Monday, October 8, 2012

His Journey has begun....bringing a series to an end.


When I sat down to write Lorcan's story I had no plans beyond one novel. As the story unfolded and I reached 180k and his story still wasn't told, I decided to make it into a trilogy. Even at the end of Lorcan's story, I knew where, or at least I thought I knew, where the story would go and where it would end...

The characters however, had other ideas.

In the original draft for Quinn's need, Jess did not survive the crash. I was writing the scene where Lorcan is at Jess's beside as he takes his last breath and I just couldn't do it. I kept walking away from the manuscript unable to finish the scene. In the end I just couldn't do it. I still had no plans to tell Jess's story. He would just quietly drift into obscurity, it was after all a story about Lorcan and Quinn's bumpy road to finding love, commitment and forever.

I stayed on this path of thought through Ty's Obsession as well. Jess doesn't play a big role in this book, other than being the means to which Ty could hurt Lorcan. No one would really care about him right? I mean, I loved Jess, but I had blinders on. The ultimate goal was to see Lorcan grow from a twenty-one year old kid who ran back to mommie and daddy when things got too tough, to a strong man who stood his ground and learned to deal with life head on. Quinn also needed to grow. Sure he's older but after so many years of hiding who he really was, he had a lot of personal growth to do. While Tyler Callahan, aka Ty, became the star of his book, I never really meant for him to be. Again It was a means to bring Lorcan and Quinn together. Ty had other plans.


And then there is Conner. Where the hell had his story come from? He was a great guy, and I had so much fun telling his story during the three previous books. If you've read them, than you know he can be a little pushy. He is with me as well and kept bugging until I told his story. I think it was vanity. He wanted the world to see him as a hottie in his prime :) But whatever the reason, he was right, his and John's story needed to be told. During the first three books we know he and John are a strong couple who have been together for thirty-seven years, but it hadn't come easy. They had earned their happily ever after. 

So now it's come full circle. Jess, the man who was to die in book 2, brings the series to an end. I think it fitting. Thank you to everyone who has followed this series. Lorcan's Desire was my first attempt at writing a gay romance, stumbling through a world of publishing, editing and marketing, so foreign to me and trying to find my footing and my place in it. I hope I have learned something along the way, that I will continue to learn and give people the best damn book I can write, long after this series has been put to bed. 
~Hugs~
Jo

Description:
Sequel to Conner's Courage
Whispering Pines Ranch: Book Five

At an early age, Jess Jenkins learned to take care of his family and friends and put their needs before his own. He dreamed of finding the same simple happiness his parents had and followed their example. Then Lorcan James broke his heart and an automobile accident broke his independent spirit. Now that’s all Jess is: a broken shadow of the man he used to be, still confined to a wheelchair after six months.

Jess is finally forced to put himself first and accept the help he needs on his journey toward recovery. Though pain, frustration, and depression leave him bitter and eager to push people away, his friends refuse to allow him to wallow in self-pity. Jack has only glimpsed the man beneath Jess’s angry shell, but he takes it upon himself to prove Jess isn’t broken. And Collin is determined to bring back the sweet man he once knew. The simple, happy life Jess has always wanted is there for the taking—all he has to do is open his eyes and see it.

Check out Jess's Journey and the rest of the Whispering Pines Ranch series HERE

9 comments:

  1. Such an awesome series, Jo. I hate to see it end, but I am very much looking forward to reading Jess's Journey.

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    1. Thank you Sharon for following this series. So glad you have enjoyed it and I've gotten the chance to make you a friend. ~Hugs~

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    2. Luv you bunches, my friend. And I am looking forward to what you have planned next.

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  2. Beautiful BEAUTIFUL series! Hate to see it end. :(

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    1. Thank you Pat ~hugs~ I'm always worried that a series will drag on too long ya know. But who knows what the future holds. You know Ty & Blake are getting a short story in December. They are no longer part of the Whispering Pines Ranch and oh do they have some interesting friends :)

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  3. I am sad to see this series end, but I am looking forward to see what future releases you gift us readers with. Congrats to the new release! Hugs

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    1. ~hugs back~ Thanks for following the series and ummm I might have given a little bit away in my reply to Pat on what the future holds :)

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    2. Jo, that are wonderful news! Can't wait to hear more.

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