Meet Romantic Suspense Author Beverley Bateman
~ When You Can’t Stop Writing About Dead Bodies ~
Prolific romantic suspense writer and fellow Kiss of Death member, Beverley Bateman, shares why she writes romantic suspense and how she incorporates her travels and research into her novels.
Welcome Beverley,
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
It’s only a step from caring to killing. That’s the theory behind my writing. I’m a Canadian author. I used to live in the beautiful wine country of British Columbia, but gave up the orchards and vineyards for the ranches and beautiful, fresh vegetable country of Medicine Hat, Alberta. I live there with my husband and Shiba Inu dog. I just lost my second Shiba at the age of sixteen.
In the winter, I leave the snow and cold behind and go south. I write in both places. Hunted, Missing and the newest – Targeted are part of my Montana, Hawkins Ranch series. I also have my Holly Devine series; A Cruise to Remember, and A Murder to Forget. Don’t Go is my darker romantic suspense.
Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?
Actually, yes, I always wanted to write and used to jot notes on plots or characters and shoved them in a folder, to be used some day. But I worked, raised children and never sat down to write that book. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it was an aha moment. I decided that if I wanted to write. I needed to sit down and do it. That was when I bought my first computer and seriously sat down to write my first book.
How did you choose the genre you write in?
I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this before. When I had that aha moment I sat down and tried to figure out where to start. I like to plot – but then what? I read an article on writing romance. It said it was easy to write and sold well. (Yeah, right!) Anyway I read a bunch of romance novels, decided to write romance and took a few classes.
I set my romance in a vineyard in California, but I kept putting the heroine in danger and adding a few bodies. It didn’t matter what I did, those pesky bodies kept showing up. I finally figured I’d never be able to write a straight romance and switched to romantic suspense. So, it actually chose me. I love it, it works for me, and I’ve been writing it ever since. It’s not easy, but I love the balance of character development and plot. In straight mystery or suspense, often the characterization that draws you into the story is missing.
What was the most interesting place you ever visited?
There’s been a few, but I think I’d say Ephesus in Turkey. It’s a very cool ancient city that dates back to 10th century BC. It’s close to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. There are still a lot of partial structures standing that are over 2000 years old.
Do your travels influence your writing?
They do in some of my writing. I wrote A Cruise to Remember after we had done a Caribbean cruise. A Murder to Forget was set in Florida after we had visited that area. And I have a WIP, Death Southern Style, set in New Orleans. I’ve visited there a couple of times and love the French Quarter. Hunted, the first in my contemporary, western romantic suspense, originated when I was visiting the hundred-year-old Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. You’ll see why in the first scene. I’d love to be able to start a book and then travel there to research the area.
How much research do you do for each book you write?
This depends on what is needed. My western series is set in Montana. I have driven through Montana but needed to research an area to set my small town of Duster. I did a lot of research on Montana, the weather, landscape, flora and fauna and distances. I also did a lot of research on ranching and managing a ranch. I want to do enough research for all my books so that my readers can relate to characters and settings in my books.
What other genres of novel would you love to write?
There are a couple of genres that interest me, and that I’ve considered writing. One is women’s fiction because I love the idea of women supporting women and helping each other grow. In my latest book I do have four women working together, helping each other in my WIP, but it’s still more a romantic suspense. YA is also a genre that interests me, but I don’t know if I can write at that age level.
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
I have one book, Sara’s Story, that’s with the editor right now, and I’m hoping to release it this summer. It’s the first in a series called The Foundation. The Foundation is a ‘secret’ organization run by women who train teams of women to help women in danger. Those women could be in an abusive and life threatening situation, or have a husband who plans to kill her, a serial killer who targets women for financial gain, or even women in another country who could be in danger due to political situations.
The latest team, Sara’s team, has each member having a paranormal talent which they learn to use together, besides their regular classes in self defense and shooting.
And I’m hoping to finish off my stand alone, Death Southern Style, in the next few months.
Targeted by Beverley Bateman
After an eleven-year absence, Janna Kincaid inherits a ranch and is forced to return to a town she only remembers with unhappiness, a man to whom she was briefly married and never wants to see again, and someone is trying to kill her.
Kye Hawkins has loved Janna since he first met her. They were married but a few weeks later she ran away, without an explanation. He still hasn’t figured out why. Now she’s coming back. Does she still love him? Can he rekindle the romance and also prevent her from being killed.
Janna doesn’t want Kye’s help in anyway, yet he always seems to be there when she’s in trouble. Can they work together to find a killer, save the Native burial ground and home of the spirits, and find romance again?
Buy links for Targeted
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | iTUNES | GOOGLE PLAY | KOBO |
I enjoyed reading the interview – thanks for sharing your writing process. Books sound great. Best of luck in your writing!
Cat
Thanks for dropping by, Cat and for the comments.
Interesting interview. Wish you continued success.
Thanks C.F. I appreciate that.