RS Writing Services ~ Just the facts, Ma'am

The Christian mystery and suspense market continues to steadily grow. And the popularity of book clubs like Barbour’s new cozy line, Heartsong Presents: Mysteries! and Steeple Hill’s suspense line only proves the enduring interest that readers have for the genres.

Writing a suspense or mystery is often a new world for the average writer. Not many of us have backgrounds in law enforcement fields. Often we’ll get in the middle of a manuscript and realize we’re missing an essential law enforcement fact. Or, as we plot our books, we wonder, is this realistic? Would this really happen? Very often, we end up spending a lot of time and effort trying to develop contacts with overworked cops, and then we’re limited by how much time they can give to us because answering the kinds of questions we have does take time.

Glenn Rambo and Candice Speare are both published inspirational authors with a desire to see other Christian authors have access to the law enforcement information they need. That’s why they co-founded RS Writing Services.


How did RS Writing Services come about?

Glenn: Candy was helping me review and edit one of my books, and I was helping her with law enforcement facts in the books she was writing, as well as the books that she content reviews. On and off we talked about some of the law enforcement mistakes we see in the published books we read.

Candice: The idea for the business crystallized one night when I was asking Glenn some law enforcement questions for a book I was reviewing. That’s when we realized that there might be a need for writing consultants that combine law enforcement expertise and content reviewing and editing experience. He said something like, how many other writers out there need this kind of help? And how many need the kind of help you have to offer?

Why is there a need for a business like this?

Glenn: It's a place for authors who have a great story to shore up the plot and details with accurate and authentic facts even if they are writing fiction. Is there anything worse than reading a book and saying, "Umm, that can't happen" or "That is SO wrong?" We provide authors with a place to check their facts and plots so they can put out the best product available.

Candice: I’m in agreement with what Glenn said. When I read a book with unrealistic crime scenarios or law enforcement scenes, I want to toss it against the wall in frustration. And I’ll think twice before reading another book by the author.

Readers nowadays have access to all sorts of law enforcement information on television. I don’t mean shows like CSI. I mean true investigation shows like 48 Hours which follows detectives as they investigate homicides. Our readers are smart, and they’ll notice if we fudge on facts.

And I guess I have a heart to see inspirational fiction be the best out there and to see the market grow. We have some excellent authors already, but we also have some steep competition from the secular realm. I want to do everything I can, anyway I can, to see the Christian suspense and mystery genres continue to excel and surpass all the competition. That’s why I’m so excited about what Glenn and I have to offer. And the things we plan to offer in the future.

What do each of you offer the business?

Glenn: We have Candy’s knowledge of writing, editing, and the writing business. I’m able to add a ton of information and insight into the law enforcement and emergency services world. Combined, we’re able to provide beginning and seasoned writers with some great information.

Candice: Glenn’s expertise is really the backbone of RS Writing Services. He has years of experience in many facets of law enforcement, as well as emergency services. This kind of information is invaluable for the suspense and mystery writer.

How do you believe RSWS can benefit Christian writers?

Glenn: Well, our clients will instantly have two new friends who will believe in their work and pray over it.

We can give the struggling writer or the seasoned author a new perspective on things and shore up their knowledge on anything related to crime scenes, murder plots, police procedure, detective work, K9s, drugs, guns, explosives, emergency medical information, and firefighting. We'll help them take that information and infuse it into their book and review the other parts of the book to turn out a great work.

Candice: Everything Glenn said; plus, I know when I look for help with my work, I want honesty and kindness. I want to know if something I’m plotting or writing is really bad, or if it’s not going to work. Because sooner or later someone is going to tell me, and he or she might not be so nice. I like having someone working with me who will tell me the truth and then encourage me to rethink things if necessary and move on.

Oh, and here’s the best news. We have some great things planned for the future to give crime writers the kind of insider knowledge they need to write the best books possible. Keep checking our Website. It’s exciting!
Do you really get along?

Candice: First of all, we’re both committed Christians who have a desire to please the Lord in everything we do. We try to keep our priorities right: God, our families, and then everything else.

In a business partnership mutual values are important for success. For example, when Glenn tells me that business has to wait because his family needs him, that’s fine as far as I’m concerned. That goes for me, too. Business waits when family calls.

We’re both determined that our work honor the Lord, whether it’s RS Writing Services, our books, or our other jobs.

But our getting along is a funny question and something we talked about before we decided to go into business. It’s the classic tortoise and the hare. I’m the tortoise. He’s the hare. (And we all know who won that race. Ha-ha.) But seriously, we balance each other out. That’s what makes this work.

Glenn: I'm impatient. Fly by the seat of my pants. Here are the facts. Let’s go. Candy thinks things out. She’s prepared and thorough. We make a good team and bring two different worlds together to make one complete business.

Check out RS Writing Services at http://www.rswritingservices.com/ ,
as well as Glenn and Candice’s author Websites:
http://www.glennrambo.com/
http://www.candicemillerspeare.com/