Roses and Readers, welcome back one of our favorite guest bloggers, Rachel Brimble.
Writing
a series of books set in a small town is a dream come true––something I’ve
wanted to do ever since I discovered Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series when I
was nine or ten. The idea of having recurring characters appeals to me in both
my writing and reading choices.
Obviously,
I’ve moved on from Enid Blyton, but my shelves now groan with the weight of the
books I collect and refuse to part with. The downside of loving a particular series
is I have to buy the entire backlist (if I’ve come in past book 1) or keep
buying each book the author releases.
To name
a few favourites, any series or trilogy by Nora Roberts, The Lucky Harbor series
by Jill Shalvis and The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr – each of them has
influenced some small aspect of my Harlequin Superromance series set in the
fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove.
Until the
fourth book, CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE, Templeton has more often than not basked in
the summer months due to the sea, the beach and everything a typical British
seaside town encapsulates. Yet, when my editor suggested I might like to try a
Christmas themed novel, I was thrilled! One, because I had never written a
Christmas story before and two, it would be fun to paint the canvas of the Cove
a different colour for book number four.
The
series consists of a mix of romantic suspense and mainstream contemporary
romance stories, but I decided quite early on I didn’t want to taint the joy of
Christmas with a grisly murder, abduction or threat of some sort…so mainstream
contemporary it was!
Christmas
At The Cove is a reunion story between long-term Templeton resident, Scott Walker
and the return of his brief but passionate lover, Carrie Jameson. Carrie has
news for Scott - the decision is his what happens next…
Do you
like series romances? Favorite settings? Favorite series/author?’
Let’s
talk series!
Happy
Reading!
Blurb
& Buy Links:
More family for Christmas?
Scott Walker doesn't have time for a
relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother
and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson,
the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with
some unexpected news.
Scott still finds Carrie
irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his
own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can
overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all.
Templeton Cove Trailer
BIO:
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters
in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by
small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has
had five books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and
recently signed a contract for three more. She also has three Victorian
romances with eKensington/Lyrical with a fourth due for release in March 2016.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists
Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the
Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she
isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the
beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is
Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and
chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear
from you!
Links:
18 comments:
Thanks for having me here today! Looking forward to chatting with your visitors :)
I love writing series. Out of my dozen plus books published, only three of them aren't part of a series! I like bringing characters back, and giving readers a glimpse of original heroes and heroines living their HEA. Your small town sounds wonderful, Rachel. So glad your Pub keeps asking for more stories!
Rachel, so good to hear about your many successes at writing. It seems to me that the small town setting and a few remarkable characters provide the foundation for a series, with new characters entering the stage overtime. Readers feel comfortable in a familiar setting...it's home to them. I've just published the third book in my first series...and it's not as easy as it sounds to write, so I'm impressed with your output. Good for you to have snagged an agent...and keep up your good work. Happy New Year.
Hi, Jannine!
I'm glad too - my editor gives such enthusiasm for the Cove that I just can't wait to write another story. Long may it continue!
Hi Rolynn!
Sometimes my output feels as though I'm going to keel over, haha! I wish I could resist the laptop sometimes but I just love what I do :) series writing is so much fun that I'm plotting an historical one as we speak! Lovely to see you hear x
Here!
Hear, hear :-) The thing is, series sell, so your heart and cents are in the right place. Go for that historical!
Hi, Rachel - Great topic! I also love reading and writing series, beginning many years ago with Nancy Drew and Laura Ingalls' Little House on the Prairie series. I read the set of Narnia books (five, six books?) with my younger son. I was hooked on Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. My most recent obsession is Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series (which I hadn't heard of until about two years ago...where the heck was I?!) I've just added yours to my list! They all sound wonderful.
That is so weird how you mention Outlander! I haven't read them either and plan to start book 1 after the book I'm reading now, lol! Thank you so much for adding my books to your list - hope you enjoy!
They're dense with detail and imagery...and really, really LONG. But that's not a bad thing if you're enjoying them!
I've bought the first two books and, I agree, they are tomes! I enjoy a big book though so I have high hopes :)
I do not read time travel novels...until Outlander. I have read every ding-dang one...love them to death...they are read-over books, I promise. Plan to veg for days while you're reading them!
This will be a first for me too - I've heard so many great things about the TV show but I'm the person who needs to read the book first!
Always great to have you with us, Rachel. I'm another one inspired by your output. Congratulations. I'm currently venturing into writing a series with my current wips. Seems like I'm in good company. It's great fun to intermingle characters. Definitely have yours on my TBR list.
I love reading and writing series. So much fun to visit with old friends. Best wishes, Rachel.
And to you, Diane! Hope you'll give my series s try :)
Hi, Margo! Long time, no speak :)
Sometimes my output makes me feel like keeling over, haha! Glad to hear you are embarking on a series - let me know when it's published :)
Thanks for adding my books to your list!
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