As the story goes (and I’m sure it’s true), one of my writer heroes, Nora Roberts, started her writing career one day when she was snowed in, bored, and desperate for something to do. And because I have SO MUCH in common with Nora– Really! I do!
See this post here for the crazy run-down on my obsession with Nora. (Note that the post linked is from 2009 and the giveaway at the end of the post is no longer available.)
Anyway, back to me. Or maybe that was about me, too. Okay, it’s always about me. Never mind.
Back to WRITING. And being snowbound, ice-bound, trapped, and going crazy. Yeah, that’s been me this past week. And between carrying buckets of water to the barn yard because all the outside faucets are frozen, I went a little stir crazy stuck in the house. I started doing something I haven’t done in YEARS.
I started writing fiction again. Some of you know that in a previous life in an alternate universe, I had 26 romance novels published. I gave up romance writing to create and write Chickens in the Road. Then I wrote a memoir, which was published this past October. (Have you read it yet? Find out more about my memoir here.)
But this past week, I felt the sudden urge to write again what I haven’t in years. Fiction. And to do what my old romance writer friends have been urging me to do for the past couple of years–make it available myself, via digital format. The writing world has changed drastically since I was last writing fiction. Many (and well-known) authors are leaving traditional publishers these days and publishing digital directly to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. I’ve been cutting out the “middleman” (publishers) for years writing here on my website, so this idea appeals to me. As an experienced writer, I know I can provide a quality product–at a lower cost–directly to readers. I’ve always been one to take risks in publishing, and pursue new adventures, and this is one for me. I just needed the right idea. I woke up at 4 a.m. one morning last week suddenly possessed with that right idea, got up, and started writing.
I’m planning a series of novella-length books. Before I get to the description, let me state clearly–these are NOT children’s stories. These novellas are intended for adults (and mature teens). NOT children. What I’m writing is a sexy cozy mystery series. Here is the blurb for the first one, which I’m writing now.
MURDER AT THE BARN DANCE
A “Maia Saves the Day!” MysteryIntrepid farm girl Zoey Granger is just trying to carve out an independent life as a writer and photographer, but murder seems to follow her just as closely as her little pet goat, Maia. Not to mention a handful of ex-boyfriends. And when one of them starts receiving death threats, Zoey can’t help but get involved. Someone’s out to get cattleman J.T. Martin, but it will take Zoey—-and the tutu-wearing goat who always finds the clue—-to uncover the secret truth and bring order back to Sugarberry, West Virginia.
That’s right. These are sexy cozy mysteries with, of course, human characters, but the heroine’s sidekick is her crime-solving, tutu-wearing pet goat–who always finds the clue! What a blast is that? I have had more fun writing this than anything I’ve written in a long time.
In case you’ve forgotten what Maia looks like in her tutu:
MURDER AT THE BARN DANCE, the first in the series, will be available for download within a few weeks. I’ll post here (of course!) when it’s on Amazon etc. I will be making it available for a budget price, and I hope you will have as much fun reading these stories as I’m having writing them. I’ll follow up with a new “Maia Saves the Day!” story every couple of months.
Meanwhile, I’m also looking into getting rights reverted on many of my previously published romances that are no longer available so that I can also put them up on Amazon and other outlets for download. This includes a number of romantic comedies, romantic suspenses, as well as my medieval trilogy. These are books that haven’t been available for YEARS in any format. (All of my Silhouette novels are currently available digitally. The books I’ll be making available are my other ones from other publishers.)
P.S. While the “Maia Saves the Day!” series is based loosely on what I know, these stories are NOT memoirs. They are fiction. Okay, Maia is real.
But that’s all!
(I wish that photo was current–it’s not. We are covered up in snow and ice here.)
lauren says:
How exciting!!! Looking forward to it 🙂
On January 27, 2014 at 7:37 am
GA_in_GA says:
Ohhhh, what a great idea for a series!
On January 27, 2014 at 7:38 am
Glenda says:
Good for you! I am totally addicted to my Kindle.
On January 27, 2014 at 7:41 am
MMHoney says:
GOOD MORNING TO ONE AND ALL.
I TOO AM A LONG TIME READER OF NORA/JD ROBERTS. IN MY LEDGER I HAVE LISTED 52 OF HER BOOKS.. READING IS ONE OF THE THINGS I MISS MOST.
THANK GOD MY COMPUTER HAS THE ENLARGING FEATURE.
ENJOY EACH DAY THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED.
On January 27, 2014 at 9:04 am
pugwaggin says:
:sun: I look forward to reading your novella. I would love to be as creative as you. Wishing you more success in your writing!
On January 27, 2014 at 9:17 am
amateisgal says:
I am THRILLED to read this, Suzanne! That’s how I first met you – through your website/blog when you were writing your romance novels. I’ve been following you ever since (in a non-stalker kind of way. :wave: )
These stories sound absolutely delightful. I can’t wait to read them. And as a fellow fiction writer, I am so glad you’re delving back into that world!
On January 27, 2014 at 9:25 am
Ag Adventure says:
This is great news! I was just telling your life story, okay well what I know of it, to my boyfriend last night as I shoved your most recent book at him. I finished it in a day and a half, and said something to him to the effect of: “Read this. It is my life goal.” I am so excited to be able to read more of your works!
Do you think this will lead you to having another writing workshop concurrent with the family cow, or anything else?
On January 27, 2014 at 9:34 am
bonita says:
Hot diggity!!! A farm-based cozy!! Cozy mysteries are my favorite guilty pleasure. Yippee! At least something good is coming from this dreadful over-blown winter.
