Teagan Tate here, drummer from the rock band Madison Grace and star of the steamy romantic suspense novel, Moving Target. I took over the blog while our girl Maggie Clare was in grad school, and even though she just received her fancy new diploma, I’ve decided to keep posting while she catches up on her writing projects.
As Maggie wraps up the last story in the TSI series, we’ve chatted a bit about expectations and endings, especially in the romance world. Here’s what Maggie has to say about writing a satisfying end to a romance novel…
Teag, one of the most important rules of romance writing is the happily-ever-after ending. Readers are willing to go along for the ride, suffer misunderstandings, endure loss, hurt, and drama as long as they know the happy ending they crave will be the pay-off. It’s a quality I really love about the romance genre!
As a writer of romantic suspense, I tend to put my characters through the wringer before they get to ride off into the sunset. Each one of my books features some dark elements, whether it’s a nasty drug cartel, a deranged stalker, or a deadly serial killer, I enjoy using the suspense elements to ramp up the tension.
However, when I add traumatic elements to my stories, I try to do it with great care. While I give all my couples their well-deserved happily-ever-after, I also try to show that their trauma has far-reaching consequences. Love helps heal, certainly, but it doesn’t erase everything. If I’m trying to write my characters authentically, this is something I have to consider.
In my stories, I’m doling out fantasy for sure, but if I don’t find the right balance between fantasy and authenticity, readers will be left wanting. I pay special attention to this balance when writing the ending of a story. For me, writing both a happy and satisfying ending is the key to getting it right in romance. I hope readers will find that to be the case with each of the Tactical Solutions International books.
Speaking of endings, next month will be my last at the helm of this blog, as I’ll be hitting the road next year with Fiona and the band. Maggie will resume posting for herself in the new year, and she’s eager to share all her new and exciting news!
