Do the Thing You Fear
I’ve got a secret to share with you: the prospect of writing the SPECTR series scared the hell out of me.
Writing series is fun, don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of following characters for more than one book, seeing how they change and grow, how their relationships develop. But what I wanted to do with SPECTR was a bit different. I wanted to write a series of shorter works, each with its own story arc, but at the same time more tightly bound into a single overarching story than is typical (unless you’re talking fantasy trilogies, anyway).
This met that I not only had to get the pacing for each installment right, but the pacing for the entire series right. Except I intended to start releasing them long before I was finished writing them, so if I screwed something up, I couldn’t go back and fix it. I was working live without a net.
Oh, and instead of just having to weave in the progression of a romance between two characters, I had three to juggle, just to make things even more complicated.
I didn’t think there was any way I could pull this off. Were my skills up to it? What the hell was I thinking to even try?
Many years ago, I read an interview or blog post by Sir Ian McKellenwhere he talked about picking his next role based on what frightened him the most, what he thought he might not have the skill to do. (My Google-fu has failed me, but if anyone else can find it, please post a link in the comments!) The idea being if we don’t challenge ourselves, we can’t grow as artists. I tend to think he’s right about that, so I’ve tried to apply his advice to my career.
Did I succeed or fail? That’s for others to decide, especially since the entire SPECTR series isn’t out yet. Am I glad I did it, even when—especially when—it scared me?
Yes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan L. Hawk grew up in the wilds of North Carolina, where she was raised on stories of haints and mountain magic by her bootlegging granny and single mother. After using a silver knife in the light of a full moon to summon her true love, she turned her talents to spinning tales. She weaves together couples who need to fall in love, then throws in some evil sorcerers and undead just to make sure they want it bad enough. In Jordan’s world, love might conquer all, but it just as easily could end up in the grave.
GIVEAWAY
Jordan L. Hawk has decided to giveaway a set of SPECTR: Volume 1, which is the first three novellas (Hunter of Demons, Master of Ghouls, and Reaper of Souls) in a single collected volume.
TO ENTER, LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS POST:
Follow the given format to enter yourself into the contest:
Name*:
Email ID*:
Preferred Format*:
Message to the author:
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CONTEST WILL END ON 15th October, 2013 @ 11:59 PM Central Time!!
Please don’t include me in the contest because I already own the books.
But I had to say that I was all excited for a few minutes thinking that the next book was going to be released sooner than…next…March. Sigh…Ms. Hawk knows my feelings about the wait. 😉
February! Early February! Okay, I’m not making things much better here, am I?
Heh, sorry but no you really aren’t!
Although that is almost 2 months earlier than I was thinking (what was I looking at!?) so I guess it’s a little tiny bit better.
Follow blog by email.If selected would like mobi for kindle fire.Sounds like a good read.
Trix
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Kindle
Congratulations on the series!
Name*:Shirley Ann Speakman
Email ID*:ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
Preferred Format*: PDF
Message to the author: Your books sound really interesting. Please count me in for the Giveaway.
bibbiesparks@yahoo.com
pdf
Your books sound very interesting I can’t wait to read them.
Jbst
strive4bst(AT) yahoo(Dot) com
Kindle/mobi format
Sounds like a very good series. How many books do you expect to have in the series?
There will be six total. 🙂
Urb
brendurbanist@gmail.com
ePub
My three favorite authors in order if my discovery are Jordsn Castillo Price, Lissa Kasey, and JORDAN L. HAWK!! I love good paranormal m/m; it’s so unlike my life! I would love to own any and all of Jordan’s work.
Thanks hon! 🙂
Barbra
aelnova@aol.com
mobi
I have both Whyborne & Griffin books and LOVE them. I’ve been looking at the SPECTR books but wasn’t sure about “demons”. Sounded a little disturbing, but I still have them on my Amazon wish list
because I like your style so much in the other books. 🙂
I’d say if you were okay with the Guardians in W&G you’d be okay with the demons in SPECTR. And thank you! 🙂
H.B.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
PDF
I’ve never heard an author admit to being afraid when writing one of their books but it makes me want to read the series not only because it sounds interesting but also to figure out what had you scared. Thanks for the giveaway =)
Debby
debby236@gmail.com
PDF
Thanks for the giveaway. I tried moonshine once. It is unique.
Jennifer
jen.f@mac.com
mobi
Thank you for the giveaway. This series sounds really interesting!
Name: Theo
Email ID: nemo.amarcord@ gmail.com
Preferred Format: ePub
Message to the author: I haven’t owned this series because it’s in the 4th book already. I need to save lots of money to buy them at once(I’m poor (>,<)). So, thanks for the opportunity. *fingers crossed for winning*
Cynthia
schan26.wisc(at)gmail(dot)com
PDF
Thanks for the giveaway. I really admire your courage to write something you’re scared of or unsure will work.
Thanks, Cynthia! 🙂
I loved Hainted! This series sounds pretty spectacular too, even if I hate waiting between books… 😀
Thanks you! 😀 I hate waiting, too.
Judi P
arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com
PDF
I’ve so been wanting to check out this series…. so happy to have this opportunity now. Thanks for the giveaway, but I’m also happy that you pushed through and continued to write and published this story. It honestly sounds quite a fun read. :3
Carolyn
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
epub, please
Jordan, I have just started to learn more about you and your books. It was nice to get a little peak into you and your stories. Thank you for sharing with us!
Hi all! Sorry it took me so long to draw a winner, but I was at GRL for a week and the wifi was iffy at best. 🙂 Random. org chose Judi P as the winner! Judi, you should have an email with the PDF attachment already waiting in your inbox. 🙂