13 Nov #Blog Tour and @Giveaway Saddled Hearts by Jan Sikes #RomanticSuspense #ContemporaryRomance @JanSikes3
SADDLED HEARTS BLOG TOUR
It is my pleasure to welcome Jan Sikes again and to host Day 15 of hrt SADDLED HEARTS BLOG TOUR being held from October 19 through November 18. She is the author of the Romantic Suspense / Contemporary Romance, Saddled Hearts (The White Runes Series, Book 3), which was released by The Wild Rose Press, Inc on October 19, 2022.
Below, Jan Sikes discusses the process of writing her series and provides highlights from her book.
***
Thank you, Linnea, for offering to host a stop on the Saddled Hearts blog tour. Your support is much appreciated.
Today I want to talk about the process of writing a series. Characters get introduced in the first book as secondary players, then wind up with a book of their own. When I finished Ghostly Interference, I immediately knew that Vann Noble needed his own story, his happy ending. It was also in the first book I knew I wanted to write Colt Layne’s story.
I brought all the characters from the first two books into Saddled Hearts in some way or another. Some of them only got a mention, and others played parts in scenes. I loved bringing it all together in a culmination.
Here are a few examples where I could bring several characters from book one:
EXCERPT 1:
Jag finished attaching an iPod to the speaker system, and music blared. He lowered the volume before joining them. “I’m happy you’re here, Sage. Rena will be here soon with little Sam.”
“Wonderful. The baby is growing fast. Charlotte shows me pictures of him all the time. Will she and Damien be coming out?” She stood on her tiptoes and placed Colt’s hat back on his head, only lopsided.
“They’ll be here when the music starts. Hey, I’ve gotta run.”
EXCERPT 2:
Now it was time to relax and enjoy the rest of the event. She felt a satisfaction in knowing she’d contributed to the welfare of the horses.
“Sage!”
When she turned, Jag’s mother, Charlotte, and husband, Damien, hurried toward her, so she waited for them. “So glad you guys made it. You just missed the excitement.” She gave them both a quick hug.
EXCERPT 3:
“I really want you to meet my neighbors, Vann and Nakina Noble. I think you have a lot in common with Nakina. She has the gift of seeing, as in psychic visions.” Colt took a bite of his sandwich.
“I’d love to meet them. Will they be at the benefit?”
“No doubt they would, but Nakina is due to deliver their first baby any day. But at some point, I want you to meet them both.”
“I’d like that.” She meant it. She’d love to meet everyone in Colt’s world.
***
I’d love to hear your thoughts about characters showing up in each book of a series. Does it feel like visiting an old friend? Let’s talk!
Jan, I enjoyed reading about the various secondary characters you introduced in Books 1 and Books 2. One of the aspects that I like about your series is that each of the primary characters has a story to tell, but you also delve into secondary characters who add a rich texture to your story. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but weaving similar characters into each book makes me feel at home again, visiting old friends.
HIGHLIGHTS: SADDLED HEARTS
BOOK BLURB:
Colt Layne owns the Layne Horse Sanctuary. He lives an idyllic life between caring for the animals and playing music with his band. That is until a stranger appears with unreasonable demands. When someone murders the man, Colt is arrested. He’s been framed, but by whom and why?
He needs to talk with his deceased grandfather. But that’s impossible. Or is it?
Sage Coventry is gifted with the ability to communicate with the deceased. Skeptical but desperate, when Colt consults with her, he gets more than messages from beyond the grave as she breezes into his heart with sweet patchouli fragrance and tempting lips he longs to kiss.
The race against time to clear his name and save the ranch launches them on a mission that brings shocking revelations.
BOOK TRAILER: SADDLED HEARTS
CLICK UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK
AUTHOR BIO: JAN SIKES
SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: http://www.jansikes.com
BLOG: http://www.jansikesblog.com
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/jansikes3
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/jks0851/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095856.Jan_Sikes
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-sikes
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sikesjan/
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Sikes/e/B00CS9K8DK
GIVEAWAY
Let’s go on a scavenger hunt! Hidden
within the blog posts are clues you
will need to look for.
The theme is “Things You’d Find On
A Ranch.”
When you find these clues, email
your answers to me at
With CONTEST
In the subject line.
The person with the most correct
entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift
Card!
The runner-up will receive an eBook
Jan Sikes
Posted at 07:02h, 14 NovemberThank you, Linnea, for hosting me today! And thank you for your added comment about the primary and secondary characters. I am so glad you enjoyed the series!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 23:58h, 14 NovemberHi Jan–It was such a pleasure to host you and learn more about your 3rd book in the series. I’m really glad that you wrote about Colt because I really liked him in the first book. Saddled Hearts is on my TBR list. Best wishes on the release of your book!
Staci Troilo
Posted at 07:05h, 14 NovemberI’ve completed three series (so far) and have recurring characters in all of them. The callbacks are some of my favorite parts of reading and writing series. If you find characters you love, why leave them behind when you can visit them again, even if only in passing? I loved seeing your recurring characters, Jan. Best wishes with your book and series.
