The Suspense of It All! discussion

What are you working on? Tell us about it.

My current project is book two in a series, and I've got some things I'd like to get some input on.

I have an ex-con (drug trafficking) looking for redemption, and a woman who has had to deal with the stigma of being an unwed mother in a small town.

The suspense comes from his past coming to catch up with him.

The questions I have are these:
1- are readers going to care about an ex-con?
2- the hero is the brother of the heroine in the first book of the series, and the heroine of this book is the sister of the hero in the first book of the series. Is that cute, cheesy, distracting? Or is it a non-issue?

What do you all think?

Had an idea for my book today. I like to put as much realism add I can into my stories. Since my current project takes place on a ranch, there will be horses. I recently learned about a breed of horse called Nokota, the offspring of the horses the Native American's bred. They had been set for slaughter by the government, but a family in North Dakota rescued them. Anyway, I thought I would put some Nokota in my book to shed a little light on their story.
I guess I'm a sucker for a cause....

Kristi wrote: "Had an idea for my book today. I like to put as much realism add I can into my stories. Since my current project takes place on a ranch, there will be horses. I recently learned about a breed of ho..."

I'm a horse person and I LOVE that idea. Also, I love reading stories that have elements of history to them. I think it gives a richer context.

I'm working on what will be my fifth book out (second in out, third is in editing, fourth will go to editing in a few months) and it is the fourth in a series set in a small town in the Hudson Valley of NY. It's been to write these stories because I love that area and feel like the writing gives me the chance to 'be there' even when I'm not. BTW, I have horses in the book coming out in October - the hero is a vet...just have a long thread on my FB about the correct way to use the word "Colicked"! Apparently it's not actually a word even though everyone in the horse world uses it.

That sounds great, Tamsen!

Kristi wrote: "1- are readers going to care about an ex-con?
2- the hero is the brother of the heroine in the first book of the series, and the heroine of this book is the sister of the hero in the first book of the series. Is that cute, cheesy, distracting? Or is it a non-issue? What do you all think? "

1) Sure they will, if you give him vulnerabilities and redeeming qualities that make the reader empathize and have their hearts go out to him. Oh, and of course, make him irresistible, lol (but I'm sure you've got that all planned out already) =)

2) Non-issue

Is the hero the ex-con? I wasn't clear about that.

Interesting info about the Nokota. Why was the government going to slaughter them?

Wow, @Tamsen, you've got a lot of books in the queue! Good for you!

Good luck to both of you on your new books!

Yes, P.S., the hero is the ex-con. I almost gave up a spoiler from the first book. (Not a huge one - I'll spill if you want.) ;-)

Kristi wrote: "I almost gave up a spoiler from the first book. (Not a huge one - I'll spill if you want.) ;-)"

No, no, don't spill it (*shriek!*). That'll ruin things for your first book!

*buttons lips*
:-)

Oh, and on the Nokotas, I believe the government decided they were a nuisance living on public lands, and felt they didn't want to support them any more. I don't know if they had a budget or something that got cut.... There is a lot of information out there that I haven't gotten to, yet. So much to do, so little time....