Writing something new …

• Posted in About Books, Black Blade series, On Writing

Note: This post appeared at Magical Musings last week, but I wanted to share it here on my blog too.

Cold Burn of Magic, the first book in my Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series, was released on April 28. Woot!

Having a new book out is always exciting, but it always makes me a little nervous too. As an author, you always hope that folks will enjoy a new book as much — or more — as they have other books that you’ve written.

Black Blade #1But this release has been a little more nerve-wracking than most because this is the first time that I’ve had a new book series out since 2011.

Touch of Frost, the first book in my Mythos Academy young adult series, came out in 2011, and I wrapped up that series with Killer Frost in 2014. And I’m still writing my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, which debuted in 2010.

Cold Burn of Magic has many of the same elements that my other books/series do — a strong heroine, magic/world building, and lots of action and fight scenes. But it does take place in an entirely new world with entirely new characters. Here’s the book description:

THERE BE MONSTERS HERE…

It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call—get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her…

So basically, the book features magic, monsters, and mobsters. The heroine is Lila Merriweather, a 17-year-old thief who lives in Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia, a town dubbed “the most magical place in America.” Tourists come from around the world to tour all the magic-themed shops and attractions, as well as see monsters like tree trolls, copper crushers, and more in their natural habitats.

Lila also does her best to stay off the grid and avoid the Families — or mobs — who control much of the town. But when she saves a member of the Sinclair Family during an attack, Lila finds herself caught in the middle of a brewing war between the Sinclairs and the Draconis, the two most powerful Families in town.

As an author, I want folks to enjoy each new book more than they did the last. But it’s a little trickier when it comes to creating a new series with new characters. What if folks don’t like the magic and world building of Cloudburst Falls? What if they don’t like Lila? These are the things that I worry about.

We’ve all read books/series by authors that we like more than some of the other books/series those authors have written. In the end, I guess writing a book and trying something new is just a roll of the dice. Some folks will like it, and some folks won’t.

That doesn’t keep me from worrying, though. LOL.

What about you guys? Do you try new series by your favorite authors? Why or why not? Are there some series that you like more than others?

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14 Responses to “Writing something new …”

  1. Angela MacIntyre says:

    First of all, I was SO thrilled to see you in the halls at RT this weekend! Thank you for stopping to talk with me and for the swag! You made my day! I have loved ALL of your series–Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy, Bigtime and the new Black Blade. My daughter (16) also loves your YA, and I really enjoy sharing the reading experience with her. There are some authors who can successfully write several series, and others that I only read one and can’t get even get through the first book in their other series. I hate to name names, because…. well, no hurt feelings and all that. But you… I love everything you write! 😉

  2. Thais Lopes says:

    If I like one series or book from an author I’ll always try anything new he/she releases. Most of my “liking” is defined by a good worldbuilding, nice and fluid writing and string characters, and few authors chance that from one series to another (which basically means that I always have this huge TBR list). I’m dying to read Cold Burn of Magic, but I’m trying really hard to read the books I already have here first. Not sure if I’ll be able to resist much longer haha

  3. Renee says:

    If an author that I likes writes a new series, I always read the description of the first book before deciding to read the new series. About 90% of the time I read the new series, but I have had a few authors whose new series do not appeal to me and I will not try them. I am looking forward to having a little free time to read Cold Burn of Magic as this series sounds interesting and it is the only book of yours I have not read. Thank you for adding to my TBR pile!

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Thanks! I appreciate that. Hope you enjoy COLD BURN OF MAGIC. I also look at the book descriptions. Most of the time, I will try a new series unless the author is writing in a genre that I’m just not all that crazy about (like sci-fi).

  4. Joanna says:

    I will try new/other series by authors I really like. But because I read alot and have so many authors I likeI have the following criteria “Do their books make me hang out for them. Do I check all the time to see if I can preorder the next in the series.” If they do I will happily buy any new books rom said author. The Elemental Assassin’s books are one of those series, I not only buy the ebook but I buy the Audiobook so I can listen to them at work.

  5. twiser says:

    Yes I read new series. I at least give it a chance most I’ve been lucky to like, but not all. I’ve read your Elemental assassin, Mythos Academy, and now Black Blade series And have enjoyec them. My daughter and I read the YA together and she likes them a lot too. So as long as is something I would normally enjoy I give the fav authors a chance to awe me with new brilliance when they offer it.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Thanks! I appreciate that. Glad you and your daughter are enjoying my books. If the new series is in a genre that I like, I usually give it a chance.

  6. Jennifer says:

    I have a small handful of authors that I read anything they write. So yes I’ll try something new from a favorite author. I’m currently reading a few of my favorite authors’ backlists as well since I started with some of their series that were “in the middle” of their writing careers. I get caught up on the current series and find myself waiting for the next new release so I go back to see what I missed.

    Usually I’ll have a favorite series over another one by that author and usually it’s the character(s) that make one series better than another for me. Sometimes it’s the genre. I’m not a big YA reader so “normally” I like the adult series more but not always. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some YAs lately.

    So in short, yes I’ll try something new by a favorite author.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      It’s always nice when you find a new author with several books/series out already and don’t have to wait for new books.

      And I agree. Sometimes, it’s the genre or a certain character that will make me like one series more than another by the same author.

  7. John says:

    I’m a big fan of your work. After reading the first chapter, I want to buy Cold Burn of Magic. It seems like a really good series.

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