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Why Consider a Series?

 

As an author, we spend countless hours with characters, creating them and pushing them, and saving them. And then the story gets edited and published. And is out of our hands like a child who leaves the nest. Yet different, because  a book doesn’t come back to visit unless…we create another to follow with ties.

 

Writing books in a series, for me, is a way of keeping alive the joy that is experienced during the “let me get to know” period of writing. Maybe not for everyone, but I’m sad when I have to move on. Ecstatic when I get to revisit with characters, bringing them back briefly, yet the story continues along a similar vein whether it is family ties or geography. With my western,  it divided into two separate but related series: Bad Boys Don’t Drink the Water and Lovers and Fighters.

 

Bad Boys involved heroes who fall like two tons of bricks when meeting the heroine. So fast they can’t contain their need to claim the woman of their dreams and marry her ASAP. Hence, don’t’ drink the water. These stories are set in Miami with multicultural characters just like the ones I grew up with and enjoy writing about. Cuban Americans represent a culture with lots of corazón (heart) and strong family ties and values. Similarly, so do the stories and characters in westerns. That’s why Tempted was perfect as a segue into Lovers and Fighters.  Matt McLemore meets Dr. Carolina Rodriguez and the sparks do fly fast and furious.

 

So far in Bad Boys there’s Picture Perfect (Carolina’s cousin who gets married in Tempted, a secret baby trope) and Dance Around My Heart (Matt’s friend Blake Finney and Alma Fassio, a best friend’s little sister trope). These are due out in 2013. So see, it’s may be slightly clingy on my part, but I am able to keep the door open for my characters to visit.

 

And sometimes, it’s possible to subdivide series or begin an offshoot. Oh my, you must be thinking, she just can’t let them go. Well, you’re right. See with the Lovers and Fighters, I was able to focus on westerns which I adore because of the strong family values, work ethic, and absolute passion between hero and heroine. So far there’s The Cowboy Rode a Harley besides Tempted.

 

Regardless of the romance genre, for me series are the way, to go when a writer has crafted a story. As a writer and reader, I enjoy diving into series, finding memorable characters and familiar places that keep jabbing me in the ribs to come back and say, “Howdy.”

 

Think you have a story that’s too good to simply forget? Then maybe it means there’s a series waiting to be written. What are your favorite series that you just have to keep reading or one that’s made you think, how do people keep reading them?

 

Arden - tempted by trouble

Tempted by Trouble

 

Blurb:

When a woman is the magnet for the wrong man, it takes a bad boy to break old habits.

Carolina Rodriguez is a large animal veterinarian on a mission to escape South Florida and her overprotective family. Willing to do just about anything, she accepts a job in Annona, Texas over the Internet from a family connection.

At her cousin’s wedding, she runs into Matt, a handsome Texan in the church parking lot. Matthew McLemore is more than gorgeous, he’s Carolina’s new boss, and needs her help to determine why his cattle keep dying. Matt’s instantaneous attraction to Carolina sorely tempts him to push the boundaries of their work contract, but a roll in the hay may prove too volatile to handle. Until she arrives on his ranch and is too hot to resist.

Carolina refuses to admit Matt’s raw sexuality is more than overpowering or that she’s the least bit tempted by this smooth-talking bad boy. But by the time the pathology lab reports comes back, they’ve explored every inch of each other. All of a sudden, this fiery affair is more than just a fling. And when a past flame threatens to overwhelm their new found romance, Matt must find a way to stake his claim to Carolina’s heart before it’s too late.

Warning: Contains a smoking mess of scorching love scenes.

Ice may be needed for blazing imaginations.

Excerpt:

Tempted by Trouble Excerpt

“Evermore Ranch,” she read aloud.

“I hope this won’t upset your plans?”

“Would it matter? I signed a service contract that included a non-disclosure agreement. Even if I had a problem, I couldn’t tell a soul and I’ve promised you two weeks of my time.”

He chuckled softly. “Yes, two weeks to do my bidding.”

She almost choked at the thought of doing his bidding. “What the heck have I gotten myself into with you, Mr. McLemore? Exactly what type of office do you run?”

His expression changed. Sharpened. “Strictly business. Look, Dr. Rodriguez, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“Wrong foot … the whole body is a problem, sir,” she hissed.

He smiled broadly, reassuring her. “Let’s discuss this later. This isn’t the correct time or place. Don’t you have to help the bride or something?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. I don’t know what you think you’ve contracted, but I’ll only supply you with vet services. As long as you understand that fact, there’s nothing more to discuss.”

“Well, there is. In the service agreement, there’s a provision that we need to discuss before you’re allowed access to the ranch barn and stable sites. So, either we can do it later or when you arrive in Texas. But until you and I have a little sit-down and get a few things ironed out, there won’t be any work for you to do directly. I’ve got a ranch to run, and I don’t have time to play games. I’ve already spent enough time finding a vet.” His eyes glittered and dropped to her mouth. “If you think I’m about to waste more time because you’ve got second thoughts, Dr. Rodriguez, the next communication you’ll have from Evermore Ranch will be from my attorneys. Had I known who you were before, believe me, I wouldn’t have … I’d never let the situation get away from me.”

Oh, this was rich. “Away from you. I’d say it got out of control. But that’s on your side of the table. Fine. I’ll honor my service contract. You’re right about one thing. The only thing of interest to me is treating your cattle. Once the job is done, I’ll be only too happy to leave you in peace and we can go our separate ways.”

Up close, his eyes shone sherry-colored. A muscle flexed along his jaw. His masculine scent of leather, smoke, and wood filled her head. The hard set of his mouth didn’t resemble the man from before. He’d done just as he’d promised, shutting one door, and leaving in place a man who didn’t look as if he enjoyed playing games. No this version of Matt McLemore had a locking gaze and if looks could kill, she was a goner.

“I’m glad we understand one another then, Dr. Rodriguez. I expect to meet with you tomorrow at your convenience. Our relationship will be strictly business, if that’s what got you in such a dither.”

 

Buy the book from Amazon HERE

BIO: 

Susan Arden is a third generation Floridian. She left the field of education in 2008, pursing her dream of writing romance. Currently, she writes hot love stories within the romance genres of contemporary erotic, western, and fantasy/paranormal. She also writes under the name of SusanD. Taylor.

Susan currently lives in TN along with husband, two cattle dogs, two crazy cats, a gecko and a corn snake. A mother, RYT200 Yoga Alliance (registered yoga teacher), and avid gardener. You can find her on the mat when she’s not writing her next hot romance novel.

 

Author social / website links

Blog – http://susanarden.blogspot.com

Website –  http://susanarden.com

Facebook –http://www.facebook.com/SusanTaylorAuthor/

Twitter – @romancebysusan

 

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