April 3, 2008
Gayle Callen - Never Trust a Scoundrel
Written by Jaunty Guest in Jaunty PostHello! Thanks so much to the ladies of the Jaunty Quills for inviting me to blog. As you can guess, I’m here to talk about my new book, writing, and anything else you’re interested in! NEVER TRUST A SCOUNDREL was released this month by Avon, and it’s my sixteenth published book. Since I’ve been at this a decent amount of time now (ten years published), and this is the first book of a new series, I thought I’d share with you how I come up with my trilogies.
I can’t seem to conceive of an idea that stands alone. As I flesh out secondary characters, they’re always so interesting to me that they seem to demand their own book. Long ago I gave in to the inevitable and plotted in trilogies. After a while they even received trilogy names, like “Spies and Lovers,” “Sisters of Willow Pond,” and the newest, “Sons of Scandal.” I come up with an over-arching theme, like spies, penniless ladies, or with this new trilogy, a group of cousins who have to live with the scandal of their parents. I started with the male cousins first, and I hope to do a “Daughters of Scandal” trilogy next.
Each hero had to have his own reaction to the scandals in the family: one strives to be perfect, another tries to leave it all behind, and the third, Daniel Throckmorten of NEVER TRUST A SCOUNDREL, gives in to the notoriety and revels in his own scandals. Of course, our heroine, Grace Banbury, comes from a disgraced, scandalous family, and only wishes to live a quiet, secure life. They have opposite goals, which really helps the plotting! Daniel’s newest scandal involves a mortified Grace: he wins her in a card game against her mother. He offers his own wager to Grace: if he can’t seduce her into his bed in two weeks, she wins security for herself and her family. Grace thinks this will be easy, of course, since all she has to do is resist. But how can she resist a handsome, scandalous man, especially when she’s determined to reform him? If you want to check out an excerpt, you can visit my website at GayleCallen.com
I always try to make sure the reader doesn’t miss out if she reads the books out of order. So do you like reading trilogies, as long as each book stands alone?
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Julianne MacLean Says:
Hi Gayle - I like trilogies, but I also like for each book to stand alone.
Thanks for sharing how you come up with your ideas!
Gayle Callen Says:
Hi Julianne! You’re welcome!
Robyn DeHart Says:
I love trilogies and other series. And that book sounds positively delicious! Thanks for visiting with us, Gayle.
Margo maguire Says:
I love reading connected books! This series sounds great, Gayle - lots of room for conflict here. Your stories are always so engaging … I know I’ll enjoy this one, too.
limecello Says:
Hi Gayle,
Congratulations on the new release! As to reading trilogies/series… as long as each story can stand alone and has a happy ending. I love “revisiting” characters and finding out how each one’s story ends.
Gayle Callen Says:
I’m so glad everyone loves trilogies! I honestly don’t think I can plot one book alone. Thanks for your kind words.
And, limecello, I agree about revisiting characters. That’s always fun! Right now I’m plotting the last book in my “Sons of Scandal” trilogy, so I’ve already written myself notes to check if any previous characters might be pregnant yet. We know how virile our heroes are… ha!
Virginia H. Says:
Hi Gayle, I really enjoy trilogies as long as each book stands alone. Sometimes it takes a while to get all of the books and you don’t always get them in order. So if they stand alone its no big deal. I do enjoy finding out what happens to each charactor.
Dorothy Says:
Hello Gayle! I love reading books that are connected where you get to revisit characters from other books and see how they are doing. I’m looking forward to reading
Dorothy Says:
oops…that sent before I could finish. it should read….
I’m looking forward to reading NEVER TRUST A SCOUNDREL.
and might I add that I have enjoyed every book of yours that I have read!
Gayle Callen Says:
Thanks, Dorothy and Virginia! Virginia, I’ve had the occasional reader who likes connected books so much, she won’t read them until she has them all, even if it’s a wait of a couple years.
Dorothy, I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my books. Books have always been like a secret friend to me, and it always pleases an author to know we can bring readers a smile.
Serenissima Says:
Hello Gayle,
I am a very big fan of conneted books! The best part is that you can revisit characters you already know and cherish. You can have another look to their lifes and see how they are doing maybe couple of years later. I think that most of the books I own are actually parts of series…
Gayle Callen Says:
Serenissima, I agree about visiting characters a couple years later–but I seem to have a problem. When I plan the trilogies, they seem to all take place within a couple months. I’ll have to do a better job next time of making some time pass. I need to see babies!
Helen Says:
Hi Gayle I too love connected books I have read the Sisters of Willow Pond and loved it I also have all the books in The Spies and Lovers series here to read and I picked up two of your early books last weekend His Scandal and His Bride and I have the new book on my shelf and I am really looking forward to reading it. I love your books.
Have Fun
Helen
Fedora Says:
Hi, Gayle! Another big fan of related stories–I’m a bit of a stickler for trying to get all the books before starting (so as to have all the ducks in a row, so to speak) but have occasionally read out of order. I do prefer the books to stand alone if possible, especially if they aren’t released simultaneously. I’ve always hated those season-ending cliffhangers! What!? I have to wait until next year!??
Jane Says:
Hi Gayle,
Will from “No Ordinary Groom” is one of my favorite heroes. Can’t wait to read your new book. I like stand alones, but I also enjoy series. I like reconnecting with characters from previous books.
Gayle Callen Says:
Ah, Fedora, so you’re one of the fans who likes to buy all the books first before reading. I’m always so impressed with such willpower!
Helen, thanks so much for going to so much trouble to find my earlier books! Hope you like the new one!
Jane, Will was such a complicated character to write, a man who didn’t know who he was after so many years being a spy and portraying so many other people. I really enjoyed the challenge!
Right now, I’m writing a story about a man who returns from the grave only to find out he has a wife he didn’t know about. Such fun!
Karen H in NC Says:
Hi Galye,
Fancy meeting you here. I was just at your website and read the excerpt for your new book. Can’t wait for it to come out. Love that beautiful cover too. Your plans for future books sound very interesting.
Like others, I enjoy a stand alone book, but I do prefer books in series and will wait until I have all of the books at hand before I start to read them. I’m not sure why, but I’ve always done this…too old to change now. LOL
Gayle Callen Says:
Hi Karen, glad you enjoyed the excerpt. The book is already on the shelves, so you should be able to find it. Of course, it’s the first of three, and since you collect them, the second would be out in December. Not sure about the third, which I’m writing now.
Shana Says:
Gayle, thank you so much for blogging with us today! I loved reading about your process. I have such a hard time planning my series. I like things to happen organically. Funny because I’m such a planner in every other aspect of my life. The new book looks fabulous. The cover is super eye-catching. Can’t wait to start reading!
catslady Says:
I prefer them to stand alone too, otherwise I go crazy trying to get all the books at once so I can read them in order right away. Many times I don’t always have the first book and so it just sits on my tbr pile forever.