Writer Wednesday: Madelyn Hill on Writing a Series

Welcome to Writer Wednesday! So great to have you here for the weekly scoop on a fellow author.

This week, I’m proud to host Madelyn Hill, who writes historical romance with heart, courage, and Highlanders. She’s mixing it up today by giving us her insights on writing a series – and a handy list of mistakes to avoid! Personally, I’m thrilled to have this as I wrestle with plans for my own two series.

So grab your favorite drink and take a sip or two as you read about the rewards and challenges of writing a romance series, and learn a little about Madelyn’s latest release, Highland Faith.


Writing one book is hard. A fabulous idea pops into your head and you begin to plot or just write (if you are a pantser like me). And you continue writing, editing, researching—and then at some point in the book, (the middle for me!) you lose sight of the end, the goals and motivation of the characters and the conflict. You question yourself – is my conflict strong enough? Do the characters make sense, have chemistry? Have I just wasted hours and hours writing this drivel? But when that book is one of a series, you have just complicated your work exponentially.

Writing a series takes much more planning, plot development, and creation of characters who can carry a series. For my Wild Thistle Trilogy, the story starts with a prologue from the three heroines’ childhood. The reader has a glimpse of the personalities and responsibilities that will befall our heroines at a young age. Especially when their dying father utters the words, “Remember, through Hope, Faith, and Honor, ye can rule.” Each heroine leads one of the books in the trilogy and the reader understands how each character interprets and executes their father’s dying pledge.

TypewriterKeeping the facts and history straight throughout three books is not a task for the weary. I created several notes and as things changed through the editing process, I had to ensure I made those same changes to the other books. Also, as a writer, sometimes our muse likes to take a u-turn or detour. This can be problematic with a series because you have already established specific norms in the preceding books.

Some things to keep in mind when writing a series (adapted from NowNovel – How to write a series: 8 novice mistakes to avoid)

  • Don’t choose a story concept that can’t stretch across multiple books – could I have added another sister or brother? Sure, but then the father’s pledge would have been ridiculously long and the symbol of three was important to my trilogy.
  • Don’t keep your series going if you’ve run out of ideas – there are many series out there that are on the twentieth or more book in the series. With a talented author, this is great. But, sometimes things begin to repeat themselves and this bores the reader.
  • Don’t forget to plan ahead and know where your series might end – with a trilogy, it was easy, I knew the story had to end at three books.
  • Don’t ignore the passage of time in your series – I found that I had trouble with this. I needed to have time pass and keep the flow and pace of the story steady. Luckily I had a wonderful editor who pointed this out to me.
  • Don’t be inconsistent with your series’ details – my desk is littered with post-it notes and I put notes at the beginning of each manuscript so I can quickly look at details. Readers will notice any inconsistency.
  • Don’t be so consistent that there’s no intrigue and change – this is so true. You do not want to bore the reader. My heroines are all strong in their own way and each have different goals, motivation, and conflict even though they all wish to fulfill their father’s dying pledge.
  • Don’t abandon important multi-novel plot arcs – with a trilogy this wasn’t difficult to remember, but when you think of series such as the Stephanie Plum series, there are continuing plot arcs such as her relationship with her family and love interest that co-exist with the mystery. They make the character who she is and it needs to continue in each story.
  • Don’t make your fictional world too limited – if you do, you will limit the realistic length you can continue your series.

A Bit About Highland Faith

Huntress Lady Faith MacAlister seeks adventure. Her father’s dying pledge tethers her to Wild Thistle Keep, thwarting her desire to explore the world beyond the palisade. Solace is found while hunting and providing sustenance for her clan. When snatched from the safety of MacAlister lands by a rogue bent on securing a ransom, she finds the adventure of her life.

Disgraced Captain Graeme Ross travels the high seas in search of bounty to sell in order to secure lands seized by the Crown. He longs to regain his honor in his father’s eyes and continually risks his life on the high seas. Lacking enough funds, Graeme and his crew follow Lady Faith MacAlister as she hunts. Out of need and desire, he kidnaps her. The lady captivates him for the moment he laid eyes upon her. Bold and spirited, she fights him. When he negotiates a ransom, deception tears the burgeoning romance apart.

