JANUARY MAY , 2020 , 2021
WRITING A SERIES By : Bernadette Jones
So , you want to write a continuity s e r i e s — buckle down and roll up your sleeves . It takes lots of planning ! Why ? Because readers remember everything .
I ’ m one of seven authors in the Aspen Gold Continuity Series . I also have my own four book series scheduled for later this year .
I thought you might like to know what it ’ s like writing in a multi-author continuity series . It ’ s a blast !
There are many templates for starting such a series . Some are set up on a thread , referred to as a “ Stolen Artifacts ” theme . In this type of series , the first author starts the story line , then hands it off to the next author who pulls the idea a little farther , and then hands it off again . Another popular premise is a baby series where every book has a baby , finds
a baby or adopts a baby . Maybe the binding factor is that all the books feature a ranch , or military friends . You get the idea .
We chose to build our series around a family and a town . The nucleus of The Aspen Gold Series is the founding family of Spencer , Colorado . Jakob Spencer is the patriarch and owner of Aspen Gold Lodge , an exclusive retreat . Each of the books are somehow tied to him , one of his children or a grandchild . Each author is tasked with having a tie back to the main family or the town where cousins and friends still live , or characters are coming home to their roots .
My first book started with Hunter Lawe , one of the grandsons . He made friends which are now featured in most of my books . Hunter is my minor nucleus . Cheryl St John started with the Cavanaugh cousins for her nucleus . Each of the authors is forming their own entourage of characters , but we all meet up in the town of Spencer at the bank , grocery store or coffee shop .
For some series of books , an extension of the premise is the voice or type of books that will be written . In some series all the stories are romantic suspense , or perhaps paranormal . Going back to our town concept , we decided that towns are a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll . Our authors and town are sweet , homey , dangerous , sexy , diverse , and even a touch paranormal . Basically , real life .
Fun ! Yes , but this is also where the work comes in , because it ’ s not just about family or our own individual books . Now we have hair dressers , doctors , policemen , bartenders that crossover from story to story . Did I mention we have grocery stores , a cupcake shop , a candy store , two diners , a donut shop …
Next time I ’ ll tell you about the series Playbook which we use to track people , places and events . Until then , come visit Spencer , in the Aspen Gold Series .
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