D. G. Driver
  • D. G. Driver
    • About Me
  • MY BOOKS
    • Songwriter Night
    • Dragon Surf
    • Lost on the Water
    • The Juniper Sawfeather Trilogy >
      • Cry of the Sea
      • Whisper of the Woods
      • Echo of the Cliffs
    • Chasing the Romantics
    • No One Needed to Know
    • All the Love You Write
  • Short Fiction and Plays
    • "Mother's Night Out"
    • "King or Beggar"
    • "The Ticket to Her Heart"
    • "Hallway of Three Doors"
    • My Plays
  • Write and Rewrite Blog

Author D. G. Driver's
Write and Rewrite Blog

“There are no bad stories, just ones that haven’t found their right words yet.”

​A blog
mostly about the process of revision with occasional guest posts, book reviews, and posts related to my books.


Button Text

Wait... You Wrote a Non-Series Series?

12/11/2014

 
Picture
I'd like to introduce you to my next guest author who is sharing her sequel writing story: JD Spikes, author of the Secret Journals series. When she first approached me about being part of this line-up I was hesitant, because her books, while related, aren't necessarily sequels. They are a series with different characters and settings and a common thread that ties them together. However, I thought it over, and I realized that what she had done as an author was extremely clever and creative. It also took a lot of guts to keep writing books with the hope that her readers would stick with her from story to story. Please enjoy what she has to say about all of this.


Jeanine (JD) Spikes:
Yes – you could see the question practically scroll across their eyes when I discussed my young adult books with anyone. I understood the weirdness of my vision, but I couldn’t stop it. It felt too right. Let me explain.

While at my local Borders to buy a sketch pad for my artist son and a lined journal for my writer son, I stumbled on a small journal that called to me and wouldn’t let go. It was emerald green velvet with the embossed word ‘Journal’ on it. I circled that bargain bin, wove through the book aisles, circled the bin again. Thought about the café. Returned to the bin. In the end, I bought that little journal, brought it home, and decided I’d use it as a diary.  Just like the heroines of my favorite Victorian novels did, circa Victoria Holt. How cool would that be?

The next day I started writing in it, just a paragraph to see how it felt. To my surprise I realized what I wanted to write wasn’t from me or about me, but from a young girl with a secret. I mean, I was already an author for adults, so I knew a story when I heard it. This story had a teen telling it, though.   

Hmmm. Okay.

The Secret Journals were born.

I really thought I was writing one story. In it’s inception it was called “The Velvet Journal”, Daphne Wentworth’s retelling of the summer of her 17th year, when she met Zach Philbrook at a haunted lighthouse and her life changed forever. Then I went back to Borders. Straight to the gift area where the journals were displayed.

 Another journal caught my eye. I didn’t know why – it didn’t look like a diary, like the first one. It was smaller and leather, with a leather cord that wrapped around it and tucked in, to keep it closed. No lines on the inside of this one. You could jot notes to yourself, a sort of working journal, or sketch if you had the need. Why might you have that need?

 The Leather Journal’s Therese Berard rehabs houses with her dad. He’s a contractor and she does the window dressing. He doesn’t know how she always gets it right, doesn’t know she’s an empath with psychometric abilities. Houses ‘speak’ to her. When they land the Braeburn House rehab and she inadvertently leaves her leather journal there, everything changes. Pictures show up in it. Someone challenges the changes. And then her best friend’s big brother sticks his nose in.

 Different locations, different characters, different outcomes. But ALL journal-centric, in spooky places in New England, with a triangle of teens and a supernatural element. No-brainer, in my mind. Keep it going.

So I did. I realize now, though, that I started to look at journals differently, different than the average buyer. I look for one that jumps out at me, intrigues me. One that says ‘I have a story to tell’. As the stories came, I wrote them. And I started trying to sell them.

The traditional publishers weren’t loving a non-series series, especially one with unconnected titles, like

The Velvet Journal, The Leather Journal, The Shadow Journal…. I get it. How would they promote it? How do you get kids interested in a group of books that do not have the same characters coming back, the same locations, the same plot lines, when the industry is focused on Trilogy and Series?

Enter the small publisher. I’d sold a novella to them as part of an anthology. They knew my work. They knew my work ethic. They said, yes – let us check it out. Awesome! They bought it.

I asked them, putting this article together, what made them decide to buy it? Why, when Big Six gatekeepers (editors and agents) didn’t want to take a chance, would they? Lachesis gave permission to share their response. From my Lachesis editor, Joanna D’Angelo (whom I love):

The reason why we signed you on is quite simple. You're a talented writer and a gifted story teller.

