Starting a New Series

It’s always exciting, and a little daunting, to start a new series. Even though I still have two more projects coming in 2019 to complete my current series, I’ve already started work on a new group of stories that will debut in 2020.

The inspiration for this new series came from a mash-up of two televisions series I watched as a teen – one from the 1980s and one from the early 1990s.

Anyone remember these?

Well, I decided to create a four-man team of ex-cavalry officers bonded through the shared trauma of the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. They hire themselves out to citizens in need of defense against unjust opposition. Haunted by the atrocities they participated in during wartime, they travel across Texas to right wrongs, using their military skills on behalf of those who have no one else to turn to and stumble across love along the way.

They are known as Hanger’s Horsemen.

*****

Meet the team:

Captain Matthew Hanger – Age 37, leader, hardened by army life, dedicated to keeping the frontier safe for women and children after his own family was murdered by a band of Comanche warriors in Parker County in 1860 when he was only five years old.

Trumpeter Mark Wallace – Age 27, charmer who deals with the horrors of war through superficial relationships, humor, and music. Comes from a privileged background. Enlisted in search of adventure.

Corporal Luke “Preach” Davenport – Age 31, nicknamed “Preach” because he always has a verse to quote. Not because of any real depth of spirituality, but because when he’d been a boy his punishment entailed memorizing and reciting scripture, and he got into trouble a lot. His father shipped him off to the military in hopes of instilling discipline and a respect for authority. His reckless spirit has made him lethal with a sabre and in hand-to-hand combat.

Sergeant Jonah Brooks – Age 30, buffalo soldier with the 10th Cavalry, expert marksman. Jonah is the quiet one, more intelligent that people give him credit for. He prefers to watch from the shadows and decide how to act after he’s weighed all the facts. But when he acts, he can be deadly.

*****

There will be three books in the series. The first pairs the captain with lady doctor, Josephine Burkett. My Posse helped my pick out inspiration images for Matt and Josephine. And we can’t forget Matt’s horse. Meet Phineas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanger’s Horsemen won’t put in an official appearance until summer 2020, but they are coming to life on the page for me now as I write, and I wanted to share a hint of them with you.

  • Are there other 80’s TV shows you think should be turned into western romances?
  • Any A-Team or Magnificent Seven fans out there? Who were your favorite characters?

 

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For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

50 thoughts on “Starting a New Series”

  1. I excited to read these books to see how it all comes together! I think I’m watching a series on Netflix that has your male inspiration actor in it. Pairing these two together for a book in the time period your writing just goes to show why I’m not a writer! I’d never think of anything like this. I’ll play though I’d love to see Tombstone and the Outsiders come together as a book based in the 1800’s. A group of boys that have lost their families by Indian raids, Mexican banditos, a home fire, an contagious illness that struck their family etc. These boys going on to right wrongs and protect the innocent. Now I wish I could write! Happy New Year!

      • Haha! My husband and I loved the A team. I have enjoyed all your books and am looking forward to reading more of them.

  2. Sounds like good books are being written. I’ll look forward to getting acquainted with you as an author. I am still crazy about westerns. Remember the Virginian? I loved that show. That you for this blog.

      • I too loved western growing up. Little Joe, Hoss, and Adam Cartwright were my Idols. I also really liked the A-team, I’m terrible with names but the leader with the white/grey hair was so good looking. Lol
        I will be looking for your new books in 2020, as I am 2019. I read More Than Meets The Eye, and I’m watching for book number 2.
        Have a great New Year.

  3. Karen, WHAT a great idea. Looking forward to this.
    I don’t know what it’s like to “create” a series, mine kind of happen organically, i.e. I have a secondary character in the first book that I just have to see what happens to. Would love to sit down some time and intentionally create a series from scratch!
    Yours sounds intriguing.
    Kathy Bailey

    • Thanks, Kathy. The characters might be coming to life for my series, but I still have a lot of work to do in developing the plots for books 2 & 3. Already I’ve had some interesting things pop up for the secondary characters that I hadn’t originally planned. I take notes as I go so I can remember these tidbits for when that character’s book comes up. 🙂

    • Thanks, Estella. If you’re a western fan, you would probably really enjoy The Magnificent Seven series. The A-Team is more of a military drama from *gulp* 35 years ago. (Goodness, has it really been that long???)

  4. I love your series idea, Karen! Already, your characters are so well-thought out, and they just jump off the blog page, and they are aren’t even written yet! The series can’t help but be a success. Good job!

    • Thanks, Pam. I was looking for an idea to bond a group of male characters, and The A-Team sprang to mind. Crazy how television still influences us decades later, isn’t it? I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised since it was my love of Saturday morning westerns during my formative years that created my love of western romance. 🙂

  5. Ohhh, I am looking forward to your new series. This looks like it will be wonderful. I was a huge fan of both those movies.

  6. I am so excited about this series. They sound so good and they’re the kind of books I love.
    Oh I remember both of those shows and I liked both of them. My son was little and loved Mr. T. Magnificent Sevenwas fantastic.

  7. I can’t wait to read this next series! And I still do a happy dance every time I see you use the pic I found for Josephine!

  8. This sounds like a great series to look forward to. Karen, I actually saw the original Magnificent Seven movie as a pre-teen and loved it. The theme song is still a favorite was wonderful and even though I don’t recall all of the names of the characters I certainly remember some of the actors who portrayed these men. Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner are the two that I readily recall.
    I will look forward to meeting your characters!

    • Thanks, Connie. I haven’t actually seen the original, but I noticed that our local historic theater is showing it later this year. I think I’ll need to go. 🙂

  9. Face was my favorite character on the the A-Team. I still watch the show. I crack up now because I am seeing things that did not make sense back then.

  10. I look forward to this series. There is a nice cross section of characters and motivation for their actions.
    Young Riders was a family favorite. The characters were rather young and the Pony Express did not lasts very long, but there are possibilities. Maybe some of the riders kept in touch, started a joint enterprise of some sort, they have matured, and it is time for them to find their HEA.

  11. This sounds like it will be an amazing series! I never watched the Magnificent Seven, but I loved the A-Team! I’m not sure who my favorite character was when I was growing up, probably Face, however, watching the show now, I love Murdock. They do so much with his character, and after seeing Dwight Schultz in other things, it just makes me love the character so much more!

    • Murdoch was definitely the most fun. Like most young girls, I started off swooning over Face, but as the seasons progressed, I definitely developed an affinity for Murdoch. 🙂

  12. Enjoyed your post, Karen. The characters of Hanger’s Horsemen are going to give the Archer men a serious “run for their money” in the rugged, brave, hero category. Looking forward to reading them.

  13. Happy New Year,Karen! Thank you for sharing the details of your newest series with us,it sounds exciting! Can’t wait to get to know these new characters! ( As for your question ,unfortunately can’t think of any 80′ series that would lend itself to a western at this moment.)

  14. Oh, goodness, I watched both of these growing up, and became a huge fan of Magnificent 7 in particular. I was involved in the fan fiction community for that show for years, until I ventured into my own stories. My favorite character was probably Vin, but the dynamic between them all was what really endeared the show to me. This is quite the tease, and I’m already looking forward to reading HANGER’S HORSEMEN. ?

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