Tag: series

Warrior Rogue – New Print Release

I am excited to announce a new trade paperback edition of Warrior Rogue, #2 in the Drift Lords Series. A fashion designer and a space warrior race to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save the world in this magical blend of science fiction and fantasy romance.

Published by Orange Grove Press
Printed in the United States of America
Digital ISBN: 978-1-952886-14-0
Print ISBN: 978-1-952886-33-1
Cover Design by The Killion Group, Inc.
Interior Design by Formatting4u.com

Fashion designer Jennifer Dyhr lands a job as costumer for a video-game commercial being filmed in Japan. When their lead actor fails to show, Jen accepts responsibility since she’d recommended him for the role. A hunky replacement arrives, but her relief is short lived. Paz Hadar claims he’s a space warrior sent to save Earth from an alien invasion.

Space ops warrior Paz Hadar has fallen through a spatial rift onto Jen’s film set. He recognizes her as one of the legendary Earth women whose powers can defeat the enemy. The invaders, known as Trolleks, have opened a portal to access other worlds, and Paz’s job is to shut it down. He needs Jen’s dormant powers to succeed.

Jen doesn’t believe Paz’s stories about myths and magic until alien soldiers attack them on the flight home, and they’re stranded on a remote island. As they struggle to stay one step ahead of the enemy, she discovers that fighting her attraction to the dashing Drift Lord is as much of a challenge as staying alive.

Finalist in the Carolyn Reader’s Choice Awards and the Reader’s Crown Awards

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KCC9F1N
Amazon Print: https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Rogue-Drift-Lords-Nancy/dp/1952886333/
Apple Books: http://books.apple.com/us/book/warrior-rogue/id6448665977
BN Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warrior-rogue-nancy-j-cohen/1115236378?ean=2940160921648
BN Print: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warrior-rogue-nancy-j-cohen/1115236378?ean=9781952886331
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warrior-rogue-1
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=QGK8EAAAQBAJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1386859
Indiebound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/warrior-rogue-nancy-j-cohen/20067448?ean=9781952886331
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WarriorRogue

Excerpt

Jen tilted her head, taking the plunge. “I’m just wondering where we’re going with us.”

“Are you embarrassed because of my job, is that it?”

“I brought you home to meet my parents, didn’t I?”

“That’s not a proper answer.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “All right, I really like you. I want to be with you. But what happens when your mission is over?”

His gaze hardened. “I go back to my job.”

“Exactly. You leave me. You leave Earth.”

“Why, would you come with me?” For a moment, something flickered behind his expression.

“Not if you’re a space jockey hopping from one port to another. I want to settle down and have a family.”

“Well, then I guess you’ll have to look for someone more stable and suitable to your goals.”

Hurt and disappointment slashed through her. “I guess so. Someone like you can never understand drive and ambition. You just know how to kiss women or kill people.”

He grinned, but his eyes were two cold ice chips. “I’m very good at killing, Jen. It’s my best trait. Too bad you don’t count that among your requirements for a mate.”

Reviews

“Cohen’s futuristic, paranormal romance series blends aspects of science fiction with magic and mythology then tops it off with steamy sexy scenes that are so hot you will need a fan and a mint julep drink to cool off… “I love the Drift Lords so much I dream of having one of my own.” Manic Readers

“It had a Romancing the Stone feel to it that I really liked.” Musings and Ramblings

“Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, all rolled up into one neat package that keeps you on the edge of your seat. There’s a good dose of humor and passion with a satisfying ending. What really appealed to me was the present-day setting. Highly recommended.” Haley’s Comments

“This is a book you will devour in one fell swoop! Nancy J. Cohen has created a very realistic world with characters you cannot help but love.” Faerie Tale Books

ORDER NOW!

Planning a Sequel

When you’re writing a series, how do you know what comes next? Book One lays the groundwork, introducing the setting, characters, and premise for the entire series. How can the second book build on this beginning?

Planning a Sequel

That depends on if your stories are more episodic or serial in nature. For whodunits, we’re more episodic with a different murder mystery to solve in each book. The crime is the focus of the plot, like exploring a new planet on each episode of Star Trek.

But this is only your main character’s external conflict. What about their internal angst? Here’s where you can introduce a serial element. By this, I mean an overarching thread that isn’t solved in book one. This thread deals with the protagonist’s struggle to overcome obstacles to achieve her ultimate personal goal. Each book should evolve from this core inner conflict.

In my Bad Hair Day series, hairstylist sleuth Marla Vail progresses in her dating life and matures to overcome past traumas and to embrace a happy future. But once your character fulfills her destiny, you’ll have to throw in another wrench to clog the wheels. This means that when one thread is tied up, you’ll need to introduce another source. Each story should evolve from the personal issues introduced in the previous story as well as any external problems that remain.

