I am busy today on my blitz tour, visiting two readers’ blog websites: Gina Rae Mitchell and Long and Short Review. You can check out either one or both. https://ginaraemitchell.com/killer-whisky/?like_actor=16376877&like_hmac=a1fed9d05250771e32ad4a374ee25203&postid=63371&commentid=47384&like=1&source=sub_email and A Killer Whisky by Susan Calder – Spotlight and Giveaway
If you missed the first day of my blog tour – and even if you didn’t – you can check out the second readers’ website that is hosting my tour. https://fuonlyknew.com/2025/02/25/a-killer-whisky-by-susan-calder-peek-inside-and-giveaway/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIqtHlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWH76sTf8KtOpejS9CLlTzks1zqi0L4tY3EcvEZZKu0F4dZ3OYIbe62SHw_aem_cnRxQHXw2PNMD9P8dARpwQ&subscribe=already#subscribe-blog-blog_subscription-3 I’ve tried posting some comments but don’t see them on the site yet. Maybe they are screened first. I’m still learning the ropes of doing this.
On Saturday, February 22nd, I’ll be participating in an online discussion and reading called “Between the Covers” produced by Sisters in Crime Canada West. The event is free and open to everyone, but you need to register here: : https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C0uxgJr6SNatYBJVxTGltQ
Hope to see you online!
I don’t write romance novels, but most of my mystery and suspense books have romantic subplots. This shouldn’t be surprising since I love Jane Austen’s novels, which always centre on romance. A few years ago, while visiting my friend Barb in the UK, we went to Jane Austen’s home in Chawton and dressed in costumes of the times.
Jane Austen had the romance formula down pat – keep the lovers in conflict and separated through the story until the end, when they realize they are right for each other. Their conflict and separation can be caused by external problems (family objections, war, geography) and/or internal flaws.
In my first novel, A Deadly Fall, my heroine/sleuth Paula struggles with both types of problems. She falls for a man who is a suspect and she’s committed to a boyfriend (two external impediments). Internally, she’s burned from her recent divorce. As the story progresses, Paula learns she must take risks to find love again.
In book # 4 of the series, Paula and her current boyfriend are stranded on different continents due to the COVID-19 world shutdown. Their separation challenges their relationship. But the novel’s greater romantic subplot belongs to Detective Mike Vincelli, a secondary narrator. Mike is attracted to a coworker, but his fear of failure and reluctance to shake up his comfortable life conflict with his desire to make their involvement personal.
Typically the romantic subplot reflects the protagonist’s personal journey in stories that are primarily about other things–finding the treasure, defeating an enemy army, solving a murder. While navigating romantic entanglements, heroes and heroines learn the lessons they need to resolve their problems.
My current mystery-novel-in-progress, A Killer Whisky, has two romantic subplots. The main one features my two story narrators, Katharine, who witnesses a suspicious death, and Bertram, the detective investigating the case. The story is set in 1918, during the last days of WWI.
Katharine’s loyalty to her husband fighting in France clashes with her attraction to the attentive detective. Bertram’s obstacles are largely internal–he can’t move past the deaths of his wife and son. Through the story events, Katharine and Bertram must discover what they want in life after the war is over.
A Killer Whisky’s second romantic subplot involves two suspects, who are non-viewpoint narrators. Their romance fuels the murder investigation plotline. I find their relationship fun and am curious to see how it works out.
Or doesn’t work out.
When romance is merely a subplot, it doesn’t have to follow the romance novel tradition of bringing the lovers together in the end. Actually, my impression is that romance novels today don’t require this either. I can’t think of book example but a successful romantic comedy movie springs to mind ** spoiler alert ** My Best Friend’s Wedding.
Whatever your current romantic journey — Happy Valentine’s Day!
Me in Puerto Vallarta with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Their grand romance had numerous ups and downs that captured the world’s imagination.
What would be more appropriate for Valentine’s Day than a blog post about romantic subplots in novels? https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/
Calgary’s first snowfall of the season has got me dreaming about my holiday in California this September. The main purpose for the trip was to attend Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in San Diego. My husband Will (an avid mystery reader) and I spent four interesting days attending panels and events like Speed Dating for Writers and Readers and the New Author Breakfast. Both were more fun than I’d expected and popular enough to fill the large rooms by 7:00 am. When we weren’t occupied with the convention, we enjoyed the views from our hotel in the San Diego Marina.
