On Saturday, I got three contracts in the mail. One for The Gambler, one for The Gambler’s Brother, and one for The Gambler’s Daughter. The editor in chief of Desert Breeze Publishing, Gail Delaney, has suggested the series title of Gambler’s Inheritance. I really like that. It fits the series quite well and think that’s what we’re going to call it. I’m leaving that up to her. I’m super excited to work with this publisher again. They have amazing people on staff, awesome fellow writers, and spectacular covers.
I’m excited and a little apprehensive about the process of writing a series. The Gambler is finished and I’m pretty happy with it right now (although I do know it’ll get better in the editorial process). I think it has a unique spin and I’m proud of how clever I think I was. LOL! I’ve got a general idea of where the other two books are going. After all, I did prepare a paragraph proposal on each that I sent with the full manuscript of The Gambler.
The apprehension comes from having agreed to write two books on proposal. I’ve never done that before, and being a pantser, I’m having a bit of angst about the worthiness about the next books. I’m three chapters into the second one (started writing it the end of last week) and I have days I think it’s going well and then I have days I think it’s dull, dull, dull. Of course, I have the same angst on every book I write but this time it feels different. It’s amazing how different it feels when there’s already a contract on the thing! The pressure is on to perform well. LOL!
Here’s hoping the next two in the series are as clever as I want them to be. Or as clever as I think the first one is. Here’s the inspiration for my hero and heroine:
Jillian Chantal 
Write on my friend. Congrats on the contracts!!!!!
By: Lynn Rush on September 13, 2011
at 6:16 am
Thanks Lynn.
By: Jillian Chantal on September 13, 2011
at 7:08 am
Congrats on the contracts, Jillian! I only ever think in terms of series…not because I think they’ll be so wonderful a publisher will HAVE to have them, but because that’s just the way my brain thinks. I don’t really like reading stand alone books. I love reading a series and seeing what happens to characters from one book to the next, almost like being in a family, I guess.
However, writing on proposal sounds scary as all get out. I know you can do it though!
By: danicaavet on September 13, 2011
at 8:16 am
I like both series and stand alones. I have one other series in mind but I’m gonna see how this writing on proposal goes. I think I’ll be fine if I just do it and not think about it. Lol.
By: Jillian Chantal on September 13, 2011
at 9:02 am
I know I’d be scared to contract before the book was written but it’s done all the time and with your skill and energy you’ll sail through. Keep us posted on how it goes.
By: Lavada Dee on September 13, 2011
at 12:31 pm
Thanks Lavada- I hope you’re right. Energy? What’s that?
By: Jillian Chantal on September 13, 2011
at 1:34 pm
Woohoo! Mega-congratulations on the contract. I’ve not written on proposal…yet. But I understand the pressure. You’ll rise to the occasion just fine, I’m sure. And as for dull…I’ve read your work. You don’t know how to DO dull. 🙂
By: Laurie Ryan on September 13, 2011
at 10:08 pm
Thanks Laurie. I appreciate the compliment on dull. Sometimes I get that feeling, though. Lol. Thanks for the congrats, too. It’s coming along ok. Have three chapters drafted and one random scene. You know I like to write out of order somewhat.
By: Jillian Chantal on September 14, 2011
at 7:13 am