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Writer's pictureS. A. Crow

From Meet-Cute to Mystery: How to Weave Romance into a Suspense Plot



Defining Romance and Mystery in Your Writing:

As a writer, you may have some across advice like 'write to genre' that can feel a bit vague at first. It's really about shaping your story to meet the expectations of your chosen genre audience while allowing room for your unique voice. This refers to tailoring a story to fit within the specific conventions, themes, and expectations of a particular genre. You focus on elements that define that genre, like:

  • Plot structure: For instance, a mystery novel typically involves a crime and the process of solving it, while a romance novel focuses on the development of a relationship.

  • Character archetypes: like detectives or P.I.'s in mystery, heroes in fantasy, or lovers in romance.

  • Tone and style: The mood of the writing often aligns with the genre, such as suspenseful and tense in thrillers, light and emotional in romance, or dark and gritty in noir.

  • Audience expectations: You understand the audience expectations for the genre but deliver the elements with your own voice and originality.

How do I balance the development of a romantic relationship with the unfolding suspense in a suspense or mystery plot?

After I know my characters and what the suspense or mystery plot is for the novel in question, I begin the outlining process. First, I start with the beats of a romance story from Kaye Dacus, Writing the Romance Novel: The Seven Story Beats. Then I'll take the story beats for a suspense novel like from Squibler How to Write a Thriller Novel in 7 Steps.

When I outlined The Fire Inside, I used a table



This table made it easy to weave both plots together.

What makes a meet-cute moment work within the context of a suspense-driven narrative?

A suspense or mystery subplot gives more options to the meet-cute part of the Romance plot. It can also help give you a chance to set the tone of the book. In a suspense plot, a meet-cute can have higher stakes. It’s not just about meeting over a spilled coffee—it’s about being thrown together in circumstances where trust, danger, or secrets are involved. In Into the Fire, the shared love of food was a lighthearted introduction, but in The Fire Inside, the danger of being saved from an ex-boyfriend immediately added emotional weight to the connection.

The most common challenge of integrating suspense or mystery sub-plot into a Romance novel for me?

The biggest challenge for me is ensuring all the plot threads are resolved. At the end of the second act, I pause to review both the romantic and suspense arcs, checking for unresolved subplots or conflicts. This ensures that the resolution in the final act is both emotionally satisfying and logically sound.

Building Tension in a Romance Suspense Novel:

How I maintain tension in a romance suspense novel without one overshadowing the other?

To maintain tension, I make sure the romance and suspense plots inform each other. For instance, a suspenseful situation might lead the couple to reveal their vulnerabilities, deepening their emotional bond. Conversely, romantic conflicts might add personal stakes to the suspense.

Plot Structure:

What strategies do I weave suspense beats into the pacing of a romance plot without slowing down the romance or suspense plot?

With the help of the table, I can easily determine where the plot points should occur and how they should fit together. I might use a suspense plot point to increase the trust between the couple, or push the couple apart when needed. In a mystery, the story revolves around solving clues, whereas in a romance, it's about the characters' emotional bond. When combining the two, you need to interweave these elements, knowing which elements to cut and others to bring forward, and interweave these elements so that neither overwhelms the other.

Ann Crow and Urban Fantasy Noir Mystery:

How does my approach differ when writing urban fantasy noir mystery as Ann Crow compared to my work as S. A. Crow writing the Fire series?

There are many differences between writing urban fantasy noir mystery vs. romance suspense. First are the genre expectations, noir mystery has certain rules where romance suspense I have more area to play in. Second is the difference is that in my urban fantasy series, P.I.R. is written in one Point of View (POV) Avril is our detective and all our observations are through her eyes and life experience. My Fire series is written in split POV between both lovers. The next approach is the difference between the fantasy genre and the contemporary world of my romance novels. In the P.I.R. series, I have some fun ways to commit crimes.

What can you expect from the blending of romance and suspense in my upcoming works, particularly in both the Fire Series and the P.I.R. series as Ann Crow?


P.I.R. series by Ann Crow

Currently, I'm editing the first novel in the series Obsidian Vendetta with a hopeful Summer 2025 release in time for Pride Month.


Urban Fantasy Mystery novel. Avril Florez a half-fairy detective for Fort Worth Texas PIR (Paranormal Investigation and Registration) department must find a killer and prove the Master Vampire’s innocence before she is ordered to kill the Master Vampire for going rogue. All while her personal life falls apart and adding to that she is unsure if the Master Vampire wants a relationship with her for her or to save his hide. Thank goodness she doesn't believe in relationships in the first place. After all, every one who pretends to love you leaves in the end.










But if you would like to read something from the series now you can do that. Hematite without Faith a short story that fits between Obsidian Vendetta and book 2 Moonlight.


The Fire Series





I'm working diligently to bring you the first box-set Burning Desires this coming Winter 2024-2025. Yet the next story in the series I'll be revising to bring to you next year.










The Night Will Flame with Fire

Things are looking up for Malcolm Aaron, ex-Navy SEAL, turned bodyguard. He's now in Seattle, Washington, part owner of Bastian Securities, with his friends. When he's forced home to Victorville, California and a past, he'd rather forget.


Julie has spent the last few years taking care of her older sister, who was in a coma from a random act of violence. When her sister passes away recently, Julie gains temporary custody of her nephew until the will is read. She learns that the will can't be read without her sister's ex-boyfriend appearing back home. She is willing to sacrifice more of her dreams and peace to keep her nephew in his childhood home.


After a letter gives both Malcolm and Julie some shocking truths. They agree to work together to solve the mystery her sister left behind.


Can they work together to get what they want most?


Or will more truths change everything for both of them.





The Witch's Crystal Devon Gambrell




Bad Guy My Boss

First Note of Love

Happy of the End

I Saw You in My Dream

Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!

Kidnap

Love Next Door

Monster Next Door

The Untamed


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