Developing a Series: Tami Dee Guest Blogs

All right! We're continuing the discussion regarding developing series. Please welcome SF&F writer, Tami Dee. Tami is the author of the "Mists of Time Viking Series". Her latest release, "Beyond a Viking Horizon" was just released in August. Read on to check out how Tami approaches her series writing and then enjoy an excerpt from her latest book. (As with Jennifer, Tami's books also have amazing covers.)

Hello, Amber thanks so much for inviting me to your blog!

The first book of my Mists of Time Viking Series is Under A Viking Moon, a Time travel, romantic adventure.

I am not a plotter, at all, and as a result of that fact when I began this book I had no idea that my hero, Leif, would have three brothers, or that I would be compelled to give each of those brothers a story of their own.

Oddly enough, my story ideas begin with a title. The story, plot, and everything that comes after is a direct result of a title which I thought up at an odd moment in time, like washing my hair or driving to work.

The youngest brother, Davyn, is the hero of book two, Dawn of A Viking Sunrise, and book three, Beyond A Viking Horizon features Balmung. The last book, Through A Viking Mist with the final brother, Ofeig, will be released March 2011,

You asked me to relate a bit about my latest release, Beyond A Viking Horizon.
Iris is a widow, raising four young children in the year 1930. Circumstances bring her family from Chicago to Denmark where they learn to earn a living off of the land.

Iris is much more grounded than Kat from Under and Rosie from Dawn, even though, in truth, she is around the same age as her counterparts. Yet having been married and raising children, her bravery and courage are displayed in much different ways than the other heroines.

Balmung is a hero who I think any woman, modern or otherwise, would adore having his love and loyalty. He is a farmer, attached to his land and content with the life he choose for himself. His brothers, Leif and Davyn, had both found the love of their lives with the assistance of Time itself, yet Balmung is determined to not be a pawn in Times hands. If he chooses to find love, he will do so on his terms and on his land. Perhaps he should qualify that statement to include ‘in his Time.’
One look at Iris and her children have him accepting that Time has his best interest at heart, and he is determined to win Iris trust and heart.

It is really important to me that each story be unique and memorable. My writing is character driven and as such, I can really say that the books pretty much write themselves. Signing a four book contract, with only two books completed, could have been intimidating.

But, honestly, as I said earlier, the stories are character driven and once I sit down, it’s as if I am transported to another place and Time and I just write. When scenes come to me while I am at work, I will send myself an e mail with a quick thought and hope I can recapture the nuance when I am able to get back to my laptop.

I like action, and have to remind myself to slow down while working my way to the big moments. After all, it is those small moments leading up to the action that are the heart of any story.

I can’t say if having books in a series that are stand alone or not stand alone is good or bad, I guess it just depends on what the author wishes to do. It is really hard for me to know if my own books are stand alone or not.

It is good to remember that when a reader knows they are going to be reading a series, they will want to be able to clearly identify what book they are picking up first. And a lot of readers will wait until the series is complete before picking up any of the books. Sometimes the wait time between books can be a bit lengthy, and by the time the much anticipated second or third book comes out, they have read so many books in between that they have trouble picking up where they left off.

My advice to anyone who is considering writing a series would be to keep a spreadsheet of what year you are writing in (or years in the case of time travel) names, ages, eye, hair color, etc.

Believe me, once you get into the heart of the story, or your second or third book in the series, having these types of details easily accessible will be invaluable. It is also important to write what you love to read. Don’t worry about what is trendy, and don’t get so caught up in the ‘rules of writing’ that you lose your voice and story, or worse, think you will never be able to follow all the rules and stop writing all together.

That’s all I can think of for now, Amber.

Again, thanks for the invitation to your blog, it has been a pleasure.

No, no. Thank you Tami! What an amazingly free way to approach story writing. I will have to take a chapter from your book and allow my characters to tell me their life. To my blogger buddies, please check out below for contact information, links to buy her new release, and an excerpt from Tami's newest book.

Tami's Website: http://www.tamidee.com/

Buy Links for Tami's latest Mists of Time Vikiing Series: Beyond a Viking Horizon
Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-100/TAMI-DEE-VIKING-HORIZON/Detail.bok

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mists-Time-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B003XVZCD8/ref=sr_1_2?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285547784&sr=8-2

Excerpt:

"Good sleep, Iris."

Balmung tucked a gentle finger under her chin and tilted her face as he lowered his lips to hers. Sweet heat seeped through her as she returned his kiss with an urgency that left her breathless. His lips were firm yet soft, demanding as well as accepting. Her skin broke out in goose bumps when his big hands skirted over her back, then moved to her waist, caressing, stroking, easing their way over her ribs with tenderness and passion. They stopped just short of her breasts, a brief hesitation, as if waiting for a sign from her that they could continue their exploration. She briefly thought of her children sleeping just on the other side of the door, yet her body yearned. Yearned for something which she had taken for granted for so long, yet had ended so suddenly, so unexpectedly, so completely, when Noah had died.

She didn't realize that she was crying until he pulled his lips from hers and moved them to her damp cheeks. With a gusty sigh, he dropped two light kisses onto each of her closed lids, then tucked her under his chin and hugged her tight.

"I want you, Iris," he said, his voice thick with need. "And it is clear that you want me, also. But when we share a bed, it will be only you and I in that bed."

She gasped, jerking her eyes open to stare at him.

He gave her a soft smile. "It's okay, Iris," he soothed. "I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to have once loved so completely, knowing that you were loved so completely in return, and then suddenly find that your body can hum for another man. That you can have feelings for another man."

He trailed a finger down her cheek, following the path of a fresh tear. "I respect what you and Noah had. I will not ask you to try and have the same bound with me as you did with him. But I do want a part of your heart, and your body, Iris, a part which only belongs to me."

He sighed, pressing his forehead to hers.

"When you're ready, I will be waiting for you."

He pulled open her chamber door and, with a hand that shook, gently guided her inside, closing the door quietly behind him. Leaning against the thick door, she listened to his retreating footsteps, heard those of her guards as they took their positions at her door.

Iris' body still hummed even as her mind whirled. She woke the nursemaid, and with a soft thank you, sent her to her bed before taking off her dress and slipping into a warm linen gown which she found neatly draped at the foot of the bed.

Her tears flowed unchecked as she climbed onto the bed, curled up in the middle of her children. Pulling Lissie close to her breast, Iris drifted off into a dreamless sleep.