Tim Smith at the #SpringfieldOHBookFair

Promotions From Vendors Attending The 2019 Summer 
​Springfield OH Book Fair  

https://www.henhousepublishing.com/2019-summer-book-fair.html

About Tim Smith

Tim Smith is an award-winning bestselling author. His books range from romantic mystery/thriller to contemporary erotic romance. He is also a freelance photographer. When he isn't pursuing those two careers he can often be found in The Florida Keys, indulging his passion for parasailing between research and seeking out the perfect Pina Colada.

Romantic Mystery Thriller & Contemporary Erotic Romance
​Amazon

Men Writing Romance & Mystery

One of the questions I’m often asked is why I chose to sign with a traditional romance publisher since I primarily write mystery/thrillers involving spies and private eyes. Aside from the security of a series contract and the perks that come with it, I did this for a couple of other reasons. One is that I like to include strong romance elements in my stories. Private eye mysteries and action-packed spy thrillers are fun to write, but it’s more interesting when you can include a femme fatale for the hero to interact with when he isn’t solving the crime du jour. 

Another benefit is the opportunity it gives me to write something different. My publisher issues short romances throughout the year, and I’ve published several lightweight romantic stories under these umbrella titles. They’re akin to those Lifetime or Hallmark movies that clog the TV schedules at Christmas. I like writing these because it gives me the chance to flex my creative muscles and come up with conflicts between the characters that don’t rely on “who done it?” I enjoy the challenge of developing a believable romantic relationship with a lot of teasing and flirting. This is something I include in my mystery/thrillers, but it’s fun to write one where the characters are brought together by something other than a dramatic situation. 

I recently released my annual summer short beach read, part of a series I started three years ago called “Key West Heat.” My newest entry is “Once Upon a Sunset.” The only thread between the stories in this series is that they all take place in Key West, Florida, with different characters and plots. I do the same with my publisher’s annual Holiday Stocking Stuffers, which are also stand-alone entries. I like the challenge these shorter books present, developing characters and plots in 12,000 words or less. Unlike the full-length PI and spy novels in my other two series, where I can spread out the exploration of personality and background, the shorts force me to do it more succinctly. 

After writing a few of these, I made an interesting discovery when I went back to full-length novels. I found that I was now able to develop the characters without devoting several paragraphs to telling their history. This kept the fast pace I like to use and still painted a complete picture. I also discovered that sometimes, less can be more.   

Registration is open for the Summer 2019 Springfield OH Book Fair 
​
Sign Up Today! 

#SpringfieldOHBookFair #Summer #Books #Authors #HenHousePublishing ​​​​​