   First Four

A romance series is more likely to feature spinoffs, or a new set of protagonists per book. These stories might take place in the same town or share a theme, thus adding a commonality. i.e. A missing object must be found or something bad will happen. Each book would then focus on the protagonists revealing a new facet to this mystery, perhaps leading to another clue. It would reflect on their inner journeys as well. This is in addition to whatever external conflict is affecting their relationship.

Or in a science fiction series, perhaps the evil galactic warlord must be stopped. The heroes have many adventures along the way, making friends and enemies as they seek to end the tyranny or to prevent a worse threat from emerging.

Drift Lords Series

Think of Harry Potter. Readers know he’ll have to face Lord Voldemort someday. Meanwhile, he has other villains to defeat. Along the way, he has to find the courage and power to defeat his mortal enemy.

Your cast of secondary characters can provide plenty of opportunities for sequels based on their goals and conflicts and interaction with the protagonist. Give one a prominent role in the next story and focus on this person’s problems. Your hero gets involved because she cares about this character. She’s also grappling with some aspect of her own personal struggle to overcome.

It all goes back to the writing advice that your main characters must grow and change. What would normally happen next in this person’s life?

Planning a Sequel #amwriting #writingtip Share on X

Figuring out what to write next hasn’t been a problem for me. The biggest obstacles have been time and marketing decisions. What about you?

GIVEAWAYS

Booklover’s Bench

Enter Here to win a free book from Booklovers Bench

BB January 2022

King’s River Life Magazine

Leave a comment on my guest post “Keeping a Series Fresh” for a chance to win an ebook copy of STYLED FOR MURDER. 

“Why Write a Series?” at SleuthFest

We continue with my recap of panels and workshops at SleuthFest. These are my interpretations and notes, and any misstatement is my error. Photos are viewable from my Facebook Page. Go there, Like my page, then click on Photos. Next click on Albums and then SleuthFest 2014.

“Seriously Series” with Joanna Campbell Slan at SleuthFest 2014

In choosing what to read, knowing a book is part of a series might convince you to buy it since there’s a certain degree of success involved. If you really love a book, you’re also happy to know there are more to come in a series. So readers gravitate to series for many reasons. “The richer the world you create, the richer the experience for your readers.”

IMG_0601

What returns readers to a series? It feels like you’re revisiting an old friend. This offers a sense of comfort. Plus you know what you’re getting. Familiarity is at the heart of a series. Characters, setting, and occupation may be recurrent.

“You create a universe and populate it.” Do a street chart and a floor plan. Sensory details make the story rich for readers. Have a timeline for your characters. Determine the timing between stories, character ages, grades, and birthdays. “The best part of being an author is when readers believe your characters are real.”

Keep track of places as you write. If you have a fake town, get a map of a real town and change the names. Use it as a model for your town. In your story bible, put a snippet of background on each character, locations, stores in the town, along with stylistic notes such as the chapter heading. Include a style sheet for grammar and special items, such as how to put in craft instructions or recipes. This story bible may also include social issues, time of year, and more.

“Novels are about people. You don’t have a novel about scrapbooking. You have a novel about a character who does scrapbooking.”

If you have a scene that doesn’t go anywhere in a long novel, consider writing a short story. Short stories are also good for side issues, like pre-wedding details or for exploring secondary characters.

IMG_0603

Poll your readers and ask what character they would like to see more prominent in your next story.

“Every strength overused is a weakness” in your character. Try to give each person a personal problem to overcome. What are they trying to work out? What are they worrying about? Make the characters different ages because then they’ll have different issues. Everybody has angst. Every now and then, your character’s mask should slip so the reader gets a glimpse of what’s there.

End every book with a cliffhanger. Solve the mystery in this story but start a new one. Ask yourself, what seed can I plant now that will bear fruit in a future book?

“The first line sells that particular title; the last line sells the next book.”

<><><>

Joanna is the author of the Kiki Lowenstein mystery series and the Jane Eyre Chronicles.

Choosing a Series Title

Choosing a title for your new mystery series is a critical factor. This title has to hook the reader, give an inkling what the series is about, and spark your interest for years to come. As the author, you’ll be living with this series umbrella title for a long time. You may build a logo around it, add it to your signature lines, and see it on every subsequent book that comes out in this series. Thus it should be a title you love and one that resonates in your mind.

Considering the above advice, I need help choosing a series title for my indie mysteries. I’m not going to tell you the main premise, because I want you to look at this as you might my front cover, where it says A XXX Mystery. Which choice below pops out at you and holds the most appeal? Discussion is welcome.