00Vonnie, thanks for visiting! I'm glad I was ab...Vonnie, thanks for visiting! I'm glad I was able to describe the differences in a way that made sense. Mystery...I would drag my feet, too. That just isn't a genre that would be easy for me.Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-17234546317655020192012-03-08T11:53:35.254-05:002012-03-08T11:53:35.254-05:00Karyn,
I totally agree!Karyn,<br /><br />I totally agree!Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-75475642215571387132012-03-08T11:01:59.125-05:002012-03-08T11:01:59.125-05:00Great post, Sarah. Informative, yet understandable...Great post, Sarah. Informative, yet understandable. Well done! I put elements of suspense in my stories and have written a romantic suspense series. My agent keeps after me to write a mystery, but so far I'm dragging my feet.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-83473292865658488482012-03-08T10:55:05.304-05:002012-03-08T10:55:05.304-05:00It gets complicated doesn't it? To me there...It gets complicated doesn't it? To me there's a big difference between romantic mystery and romantic suspense. There's also a difference between a contemporary romance with a hint of suspense and a suspense with a hint of romance. But at least you know there's suspense. And romance. <br /><br />I agree, labels are important, especially to debut and mid-list authors who don't have the huge brand/name recognition of a Nora Roberts or a J.R. Ward. It's important to make sure the reader is getting the book they're expecting<br /><br />Great post!Karyn Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12586701849461714531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-50669783167732290022012-03-08T09:30:49.849-05:002012-03-08T09:30:49.849-05:00Grace/Lu - yes, thriller vs. Mystery is another on...Grace/Lu - yes, thriller vs. Mystery is another one where the lines are blurred for some people. Thanks for stopping in and commenting!Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-32645759346313146932012-03-08T09:30:07.309-05:002012-03-08T09:30:07.309-05:00Rebecca, in all honesty, it took me a while to put...Rebecca, in all honesty, it took me a while to put the post together so that it made sense. Then I sent it to two author friends to make sure it made sense to someone other than me. :0)Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-55374474005380571382012-03-08T09:28:56.762-05:002012-03-08T09:28:56.762-05:00ROFL, Rachel! Glad I could...confuse things? :-)ROFL, Rachel! Glad I could...confuse things? :-)Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-17754452523935077902012-03-08T09:27:50.408-05:002012-03-08T09:27:50.408-05:00Thanks so much Sloane!Thanks so much Sloane!Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-24232565638295306572012-03-08T09:20:59.433-05:002012-03-08T09:20:59.433-05:00Great explanation of the difference. Just like a t...Great explanation of the difference. Just like a thriller vs. a mystery. The RS I'm about to send out the door is definitely a suspense-we all know who the villain is.Luanna Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11594016051931769407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-33035627290178934372012-03-08T09:12:46.820-05:002012-03-08T09:12:46.820-05:00Thanks for that very clear and concise explanation...Thanks for that very clear and concise explanation. Now I know, and if asked, shall point people in your direction as I'd never be able to explain the differences as well as you do in this post.Rebecca Leithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12812459785355422501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-85140968577023627272012-03-08T09:07:15.637-05:002012-03-08T09:07:15.637-05:00Do you know, you've got me in a quandary now, ...Do you know, you've got me in a quandary now, lo! You're absolutely right - from this, up until my current work in progress, I have written romantic mystery but market them as romantic suspense.<br /><br />In Searching For Sophie & Reluctant Witness, the hero or heroine is the cop looking for the killer. In my currently book being 'shopped' the heroine is the cop looking for the killer. Hmm...<br /><br />However, i'm currently working on a definite romantic suspense then...because we know the threat, we know the villain and we're waiting for him to strike. Wow, you learn something new every day - maybe I should be changing my website, lol!<br /><br />Rachel xRachel Brimble https://www.blogger.com/profile/07704679320900435805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-1867691078511787042012-03-08T08:57:56.716-05:002012-03-08T08:57:56.716-05:00Spot on, Sarah! Your post explains the genres bett...Spot on, Sarah! Your post explains the genres better than anyone.Sloane Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05455715196493185203noreply@blogger.com