Somebody pinch me…
DIVERSION, book 3 in The Probation Case Files Mystery series, hit the shelves last week. Add to that my Wiggle Butt Manor Mystery series, and that makes 4 books published since OBEY ALL LAWS released in 2024. Oh, and I have a short story in an anthology.
Might not seem impressive to some, but my road to publication was so long, I’ve aged into several new demographics. My then 5-year-old now has a baby of her own. And my career as a probation officer, which helped me develop my protagonist, Casey Carson, is now in the rearview mirror.
Do I still get the new book release jitters? Sure. I have a critical case of them right now. But with time comes some wisdom, and I know I can’t please everyone. Some people don’t even like cheese! Still, I hope my readers like how Casey’s story continues to unfold. She has a lot on her plate in this book, and a big life change ahead. And, spoiler alert, book 4, LIFETIME, is ready to send to my publisher. And it’s my favorite.
One thing about writing a series is that I’ve spent so much time with Casey, I can predict her poor decisions three chapters before she makes them. Even if I don’t plot, I know disaster will soon strike. Dumpster fire is Casey’s middle name. The sidekicks also take up permanent space in my brain. I’m always thinking about them, even when I’m writing my other series.
I approached things a little differently in Diversion. The story takes Casey out of her environment as she watches over juvenile offenders on a wilderness adventure in the mountains outside of Flagstaff. And this time, we’re not just in Casey’s head. Love interests, Betz and Marcus, also get turns to tell their stories, leading to what I hope is a satisfying ending.
Book 2 of the Wiggle Butt Manor series, DASHING THROUGH THE SHOW, will drop this summer. When Charlie finds a body in her moving van, she becomes a murder suspect, which puts her and the local hot cop on opposite sides of the law and threatens to derail their budding romance. I’m working on book 3 in that series now.
And I have an exciting idea for a stand-alone suspense novel. Keeping it under wraps for now, but I’m really excited to dig in.
Couldn’t do it all without you, dear readers. You’re what it’s all about!