Now, Lady Faith and Captain Ross seek to settle those differences hindering their union, despite the stretch of land and sea—and angry Highlanders standing between them.

Find Highland Faith here!: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072HZQ8BT


A Bit About Madelyn:

Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she’d sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a “closet” writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn’t be happier! A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They now have 3 children and keep busy cooking, watching their children’s sporting events, and of course reading!

Want to connect further with Madelyn? Find her here:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authormadelynhill


Thanks so much for joining us, Madelyn – it was a delight to have you here! 

Why I Write Romance

Don’t tell my mom, but I started reading romance at the age of ten. I’d worked my way through all of the children’s books available in the local bookmobile, so I turned to the adult section, where I spied a book with a woman in a flowing green dress on the cover. The back said something about a pirate. I was hooked from that moment on (and still wish I could remember the name of that fateful book!).

As a teenager addicted to historical romance novels, I often had to defend my reading material of choice, even writing an essay for my tenth grade English class explaining my love for the genre: I read romance, because no matter what happens (and some pretty crazy things happen), you know those two people are going to end up together.

For this anxiety-prone child of divorce, that was the ultimate comfort, the idea that two flawed people could encounter all sorts of obstacles and still stay together, still find everlasting love.

As to why I write it? Because as an adult, I continue to seek that comfort, that security, that promise every day. Also, I’m a bit of a control freak. Plus, I really love witty repartee between characters. So an encouraging, reassuring story (with funny/witty parts, or so I hope) dictated entirely by me? Sign me up!

Romance provides escape, yes, but it also provides hope, and reminders that no matter what obstacles may come, Happy Ever After might be just around the corner. I hope my books entertain, amuse, and give that sense of hope, that sense of promise we all need, that second chances are possible, and that when life seems its bleakest, a new chapter might be waiting to be written. Gosh, that’s super-corny, but it’s true.

Writing, I’ve learned, also allows me to explore my own thoughts and beliefs through watching/learning what my characters do.

In A Man of Character, I examined the ideas of fantasy versus reality, perhaps in part because people have long challenged romance as presenting impossible ideals.

In A Matter of Time, I delved into whether feminism is compatible with wanting to prioritize love and marriage. (For the record, I am an ardent feminist who happens to be madly in love with my husband and who finds my identity in that relationship, and I’m good with that. So my answer to that question is a resounding yes.)

In A Scandalous Matter, I switched up the feminist theme by asking if romantic relationships negate individual independence, through the eyes of a heroine and hero who believe the two ideas are incompatible. (Spoiler alert: I disagree.)

And in my forthcoming The Demon Duke, admittedly a bit of a Beauty and the Beast story (my favorite Disney tale!) I looked at how we judge others and how we judge ourselves, and how we must make peace with who we are before we can be truly happy.

In each of my books, a main theme is finding one’s place in the world. How ironic that in becoming a writer, I’ve finally done just that. I know where I belong now, where my heart feels happiest, and it’s in writing romance.

I’ve come full circle, and I’m incredibly blessed.

Now, to you: What makes YOU read (or write) romance? I’d love to know! 


An earlier version of this blog post appeared on Tina Glasneck’s Celebrate With A Book site. I’m grateful to her for being fine with me posting it here, as well.

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Writer Wednesday: Meet Katie Baldwin!

Hello! Welcome back to Writer Wednesday! Did you notice we were on a bit of a hiatus? Sorry about that (stupid sickness), but all’s well now, and I’m glad you’re here for our weekly mini-interview with a fellow author.

This week it’s Katie Baldwin! Wahoo! Katie and I met through the Virginia Romance Writers, and let me say, she’s awesome. Full of pep and spunk and just a delight to be around – and her debut novel, A Kiss to Build A Dream On, debuts TODAY!

That’s right! Go scoop up a copy to help make the day truly special, will ya? And then settle in for a brief but blissful look into Katie’s life and her new book.


What inspires you to write?

