An Unusual Series
On my blog recently, I was asked the following questions:
As a writer of a series of books, do you fear you’ll lose momentum going into the next book or maybe that you will fall into the same pattern as the last one? For me, even with different characters, I find some books have the same rhythm. How do you avoid this?
I love this question for two reasons. Number one, it means I get to talk about each of my books at the same time. And number two, because I get to introduce my series to my readers in a more complete fashion that I haven’t done before.
To be honest, I don’t fear losing momentum going into the next book because each book is so different and I love revisiting old characters and creating new characters. As for falling into the same pattern, I don’t think that will be an issue either, again because of how different each book is from the others. If I do have that problem, it will be in books 2 and 3 since those two are so similar.
To explain further, the Hymns of the West series is probably going to be different from any series you’ve ever read. The first book, A Mighty Fortress, introduces most of the main characters, is a Young Adult adventure in 3rd person from different points of view (POV), and can be read as a standalone.
Be Thou My Vision, the second book, is a romance story in 1st person and needs to be read with book three to get the whole story. This book was published the end of October and has sold fairly well so far.
Book three, Amazing Grace, is also a romance story, but is in 3rd person from an omniscient POV and introduces more new characters. Lord willing, Amazing Grace will be published in February.
Come Thou Fount (working title) is the story of the sister of the main character from A Mighty Fortress and chronicles her struggles as a school teacher and growing up as a young lady in a rough and tumble Western town.
Book 5, The Solid Rock (working title), will be a mystery and I haven’t decided what person to write it in yet. It is about Joshua Brookings and how he tries to help Elizabeth Harris solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance.
Book 6 will be a coming of age and/or new adult book about a young man’s life gone wrong. I have no idea how to categorize it at. It’s not really an adventure, a coming of age novel, a romance, mystery, or any other regular genre except Christian Western.
And book seven, if I decide to write it, will be another coming of age novel.
I am super excited to have Be Thou My Vision published in both Kindle and paperback and I am hoping to publish Amazing Grace on Valentine’s Day.
About Faith’s books:
“Stay back!” Joshua ordered. He kept his eyes on the scene below while waving his arm in Ruth’s direction. “Get deeper into the woods and stay down low to the ground.”
Joshua hazarded a glance behind him. He could no longer see Ruth and breathed a sigh of relief. In one swift move, he grabbed his rifle and lay flat to the ground. Extending the rifle, he aimed at the shorter man whose gun was pointed at Bradshaw.
Joshua and Ruth Brookings are traveling by stagecoach to finally join their parents in Montana. Attacked by murderous outlaws, the teens barely escape with their lives and must survive in the barren Wyoming and Montana territories and escape the man who’s hunting them.
Seven years ago, Jed Stuart ran away from home and joined Tom’s gang. Jed is tired of the lawlessness and wants out. The only problem? He is the boss’s right-hand man and will never be able to leave. And what’s one more stagecoach robbery, anyway?
Can Joshua lean on God’s strength to keep himself and his sister alive until they find a town? Will Jed be able to face his anger or will it consume him completely? All three are running–the hunter and hunted. What will happen when they meet?
The church was empty when I dragged myself out of the pew and headed out the door. As I opened the door, the corner of my eye caught a flicker of movement which I chose to ignore. I walked down the steps and was nearly bowled over by two wild boys. With arms grown strong and quick from man-handling two brothers growing up, I grabbed the two boys before they had a chance to escape me.
Anna Stuart is comfortable with her life. She may be a 30 year old spinster, but she has her routine and enjoys taking care of her father and older brother. One letter shatters all her routines, comfort, and enjoyment. After learning of her brother’s death, Anna feels like her life will never be the same again.
Then she meets two motherless boys. Did God place them in her life to lead her to a new vision of life? Can she trust God to give her the desires of her heart before she even knows what they are?
About Faith:
An avid reader, Faith Blum started writing at an early age. Whether it was a story about the camping trip that summer or a more creative story about fictional characters, she has always enjoyed writing. When not writing, Miss Blum enjoys reading, crafting, playing piano, moderating on the Holy Worlds Historical Fiction Forum and playing games with her family (canasta, anyone?).
