S. L. Hollister Writes Romantic Suspense -

Let’s welcome romance author S. L. Hollister. She writes in a variety of romance genres. Today she explains where she gets her ideas for her stories and how much she loves doing research.

Welcome, Sherri,

Hi. My full name is Sherri Lupton Hollister. I write romantic suspense thrillers set in a small southern town on the North Carolina coast.

Where do you get your ideas?

With six sons I’m never at a loss for romantic heroes or villains, depending on if they piss me off or not. I used to threaten to put them in my stories and kill them off on page fifty but now my grandchildren are begging to be put in my stories and even coming up with ways to kill each other off. So much for that threat.

In Chrome Pink, my first novel, my husband was my muse. He tells everyone he’s in my novels but he’s a woman. He has the legs for it. My character is a female tow truck driver, motorcycle mechanic and tough with a big heart, just like my husband, but she does look better in a dress.

My most recent novel, Roxy’s Betrayal is a case of opposites. I wanted to show sibling rivalry and how our place in the family can affect how we view ourselves. It’s based on some research I did while raising my sons plus some of their antics with each other. Even as adults, the boys have a hierarchy within the family and often it is difficult to live down your family’s expectations of who you are and where you fit within the family tree. That is the case with Roxanne and Janie, the bad sister and the goodie-good sister. But the truth is a little more complicated.

My Leeward Files series and my newer series, The Harrell Family Chronicles are both inspired by my hometown in eastern North Carolina. They are set in a small town on the Innerbanks of the Atlantic Ocean. The community, the river, the weather are nearly as important as the characters in the stories. Anyone living in a small town, especially on the coast can appreciate the difficulties these people face daily. Add to that the proximity to the coast and it opens ideas for transporting drugs, guns or people. What better place to hide a crime syndicate than a small town?

How much research do you do for each book you write?

Research varies because my stories are modern and take place in a community I am familiar with. I am blessed to have family and friends willing to share their knowledge, so I have firsthand accounts of small-town police officers, volunteer firefighters and librarians.

When I got ready to write Roxy’s Betrayal, I wanted to know some details about living onboard a cruise ship. Thankfully, one of my writer friends grew up with parents who were tour guides and spent much of her young life on a cruise ship. She shared things with me I wouldn’t have thought of and that information was invaluable.

I have to be careful with research because I’m a bit of a geek. I love learning new things. I’ll start researching about drones and white phosphorus grenades and the next thing I know I’m reading articles about dragons and I have no dragons in my stories, yet.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

Jayne Ann Krentz. I first fell in love with her historical romance books writing as Amanda Quick. I have always loved historical romance and never thought I’d write anything else but then I found out she was also a contemporary author and a sci-fi romance author, writing as Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle, I devoured those books as well. I love all of her stories. JAK is the one who opened the contemporary door for me. I hope someday to be published in both historical and contemporary romantic suspense.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

I’m working on three books for my Harrell Family Chronicles series and doing research and planning for my first historical series. The Harrell Family has three brothers, each with their stories and families. Charlie and Liz have seven grown children and his brother John, two. I’m hoping to get at least nine stories from this series.

Do you have any websites, blogs, or books about writing that you would recommend?

I believe in continuing to learn. It is one of the reasons I love being a member of Romance Writers of America. I take a lot of online classes on everything from PTSD to horses, all geared towards the romance writer.

I read a lot of craft books and listen to audiobooks, and YouTube videos on writing. Sarra Cannon of Heart Breathings YouTube channel is one of my favorites. I’ve also taken her Publish and Thrive course which I highly recommend. I’m currently reading Donald Maass’ “Writing the Breakout Novel” and listening to Lisa Cron’s “Story Genius.”