By Elaine L. Orr
I have a confession to make. I am very clumsy about putting romance into my mysteries. My female sleuths have friends, but some do turn into more than buddies.
I consciously try to avoid having relationships overtake the mysteries. However, romance is an important part in the middle of the Jolie Gentil series, especially in Ground to a Halt. You can't have a couple shake hands when they consider marriage.
The family history mysteries are most fun with the blend, in part because a ghost gets in the way. By the time I did those books, I think I was more adept at mixing humor, romance, and mystery -- if I do say so myself.
It hit me a few weeks ago that my two other series (River's Edge and Logland) may have paused at three because I'm not sure how to propel the relationship angles. I've decided one will continue and one won't. Not telling which.
I had to laugh at myself, because I paused writing my favorite novella, Falling Into Place, for a long time. I left the grandfather and grandchild on a bus while I thought about it. In another book (Toxic Traces, not published) I left key characters on the DC subway. At least they were moving. In fact, one reason I never finished revising that book is that the mystery and romance were too intertwined.
If you want examples of authors who merge the two genres well, look to 11 Mystery Romance Books That Will Keep You Guessing by Elena Bellorin. She mentions, among others, Janet Evanovich (though not the Stephanie Plum series), Nora Roberts (as Nora Robb), Karen Rose, and Toni Anderson.
Happy Valentine's Day!
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