Publisher: Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense
Genre: Christian romantic suspense
Released: October 24, 2023
Rhonda Starnes is a retired middle school language arts teacher who dreamed of being a published author from the time she was in seventh grade and wrote her first short story. She lives in North Alabama with her husband, whom she lovingly refers to as Mountain Man. Abducted at Christmas is her fifth novel and the third to reach the Publishers Weekly bestseller list.
In Abducted at Christmas, Hadley Logan’s Christmas break turns into a holiday nightmare when an intruder breaks into her home and bullets start flying. Only the quick actions of security specialist Ryan Vincent save her. Now she must rely on him to guard her and her five-year-old daughter as they go on the run.
When asked what contributed to the book landing on the bestseller list, Starnes said: “Love Inspired Suspense is a recognized brand with loyal readers. I believe that, plus the amazing cover the art department created, played a big role in my book doing so well.”
Starnes maintains an active online platform and leverages it to promote her new releases. This includes a newsletter with 600 subscribers as well as accounts on Facebook, X, Goodreads, and BookBub. She also maintains a launch team who helps to spread the word, but she noted that her Abducted at Christmas launch team was her smallest yet, with 15 members, and that her launch efforts for this novel were impacted by other obligations. Thus, she credits the book’s success largely to the publisher’s brand and the loyal readership it has fostered, observing that Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense authors frequently make the Publishers Weekly bestseller list.
Love Inspired Suspense is a Harlequin imprint with very specific expectations for the stories released through the brand, including a word count of 55,000, a hero and heroine who work together to solve a mystery, a mandatory faith element, and a hero and heroine who are equal partners in the action. “If I had one piece of advice for your readers, it would be, if you’re seeking to be traditionally published, look for a publisher that has built a brand and that will promote your books,” Starnes said.
Starnes also encourages authors not to be afraid to promote their writing and their books. “Oftentimes authors are hesitant to tell anyone that they are in fact writers,” Starnes said. “I have never been shy about sharing my journey and promoting my books.”
Emily Wenstrom is a freelance writer and platforming expert and writes award-winning speculative fiction for teens and adults as E. J. Wenstrom.
E. J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. She writes dark speculative fiction for adults and teens, including her new release, a young adult dystopian novel titled Departures (August 10, 2021). When she isn’t writing fiction, E. J. Wenstrom is a regular contributor to DIY MFA and BookRiot, and co-hosts the Fantasy+Girl Podcast. Learn more at her website.