After the convention, we stayed an extra day in San Diego to see a little more of the city. We walked along the boardwalk and took the short ferry ride to Coronado Island, an upscale vacation beach community. The highlight was a concert in the park featuring a great cover band. Hundreds of people gathered. Since we didn’t have chairs, we stood at the front and danced to songs like “Witchy Woman” and “One of These Nights” made famous by the Eagles.
From San Diego, we drove to Julian, a “hippie” town located in the apple-growing hills east of the city. In addition to exploring the quirky, historic former gold mining town, we gorged on apple pie – arguably the best I’ve ever had. A half dozen bakeries produce pies for tourists, many of them day-trippers from San Diego.
Sunshine, warmth, ocean, books, wine, apple pie — pretty much a perfect trip!
On today’s BWL author blog, I reminisce about holiday in southern California in late August-September. It’s even relevant to my writing. https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/
Today on the BWL author blog I talk about my September book launch for my new novel, Spring Into Danger, and describe the planning that went into it. https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/
Since I no longer subscribe to physical newspapers, a friend emailed me this clipping from yesterday’s Calgary Herald. Nice to see Spring Into Danger listed in actual print.
In the old days, I used to laminate newspaper clippings of my articles and previous appearances on Calgary’s Bestsellers List. Now I save them to my digital files.
Thanks to a great turnout at my book launch, my novel, Spring Into Danger, hit #1 on today’s Calgary Herald Bestsellers List. Here I am on the list in pretty good company.
CALGARY BESTSELLERS
Calgary Herald
Compiled from information from Owl’s Nest Books and Shelf Life Books.
30 Sep 2023
FICTION 1. Spring into Danger
Susan Calder. After thieves break into a store and steal two bicycles, a psychic phones Det. Mike Vincelli.
2. Brave Like the Buffalo
Melissa Allan and Jadyn Fischer-mcnab. A children’s book with a message that will inspire all readers.
3. The Last Devil to Die
Richard Osman. It’s rarely a quiet day for the Thursday Murder Club when shocking news reaches them — an old friend has been killed.
4. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
Lisa See. The latest historical novel from See, inspired by the true story of a female doctor from 15th-century China.
5. Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda.
6. The Covenant of Water
Abraham Verghese. A shimmering evocation of a bygone India.
7. Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (editors). Many Indigenous people believe whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear.
8. Yellowface
R F Kuang. White lies. Dark humour. Deadly consequences.
9. Tom Lake
Ann Patchett. Patchett once again proves herself one of America’s finest writers.
10. Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus. Elizabeth Zott is a scientist who becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show.
NON FICTION 1. The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartenders Guide From the Celebrated Speakeasy
Jim Meehan and Chris Gall. Jim Meehan, PDT’S innovative operator and mixmaster, is revolutionizing bar books.
2. Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory
Sarah Polley. Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director and actor explores memory and the dialogue between her past and present. Canadian author.
3. The Home Cafe: Creative Recipes for Espresso, Matcha, Tea and Coffee Drinks
Asia Lui Chapa. With this classy curation of recipes, you’ll find endless ideas.
4. The Met Office: Pocket Cloud Book
Richard Hamblyn and the Met Office. This book provides you with all the information you need to identify different kinds of clouds and the weather that may be on its way.
5. Alberta Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals
James Kavanagh. Covers 140 of the most common and familiar animals you are likely to encounter.
6. Bugs & Slugs, 2nd Edition: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar North American Invertebrates
James Kavanagh. This guide highlights over 140 familiar species of insects, spiders and invertebrates.
7. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
David Grann. A twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.
8. The 48 Laws of Power
Robert Greene. Every law here has an interest in total domination.
9. How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We’re Going
Vaclav Smil. An essential analysis of the modern science and technology that makes our 21st-century lives possible.
10. Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast
John Vaillant. A riveting journey through the intertwined histories of North America’s oil industry and the birth of climate science. Canadian author