A story, a weird thing someone told me, or just people watching at a cafe can start my mind going! I created “Kiss To Build a Dream On” because I received a gift from Russell Crowe after sending a fan note. He gave me chocolates, y’all!

Name two things people don’t know about you.

1. My first language was Portuguese (I lived in Brazil when I was a baby)

2. I trained to be an opera singer before moving on to writing. 

What one piece of advice do you wish you’d had when first starting out?

Write every day. Even if you don’t feel like it! Even if Grimm is on and you really want to watch it! (or is that just me?) I struggle with the habit of writing every day now and if I had started that way, I’d be a lot further in my writing!

Also, don’t take rejection so hard. Everyone gets it and eventually, you will be a better writer and someone will notice! 

Which type of romance do you love most, and why?

I have a weakness for the insecure or wounded woman who doesn’t realize how strong she is until – through the process of the story – she sees her own strengths. I like the alpha to be very alpha but aware that wounded women need to grow by themselves and don’t need saving. 


A Bit About A Kiss To Build A Dream On

Bethany Michaels leads a fairly isolated existence, but she longs to be an outgoing and sexually confident woman. When her celebrity crush comes to town, and literally falls at her feet, her prayers seem to be answered. But can she protect her heart while still experiencing true passion?

Hollywood celebrity Aidan Shannon, drunk and lost in small-town Virginia, finds himself in the home of a beautiful woman, and he finds her more than just a little alluring. Bethany is voluptuous and nurturing, fragile, yet steely. And that is a problem for a man who never wants to be tied to another woman again.

Living in the now is good enough for Aidan and Bethany for the short term. When the universe steps in and shows them what’s important, will Aidan take a chance on love a second time around when his girl needs him?

Find it on Amazon!


A Bit About Katie:

Katie Baldwin has a secret life. During the day she is a mild-mannered administrator at a University. By night she writes fantastical tales of romance and mystery. When she is not pacing her home working out dialogue in her mind, she is baking scones and working out dialogue in her mind. Aside from writing, she has a ferocious passion for the Green Bay Packers and Nutella. She can be found on twitter waxing eloquently about all of her passions. Go Pack Go!

Want to connect further with Katie? Find her here:

Facebook | Twitter | Website  


Thanks so much for being here, Katie! And congratulations on your new release!

Writer Wednesday: Meeting Tina Susedik!

Happy #WriterWednesday!

We’re just a few days away from Christmas (for those who celebrate it), so I’m bringing you an early present in the form of a mini-interview with Tina Susedik, author of books “where love abides through time.” Wahoo! Who doesn’t want THAT?

So grab that hot chocolate, kick up the feet, and take a break with Tina and me. 🙂


What inspires you to write?

Just about everything inspires me to write. I can’t imagine what it would be like to travel, go out to dinner, go for a walk, take a shower, etc. without thinking about writing a story, or having story ideas come flying at me. I’ll have to live to be two hundred to write all the ideas I have.

What one piece of advice do you wish you’d had when first starting out?

I wish I’d known how hard writing is. Not just writing the story, but the editing, editing, editing. Sometimes I’ve read my stories eight times before they go into print.

I also wish I’d known how hard it is to promote my work and how much I’d hate that part of the business.

Name two things people don’t know about you:

I’m also a photographer. I love taking pictures of old barns, birds, and nature. I also write under a pen name: Anita Kidesu.

One more thing: There is a scene in Never With a Rich Man that takes place in a restaurant. This scene actually happened to my (now husband) on our first date. Thankfully he asked me out again. The scene that follows, though, didn’t happen to us – we were only 18 at the time!


A Bit About Never With A Rich Man:

Cassie Jordan has been lied to, cheated on, and passed over for a promotion. All by men. She was tired of men. She didn’t need a man, and certainly not a rich man. Then she met Hogan Wynnters, and ordinary salesman – or so she thought.

Hogan Wynnters is part owner of a family business and has the kind of money Cassie despisese’s tired of women coming on to him because he’s rich. He decides to never tell a woman about his financial status until she gets to know him as a person. As an undercover FBI agent, he uses his knowledge of antiquities to find the people who are bringing stolen WWII artifacts into the country. Unfortunately, the woman he’s falling for is in the crosshairs of the FBI.

