On The Edge Of A Precipice

"Draw your chair up close to the edge of the precipice and I'll tell you a story. "
~F. Scott Fitzgerald


That is one of my favorite quotes on writing. Everyone loves a cliffhanger! Stories that twist and turn and leave you guessing right up to the last page make the bestsellers list for a reason. Not only do we like to be entertained, we like to be challenged.

Novelist Dee Henderson http://deehenderson.com/ has really got the formula down. Her Suspense/Thriller novels the O'Malley Series and the Uncommon Heroes series have struck a cord with her readers and made her a fan favorite from almost day one. I'm currently reading her novel "The Witness" and I've got to tell you, it's right on par with the rest of them! Ms. Henderson does a magnificent job of captivating the reader's attention and keeping them spell-bound to the finish. The industry has not seen the last of her, by far.

It can be difficult to come up with scenarios for a Suspense novel that haven't been played out time and time before. I once heard the very good suggestion of watching a program like Law & Order or C.S.I. and turning the show off halfway through. Grab a notebook and a pen and write down how you think the story will go, or how it would go if you were writing it. Then if you like, turn the show back on for the last five minutes and see how you did! The important thing is to get your mind exploring different trails and jumping down rabbit holes and letting your imagination take you wherever it will.

Even if you don't come up with something usable the first time, it's sure to be a wild ride!