One of my favorite things about working on collections or multi-author series is having the chance to tap into the creative mind of other writers. Until the Pink Pistol Sisterhood series, the most experience I had with connecting to stories written by other authors was through the novella collections I had written.
Some of my most connected collections include the following:
A Match Made in Texas – Each of the four stories were set at least partially in the fictional town of Dry Gulch, Texas. Not only that, but all four stories were connected through the actions of a secretive matchmaker who wasn’t revealed until the final story. We had to coordinate town details, character names and descriptions, and time period details to make sure our stories lined up properly.
The Christmas Heirloom – In this collection, a family heirloom was passed down through the generations. While we didn’t have to coordinate setting details, we did have to keep track of family trees and generation gaps. We actually purchased a piece of costume jewelry to serve as our model Luckenbooth brooch, so we would all be able to describe it in detail. We also had an embroidered bag where each heroine sewed her initials and year of marriage. One of the authors’ mothers actually reproduced the bag for us, and we ended up giving away the brooch and the bag at our launch party.
The Kissing Tree – One of my favorite connections was in this collection. All four stories took place in the same fictional town of Oak Springs, TX and all of them centered around a giant oak tree where couples would carve their initials. Each story took place in a different time period, but the tree was at the heart. My story was second in the series, and the author of the first story finished hers really early, giving me the opportunity to read it ahead of time. My heroine wrote romantic stories for a magazine, so I had fun adding a elements of Regina’s story into mine. I was even able to give her characters cameo appearances in my story. As time progressed, little details were woven in by the other authors. For example, my hero and heroine were building the Kissing Tree Inn together, and my heroine initially painted it a horrible shade of bright pink. When a later character worked on renovating the inn, they found traces of that hideous pink color. Little details carrying through like that make my reader heart happy.
Working on the Pink Pistol Sisterhood series has been so much fun. While each story stands on its own, they are connected by a shared history through the customized pistol that is handed down from heroine to heroine.
When it came time to write my story, I knew that I wanted to create a fun connection with the author who followed me in the series – Shanna Hatfield. Shanna is such a joy to work with and always so positive and encouraging, and when I suggested we create a character to connect our stories, she jumped in with both feet! We worked together to create Laura Marshall. Laura is Tessa’s best friend in my story and cousin to Rena, who is Shanna’s heroine. Laura is a milliner to works alongside Tessa in a dressmaking shop in Caldwell, TX. She also has strong family connections to Oregon (Shanna’s setting) and a special level of compassion for her cousin Rena.
Here is a snippet of one of Laura’s scenes where we incorporated a hint of Rena’s coming storyline:
“So, you don’t think I’m crazy?”
Laura shook her head, and a weight lifted from Tessa’s chest. “Not crazy. Hopeful.” She placed a hand on Tessa’s arm. “I’m rooting for you. You know that.”
Tessa nodded.
“Besides,” Laura said with a mischievous grin, “if you and Jackson end up together, I know just the lady you can send the pistol to next.”
“Oh? Who’s that?”
“My cousin Rena.” Laura’s expression sobered. “She’s had a rough go of it the last couple years. She suffered an injury that left her believing no man will ever want her. It’s so sad. She’s talked about visiting my brother out in Oregon and making a fresh start. The pistol could offer her some measure of protection, and if she gives it a chance, maybe it will lead her to someone who can see past her scars to the wonderful woman inside.”
“You don’t want a turn with the pistol yourself?” Tessa asked.
Laura grinned as she shook her head. “No, thanks. I plan to find my true love the old-fashioned way.”
Tessa squeezed her friend’s hand. “Well, I can’t blame you for sticking with the tried-and-true.”
“I’m not in a hurry. Too many girls think marrying is their only option for having a meaningful life. I have a career I enjoy, good friends, and the love of family. If the time is ever right for something more, God will let me know.”
“You’re a wise woman, Laura Marshall, and far more patient than I am.”
“Yes, well, it’s easier to be patient before one finds her true love than after.” She grinned and started dragging Tessa toward the workroom door. “Now, enough talk. Daylight’s a-wasting, as my granny used to say. Get out there and get your man. I’ll take care of closing up the shop.”
Shanna’s novel – Love on Target just released this week! We had so much fun partnering together on this project. I’m excited to see what adventures Rena encounters and the role Laura plays.
Do you enjoy series with woven connections and carry-over details?
Or do you prefer series stories that stand more on their own?
