Snapped by Laura Griffin - Guest Post & Giveaway

Snapped by Laura Griffin
Tracers Series #4
Published August 2011 by Pocket Star

THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO A KILLER’S MADNESS, OR HOW FAR HE’LL GO TO FIND YOU…

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened fire on a college campus. When the carnage is over, three people—plus the shooter— are dead, and dozens more injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes convinced that this wasn’t the random, senseless act it appeared. No one wants to believe her—not the cops, not her colleagues at the Delphi Center crime lab, and definitely not Jonah Macon, the homicide detective who’s already saved her life once.

Jonah has all kinds of reasons for hoping Sophie is mistaken. Involving himself with a key witness could derail an already messy investigation, not to mention jeopardize his career. But Sophie is as determined and fearless as she is sexy. If he can’t resist her, he can at least swear to protect her. Because if Sophie is right, she’s made herself the target of a killer without a conscience. And the real terror is only just beginning. . . .

Guest Post by Laura Griffin
Romantic Suspense: Where the Heart Is

Some of the best writing advice I ever got was “write the book you want to read.” That’s why I write romantic suspense. So… what exactly is romantic suspense? I get that question a lot and I tell people that my books are basically mysteries with a love story woven in.

Romantic suspense is a natural fit for me because I got my start as a newspaper reporter by day and a voracious reader of fiction by night. Many of the news stories I covered made an impact on me and later inspired some of the mystery elements in my books.

What I love about writing romantic suspense is taking the reader on a journey where she never knows what’s around the next corner. I like to throw challenges and puzzles at my characters and watch them struggle to figure them out. I like putting them in situations in which they have to rely on their skills, their ingenuity, and even each other to make it through.

And here’s where the romance comes in. I love books that pack lots of emotional intensity. For me, that intensity builds when the story takes a hair-raising turn. The hero and heroine get closer when they’re faced with physical and moral obstacles. It’s those high-stakes choices, those life-or-death moments that add emotional fuel to the story and reveal character. For me, as both a writer and a reader, that’s what fiction is all about. I want to go on a twisty, pulse-pounding journey with my characters. I want to feel like I’m there.

Romantic suspense is the perfect genre for readers (like me!) who want an intense, emotionally rich experience with a hard-won happily ever after.

Laura is one of the many talented authors who belong to the Romance Writers of America’s Kiss of Death chapter. At Kiss of Death we believe that every great romance should include suspense. Whether a spy thriller in Regency times, a paranormal romance with a revenge-seeking zombie, or a traditional serial killer after the heroine, romance relies on suspense, leading the reader through the trials of the heroine and hero to see if they will get their happily ever after ending. If you can call your writing suspenseful, then the Kiss of Death has something for you! Find out more and join at http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org and follow us on Twitter at @RWAKissofDeath.

About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. Her books have won numerous awards, including a 2010 RITA (Whisper of Warning) and a 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award (Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin where she is working on the next book in her Tracers series. Visit her on her site and Facebook.





Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a *signed* copy of Snapped and a *signed* ARC copy of Twisted (Tracers Series #5, expected release April 2012).

How to enter:
Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about romantic suspense.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open for US only. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on February 24. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.  

Sorry! This giveaway is now closed.

Winner is comment #5 (randomly selected by random.org): 
June M.