How do I create thee? Let me count the ways.
The foundation of
a series is that “something” that connects the stories. In general, these
connections fall into three main categories: character/s, locations, and themes.
CHARACTERS
◆A single character (or small group) who has different experiences.
◆A family where each story focuses on a different member.
◆A group of friends or a club.
LOCATIONS
◆A community, a town, a state/region, a shop, a church, island, etc.
THEMES
◆A theme can be knitting, gold rush, cooking, Pony Express, Texas Rangers,
mail-order brides, Amish, events, etc.
◆As well as various other aspects that can connect stories from book to
book.
◆Sometimes, a publisher comes up with a series. These are often theme
connected. The theme could be as simple as similar titles, and other times a
common story element.
This last one is
how my current THE QUILTING CIRCLE series came to be. A publishing house
started a series of both contemporary and historical stories to be written by
various authors where a quilt played prominently in the story. My agent asked
me if I’d like to submit something.
Oh,
boy, would I! I
love quilts and have made several. This was a perfect fit for me.
Whenever I’m asked
if I have any stories with a particular element—such as quilts—or if I’d like
to submit to a series with a particular theme, my imagination goes WILD!
BONKERS! The ideas tumble and roll around in my head, spilling out
faster than I can write them down. I no sooner get one story idea partially
scratched out when the next one urges me to jot it down so it’s not forgotten.
Then the next one, and on and on.
I quickly came up
with three historical, two contemporary, and one generational ideas. Sadly,
none were contracted. But in the shell game of changing agents, my new agent
said I had enough ideas I could create a quilting series of my own.
Ooo. I liked that idea.
Unfortunately, my
collection of stories wouldn’t fit smoothly together into a single series. Oh,
I could’ve forced them, but that would have been a disservice to both my stories
as well as my readers. However, one of the ideas stood out as making a great
backdrop for a series, The Quilting Circle. As the series title
suggests, the quilting circle and the ladies who populate it connect the
stories, with Aunt Henny, the matriarch of the group, at the helm.
Though it took a
while, it did finally get contracted. It’s not my first series. I’ve created
others that centered around families, places, friends, and themes.
I like series,
both to write and to read, because once I get to know the people in the first
story, I already have a jump start for the next one and the next. Sometimes,
side characters demand to have their stories told. They can be such prima
donnas, but fun.
Once the
foundation is determined, the stories can vary greatly as long as they keep
that connection.
=0)
THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series )
Can a patient love win her heart?
As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle--always the unfavored daughter--becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love. Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision.
A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer. Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?
FREE!
If you missed book 1, THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT, in the Quilting Circle series, the Kindle version will be available for free for 5 days only, May 1-5, 2019.
RECENT!FREE!
If you missed book 1, THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT, in the Quilting Circle series, the Kindle version will be available for free for 5 days only, May 1-5, 2019.
Love Is One of Life’s Greatest Adventures
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures?
Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure, a 1904 road-trip
Zola Calkin sets out on an adventure to be the first woman to drive across the country. Will the journalist tasked to report her presumed failure sabotage her efforts? Or will he steal her heart?
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures?
Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure, a 1904 road-trip
Zola Calkin sets out on an adventure to be the first woman to drive across the country. Will the journalist tasked to report her presumed failure sabotage her efforts? Or will he steal her heart?
COURTING HER PRODIGAL HEART
Mother-to-Be’s Amish Homecoming... Pregnant and alone, Dori Bontrager is sure her Amish kin won’t welcome her—or the child she’s carrying—into the community. And she’s determined that her return won’t be permanent. As soon as she finds work, she’ll leave again. But with her childhood friend Eli Hochstetler insisting she and her baby belong here, will Dori’s path lead back to the Englisher world…or into Eli’s arms?
THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT ~ A sweet historical romance that will tug at your heart. This is book 1 in the Quilting Circle series.
Washington State, 1893
When Lily Lexington Bremmer arrives in Kamola with her young son, she’s reluctant to join the social center of her new community, the quilting circle, but the friendly ladies pull her in. She begins piecing a sunshine and shadows quilt because it mirrors her life. She has a secret that lurks in the shadows and hopes it doesn’t come out into the light. Dark places in her past are best forgotten, but her new life is full of sunshine. Will her secrets cast shadows on her bright future?
Widower Edric Hammond and his father are doing their best to raise his two young daughters. He meets Lily and her son when they arrive in town and helps her find a job and a place to live. Lily resists Edric’s charms at first but finds herself falling in love with this kind, gentle man and his two darling daughters. Lily has stolen his heart with her first warm smile, but he’s cautious about bringing another woman into his girls’ lives due to the harshness of their own mother.
Can Edric forgive Lily her past to take hold of a promising chance at love?
THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT is now available in ebook and paperback.
#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance
Washington State, 1893
When Lily Lexington Bremmer arrives in Kamola with her young son, she’s reluctant to join the social center of her new community, the quilting circle, but the friendly ladies pull her in. She begins piecing a sunshine and shadows quilt because it mirrors her life. She has a secret that lurks in the shadows and hopes it doesn’t come out into the light. Dark places in her past are best forgotten, but her new life is full of sunshine. Will her secrets cast shadows on her bright future?
Widower Edric Hammond and his father are doing their best to raise his two young daughters. He meets Lily and her son when they arrive in town and helps her find a job and a place to live. Lily resists Edric’s charms at first but finds herself falling in love with this kind, gentle man and his two darling daughters. Lily has stolen his heart with her first warm smile, but he’s cautious about bringing another woman into his girls’ lives due to the harshness of their own mother.
Can Edric forgive Lily her past to take hold of a promising chance at love?
THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT is now available in ebook and paperback.
#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance
MARY DAVIS s a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her 2018 titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection (January), Courting Her Amish Heart (March), The Widow’s Plight (July), Courting Her Secret Heart (September), “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection (December), and Courting Her Prodigal Heart (January 2019). Coming in 2019, The Daughter's Predicament (May) and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads (July). She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.
Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:
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