Linnea, thanks for hosting.
Jan Sikes
Posted at 13:15h, 14 NovemberI totally agree, Staci, and I just commented about your Keystone Couples series in my reply to Mae’s comment. I loved seeing the characters show up in minor roles. As you say, why leave them behind when they can add to the story. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment today!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 23:59h, 14 NovemberHi Staci–Thank you for visiting and commenting on Jan’s blog tour. I also loved seeing the recurring characters in the series.
Kymber Hawke
Posted at 07:14h, 14 NovemberI really love seeing this here today! I can’t wait to read this series!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:01h, 15 NovemberHi Kymber–Thank you for visiting and commenting on Jan’s blog tour of “Saddled Hearts.” I’ve really enjoyed the first two books in the series and look forward to Colt’s tale.
Mary Morgan
Posted at 07:28h, 14 NovemberI enjoy seeing other characters return in a series Well done, Jan!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:02h, 15 NovemberThank you, Mary, for visiting and commenting on the recurring characters in Jan’s series.
Harmony Kent
Posted at 09:11h, 14 NovemberGreat post, Jan and Linnea! Wishing you every success, Jan. Linnea thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week. Hugs 💕🙂
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:03h, 15 NovemberHi Harmony–Thank you for dropping by and commenting. It was a great pleasure to host Jan’s blog tour for “Saddled Hearts.” Hope you also have a fantastic week!
Mae Clair
Posted at 10:47h, 14 NovemberI always enjoy when characters repeat from one book to the next in a series. They become like family and old friends.
It’s great to see Saddled Hearts in the spotlight again. It’s a wonderful book (and series!) with fantastic characters. Wishing you all the best, Jan.
Thanks for hosting today, Linnea.
Jan Sikes
Posted at 13:12h, 14 NovemberI feel the same, Mae. I love it when I see characters show up, even for a small scene as part of a series. Staci did such a good job with that in her recent Keystone Couples series. It was great to see the characters playing smaller parts. Thank you for your comment today, and for your continued support!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:04h, 15 NovemberHi Mae–Thank you for visiting and commenting on the recurring characters in Jan’s series. It was a great pleasure to host Jan’s blog tour for “Saddled Hearts.”
John Howell
Posted at 10:48h, 14 NovemberCongratulations to Jan and thanks to Linnea for hosting
Jan Sikes
Posted at 13:10h, 14 NovemberThank you, John!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:05h, 15 NovemberThank you, John, for dropping in and congratulating Jan. It was a great pleasure to host Jan’s blog tour of “Saddled Hearts.”
D. L. Finn
Posted at 11:48h, 14 NovemberAnother great post! I loved seeing characters from past stories make an appearance 🙂 Thanks for hosting, Linnea 🙂
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:07h, 15 NovemberHi D.L.–Thank you for dropping in and commenting about the recurring characters in The White Runes series. It was a great pleasure to host Jan who writes from the heart.
Teri Polen
Posted at 15:14h, 14 NovemberI”m a big fan of characters showing up in subsequent books. I just read a YA mystery where some characters from one of the author’s other books got a mention – love those Easter eggs. Thanks for hosting, Linnea!
Jan Sikes
Posted at 19:17h, 14 NovemberThanks for chiming in, Teri. I agree with you. I love seeing those Easter eggs show up! I appreciate your support!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:09h, 15 NovemberThank you, Teri, for dropping in and commenting about using characters from subsequent books. It was a great pleasure to host Jan and her blog tour of “Saddled Hearts.”
Joan Hall
Posted at 15:45h, 14 NovemberWhen I write my first Driscoll Lake book, I’d planned it to be a stand-alone novel. However, one character begged me to tell his story. I couldn’t see writing only two, so I added a third book. Ironically, two minor characters from that one ended up being the lead characters in the first Legends of Madeira novel. So, yes, I do enjoy having characters show up in other books.
I’m so glad you wrote Colt’s story!
Jan Sikes
Posted at 19:18h, 14 NovemberI love that, Joan! Sometimes the characters surprise us and demand their own spotlight. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment today! I appreciate your support!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 00:13h, 15 NovemberHi Joan–Thank you for dropping in and relaying your experiences with using minor characters in other books. I’m now writing a YA novel about a minor character from my series. Readers made comments that they were disappointed that I did not tell more of her story. I agreed and am thus writing a YA novel about her that can be read as a standalone. I also look forward to Colt’s story.
Luciana
Posted at 20:41h, 18 NovemberI like having secondary characters, wanting to know their backstory is a powerful tool to have. Congratulations on the release of your new book and all the best.
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 22:22h, 18 NovemberHi Luciana–Thank you for visiting and commenting on secondary characters in a series. Good luck on your upcoming release, “Minotaur’s Liar.”