Why I shouldn’t write thrillers

Well, actually, I’m not sure I should classify (Still haven’t chosen a title for it, but right now the working title is: The Girl Who Heard Demons) as a thriller. But it is darker than my other books, and in the climax, the bad guy ties up the heroine and is taking her to a remote location so he can do away with her. (Plus, you know, demons.)

Last night I was sitting in my room in the darkness writing the climax scene. When I finally finished, it was 2:30 a.m. and I was sleepy. Now, I know that wouldn’t be news for most of you, but I have insomnia so I was actually excited to be sleepy. I decided to go to bed. I walked into the bathroom, keeping the lights off. I figured if I didn’t turn on the light it would help me to stay sleepy.

While I was brushing my teeth, I thought about the climax and the fact that writing the scene is only the first step. I was going to have to reread and edit the scene five or six times. I dreaded the thought because who wants to spend that much time reliving a scene where a ruthless killer has you tied up in the back of his car? (Plus, you know, demons.)

Then the bathroom door ever so slowly opened. Creakingly slow. And the light in the bedroom was still off.

I have teenage children, one of whom stays up quite late at night, and he has been known to walk into my room or bathroom without knocking. But I knew he’d already gone to bed and even he wouldn’t walk quietly through my darkened bedroom and open the bathroom door without announcing himself somehow.

So the thought that ran through my mind was: “Oh crap! That’s not the children! Someone broke into my house and is going to kill me!”

And then my husband walked in.

Don’t ask me why I didn’t remember that I had a husband who did in fact live in the bedroom. I don’t know why that thought didn’t enter my mind. Maybe it’s because he always goes to bed early.

So I did what any rational person would do: I screamed and smacked him for giving me a heart attack. With adrenalin coursing through my veins, I was quite awake, so I took a sleeping pill to help me get to sleep. And then at 4:00 am I took another sleeping pill, because I was still awake.

Yeah, I don’t think thrillers will be my genre.

15 comments

  1. Tiana Smith
    January 21, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    As a fellow insomnia sufferer, I feel your pain 🙁 Sometimes when I’m awake in the middle of the night, I’ll go to the bathroom and my husband will wake up (probably because I moved) and he’ll walk into the bathroom and practically sit on me before realizing I’m there. He’s such a deep sleeper he doesn’t even register that someone is in the room if he wakes up in the middle of the night.

    • Janette Rallison
      January 22, 2015 at 11:06 am

      You definitely shouldn’t be considering scary scenes while you’re in the bathroom then. Trust me on this one.

      • Texan
        January 25, 2015 at 9:34 pm

        Apparently after filming “Psycho,” Janet Leigh struggled with fear every time she took a shower. It’s probably a good idea to avoid writing/dwelling on any scary scenes that take place in bathrooms.

        • Janette Rallison
          January 26, 2015 at 1:17 am

          I believe it. I’ve never even watched the movie but after I heard about the scene I was nervous in the shower for months. Maybe that’s why they make glass shower enclosures . . .

  2. Tressa @ Wishful Endings
    January 22, 2015 at 10:09 am

    Lol! I can totally picture this and it just cracks me up. I tend to stay up much too late myself even though I’m not an insomniac. I’m very curious about this direction you’re going in. I’ve liked all your books, so I’m sure I’ll like this one. Can’t wait! 🙂

    • Janette Rallison
      January 22, 2015 at 11:08 am

      Yeah, this one is quite different. Not really funny. (Okay, there’s a little witty banter.) But it was so easy to write, that I have to love it for that. If only the third Slayers was being that accommodating.

  3. Beedubbs
    January 22, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    So funny! Never watch Forensic Files late at night. You’ll think the whole world is trying to murder you. Not that I speak from experience…or anything…

  4. Janette Rallison
    January 23, 2015 at 12:36 am

    I’ll have to remember that one.

  5. britney
    January 24, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    Seriously excited for that book! I am a serious scaredy cat though

    • Janette Rallison
      January 26, 2015 at 1:16 am

      Me too, obviously, which is why I doubt I’ll write many like this one.

  6. Debbiedo
    January 26, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    That gave me a good giggle! My poor husband has startled me more times than I can count. Usually it is while I am blow drying my hair. It’s a good thing I’m holding a blow dryer and not a gun, because I usually end up screaming and pointing it at him until I realize it is him. Poor guy. He now lives in fear of hair appliances.

    • Janette Rallison
      January 26, 2015 at 1:30 pm

      Ha! Thanks for the day’s laugh!

  7. Randy Lindsay
    February 3, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Excuse me for being shallow and inconsiderate of your feelings, but that’s a funny story.

    • Janette Rallison
      February 3, 2015 at 4:57 pm

      Not shallow or inconsiderate at all. I thought it was funny too, once I stopped smacking my husband.

  8. [insert text]
    April 7, 2015 at 6:58 am

    No! Don’t give up on thrillers! This is going to be your best book by far, and also my favorite. Probably (but Im not sure because your other books are pretty fantastical, too!!)

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