Love can inspire happiness, heartbreak, obsession and even murder. In Murder & Other Love Stories, author Bruce A. Hanson explores the many faces of love through a captivating collection of short fiction that blends psychological suspense, mystery, romance and unexpected twists. Drawing inspiration from classic storytellers like Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock, Hanson crafts unforgettable characters whose desires, flaws and choices lead them down unpredictable paths. With several award-winning stories in the collection, Hanson demonstrates his talent for keeping readers guessing until the very end. In this Q&A, he discusses the inspiration behind his stories, his approach to writing across genres and why the most surprising plot twists sometimes catch even the author off guard.
The stories in Murder & Other Love Stories explore love in many forms — romantic, obsessive, dangerous and even deadly. What interested you most about examining the darker and more complicated sides of love?
We tend to write what we like to read or watch, so this aspect of my writing may stem from the movies and television shows I watched in my youth such as Vincent Price’s adaptations of Poe, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery as well as the standard suspense and murder mystery shows.
The collection moves across genres, from murder mystery and psychological suspense to historical romance and drama. How do you approach writing across such different genres while still making the collection feel cohesive?
I admit this was not intentional. The ideas for my stories sometimes originate from my experiences but other times pop up out of the blue. When I first looked at these stories as a collection, I realized they all dealt with love at some level, be it the love parents have for their children, children have for their parents and siblings, the love adults have for that special someone in their life, or the love of self. It struck me that most of my tales mention some aspect of death as well. I searched my mind for a suitable title, and after several ideas, I selected Murder & Other Love Stories, which I believe sets the stage for the reader and became the glue that tied the stories together.
Many of your characters begin with a seemingly simple desire for happiness or connection, only to find themselves somewhere entirely unexpected. What draws you to characters whose own flaws or choices complicate what they want most?
Isn’t that what most of us do — make life more complicated than it needs to be? These stories explore some of the emotional and often bizarre reasons we humans do the things we do.
Several stories rely on unexpected twists, including “The Salesman” and “The Collector.” When writing short fiction, do you typically know the twist or ending from the beginning, or does it emerge as you develop the story?
“Twins” is the only story I have written where I knew the ending in advance, and even then, there was a twist that I didn’t know was coming. If it hadn’t been for Aunt Flo, none of us would have discovered Jeannie’s complete story.
In addition, and similar to Stephen King, I let the characters tell their own stories, so I credit them for the twists. I only provide the screen, the keyboard, and months of free editing.
“The Performer” explores an attraction that begins with sound rather than sight. What inspired that premise, and what did it allow you to explore about attraction and intimacy in a different way?
The inspiration for the use of sound came when one of my daughters was very young. She was taking violin lessons, and her year-end recital was at a local church. Much to the chagrin of my wife at that time, I brought my laptop along because I knew we would have time to spare once there. I sat in a pew and started writing while waiting for the concert to begin. Franz appeared on my screen playing the violin at a sold-out concert. When Marie-Fleuri joined him, their connection between voice and violin set the stage (pun intended) for a romance based on music, or as you observed, “sound rather than sight.” Appearance never was important to their mutual attraction.
The stories range dramatically in length, from fewer than 100 words to around 10,000. How does your writing process change when telling a complete story in only a handful of words compared with a longer piece?
My writing process doesn’t change. I set up my laptop, relax, do a short meditation, open my eyes and write. What does change is the nature of the wording on the page. The prose has to be very tight. Every word must be there for a reason. Also, for longer pieces, there is normally research that must be done. For example, I did research for “The Performer,” but research is rarely required for shorter pieces.
Five stories in the collection — “The Collector,” “Twins,” “The Saviours,” “The Unknown Civilian” and “Daddy’s Home” — have received awards. What do you think connects these stories or makes them particularly resonate with readers and judges?
In regard to fiction, judges look for originality in plot and characters who are real to the reader as well as concise descriptions and dialogue. However, rather than me answering this question, here are the comments of contest reviewers/judges and readers about the collection as a whole.
Contest reviewers and judges’ comments about Murder & Other Love Stories
“Dialogue is used effectively to reveal and reinforce each of his character’s personas and contributes to each character’s depth, and layers of intrigue.”
“Hanson’s writing demonstrates mastery and a true sense of knowing when to elaborate, add layers of intrigue and depth, as well as, alternately, when to be concise.”
“Hanson’s stories include imaginative, clear, and compelling writing that invites the reader to keep turning the page,”
Readers’ Comments
“This collection of tales was very well crafted and told so much with a sparseness that was elegant and precise.”
“Hanson’s writing and plotting style quickly captured me and I re-read several as soon as I finished.”
“Many of the stories have a dark and macabre tone, Alfred Hitchcock comes to mind.”
“My favorite is The Performer because of its beautiful prose and endearing romance.
“My favorites? The Performer…and The Collector…I did not see that one coming! Now wish I had gotten the paperback. It’s not the same gripping my Kindle. I can only imagine an audio! (Author comment: And now, that reader can.)
