I took a chance on Kat and Sloane in The Plus One Chronicles Trilogy.
A HUGE chance that involved months and months of hard work. But I believed in these two characters almost as much as I believe in me and Wizard.
Kat, so broken and afraid, yet longing to be whole and strong. In spite of the attack she endured, she refuses to be bitter or hard. Instead, she’s my beautiful survivor with a victorious heart. I love her with all my writer’s passion. She grows from a pretty timid mouse to a capable woman over the trilogy…
But can she save Sloane from his obsession?
And then there’s Sloane. Ex UFC fighter and self-made billionaire. A true alpha man, strong and powerful, yet not a jerk. He sees Kat and he’s can’t walk away. But Sloane has a dark, agenda and a tortured soul that is visible to only a very select few. Sloane’s emotional scars run as deep as Kat’s physical ones (on her leg). What captured my writer’s passion about him is the way he sees Kat, treats her and eventually, loves her. The mark of any man is how he treats those more vulnerable than him. He treats Kat with respect and attraction that grows into something more powerful than either of them imagined.
Powerful enough to kill for her.
Sloane hold her tight…
Even knowing he’ll have let her go…
I took a chance. I knew it was unlikely a publisher would take the chance on these two unless I watered them down. But I couldn’t do that. So I decided to go Indie (self publishing) the series of books. Writing them in a trilogy as it’d be too big for one book. The I wrote and rewrote and laid awake nights worrying.
As POSSESSION, book 2 in Kat and Sloane’s story released, the feedback has been truly amazing and touching. Readers are connecting with Kat and Sloane and that means everything to me. These two came to me in a very tough time when I was exhausted and so worried about BLB’s (my son who suffered an injury nearly as severe as Kat’s in the books) recovery and future.
Sloane whispered that I should take a chance and tell their story. Just go for it.
Kat asked me, “Hasn’t BLB’s freak accident taught you anything? Embrace today and live because no one knows what will happen tomorrow.”
So despite the bills, the brutal writing schedule, the doubters badgering me, I dove into their story. And you all on this blog were right there with me for which I’m very grateful. But now I’m so happy I did. I still have Kat and Sloane’s last book, Obsession, to write. The second half of this year will be even more stressful. But I’m excited to finish their story and wouldn’t change a thing.
Sometimes we just have to go for it.
I took a chance. What about you? Are you taking chances?
May 29th, 2013 at 2:39 am · Link
What a great post Jenn. I am so happy you took the chance as I really love these two. I think we all have a bit of Kat in us and that makes it easy to connect with her.
Don’t worry we’ll be here to help you through the stress of OBSESSION :).
The only real chance I ever took was leaving all those I new when I was 22 and moving to Ohio. I could have stayed in NY but the job offers weren’t as good. My move paid off. I have a great family and an amazing life :).
Have a great day!
May 29th, 2013 at 3:28 am · Link
I love these two so I’m really happy that you took the chance to get their story out there. To a point we all have a bit of both Kat and Sloane in us, some more than others, and some have more of one or the other, but we all have a bit of both.
We will all be here for you until the end of the series, and the next . Why wouldn’t we, we love you.
To be honest I took a chance when I was in the fifth grade with what I started reading. For the longest time I would only read things like children’s books and sci-fi, then I started other genres, like romance and mystery, (young yes but with my mom and sister reading what they do it was only a matter of time) and I loved them. I became closer to both my mom and my sister, and I found a way to go places that I could only imagine. It helps that when I read it plays out like a movie in my head.
So, thank you for taking a chance and writing Kat and Sloane’s story, we all thank you, we love them.
Have a great day, and don’t stress too much!
May 29th, 2013 at 6:13 am · Link
I’m so glad you took a chance on Kat and Sloane. Theirs really is a great story. And I’m ecstatic that the books are doing well. Yay!
