So, I have released the first title in a new series.
First question I imagine you’ll have is: What is this?
In short, it’s a serial harem that takes place on modern day Earth. All of the characters are human and there’s absolutely nothing paranormal, magical, or otherwise fantastical about the world or the people. Something I’ve never done before. The closest I’ve come is A Warm Place, but that’s post-apocalyptic.
The story chronicles an unlikely relationship that begins when Gabe, an aspiring author who is just beginning to take the first steps on his journey to (hopefully) make a living writing, is unexpected visited by Ellen, a former co-worker who he formed a strong, though brief, bond with last year, after she’s cheated on by her fiancée. Both realize that they really don’t have anyone else in their life they can turn to, and a sexual relationship quickly sparks. As they begin figuring out the relationship, as they’re both fairly different people, they ultimately decide they want to go their own way, build a life together, and they attract like-minded individuals.
From the technical side of things, I intend to release these stories pretty much as I write them, which ideally will be at shorter intervals. They’ll be in the KU, 2.99$, and they’ll average around 20-25,000 words. (I think this is somewhere between 50-80 Kindle Pages, but it’s basically impossible to know for sure). Unless there’s significant demand for it, there won’t be collections, but even if there are, there won’t be bonus content. The main reason for this is because I want to move away from the collections and just want to be able to write unconstrained and let a series be as long or as short as it needs to be. If I want, I can end on Book 7 or Book 13 or Book 22 for that matter. This is the first time I’ll truly be able to experience that, so I’m interested to see how it turns out.
Second question: Why?
I was thinking back to Parasexual last month and remembered that my favorite aspect of the series was the emotional connection that the characters had, as well as the trauma and difficulties they had to work through together. As much as I enjoy writing about fighting monsters and crazy survival situations, there is a part of me that wants to write about the more domestic side of things. The calmer things, the more real problems.
One theme that has been present in damn near everything I’ve written, even going back to the first Hellcats, is people wanting to go their own way. People sick of society’s stupid bullshit and unreasonable standards and arbitrary restrictions. People who want to build their own lives, away from all that. Who just want to be happy together. This has manifested in a number of ways, and honestly it’ll probably continue to do so.
It’s a theme that I find very appealing to write about.
A second reason that I’m doing this is a more practical one: it’s helping me keep my sanity. So, don’t get me wrong, I like A Warm Place. I like writing it and I like how much people are liking it. I intend to keep going until it’s done.
But I also want to write other things. And while I am still working on my caveman fantasy series in the background, I want to have a series that has a somewhat more rapid release cycle.
On top of that, this gives me a more unique opportunity. I don’t know if people may remember, but I’ve said more than once that I wish I could expand on some of my shorter works, like The Pale Redhead or Snakeskin.
Well, now, in a way, I can. These stories are quick and easy, not just in the release cycle, but in the actual narratives. Things can be lower stakes in these series, calmer, more fun. Instead of writing about a group of people trying to build a whole settlement, now I can write about a small group of lovers just trying to build a home.
Anyway, A Warm Place 7 is still on track, but now so is Our Own Way, and maybe another serial that has a similar premise, but is set in my fantasy universe and features a harem of monster girls. Remember when I used to write about those? I do, and I miss them and writing about weird monster girl sex.