Many of my books are published by The Wild Rose Press (TWRP).  I also write for other publishers, but one of the things that The Wild Rose Press does is offer out stories to be written.  For instance, the Deerbourne Inn Series that I wrote a novella for last year took place in a quaint Vermont Inn and many of their authors wrote stories surrounding the inn.  I jumped on that band wagon and wrote Witches’ Cliff.  The way this is set up, the publisher creates a setting and then invites their authors to write a story (any genre) around that setting with a word count limit.

I also wrote a beach-read for TWRP coming out this summer.  That manuscript needed to be set on a beach and involve ice cream. It is titled the One Scoop or Two Series.  I wrote Strawberry Sundae Delights and it is soon to be released.  I’ll be sure to let you know when that happens!

I’m always working on a novel or two and sometimes get bogged down getting it finished.  The series that TWRP comes up with seem to get my creative juices flowing.  You work with other authors, and their ideas spark yours.

Their latest creation is the Wylder West Series.  I’ve only written one western short story and it was about the Cherokee Strip here in Oklahoma. The Wylder West Series takes place in 1878 in Wyoming Territory in the town of Wylder near Cheyenne.  So, my brain began to go to places it had never been.  What if we mixed time travel with the wild west? (I thought of the old movie, recently remade, Wild Wild West. I loved the mixture of genres.  When the giant  mechanical spider came across the desert near the railroad chasing cowboys, I was in love.)

It will be a while before my story is ready.  So far it is one chapter and a nugget in my mind.  But I’m excited about the research and collaboration with other authors.  I’m creating new characters with exotic backgrounds.  At the moment I’m struggling with the antagonist and the role he plays. All stories need conflict.

The great thing about the series and the creative juices is it normally flows over into my other writing.  It will help me get the novel finished I’m currently working on.

So, wish me luck and keep an eye out for the Wylder West Series coming soon.

What are you reading this week?