Always Leave Them Wanting More
I've had fifteen different titles published so far, and I hope to add to that number. I never had any formal training when it comes to writing, though. Oh, there were a couple of classes back in high school, but that was a long time ago, and I tend to learn best by doing anyway. When I began writing books there was one thing I wanted to do with each story: At the end of any given book, readers should be left wanting more. If I could make that work, I would have a market for my next book. Now, a reader could be left wanting more because they liked the story, or they liked the style, or they liked the content, or all three. What I had not considered way back when was that they would want more because they liked the characters. Yet over the years I've had a number of requests that I continue the story of this or that character or characters because the reader wanted to know what happened to them after the book ended. This has led me to reconsider some stories that I had considered 'over'. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who would like to see some favorite character in a new book, but given how little actual feedback I've had on my blog so far I'm not terribly optimistic...just hopeful.
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Maria Pussycat wrote: "You probably know this already, but I want more of Samand Claudia...please! :)"
I'm with Maria - I want more of Sam and Claudia!
Claudia Cole was the main female character in my first published book, and she retains a vivid place in my mind. My publisher is on board for a continuation of her story. I'm hoping to have that book out later next year, if I can come up with a good plot and a satisfying ending. Any suggestions? Remember, she's a private investigator, and has some dark demons of her own.
S.J. wrote: "Claudia Cole was the main female character in my first published book, and she retains a vivid place in my mind. My publisher is on board for a continuation of her story. I'm hoping to have that bo..."I'd like a HEA for her with Sam, but I'm not sure how it can all happen. She has a business and so does he.
Yes, so you see my problem. But in all the great stories, love finds a way, doesn't it? (Okay, it finds a way in a lot of the bad stories too, but I like to think that I don't write bad stories.) Claudia and Sam do seem to have love going for them, a love heavily spiced with lust. So there has to be a way.
Uhmm...maybe she could open another branch over where Sam lives, even though she might need a license in that state... or maybe the next case gets her close enough to danger to reconsider her priorities, and moves with Sam and opens her business there...or...or....:)
Well, I'm open to suggestions. It occurs to me that in 'Claudia's Surrender', she went to help Sam, so in the next book Sam should probably be the one to help her.
S.J. wrote: "Well, I'm open to suggestions. It occurs to me that in 'Claudia's Surrender', she went to help Sam, so in the next book Sam should probably be the one to help her."Hmm, that would be interesting. She has a case that needs his help? How would that work...
Here I'm going back to an OLD idea I had where Claudia's friend Dianne goes missing in Sam's part of the country and Claudia enlists his help to find her. I'd have to come up with a plausible reason for Dianne to go there, and an equally plausible reason why Claudia would discover that her friend had gone missing.
S.J. wrote: "Here I'm going back to an OLD idea I had where Claudia's friend Dianne goes missing in Sam's part of the country and Claudia enlists his help to find her. I'd have to come up with a plausible reaso..."Hmm, Dianne wants to recreate the "vacation" again for fun but it goes sideways? And Dianne is no dummy so she did tell Claudia if she doesn't respond by xxx she's to start hunting for her.
Well, here's a bit more of what I have to work with:Claudia has always had fantasies of abduction and rape. With Sam, she found a man who could act those out with her. He's not quite the biker bad-boy she'd thought he was at first, but he's definitely a tough and resilient Alpha male. He also cares for her deeply. However, any time they are apart Claudia must wrestle with her dark sexual demons alone.
Dianne has similar fantasies to Claudia's, but they don't have as strong a hold on her. She's been doing some searching to try to find a safe way to satisfy her appetites. And, while she's very attracted to Sam, she will not ever try to poach him away from her friend and former partner, Claudia. On the other hand, she and Claudia have had sex together on more than one occasion, and she wouldn't be averse to a kinky three-way.
Sam is not just attracted to Claudia, he's fascinated by her, and by her fantasies. He's also quite impressed by her independence, intelligence, and capabilities. He has some dark fantasies of his own that he hasn't tried to act out with her yet.
Claudia has a career that some times leads her into danger.
Dianne has an adventurous spirit that some times leads her into danger.
Sam will do absolutely anything to protect Claudia. He's already shot a man who had been about to shoot her.
SJ...I think you know my wish for a continuation of a story...and that is SARAH and MACK from Disappeared. It is one of my top favorite books you have written and the emotionality of the story left me in tears. I don't know what your plot could be...but Sarah is a changed woman and longs for him. Let them see each other again...please?
When I wrote 'Disappeared', I was trying something a bit different from my previous books, partly to see if I could do it, and partly to see how it would be received. I did try to leave readers wanting more at the end of it. I'd say that Sarah does deserve a better resolution to her story than she got in 'Disappeared', but not quite yet. I'll certainly let you know when I pick up that thread again.
Will there be another book continuing with Ron and Eliz (Bess) and the Organizations proposal?
Yes, there will. 'Gordburg Revisited' is planned for next year.
and Claudia...please! :)