Guest Post by Kristin Tualla: Three Reasons I Wrote A Trilogy. Yes, I appreciate the Irony

Three Reasons I Wrote A Trilogy. Yes I Appreciate The Irony.

REASON #1: My hero and heroine turned out to be really interesting people.

Not only that, but they had a lot of life-changing occurrences once they came together. These occurrences were not easy, nor could they be anticipated.

In the first book, the hero and heroine meet. Both are older than the typical romance couple; he’s 32 and she’s 30. Both have been through trauma and crisis and are not looking for love. By the time they figure out that they belong together a lot of baggage has to be dealt with. And then my hero announces that he is royalty.

In the second book, the couple travels to Norway – following the debacle of Napoleon – so my hero can candidate for a reclaimed Norwegian throne. This path could literally make him King of Norway. And his political choice involves life and death situations.

And in the third book they return to the brand new state of Missouri, and my hero runs for state legislator. Romantic that he is, he determined to change the world.

You can’t tell all of that in one book!

REASON #2: Once I fall in love with a set of characters, I hate when the book ends.

I have become invested in their relationship and their lives. I don’t want to say goodbye. It’s like a close friend moving away. Sure, we’ll stay in touch. But the intimacy is gone.

I know many readers agree; for that reason, series stories are popular. If the action increases from book to book, and the stakes are raised or remain high, then we feel like we are walking through the perils with familiar friends. We understand the impact new events have on our “friends” because we have had time to get to know them and their quirks.

That is what happened with Nicolas and Sydney.

REASON #3: My early inspiration was Kathleen Woodiwiss, the founder of modern romance; and more recently, Diana Gabaldon of “Outlander” fame.

These women published long, dense, long, intelligent, long, complex historicals. Did I mention “long”?

I was ignorant of the developing publishing crisis when I began writing in 2006. I thought books could be any length necessary to tell the story. I was so very wrong.

When I sat down with an editor in 2008, her first question was, “How many words?
“105,000,” I said. (That’s just over 400 pages in a mass-market paperback.)
“Cut it to 90,000,” she said. “Then we can talk.”
“Do you want to know what it’s about?” I asked.
“No,” she answered.

So much for the “dense, intelligent, and complex” storyline. And print publishing has gotten even more restrictive as e-publishing’s share of the market grows. Big books are expensive. And expensive books are very risky. And when your share of the market shrinks, risks must be “managed.”

My trilogy covers three years in the lives of my characters, but as much as e-publishing has squeezed traditional houses, so has the shortened attention span of current readers. I have heard people say they won’t start a book if it’s “long.” But they’ll read 5 shorter books in its place. Go figure.

But when I went indie/e-pub, all of those concerns disappeared. That’s good news for you, the reader.

So. Is it time you found a new brand of hero? Please allow me to help.

For every 10 people who comment here, I will give away one free e-copy of A Woman of Choice – the beginning of the trilogy. And, yes. Commenter #11 warrants 2 copies! Comment #21? I’ll give away three.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

In February at the end of my blog tour, I’ll give away one SIGNED PAPERBACK SET of the trilogy. Here’s how you can get in on that deal:
1. Go to http://www.kristualla.com/ and find the “Secret Word” on my home page.
2. Send an email to ktualla@cox.net with “Signed Trilogy Giveaway” in the subject line. Put the secret word in the body.
3. Comment on any blog at any time in the tour to activate your entry. Each day’s blog location is listed at http://kristualla.wordpress.com/blog-tour-dates-locations/

A Woman of Choice, A Prince of Norway, and A Matter of Principle are all available at http://www.goodnightpublishing.com/

A Woman of Choice – Missouri Territory, 1819
A woman is viciously betrayed and abandoned by her unfaithful husband. She is rescued by a widower uninterested in love. In desperation, she becomes engaged to his best friend. One woman, three very different men. Life is about choices.

A Prince of Norway – Christiania, Norway, 1820
American-born Nicolas Hansen has been asked to candidate for his great-grandfather’s throne. His new wife Sydney isn’t about to let him go to Norway and face that possibility alone. The moment they arrive at Akershus Castle, the political intrigue and maneuvering begin. Can Sydney trust anyone? Will Nicolas resist the seduction of power? Or will he claim the throne for himself? Most importantly: will their young marriage survive the malicious mischief of the ambitious royal family?

A Matter of Principle – St. Louis, State of Missouri, 1821
Nicolas Hansen has returned from Norway determined to change the world. But when he runs for State Legislator in the brand-new state of Missouri, the enemies he made over the past two years aren’t about to step quietly aside. Sydney has made enemies of her own, both by marrying Nicolas and by practicing midwifery. When a newspaper reporter makes it his goal to destroy them, Nicolas must rethink his path once again. But this time, it’s a matter of principle.