As a history enthusiast who has been fascinated for years with the Old West, Faith has endeavored to create a clean, fun, and challenging Western story. Faith lives with her family on a hobby farm in the Northern Midwest, where she enjoys the many cats they have.
You can find Faith on her Website, Blog, Facebook, and Twitter
Faith is offering an ebook giveaway of A Mighty Fortress and Be Thou My Vision to one commenter today. Just leave a comment telling her about your favorite POV in books.
Thanks for having me on Petticoats and Pistols today. It’s been fun!
All your books sound really good!
POV wise, I’m not really sure which I prefer.
Thank you, Ashley! I haven’t decided which I prefer either. It’s a hard decision to make.
Until recently, I had only written in third person and couldn’t imagine writing any other way. Then I was inspired to write another book and the story fit with first person much better. I still like third but I’m pretty booked on first now as well 🙂
Good for you, Lauren! That’s actually the opposite of what I did for “A Mighty Fortress”. AMF was originally in 1st person and then I changed it to third person. It was hard, but well worth it.
As an “older” reader, I seldom think of what POV a book is written in. I think they all have a place. That said I want to say ‘Good for you. Girl’. Looking forward to reading all seven books!
I don’t usually think about the POV when I’m reading as long as it works for the story. Thank you, Connie! I hope you enjoy reading them. 🙂
Hi Faith! Welcome to P&P. We’re really glad to have you visit us. I usually have two POV’s in each of my books. That’s what my publisher wants and I love it. I can’t imagine how draining it would be to stay in the same POV throughout a long book. But that’s the way it used to be in Jane Austen’s day and even earlier. I think it would be very difficult to show the other person’s thoughts.
You have a very interesting series. Your books look great. Wishing you much success!
Thank you, Linda! I’m excited to be here. Wow. I did first person for the most part in “Be Thou My Vision”, but there are a few scenes in third person. I can’t imagine writing two POV’s consistently. I would be so confused. 😛
Welcome, Faith. I think authors need to follow their voice and heart and make their own rules. Of course, editors might not agree LOL. I love the references to hymns in your titles. Sounds like a terrific series…best of luck!
Thank you, Tanya. I agree. And as long as their aren’t typos, who cares if the editor likes everything about your book? 😉
Hi Faith, I feel like I know you, but of course not really. So glad to have you visit us today. Since I write basically romances either historicals or my contemporary small town romances, which is what I’m writing now. In romances, the typical publishing house basically wants only two POV’s H/H! In this series, I’m writing the second book and although I have people from the first two Kasota Springs stories as side characters and I’m planting characters for future books my editor wants two POV’s only–the H/H! I admire any author who can write first person. I can’t. So, kudos! Your series sounds wonderful. Thanks again for being a guest blogger. Hugs, Phyliss
Aww! Thanks, Phyliss. 🙂 That’s sad. There is so much you can do from other POV’s. Oh well, maybe someday publishing houses will see that and let you do it.
I’m with Phyliss – I falter in first person. I came of age reading multiple POVs books, and multiple POVs in scenes, but by the time I started writing in my late 30’s, the rule was H/H only, and only one POV per scene. (And by ‘rule’ I mean – if you wanted to advance in a contest. Although my editor keeps things H/H, one POV per scene as well.)
First person is definitely challenging. Especially when it comes to describing the person who is “writing” the book. That’s what I had the most trouble with in “Be Thou My Vision”.
I don’t ususally think much about the POV as long as it works for the story.
I agree, Quilt Lady!
I will have to say that I think like the Quilt a Lady. Good books are just good books!
Yep. I agree with that, Melanie! 🙂
I like 1st person POV best because I like to hear the story from the main characters.
I like the HYMNS of the West idea! Very creative to use old hymns in the titles. Excited to see how you make a story out of the hymns. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
So do I, Sharon. I’m not sure it’s my favorite, but I do like it. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
I don’t have a favorite point of view. I don’t want the POV to take me out of the story at all though.
The series sounds marvellous.
Thank you, Mary! 🙂