I’ve been promising a post on the Riding Hard series, and things keep getting in my way (family and health stuff mostly). But, here goes:
Riding Hard: Jack will be the last book of the Riding Hard series.
Many of my other series are open-ended, and will continue as long as I have ideas for carrying the characters and story lines forward. (See The Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, which has 18 books and will hit 19 next year. Likewise Shifters Unbound, which I think is at 24 or something, including the shorter books.)
But sometimes, it’s time to let a series go. In Riding Hard’s case, the original five Campbell brothers and the two Malory brothers and Malory sisters have all had their happy endings (one Malory sister with Hal). Olivia, the Campbell clan matriarch, found later-in-life love in A Riverbend Christmas. And now Jack, friend of the Campbells and Malorys, will have his happy ending.
Origins: I’m going to confess that my entire motivation for writing the Riding Hard series was to find out if I could write contemporary romance.
When I first started going to writers meetings and workshops as an aspiring author, I was always the odd one out. Most of the authors I met wrote or wanted to write contemporary romance (either for HQ or other publishers).
I would announce, “I write historical romance and historical mystery!” and be subject to baffled stares. (This makes me laugh now.)
I did find success in both those genres, thankfully, and then included paranormal romance (because I grew up reading fantasy). But I always did wonder if I could pen a contemporary story.
My stumbling point came from one simple question: What do contemporary people do all day? I write books, read books, and go out to eat. With knitting and dollhouse building on the side. I thought a story about that would get boring very quickly.
Also, where would I set these books? I’m used to researching the history of England and Europe. My contemp romance people would probably live in the U.S. But where? That debate went on a long time.
I knew that I wanted to write about a family of brothers, which I enjoy (see the Mackenzies series). I wanted to have that family closeness, where there’s love, but they also drive each other nuts.
What kind of business should these brothers be in? I’ve only ever worked in academia and publishing, so my knowledge of what people do in an office is limited.
I felt like I was really, really bad at this.
Then, one of my author friends asked me if I had a contemporary Western romance I’d like to contribute to a Cowboy Romance boxed set she was putting together. I had one of those flashes of inspiration, and said, YES!
Of course, I had to write the book first.
From all the ideas swimming around in my head, plus the fact that I live in the West and used to ride horses a lot, the Campbell family was born.
I started with Adam, the oldest, who kicked off the series. He first appeared in the boxed set (which hit the USA Today bestseller list!), and then I released the book on its own.
I like to add a bit of a twist on whatever genre I’m writing, so I decided that instead of ranchers or rodeo competitors, the Campbell brothers would be stunt riders. Why not? They raise and train horses on their ranch, put on stunt shows, and provide stunt riding for any movie or TV work that comes their way. I picked the Hill Country of Texas, because it’s beautiful, and also I knew the Austin area (Shifters Unbound is set there).
Adam is more or less the head of the family, as their father passed away long ago. Olivia Campbell, his mom, raised five boys on her own–four biological sons and one adopted son. I have to admire her!
The series progressed from oldest to youngest: Adam, now a famous movie stunt rider, returns to Riverbend to recuperate from an accident, finding his childhood sweetheart, Bailey, working at his family’s ranch.
Grant, the second-oldest, has a turbulant one-again, off-again relationship with Christina (sister to Bailey), which comes to a head in his book.
Carter, adopted as a troubled teen, has a dark past that catches up with him in his story. Carter’s in love with Grace Malory–the Malorys are long-time rivals of the Campbells in all things.
Next comes Tyler, the charmer, who believes he’ll never, ever settle down with a woman. Until he’s rescued one day from a bad fight in a biker bar by the very hot lady bartender.
Ross, the youngest, was the only Campbell who turned away from the stunt-riding business. He’s a deputy sheriff, and intrigued by Callie Jones, daughter of one of the richest men in River County, untouchable. And then Callie desperately needs his help.
Once the five Campbells were married and having babies, I turned to the Malory family.
Ray and Kyle Malory (oldest to youngest), are champion bull riders and have two sisters, Lucy and Grace. Lucy departed for Houston to work in a highrise office job while Grace, the cook, tried to open her own bakery.
Grace was already with Carter by the time I started Kyle’s book, so she had her HEA. Lucy–poor Lucy–had to learn a few hard lessons in love before retreating to Riverbend.
For Kyle and Ray, which I wrote back-to back, I had the action in each book happen more or less simultaneously. So, events in Kyle’s book were mentioned in Ray’s, and vice versa. I didn’t simply put the same scenes in twice (that would get tedious quickly), but the books overlap and cross in what I hope is a fun way. I enjoyed the challenge, anyway!
Kyle ends up with Anna, the vet, with whom he has clashed over the years, and Ray with Drew, who came to Riverbend to save her grandfather’s B&B.
That left Lucy, licking her wounds back home, trying to find her place in small-town life once more. Good thing Hal, a strong, silent bull rider turned rodeo clown, is there to help her out.
And now, Jack Hillman.
Jack enters the series in Adam’s book, as a friend to Carter, but also to Ray Malory. (Jack completely ignores the rivalry between families). Jack’s an intriguing guy, not really a rancher or cowboy, but a bad-boy biker, out-of-place in Riverbend.
His heroine? Karen Marvin, who came to Riverbend in Grant. She was the ice-queen, rich b*t*h whom Christina feared would come between her and Grant.
Karen was a different character from the start. She wasn’t prepared to like the small town of Riverbend, but she ended up helping out not only Christina with Grant, but the entire town.
At first Karen was attracted to young cowboys (for reasons explained in Jack’s book), but now she’s intrigued by Jack and wonders if whatever this relationship they have is going anywhere …
I’m always fascinated by the woman no one likes, the one who is supposed to be the bad girl / villainess. What is her story? Why is she the way she is? Is she scared and vulnerable underneath? If given a chance, will she prove to be a decent person? Can we at least get to know her?
We do that in Jack.
And, here we are.
It was educational to write Riding Hard. I learned that I can write contemporary if I put my mind to it (and I wrote a series of four shorter contemporaries: The McLaughlin Brothers). But I probably won’t do more contemporary romance after this. (I fear to say never, absolutely, because I’ll then have this fantastic idea I can’t let go.)
I’ll just say I’m choosing to focus on my historical mysteries and paranormal and historical romances. Those are my strengths, and I’ll be leaning into them.
It’s hard for me to say goodbye to Riverbend, that fictional town in The Hill Country, with Mrs. Ward’s diner (and her apple pie); the Fall Festival; the horses, Buster and Bobby; Mrs. Kaye, who loves to give everyone advice; the deputies and Manny Judd; and the families and kids who have become like my own family.
But the books will always be here, in ebook or paperback, and in audio (with Eric Dove narrating all of them). In time, I might change the covers to make them more up-to-date, and hardback editions might come along if I see any interest in them.
So, here’s a farewell to Riverbend. I tried in Jack’s story to have a good ending for the entire town.
And they all lived happily ever after …
P.S.: More Shifters Unbound is coming very soon! (December) Stay tuned for details.
