Writing Small Town Romantic Suspense, with Eveline Rose

Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.

In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I sit down with award-winning indie author Eveline Rose, creator of the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series. If you love page-turning romantic suspense set against the backdrop of a cozy small town, you’ll want to listen in.

Eveline shares how her love of storytelling began back in high school, and how it grew into a nine-book series featuring strong heroines, protective heroes, and the found families that keep us coming back for more. Book Six releases this month, and she’s already planning a Christmas special and even a cookbook with recipes from her novels.

Writing across romance and suspense means balancing swoony moments with high-stakes danger. Eveline admits that sometimes she gets caught up in the suspense and has to remind herself to bring in those cozy small-town touches—family gatherings, coffee shop meetups, and community connections that make her books so beloved.

We also talked about why Eveline chose the indie publishing route. For her, finding the right mentor made the difference. While indie authors wear many hats—writer, editor, marketer, planner—Eveline has leaned into the freedom and speed of publishing her own stories. She shares candidly about the challenges of marketing and why connecting with readers in person lights her up.

Eveline researched the best covers in her genre, then worked with design company GetCovers to create branding that perfectly fits her series, right down to the custom Sheppard & Sons logo. She’s also a pantser who often dictates while driving, using every spare moment to keep her stories moving forward.

Looking ahead, she has a historical romantic suspense series outlined for the Tudor and Plantagenet period—told through the eyes of the servants who witnessed history unfold. Doesn’t that sound incredible?

This was such a fun conversation. If you haven’t yet started the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series, begin with Book One, Taken—and prepare to binge your way through these page-turners.

👉 Start reading Eveline’s books here:

• Taken (Book One)
• Beaten (Book Two)
• Betrayed (Book Four)
• Author Website