I received a message on Facebook the other day asking whether ROGUE MOON was the last in the Moonstruck series. I began an answer, got distracted, and never finished. I plan on discussing the question, and others, over the course of at least two posts (maybe more if I get sidetracked. 😆 )
Moonstruck is a serialized series, even though each book has it’s own beginning, middle, and end. I’m not sure it started out to be a serial, but it evolved into one. The best laid plans and all that, you know. 
Today, I’m talking about Moonstruck. Tomorrow, I’m going to talk about writing a series.
Originally, Moonstruck was one book: BLOOD MOON. But then Michael wanted his story told (BAD MOON), which led to Nate’s (HUNTER’S MOON), and then fans wanted Sean’s story (WOLF MOON). I knew Harjo needed his HEA (BRIDE’S MOON) and damn if Rudy didn’t tap me on the shoulder and explain how the story arc worked and along came ROGUE MOON.
About halfway through, I realized there was more to the story of the WOLVES and their fight with Black Root. How? By all the chapters I CUT from the books. I kept getting sidetracked with scenes and events that added to the whole story, but weren’t necessary for each individual story. If that makes sense. So…I got the bright idea that I’d create two “anthologies”–the first three books in one, the last three books in the second, with those bonus chapters I’d cut. And I’d release those books both digitally and in print. That’s still the plan, but there might be another novella out there because there was a twist at the end of ROGUE that caught me totally by surprise.
Then there’s the matter of a Navy SEAL Unit tucked away in the Florida Keys and the ultra secret Project Atlantis. Yeah, y’all thought I’d forgotten about them. I haven’t. But they’re being stubborn and say my security clearance isn’t high enough now. 🙄 That’s okay. I need to deal with Sade and the Penumbra Papers crew first.
Anyway, I don’t have hard release dates. I’m planning early in 2014, sooner if things go well. There’s something hanging out there on the edge I’m waiting to hear about that could shift timelines.
So that’s the state of the state where Moonstruck is concerned. Tomorrow, I’m going to talk about someone who knows how to plan and create a whole series of series. Seriously. I had no idea until I started reading her back list. Damn. I did it all backwards and I’m making up for lost time (and ground) now. Until tomorrow, then. In the meantime…
READERS, do you like the idea of serialized series? What about “omnibus” versions with added content?
WRITERS, do you intentionally set out to write a series that follows a pre-determined plot arc? If you do, how do you preplan?
Silver James 