Looking back, I guess every so often I just leap off into space and hope I sprout wings (or that the ground rushing up at me isn’t nearly as hard as it looks). Some chances have grown wings; others have ended with me smushed flat. We’re still working on this latest experiment in flight – where we both jumped off and we’re holding hands on the way. It’s not a free-fall this time – more of a glide – but time will tell whether we’ll soar.
Now I just need to take a flying leap with my work and either get someone interested enough to publish it or publish it my own damn self. ;o)
May 29th, 2013 at 6:57 am · Link
Yes I really connect with Kat and not just because of the name.
Me I am working to be ready for when my chance comes. Building up my courage and self esteem. I know that it is coming but I am not sure as to how to make it happen for me. I have to find the right peices to make it all fit. Then pray I have enough guts to grab it with both hands when it comes by. Because this time it would be just for me when it happens. I can take care of everyone else around me with out batting an eye but I am scared @#$** about risking some thing for myself.
Risking self is the hardest thing and I am inspired by the risk you took in self publishing and by the courage and perserverence that the others at this site share.
May 29th, 2013 at 9:04 am · Link
Kat, love the gravatar pic! *bwahaha* I recognize that book.
Jen, I love Kat and Sloane and their story is an amazing one. So glad you took that chance!
Me? I take a chance every time I sit down at the computer. Still picking splinters out of my arse from bouncing along the tops of trees while waiting to soar and touch the clouds, but I hope to be there some day. In the meantime, enjoy the hell out of it, lady!
May 29th, 2013 at 11:39 am · Link
Viki, that’s a great story! It had to be scary to leave all you know, but as my middle son would say, the bigger the risk the bigger the payoff.
I hope readers see themselves in Kat I really do. So many of us don’t see and value our own strengths.
May 29th, 2013 at 11:42 am · Link
Amanda, I love that! Reading really does expose us to new worlds, ideas and even solutions.
Thank you on Kat and Sloane! I still love my witches and Wingslayers, but Kat and Sloane are more “real.”
I’m not stress too much, Bailey’s here! He’s insisting on playing, going for walks and lots of attention
May 29th, 2013 at 11:46 am · Link
B.E., you did take a huge leap with your latest adventure! I’m sure it’s going to payoff in ways you never imagined.
Self publishing is a viable option. But don’t give up on publishers if that’s what YOU want. Or do both, self publish the project you think might be too out-of-the-box for NY, and keep submitting your more traditional projects. I believe in you!
May 29th, 2013 at 11:52 am · Link
Kat, first LOVE THE AVATAR!! So cool! Just seeing that cover invokes such nostalgia in me.
As a caretaker personality, I don’t think you’re alone in the way yo feel. But damn, woman, I am proud of you for working on breaking out just for yourself! It took me a long time to get there, and I am beyond fortunate with Wizard at my side. Not everyone has that support. You can do it, Kat. As a friend once told me: Believe in yourself first, and others will follow. You can do it, Kat!
I’m very pleased you connect with Kat too
May 29th, 2013 at 11:55 am · Link
Silver, you’re so ready to soar! I know it! But so there with you on the splinters We will keep getting them, it’s just part of the process. Even when we do soar, there’s always a landing in our future–sometimes it’s smooth, sometimes its a hard landing and once in a while, it’s a full on crash landing. But we don’t give up, right?
June 2nd, 2013 at 2:29 pm · Link
WOW Jen … I saw the blurbs on FB but was always to busy or distracted to delve more into their story or learn about the background info that lead to this story in the first place … I should have sooner but then again I’m kinda glad I didn’t.
1. there are already two books for me to catch up on
2. when I’m actively writing my own story I try to stay away from what others are writing ’cause I don’t want to be influenced. As it is, I can see a few similarities between Amy and Kat (including a scar) so I’m happy to say they are just coincidences.
But mostly, I am thrilled you took this chance, believed enough in your characters and story to follow through on your own, it really encourages me to keep at it and stay true to my story !!!