WIP WEDNESDAY!

Today's #WIPWednesday is going to be a look into the future. In My Bet's On Love there is a tight group of male author friends. Do you remember them? I'm thinking about a spin off series. I've had lots of emails and messages wanting their stories. When I originally wrote them into the story they were just supposed to be minor characters but their involvement grew because I liked them.
QUESTION: Would you like to see a series featuring this group? Warning, I'm seeing this as a very mature series. Comment and let me know your thoughts.
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Here's an excerpt from My Bet's On Love. This is from Jackson's POV and the first time he talks to his buddy band.
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Later, after his shower, he was back on the deck with another beer and his feet propped up, a fire going in the outdoor fireplace, when his cellphone chimed. He read the short text, grinned, and replied, Give me five.

He ran inside and threw a sandwich together, grabbed another beer from the fridge, took his laptop from his office, and went back outside. He’d only taken one bite before his computer rang and his four friends appeared onscreen.

Brandon took one look at him and chuckled. “Oh, man, you look like a serial killer.”

Josh leaned closer to the camera for a better look before getting his jab in. “I think you took getting into character a little too literally. You have the serial killer/hermit look perfected.”

“I don’t know, guys,” Hawk interjected. “I think the lumberjack look is working for him. All he needs is a plaid shirt and a toothpick between his lips.”

Ryan leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well, he can forget about puXXy with a look like that.”

Josh jumped in, “You’re crazy. Women love the wild and woolly look.”

Jackson smirked. If anyone would know, Josh would. He writes erotic romances under the female pen name of Lacey Lush.

Jackson ignored their barbs. He just let them get it all out while he took a bite of his sandwich, chewed, and then swallowed another delicious sip of beer. “Are you through?” he asked of his best friends and fellow authors.

“Yeah, I guess so. How are you, Jack? Where are you with work?” Ryan asked. He wrote mysteries and lived in Utah.

“I’m doing good. I finished a few hours ago. This one is an emotional rollercoaster.”

They all congratulated him, knowing how much sweat and tears went into a finished manuscript. The five of them met early in their careers and had instantly clicked. They got together whenever they can, but living all over the world makes it difficult to mesh schedules.

“Have you seen the latest Love Vixen blog post?” Hawk asked and, by the look on his face, it must be something the guys knew would set him off.

The hairs on the back of his neck bristled. He’d heard that woman’s name enough for one day. “I have not, but I’m getting the vibe that I should.”

Brandon shrugged. “Really, it’s just more of the same.”

He couldn’t imagine The Love Vixen ever straying from her usual drivel. “I’ll read it later.”

He may even stop replying to her. Then he thought about how much enjoyment he got out of her sanctimonious replies to his comments. Nah, not gonna stop.

“Did you see she’s hosting a conference soon?” Ryan asked.

Jackson chuckled and shook his head in annoyance. “Yeah. My sister actually signed me up to go. I told her I wouldn’t be attending and she could go herself or get a refund.”

They guys broke up laughing. Jackson waited for them to get it out of their systems. He thought it was hilarious too.
“You should go,” Brandon said, and the others agreed.

Jackson grimaced. His friends had lost their minds. He thought it was a horrible idea. There wasn’t enough money in the world to make him attend a Love Vixen conference. “Go? And do what? I don’t want any part of her crap advice.”

“It’s for sure nobody would recognize you like that,” Hawk pointed out, and that got the guys going with their slapdowns again.
When they finally calmed down, Brandon asked, “Wouldn’t you like to take her on face to face?”

Ryan was quick to add, “Look at it as a public service. Everyone that attends is going to buy into her spiel. You could at least bring some hard truths to her attendees.”

He was shaking his head before Ryan finished. “I don’t know, guys. Going up against her posts and blogs is one thing, but I don’t know about speaking up in person. My publicist would have a coronary if I even mentioned this. Think of the media circus if it got out that Boston Butt was actually Sutton Gratz, the international bestselling author.”

Hawk, the bad boy of the group, sneered. “Then don’t tell him. I mean it. Nobody is going to recognize you. Your picture might be on millions of books worldwide, but looking like you do now—”

Brandon cut him off; they all knew that Hawk didn’t pull his punches. “Let’s just say the yuppie guy on the covers looks nothing like the recluse you are today.”

The devious light in Hawk’s eyes worried Jackson, especially when he said, “And to make it a bit more interesting, why don’t we have a little wager?”

Josh picked that up and ran with it. “That’s an excellent idea. Since this is Hawk’s idea, I think he should put up that fancy new boat he just bought.”

Hawk’s gaze narrowed in on Josh. “It’s a yacht, asshole, and nobody is touching it. I haven’t even taken it out yet. You’re going to have to get your rocks off with something else.”

Josh threw his hands up and rolled his eyes. “Fine, then let’s bet the proceeds of our next releases go to charity.”
All four men quickly agreed.

“Done.”
“Done.”
“Done.”
“Done.”

Jackson couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How had things gotten so out of hand? “Wait, wait, wait. Do you guys hear yourselves? You’re going to bet millions that I do… what? Attend the conference and point out how wrong she is? I imagine that would get me booted out real quick.”

Brandon rubbed his chin. “He’s right. We need a plan.”

Hawk offered, “You’ve always said what a phony she is. What if you prove it?”

The other three grinned and agreed. “Yes. Prove that she doesn’t know what she’s talking about and that she’s doing more harm than good. You can plant seeds of doubt at least.”

“You would be helping the world. People can’t live up to her perfection. Men can’t live up to the impossible standards she sets for us,” Brandon added.

Hawk looked Jackson in the eyes, wearing a sideways grin. “If you get ten people to post negative comments or reviews of the conference then you win and we’ll all fork over the dough.”

“I think we should all go,” Josh said and Jackson cringed.

This was going too far. Yes, he enjoyed sparring with the woman online, but in person brought a whole new perspective to their matches. “Stop. Just stop. You’ve all lost your marbles. There’s no way I’m doing this.”

With a look of sorry on Ryan’s model-perfect face, he replied, “Think of the millions of little children your selfless bet could help.”

Hawk grinned, knowing they had him. “Yeah, man, think of the children…”

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My Bet's On Love
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDXRPS6
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QDXRPS6
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08QDXRPS6
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08QDXRPS6