NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Seriously, a Series

I've always enjoyed reading series. Some of my favorites are Cynthia Eden's Deadly series and Allison Brennan's Lucy Kincaid series. I've never ventured into writing my own romantic suspense series before, but I decided to give it a try about a year ago. And damn, it wasn't easy!

First, you have to come up with a world to build, some characters with a common thread or one character with a whole lot to him or her. I decided to add a little paranormal flare to my series by setting in a spiritualist community and making my heroines witches. Not point-and-shoot witches, like Samantha Stevens, but real live, modern day witches. They are members of the same coven, and each has her own special talent. And her own suspenseful plot to meander through.

So I worked, I researched, and I even attended a few witch circles. And finally, I've released book one and two of The Witches of Freedom MoonHidden Magic and Killer Magic. But I wonder how the reading public will take to my modern version of witches. They do spells, but they can't wiggle their nose to make things happen. They are spiritual—not demonic. They worship nature and embody all that contemporary pagans do. I hope that realism isn't off-putting for anyone expecting Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

But I digress. The series has been challenging for me, mostly because I have ADD! One book captures my attention, and then one day, another spark of an idea steals it away! Although I've planned the series as three books, I don't know when I will get to book 3. Unless of course, a gazillion people read the first two books and beg me to write the third;-)

I seriously admire anyone who can write series well, particularly those with more than three books in them. Many of those very talented series writers are right here at NYUS! Hats off to you if you can capture not only your own attention for multiple books, but that of your fans. I sure hope I can follow in your footsteps. 

12 comments:

Anne Marie Becker said...

So interesting, Wynter - I have the opposite problem. I tend to read trilogies, so when I write, I tend to think in series or trilogies. I have a heck of a time writing a single book that doesn't have secondary characters begging for their own stories! LOL

And you attended a witches' circle? How cool. Sounds like an interesting series. :)

Toni Anderson said...

Wynter, good luck with the series! Did I read one of these??? If so I know it's a great story. I'd like to write more series, but not the same characters. Same setting :)

SO--did you learn any spells???

Wynter said...

Anne Marie - I would love to have that problem;-)
Yes - I've now attended several. It is fascinating.

Wynter said...

Toni - I think you read Hidden Magic a while back. Oh yes - I did learn spells! No eye of newt needed;-)

Wynter said...

PS - there are a few spells in the books!

Jean Harrington said...

Love the whole witch thing, Wynter. What's so neat is that from your cover art, your witches look young and beautiful. Now the young and beautiful women--so I was told--were the original witches. They were dangerous because they could steal men's souls with their sexual power. It's when they became old and ugly that they also became the Halloween hags--who are no longer sexy so no longer dangerous. I'm for every woman being witchy as long as possible. Okay, I'm done.

Rita said...

All of you serie writers have my complete awe. My pea brain does not function that well.

Wynter said...

Jean - I never heard that young and beautiful witches thing! Makes sense. Everyone was probably just jealous;-)

Rita - I'm barely in that door. Still trying to think the series way!

Marcelle Dubé said...

What a cool idea for a series, Wynter! Congratulations on the first two books. Now, get back to work on the third!

Wendy Soliman said...

How brave. Sounds great.

Wynter said...

Marcelle - ha! Yes ma'am!

Thanks, Wendy.

Ana Barrons said...

I love series too, and this one sounds very cool!

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