Progression of a Series by Guest Author @KimMcMahill

I know many readers love to know that when they've finished a great novel, they don't have to say goodbye to their favourite characters, and I've always admired authors who have the vision to plan a whole series of novels along with the skill and dedication to write them.  One such author is Kim McMahill, and I'm delighted to welcome her to my blog to share some of the secrets involved in series writing.  So enough from me, let me hand you over to Kim:

"There are many reasons to love a series. A series gives the reader the opportunity to really get to know the characters on a personal level. We get to see the recurring protagonists and antagonists progress emotionally, evolve into better or worse people, and sometimes we see them grow old. We may even connect to the characters as we share some of the same personal experiences—a challenge at work, a bully, a crisis of faith, a health issue, or relationship woes or wows.

"I started my Risky Research Series with a clear vision of how the series would develop and end, but I soon realized I may not be in total control. When, and if, FBI agent Devyn Nash dismantles a deadly organization obsessed with controlling the multi-billion-dollar diet product industry and brings them to justice, she still has more to accomplish. Will her next case be strong enough to carry the series past nabbing Coterie? Will she still have a job with the FBI after A Measure of Madness? Honestly, I’m not sure yet, but in the mean time she has some very dangerous individuals to track down.

"The series begins with A Dose of Danger when a call to FBI agent Devyn Nash from Wyoming Sheriff Gage Harris exposes connections between a string of crimes occurring across the country, drawing the FBI into the investigation. Book 2, A Taste of Tragedy, brings them closer to the killers and to Nick’s ex-wife as they follow clues involving a deadly sweetener to Arizona. In book 3, A Foundation of Fear, Devyn closes in on one member of Coterie in Washington D.C. at a political fundraiser, allowing the reader to get inside the head of an assassin.

"In the fourth installment of the Risky Research series, A Measure of Madness, the FBI locates the mastermind behind Coterie, but attempts to bring him in result in a shootout that sends Coterie’s members scrambling for cover. And, when Devyn’s partner is left fighting for his life in a Puerto Rican hospital, she becomes more determined than ever to bring them to justice. A Measure of Madness, will be released on April 9, 2021.

"Will there be a book 5? Since Devyn still has a promise to keep and she needs to figure out what to do about the handsome sheriff who has stolen her heart, it’s likely, so stay tuned."

So there we have it.  It sounds very much like this series has a little longer to run, and readers won't be saying Goodbye to Devyn just yet.  Thank you, Kim.

About the Author

Kim McMahill grew up in Wyoming which is where she developed her sense of adventure and love of the outdoors. She started out writing non-fiction, but her passion for exotic world travel, outrageous adventures, stories of survival, and happily-ever-after endings soon drew her into a world of romantic suspense and adventure fiction. Along with writing novels Kim has also published over eighty travel and geographic articles, and contributed to a travel anthology and cookbook. When not writing she enjoys gardening, traveling, hiking, and spending time with family. Connect with Kim at:

Kim's Blog 

Follow Kim on Twitter 

Kim's Facebook Page

Find Kim on Instagram

Kim's Goodreads author page 

Learn more about the Risky Research Series by checking out the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clZIRJ1s-Fo&feature=youtu.be

To learn more about the author or to purchase the Risky Research Series or other novels by Kim McMahill visit her page on:

 AmazonUK 

Amazon US

Get ready for an exciting new release from author Jenny Twist (@JennyTwist1)

I'm always very excited when my favourite UK author Jenny Twist brings out a new novel, as I know I'm in for a great read, and her latest, released this week: The Cottage at the End of the World didn't let me down. I'll tell you what I thought about it in a moment, but first, let me hand you over to the author in person, to answer that all-important question we readers always want to know: "What inspired you to write this story?"

Over to Jenny:

"I was sitting with my two dearest friends, Caroline and Billy, and Caroline remarked on a recent news item about a bacterium scientists had developed in the battle to dispose of  waste. “What if it escaped?” she said.

That was the last time I saw Caroline and Billy in person, before Coronavirus, before lockdown. Before our world narrowed to a small screen.

An awful lot has happened since then, and I have spent much of the intervening time on the internet, like Laura in the story, campaigning for a better world. But in between I researched the implications of Caroline’s chance observation. And they horrified me.

So here goes. A possible answer to Caroline’s question. This might be what would happen if the new enzyme escaped.

When I started writing the story no-one had heard of Coronavirus, but the advent of the pandemic made me realise how much more devastating my imaginary plague would be if it happened at the same time. So I rooted the story firmly against a background of actual events right up to the point where the phones begin to melt.

The rest is entirely my own invention."

Thanks, Jenny.  Now here's what I thought of:

The Cottage at the End of the World - Review

How could anyone not be intrigued by this delightfully ambiguous title?  I certainly couldn’t wait to read my advance review copy and, once I started, I genuinely couldn’t stop.  I have a thing about houses and just can’t resist stories about them.

The story begins in London with the meeting of artist Laura and journalist Gary, who are, quite simply, meant for each other.  Keen to leave London, Gary is easily persuaded to give up his city life and move to Laura’s cottage in Cumbria.

I spent many childhood holidays in the exquisite Lake District so when I read about the cottage, I felt I’d come home.  The beautifully drawn characters, so typical of author Jenny Twist, (and who include two delightful dogs, but most especially the wonderful nonagenarian, Auntie Martha) tugged at my heartstrings.   All the same, a cottage with no electricity, no running water and no bathrooms was not exactly my idea of heaven, so in the story, when old schoolfriend, Malcolm arrived with his partner and began transforming the cottage into a modern but still cosy des res, I actually felt a real sense of relief and my ache to live there intensified.

And live there I did, or so it seemed, as this compelling story drew me in so completely.  When Covid-19 began to spread like, well the plague, I wanted for nothing, being cocooned in cosy domesticity with this colourful cast of characters during lockdown.  And when the outside world as we know it changed forever and the real fight for survival began, The Cottage at the End of the World was the only safe place left in which to live.  

A gripping and deeply thought-provoking story, told by a master story-teller.  Irresistible!

The Cottage at the End of the World - Blurb:

“This is the way the world ends
    Not with a bang but a whimper.”

T S Eliot

The end of civilization is fast approaching, and the family in the remote cottage in the woods is ready. They are prepared for anything that may happen -- except for the one thing that nobody predicted.

         Against the background of the Coronavirus pandemic another, more sinister threat is slowly gripping the world.  Will the people find out before it's too late?

About the Author

Jenny Twist was born in York and brought up in the West Yorkshire mill town of Heckmondwike, the
eldest grandchild of a huge extended family.

She left school at fifteen and went to work in an asbestos factory. After working in various jobs, including bacon-packer and escapologist’s assistant (she was The Lovely Tanya), she returned to full-time education and did a BA in history, at Manchester and post-graduate studies at Oxford.

She stayed in Oxford working as a recruitment consultant for many years and it was there that she met and married her husband, Vic.

In 2001 they retired and moved to Southern Spain where they live with their rather eccentric dogs and cat. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, knitting and attempting to do fiendishly difficult logic puzzles.

Since moving to Spain she has written four novels and numerous short stories.

In July 2018 she was awarded the coveted TOP FEMALE AUTHOR award in Fantasy/Horror/Paranormal/Science Fiction by The Authors Show
..

The Cottage at the End of the World is available from Amazon UK  and Amazon.com 

Price 77p and 99ȼ respectively. 

 

Also available free on Kindle Unlimited