I never intended to write a series of connected books. I was always a stand
alone girl. Well, okay, there were a few books in my old series romance novels
days that were connected, but for the most part I started each book with new
characters and a new setting. Fresh start--fresh mind and all that.
Then, about ten or twelve years ago all that changed. I wrote HOT BLOODED with the idea
of a companion book, COLD
BLOODED in the back of my mind. My editor liked the detectives of the New
Orleans Police Department in the first book so well he suggested we go for the
second. Okay, no problem. I remembered most of book one and had enough notes
to make certain the second novel made sense, that each character looked the
same, was true to him/herself, lived in the same house, d rove the same car and
so on and so forth. You get the idea.
After COLD BLOODED, I
wrote a lot of other books that weren't connected to any other book, but when it
came time to write my first original hardback, my editor thought we should go
back to New Orleans and some of the characters there. Detective Reuben Montoya
was very popular with my fans, so I decided to write his story in SHIVER. But wait . . . how
many years had passed? How old were these people now? What were all the
characters doing when last we left them? Montoya had grown up. His partner Rick
Bentz was married, right? My crew in the fictitious New Orleans Police
Department had to be brought back to the fore. What the hell had happened to
them in the past few years? Were they still employed.
The job of writing SHIVER
was daunting, but fun. Really, fun, I guess, because I went on to write three
more books about those characters and in the middle of the writing process, lo
and behold, Hurricane Katrina came crashing through New Orleans. Suddenly
everything changed, including the characters! The entire city was altered
forever because of the tragic storm and two books had already been approved,
were partially written, as if Katrina hadn’t hit. I couldn't rewrite. One
book was already in production. So, for my purposes, the hurricane had to wa
it for several books.
At that point you might have thought that I would have learned my lesson about
series, but, apparently, that’s just not so. I wrote LEFT TO DIE a couple of
years ago and I fell in love with Grizzly Falls, Montana with its slew of quirky
characters. I just had so much fun with these new people that I couldn’t let
them go.
Originally my editor had suggested that I write about a female detective team
and the first one that came to mind was Cagney and Lacey, that old TV show.
“Oh, no!” I thought. It just didn’t work, but as I put my mind to the task, two
unique individuals began to emerge. Tightly wound, secretive Selena Alvarez was
the first and she was coupled with brash, twice-married single mother Regan
Pescoli. Soon they became real to me. Between the detectives and the rest of
the staff of the Pinewood County Sheriff’s office, I felt right at home.
Writing about them was exhilarating. I laughed. I cried. I LOVED
spending time with them. This time, though, I was smarter, and kept copious
notes about the characters and the town, even incorporating a map of Grizzly
Falls onto my website and creating a character gallery so that when I went to
write CHOSEN TO DIE,
which is out in the stores now, it was easier to keep everyone straight.
I ’m planning a third book, BORN TO DIE which will be out in a couple of
years, so I keeping track of all my information, the back story that isn’t
revealed in the books.
I guess the series bug bit me. I’m really into the series thing and I just
can’t seem to stop. My sister, author Nancy Bush and I are
writing several “Colony” books together, starting with WICKED GAME that came out
last February. That’s a whole ‘nother community to keep track of. Yikes.
At least, for the Colony Books, Nancy will keep me on track. Right? Let's
hope so!
Lisa Jackson
12 comments posted.
It must be great to take characters so far as to be able to create a series of books.
(Joanne Reynolds 7:42am August 2, 2009)
I love series, especially when each new book lets you 'visit' previous characters.
(Kara Conrad 8:18am August 11, 2009)
I also love series books - I'm never ready to completely let go of a character or characters. I have LOVED the TO DIE series! Can't wait to read Born To Die!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 12:38pm August 11, 2009)
I love series and how you can follow characters revisiting old predicaments and dabbling, then plowing through new ones.
(Alyson Widen 1:04pm August 11, 2009)
I really enjoy books that are connected. I guess the down side to them is sometimes you have to wait a long time for the next book to come out.
(Linda Henderson 7:28pm August 11, 2009)
I love books/series that are connected. It is so interesting to have these 'friends' grow and their lives change.
(Rosemary Krejsa 9:13pm August 11, 2009)
I have read all of your books so far except for Shiver which is the next one I am going to read. I just finished Chosen to Die and it was awesome. I also can't wait to read more of your books with Nancy.
(Lori Duhoski 9:36pm August 11, 2009)
Your series books have been so much fun. Updating what characters have done in their lives is just amazing.
(Cheryl English 10:19pm August 11, 2009)
It must be hard work to keep all the details of each previous book when they are connected since every little error could be picked up on by some readers
(Diane Sadler 9:05am August 12, 2009)