Real Life Meets Fiction

For the last few weeks I've been going to the citizen's police academy. I figured that as a writer of romantic suspense I should know a little bit about crime and law enforcement in my own city. While listening to how crime and law enforcement evolves with technology and what the stats look like here - there's a bit of real life that has to happen.

The ride along.

I finished mine last week. it was a day run that was literally that - a run. From one end of the city to the other and back again - all day. It was a busy weekend. Unfortunately, I can't share any of it. But I was impressed by how many variables come into play in any one situation. There's numerous "hats" the police must put on in any one call. They're not just law enforcement but also psychologist, sociologist, educator.

For me, the last one really rang true - I learned a lot during that day. It was a reality check. Now, I know that when my imagination takes off, some of the facts I learned will have my feet held firmly to the ground.

The ride along was a fantastic opportunity to see how the suspense, in a romantic suspense can play out in every day life. Even more importantly, all this new information has given me ideas for stories. Stories set in places I like best - far away places, with a touch of mystery to them. 

Where am I right now? I'm on a trip that exists solely in my imagination. The trip? Afghanistan.

It's not a beach vacation by any means, my heroine can attest to that. She's on a mission that has her in the eye of danger in a way that she's never been before. Her backup is a woman she saw action with. She's there because of  a plan that's been put carefully into place and while she always knew there were variables they couldn't plan for, one she
never considered is her ex. He's arrived determined to "save the day." Unfortunately, his arrival may not only destroy everything but threaten her like nothing has before.

And with that - I'm off to see what kind of danger my heroine is in now.

Happy February 29 - enjoy your bonus day!

Until later. 

Dream big and travel safe.

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

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Latest release:  The Tears We Never Cried

What You Won't Do For Research

I've been spending one evening a week at the local police station. An odd place to spend one's evenings. But it's here I find myself since I've signed up for the Citizens Police Academy. I knew that writing romantic suspense meant that I needed to learn more about policing and crime. Surfing the net, and safely scouring the library shelves was really research on the fringes. That all changed one evening in mid-January.

So, there I am, me and a classroom spilling with enthusiastic wannabe cops. BTW do you know that the nickname, cops, has a couple of supposed reasons for existing - one was that the English Bobbies had copper buttons that flashed in the sunlight. The other... not sure.
But, I digress - right now it's me and a classroom full of people who may be pulling me over for a traffic ticket in years to come. Hopefully not, but my foot is a little heavy some days - not all, just saying.

But let's not talk traffic, that's dull compared to the topics we have covered; search and rescue, gangs, drug trafficking, explosives, canines - and there's more with still weeks to come; including my ride-along. I was telling my writer group about my new experience and one author's eyes lit up when she heard that I'd literally have a "captive" audience for my questions as the ride-along is for a twelve hour shift. Somehow, I don't think the ride along will be an opportunity to interrogate. At least not on my side of the fence. There's that old adage about backseat drivers or in this case, interrogators.

So I have learned about the city's gangs, seen the most common drugs - literally as they were passed around in baggies. I've seen a gang initiation lifted from facebook, of all places. It was frightening in its brutality. I learned about the police divers rescuing in mid winter beneath the ice. No rescue, only retrieval - count me out, wait for spring. With all the crime stats, drug lair stakeouts and gang activity info that I've been faced with - well... If I look at you sideways, don't take offence, I'm looking at everyone sideways these days.

Then there was the police dog. Yes, I know he's rough and tough but I just wanted to take him home and cook him dog biscuits. Nope, he wasn't interested in anything or anyone other than his rubber ball and his handler.

So off to the land of gangs and crime. Interesting stuff especially the gangs. After all, there was a gang in Marshal on a Mission. I'm guessing there will be a gang soon, again in another story.

Stay safe and if you're anywhere near the frozen north - keep warm.

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

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Latest release:  The Tears We Never Cried

Colder Than Sin by Toni Anderson

With winter fast approaching, it's time to gather books and hunker down. And on that note - today I'm sharing another romantic suspense 
October release,

 Toni Anderson and her Cold Justice Series.

The next book in the series, Colder Than Sin, is available for pre-order!

Hostage Negotiators can talk themselves out of anything—except falling in love.

Colder Than Sin by Toni Anderson

Release date: October 22, 2019

“Toni Anderson has mixed up the perfect cocktail of international intrigue, non-stop action, and chemistry that sizzles off the page.” - Adriana Anders, author of WHITEOUT

Top FBI negotiator Quentin Savage is hurled into his worst nightmare when a terrorist attack on a luxury hotel propels him from esteemed keynote speaker to powerless captive.

Haley Cramer is co-owner of a private security firm and prides herself on her independence, but she is shaken to the core when gunmen attack a conference she is attending. She survives, but only because Quentin Savage pretends she’s his wife.

Together Savage and Haley plot their escape from a ragtag army of brutal but efficient thugs while struggling to figure out exactly who the enemy is. Why was the conference attacked, and why was Quentin a specific target? 

Toni Anderson writes award-winning, bestselling, FBI Romantic Thrillers. She is a New York Times 
and USA Today bestselling author, RITA® finalist, science nerd, professional tourist, dog lover, 
gardener, mom. Anderson's books have won the Readers' Choice Award, Aspen Gold, 
National Excellence in Romance Fiction, Book Buyers’  Best.  


Originally from a small town in Shropshire, Toni studied Marine Biology at 
University of Liverpool (BSc) and University of St. Andrews (Ph.D.) with the intention she’d never 
be far from the ocean. Well, that plan backfired and she ended up in the Canadian prairies with her biology professor husband, two kids, a rescue dog, and a laid-back leopard gecko. 


Colder than Sin is available at:  

Apple Books 

Amazon 

Kobo US 

Kobo CA 

Google Play 

Nook 

Print (a sample)

Find out more about Toni Anderson and her books at her website:

Toni Anderson  (www.tonianderson.com)

or on Goodreads

 Colder than Sin - Content Advisory: this book contains graphic violence (sexual assault, murder). For more information https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/content-advisory 

More October releases - click the cover to check them out and/or get your copy!

Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com

                                                        ...a world you never imagined!

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