Fans fuel a series…

Date: August 14, 2019

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Five years ago this month I released my first Haunting Danielle book. Back then it wasn’t called The Ghost of Marlow House. At the time I had named it Haunting Danielle, Book 1. While I had intended to write more books in the series, I hadn’t intended to give them each regular titles.

After releasing the first few books in the series I realized what a foolish idea that had been. I went back and gave each book its own title. It was one reason the series name, Haunting Danielle had been so prominent on the covers early on. Although one reviewer once accused me of doing that so it would make it harder for reviewers to find my books to be reviewed. (I have to admit, that theory cracked me up—it also made absolutely no sense.)

Haunting Danielle was a serious genre hop for me. Back then I was writing romance under my Anna J. McIntyre pen name. As a younger reader, romance had been my favorite genre. But romances had change, and as a writer, I had also changed.

I was having moderate success at my romances, and when I tossed out the idea of genre hopping to paranormal cozy mystery a number of writer friends whom I respect advised me not to do it. In many cases that is not bad advice. Genre hopping can be a killer for a new writer’s career.

But I really—really wanted to write Haunting Danielle. I confess, I had no clear picture where I planned to take the series, I just knew I wanted to write that first book.

Now to the title of this blog post—Fans fuel a series. I sincerely believe that without the feedback from my readers—through reviews, emails, blog comments, and Facebook posts, I would not be preparing to release Book 22.

My Haunting Danielle fans have inspired me as much as that muse sitting on my shoulder whispering story ideas into my ear. And to them, I am eternally grateful. I am so enjoying this adventure, and I hope to continue bringing my readers stories they will enjoy.

How we leave our readers…

Date: September 7, 2017

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Categories: Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

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Before our family moved to Havasu in 1968, we spent summer vacations at the beach. It was either Newport or San Clemente. Each day there, I rode the waves on my canvas surf rider. The thought of sharks never entered my mind as I swam out to meet the waves. But then, when I was in college, I did something foolish. I read Jaws.

Jaws forever altered my relationship with the sea. Ocean waves became a scary, unsafe place. I suspect I’m not the only person changed by Jaws.

But, it isn’t just about sharks. Writers have been instilling fears—sometimes irrational, sometimes rational—into its readers—or movie goers. I imagine the fear of clowns came from creepy clown cinema. There are probably some people out there who cower behind a shower curtain, and no doubt the need for a child (or even adult) to check under the bed before going to sleep was probably inspired by some horror movie.

I’ve an active imagination, and I am fairly confident that if I wanted to—I could write terrifying books of horror. But, when I consider doing that, I ask myself, do I really want to inspire the type of fear that could possibly linger and prevent the reader from doing something he or she once loved? Like I once loved riding the surf.

A while back I received a fan letter from a reader, who told me she once had a fear of ghosts. The thought of ghosts—the possibility of ghosts—terrified her. But then she started reading my Haunting Danielle series, and she began seeing ghosts—even the possibility of ghosts—in an entirely new light. She was no longer afraid of them.

While it’s a writer’s job to stir a wide range of emotions in the reader—including fear—when the story is over, I rather like the idea of leaving the reader in a better, happier place.

Spending time with some real characters!

Date: August 6, 2017

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Categories: Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

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This week while The Ghost and the Bride is off with the beta readers, I will be spending time with two young people who inspired my character Evan MacDonald. Readers know young Evan as the police chief’s youngest son, who, like Danielle, can see ghosts.

The inspiration for that character came from my two grandchildren, Addison and Evan. I gave Evan MacDonald my grandson’s first name, and I made him the same age as my granddaughter.

The description of young Evan MacDonald was inspired by my grandson. Yet, I don’t think my Evan can see ghosts. Although…if you look at the photo (taken last year), maybe Evan has just stopped to chat up a spirit.