Can they work through their preconceived notions and find true love?

Find Never With A Rich Man on Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01MAXTN9A


TypewriterA Bit About Tina:

Tina has been married for over forty years and lives in northern Wisconsin. After careers in accounting and teaching (not necessarily at the same time), she found her career in writing is what fulfills her the most. Besides Romance, she writes children, military, and history books. When not writing, she loves camping, hiking, photography, reading and playing with her five grandchildren. She also writes as Anita Kidesu.

She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Wisconsin Romance Writers of America, and PAN (Published Authors Network).

Want to connect further with Tina? Find her here! 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads | Pinterest


Thanks so much for joining us, Tina!

Writer Wednesday: Meet Adriana Anders!

adriananew1of1-copyWelcome to Writer Wednesday! It’s a cool fall morning here in Virginia, and I’m snuggled up in my new purple pajamas with a cat on my lap, pleased as punch to bring you the marvelous Adriana Anders.

I had the pleasure of meeting Adriana a few years ago at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, and immediately fell in love with her. She’s charming, personable, a little wicked and a whole lot of fun, and NOW she has her first book coming out – HOORAY!

So enough from me – let’s hear from Adriana a little about herself and her upcoming release, Under Her Skin.


Hi Margaret! Thank you so much for hosting me! [ML says: The pleasure is mine. Truly.]

Which type of romance do you love most and why?

Love and journalI adore romance where the characters seem irredeemable, at first. When a heroine or hero is so far from perfect that they have to work hard for their Happily Ever After, I’m happiest. Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a master at this and I can’t get enough of her writing.

Tattooed muscular guyName one interesting thing you learned in researching/writing your last book:

It’s amazing how much I’ve learned with every book I’ve written. Did you know that tattoo removal is much more painful that getting them done? And you’d be shocked by some of the things that people use for tattoo ink. One that shocked me: melted tires!

Heart shaped book pagesWhat fellow romance author do you recommend reading, and why?

Because I’ve never been able to stop at just one of anything, here are a few: Amanda Bouchet. Her brand new fantasy, A Promise of Fire, is a fabulous, epic adventure; Anne Calhoun, whose steamy, smart romances always force characters into the toughest situations before they’re allowed to be happy; and if you like sexy, tattooed rebels, try upcoming author Kasey Lane. Beautiful Crazy is out in November and her books are as hot as they come.

female hands with small red heartWhat’s your favorite romance novel of all time and why?

I have a new favorite romance every month. However, my current obsession is with Susanna Kearsley, whose The Winter Sea is as beautiful as they come. It’s lyrical, emotional, and a little bit tragic, which is pretty much my happy place!


under-her-skin-copyA Bit About Under Her Skin (Blank Canvas Book 1):

Her Body is His Canvas

A darkly possessive relationship has left Uma alone and on the run. Beneath her drab clothing, she hides a terrible secret—proof of her abuse, tattooed onto her skin in a lurid reminder of everything she’s survived.

Caught between a brutal past and an uncertain future, Uma’s reluctant to bare herself to anyone…much less a rough ex-con whose rage drives him in ways she can’t possibly understand. But beneath his frightening exterior, Ivan is gentle. Warm. Compassionate. And just as determined to heal Uma’s broken heart as he is to destroy the monster who left his mark scrawled across the delicate tapestry of her skin.

Pre-order Under Her Skin: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Vintage TypewriterA Bit About Adriana:

Adriana has acted and sung, slung cocktails and corrected copy. She’s worked for start-ups, multinationals and small non-profits, but it wasn’t until she returned to her first love—writing romance—that she finally felt like she’d come home. Today, she resides with her tall French husband, two small children, and fat French cat in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she writes the dark, emotional love stories of her heart.

Adriana loves to hear from readers! Sign up for the latest freebies, giveaways and general tomfoolery or keep up with what’s happening on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – or on her blogs at www.adrianaanders.com and www.booksmarttarts.com


Thanks so much for hanging with me today, Adriana! (Can’t wait to do it again in real life!)