On January 27, 2014 at 9:48 am
Pat says:
I love it! Loved your book and look forward to your novellas. I’ll be sure my Nook is fully charged. The Maia assistant is awesome. :snoopy:
On January 27, 2014 at 12:10 pm
GrammieEarth says:
I’m not sure that I have ever read a ‘cozy mystery’. Sounds like it doesn’t go too in depth, perfect for times of waiting! Guess I will Google!
I LOVE MY PAPER BOOKS!. I have refused to get a Kindle, or any other brand of digital reader. Will there be a way to download to my regular computer, so I can read from here? I am seriously lacking in the computer skill area. Point and click all the way :help:
Loved your book, and my “not a reader” neighbor did too!
Pam
On January 27, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
If you have a cell phone, you can get a Kindle app and read books on your phone. I have a Kindle, but I haven’t used it in a couple years–I read books on my phone with my Kindle app! I always carry my phone around with me anyway, and that way I don’t have to also carry my Kindle.
On January 27, 2014 at 1:59 pm
NancyL says:
Love the new project! I can hardly wait! And I’ve learned the Savannah library system has your memoirs – can’t wait to read that!
Nancy in Savannah (since 1/14)
On January 27, 2014 at 2:32 pm
outbackfarm says:
Ok, when you say available for download, does that mean you are only going to sell for like Kindle or whatever else those things are? Will there be an actual book to hold in my hand, like ON PAPER? Because that’s the only way I know how to read a book. I don’t like all that technical stuff. Just wondering.
On January 27, 2014 at 2:41 pm
outbackfarm says:
Forgot to say that the book sounds really good just reading that little bit. And I love murder mysteries. And with a tutu wearing goat? Even better!
On January 27, 2014 at 2:42 pm
CeiteagBurgess says:
You can download a free kindle reader for your computer (if you don’t do mobile phones or e-readers) on Amazon.com and read the books released only digitally that way, too.
On January 27, 2014 at 3:39 pm
GrammieEarth says:
Ok…Sounds like I really need to get a cell from this century! Mine works for me as I don’t love phones, but when someone tries to send me a picture it comes up in a 2 x 2 square that I can’t do anything with except wish it was bigger! Oh the pressure!! 😆
Pam
On January 27, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Pam, you would love it! Thought as another commenter has noted, you can also download it to your computer. This is really the best way for me to make it easily available for the lowest price. If I did print books myself, that would be SO expensive. I don’t want to do it that way. I want it to be available easily for a nice budget price, and that means digital!
On January 27, 2014 at 4:21 pm
denisestone says:
OMG! I can’t wait! I love mysteries. I love goats! I’ve read mysteries that involve cats, but never goats.
I CANNOT WAIT!
Hurry up woman!
Denise
On January 27, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Canner Joann says:
Yay!
On January 27, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Jan in PDX says:
What fun! I wouldn’t wish piles of snow on anyone, but in your case it might seems it’s not a bad thing!
On January 27, 2014 at 6:24 pm
whaledancer says:
Well, there’s something to be said for all that snow, after all. I just got a digital book reader this week (decided it was time to enter the 21st century), so I’m all set.
Not knowing the publishing biz, may I ask, if your books are a hit in digital format, would a publisher ever want to print them?
On January 27, 2014 at 8:48 pm
whaledancer says:
PS I love the Maia butt photo, especially that little white tail.
On January 27, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Katharina says:
I do look forward to reading your fiction. I have tried to get any of your books used at our library or at the Friends of the Library book store. That had loads of romance novels but none of yours (sorry). Only one of your romance novels is available on line from our library, so YOU GO GIRL! Get those stories out there for us to download. Also looking forward to mysteries on the farm. Maia will love being the heroine. I hope it doesn’t go to her head!
On January 27, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Katharina says:
Snow, snow, snow here also (Wisconsin) and minus 40 degrees wind chill, so it is simply painful to be outdoors. Lots of reading going on here, so write fast! We love your stories, Suzanne.
On January 27, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Diane says:
That is great you are writing fiction again. I think the time is right for you too. I need to get my hands on your latest book yet. I think I might make it one of my summer reading books. When I have time to take it all in. 🙂
On January 28, 2014 at 8:06 am
jodiezoeller says:
I have to say YAY! I’m ready for anything you write. I have an old slightly dying Kindle but also use the Kindle Reader app on my phone and the Kindle Cloud reader on my computer. It’s pretty easy, I think non-tech people that are “motivated” will be able to figure out the cloud reader. Basically you’re reading a book that is stored on the Amazon website that holds the books that you’ve bought from them. By the way, readers there is a neat service called Bookbub.com where you get a daily email of some free or low cost books. I stay over-stocked on mystery books that I got for free this way.
On January 28, 2014 at 11:42 am
Jan in PDX says:
Katharina, if you go to http://www.powells.com/ and do a search for Suzanne McMinn, you’ll see that they have several (14 at this moment) used copies of Suzanne’s romances for sale.
Powells Books frequently has books that can’t be found anwhere else. 🙂
On January 28, 2014 at 1:27 pm
angiemay says:
Yeah – I look forward to them 🙂
On January 28, 2014 at 2:48 pm
ibpallets (Sharon B.) says:
This is awesome! Can’t wait- I love mysteries!
Are you doing any retreats this year?
On January 28, 2014 at 7:35 pm
joykenn says:
All of you are probably reading the blog on a computer and Kindle has an app that will allow you to read Kindle versions of books on a computer.
On February 1, 2014 at 4:27 pm