Sneak Peek

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Starting a new project is always fun. Yet, there is something special about honoring characters from the past and evolving them into something new that excites me even more than starting completely from scratch. My next project has that exact element of excitement, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

When an opportunity arose for me to participate in a “secret” project with a group of western romance writers I’ve long counted as friends, I was eager to join in the fun. I can’t give away too many details yet because the project is still in the preliminary stages, but I can reveal, that I will be writing a novella to kick off this new series.

At first, all I really knew about my story was that it would take place in 1893 and that my heroine would have an encounter with the amazing Annie Oakley following her run with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show that took place in conjunction with the World’s Fair in Chicago. Annie Oakley had a passion for teaching women how to defend themselves, so I knew my heroine would seek out a lesson from the legendary markswoman, but I didn’t yet know who my heroine would be.

Then one of the authors in our group mentioned how much reader’s love reading stories about secondary characters, and she got my mind swirling with possibilities. Most of my adult secondary characters had already had their own stories written, but what if I went back and pulled out children from my previous stories?

I started calculating dates to see which, if any, of my juvenile secondary characters might work for a romance taking place in 1893. I came up with two likely candidates:

  • Tessa James – She was the young girl of a widowed mother who became a dressmaking assistant to Hannah Richards in my debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride. Tessa was 8 years old in that book (set in 1881), so she would be 20 in 1893.
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  • Jackson Spivey – He was 12 years old and the son of a negligent father in Stealing the Preacher (1885). Joanna Robbins took him under her wing despite the fact that Jackson had a massive crush on her. When Crockett Archer came into the picture, he won Jackson over with respect, straight talk, and his skill with a rifle. Jackson would also be 20 in 1893.

So which one should I use? Both have potential. Both are interesting characters in their own right. And both provide a level of emotional attachment to me and to readers.

Then it hit me. Why not use both Tessa and Jackson? So that’s what I did!

This will be my first time featuring such a young hero at only 20 years of age, but Jackson’s rough upbringing forced him to grow up fast, so I think it will work. My son and his new wife were both the same age when they married at 22, so the more I thought about pairing Tessa and Jackson, the more the idea grew on me.
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I decided not set the story in either Coventry (A Tailor-Made Bride) or Deanville (Stealing the Preacher) but chose to give both characters a fresh start in a different location. They are both starting out as young professionals, struggling to find where they fit in a world wider than their hometowns. Tessa is working as a seamstress in a new shop in Caldwell, Texas, and Jackson works in a gun shop off the courthouse square. Not only did I want to move these characters out from under the shadows of the heroes and heroines who preceded them, but I wanted to make sure new readers could follow the story without being familiar with my previous books.
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I’m about 2/3 of the way done writing Tessa and Jackson’s story, and I’m really enjoying the pairing. After Jackson lost his first love (Joanna) to the man who become his mentor and best friend (Crockett), I’m excited to bring him his own special woman to love. Even if she has to chase him down to convince him he’s worth loving.
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Do you enjoy reading stories about characters who were children in previous books?
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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.

40 thoughts on “Sneak Peek”

  1. I do, and I enjoy reading anything you write. This sounds like a wonderful novel and series, and I can’t wait to see it unfold.

    • Thanks so much, Janice! I was initially going to write only a short story, but when I decided to feature Tessa and Jackson, I knew I needed to give them a full novella. I’m too attached to them not to give them a robust love story.

  2. I just LOVE your books. Yes, I enjoy reading about characters that are all grown up. Looking forward to reading
    It.

    • Thanks, Denise. I’m having fun pulling characters from two different series that really have no overlap and making a bridge between their story worlds so they can bind the two together. 🙂 There will definitely be an epilog with cameo appearances from favorite chracters.

  6. Already looking forward to this book! I love reading characters from previous books, especially children!

    • This makes me happy, Valri. I remember brainstorming with the Posse, and you guys were the ones to sell me on using Jackson as well as Tessa. I’m so glad we went that direction. I’m having great fun giving him a happy ending.

  9. I don’t know that I’ve read one where children grew up to get their own stories, but I love the idea!! Especially since you’re giving them new starts, and not just picking up where they left off!!

    • That was very important to me, Trudy. I want new readers to be able to enjoy the story as much as those who have read my other books. But regular readers will have an extra dose of fun as they revisit beloved characters. 🙂

  10. Karen, I just know this book will be amazing. As I writer, I love to write books connected by previous characters. As a reader, I love to read them. Win-win, right?

    Looking forward to hearing – and reading – more about your new wip!

  11. Your layout of this new story sounds very enticing. I shall look forward to this venture which is upcoming. Have a blessed day.

  12. Yes, I love seeing secondary characters get their own stories. I love your story telling, Karen! I can’t wait to read Jackson and Tessa’s story!

  15. I believe A TAYLOR MADE BRIDE was the first of your books I read. The cover is what attracted me to the book. Your covers are wonderful, telling much about the story on their own.
    Whether within a series, part of another series, or on their own, it is nice to follow up on the younger generation, especially when they are characters in books I have enjoyed.
    This sounds like a good beginning to a good series.

    • I’ve been blessed with some really great covers. I’m so glad the one for A Tailor-Made Bride caught your eye, Patricia. I hope you enjoy catching up with Tessa after all these years. 🙂

  18. Yes. Sometimes characters become so real that it’s always great to know a little about “what happens next?!” 😀 I’ll be looking forward to this novella!

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