Please welcome back my friend and one of my favorite authors: Jeffe Kennedy. Today she’s talking about picking up writing a series after taking a break.
True Confessions on Picking up a Series After a Long Hiatus
Hi everyone! As I write this post, the buy links for ORIA’S ENCHANTMENT, book #5 of my Sorcerous Moons series, are going live on all the retail platforms. I can’t fully explain how wonderful it feels to see the excited comments about this book! After all, it’s been two years since book #4, THE FORESTS OF DRU. And two-and-a-half years since the first book, LONEN’S WAR, released.
As you can guess from the timing – the first four books in six months and two more years to get to this one – I *never* intended for it to take this long to finish the series. I kept thinking I’d get right back to it, and other projects kept interfering.
It got to the point that books #5 and #6 had been back-burnered for so long that, I’ll be frank, if it wasn’t for all you wonderful readers messaging (easily one a week, if not more) me about when you’d get book #5, I likely wouldn’t have picked it up again.
But you did, and your enthusiasm pushed me to make sure I finished Lonen and Oria’s story!
So, back in November, my plate finally (temporarily) clear of traditional publishing deadlines, I started in on ORIA’S ENCHANTMENT. (Though I had to spend a few days cramming, reading the first four books.)
And, you guys, IT WAS SO DIFFICULT.
It felt like climbing the ladder to an upstairs guestroom I hadn’t opened the door to in two years, expecting to find a nice room and discovering it full of cobwebs and dust instead. Even more interesting, I discovered that I wasn’t the same writer I was when I last lived in that room. None of the chairs fit. The beds were too hard or too soft. Don’t get me started on the two-year-old cold porridge!
You know how you go back to childhood places and they look totally different than you remember? This felt exactly like that. After all, in those two years, I’d written eleven other novels and stories, and developed four other worlds and series. I’d grown as a writer in that time.
But you know what? It felt really good to clean up that room—and do a bit of updating! I opened the windows to let that fresh air in, I changed out the linens. I threw away that nasty old porridge. And by the end of the book, I was so happy to have written it.
I went straight into writing book #6, LONEN’S REIGN, and am having so much fun finishing out Lonen and Oria’s story.
I hope you all feel the same!
About the Book:
The Temptation of Power
No longer a princess and not yet a queen, the sorceress Oria welcomes the rush of power the ancient mask brings her—though the obsessive connection to it frightens her and alarms her barbarian husband, Lonen. But retreat is not an option. She must wrestle the magic to prevent an annihilating war, even if she must make the ultimate sacrifice.
A World in Flames
If Lonen wants to reclaim his throne—and save his people from destruction—he must return by sunset on the seventh day. What he thought would be a short and simple journey, however, leads them deeper into the mountains—and Oria deeper into the thrall of foul magic. Until he must choose between two terrible paths.
A Heart-Wrenching Choice
Struggling with conflicting loyalties, Oria and Lonen fight to find a way to be together… lest they be separated forever, and their realms go down in flames with them.
Title: Oria’s Enchantment
Release Date: January 25, 2019
Series: Sorcerous Moons #5
Purchase Link: Amazon
More Info: Author Website
Giveaway:
Jeffe is generously donating a copy of her omnibus of books 1-3 of the Sorcerous Moons series to give to one (1) lucky commenter. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form AND leave a comment at the end of this post letting us know what is one of your favorite fantasy (or romantic fantasy) book/series? A digital copy (mobi/epub) is available internationally; paperback omnibus available to U.S. mailing address only.
If you have problems with the Rafflecopter form, please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com.
This giveaway is sponsored by the author. Contest rules and entry information is provided on the Rafflecopter form. Open to participants who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the contest sponsor. This blog, its reviewers, and the owner are not responsible for items lost in the mail. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to abide by these terms.