I think that a book series has to have room to grow and expand, just like a TV series does. Look at American Horror Story - it changes season to season but it is still in the realm of the "macabre".  Even a "non-series" series like yours, or perhaps an "alternative YA series" has a "link" or connection. It could be a thematic one, or a symbolic one. In your case the idea of a secret journal - a different secret journal in each book that, once found, has a great impact on the heroine and hero.

What drew me to your book was, first and foremost, a darn good story. But what I also like about your work is that you weave multiple layers in your stories that explore socio-cultural issues, with a poignant sensitivity. There is also humour which is also a good thing. But I also love that the story is spooky, "old school" style, which I love.

Spooky old school is how I’d seen it, too.

So the truth I’ve found, that I’ve taken away from writing this article – which made me think and question WHY, is – bottom line? What I’ve heard all along. You have to write a damn good story. You have to believe in that story. Then you have to find someone who loves the story, your voice. And if it feels like a great connection? Don’t let go.

You know you want a get her books now. They sound pretty cool!

Lachesis Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

Follow JD Spikes
http://tinyurl.com/CONTACT-ME-JD-Spikes
www.jeanineduvalspikes.wix.com/jeanineduvalspikes

Joanna D'Angelo link
12/12/2014 04:57:35 am

JD, I love your post. And I adore you and your writing! I think your idea is very clever. I can completely see how those journals called to you. I have collected journals over the years too. Sometimes I write in them, and sometimes I save them to give as gifts to friends whom I know will appreciate them. Journals are wonderful secret keepers. :) Can't wait for the next one! xo jojo

JD Spikes
12/12/2014 11:42:39 pm

Thanks, Jojo! I can understand collecting journals - there are so many different ones out there today. I spend as much time at the bookstore looking at them as I do at books!

JD Spikes
12/12/2014 10:12:06 am

DG, I love what I've read on your blog so far; your thoughts and the posts from fellow YA authors. It's an honor to be included :)

I've always been what my parents called "thick" (the -headed is silent), so I guess in a way it's no surprise I kept going with the journals against the odds. Glad I did, though. They're such fun to write.

Anita Greene
12/12/2014 11:29:46 am

JD, great post. Loved hearing how you began writing these stories.

JD Spikes
12/12/2014 11:49:45 pm

Thanks for stopping by, Anita! I always enjoy learning the story behind the stories myself, so thought this blog concept awesome. Glad you enjoyed my post.

mary ellen blackwood
12/17/2014 07:45:29 pm

JD: I SO get this........and what you are doing proves that "going against the grain" is part of your voice. I like that your series DO have commonalities - but sometimes the best part is their differences! Makes sense - will keep the reader wondering what is next!
And the writer in you, too! Thanks for the fresh perspective.

JD Spikes
12/18/2014 08:59:12 am

Hey, Mary! I appreciate the vote of confidence, both now and when we critiqued together, before I formulated a plan LOL. Yeah, the Journals definitely keep me guessing, but that's the fun part of my process. Thanks for stopping by!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    D. G. Driver

    Award-winning author of books for teen and tween readers. Learn more about her and her writing at www.dgdriver.com

    ​Follow her on
    Facebook
    ​Twitter
    Instagram
    Goodreads
    Amazon
    ​Bookbub

    Archives

    March 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    April 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All
    Adverbs
    Advice
    Agent
    Autism
    Blog
    Book About Autism
    Book Beginning
    Books
    Book Writing
    Boy Protagonists
    Chapter
    Classic Books
    Criticism
    Cry Of The Sea
    Editing
    Editor
    Edting
    Fan Fiction
    Fantasy Novel
    Female Protagonist
    First Drafts
    First Line
    First Page
    First Paragraph
    Ghost Story
    Guest Author
    Harper Lee
    Introvert
    Love Letter Blog
    Love Letters
    Marketing
    Mermaid Book
    MG
    Middle Grade
    Middle Grade Novel
    Moms
    Moms In YA
    Mother's Day
    NA
    NaNoWriMo
    New Adult Novel
    Novella
    Opening Line
    Point Of View
    POV
    Previously Published
    Pronouns
    Publicity
    Revision
    Rewrite
    Romance
    Romance Novel
    Romance Novels
    Sequels
    Series
    Short Story
    Shy
    Submitting
    Summary
    To Kill A Mockingbird
    UtopYA
    Vampire
    Writing
    Writing Advcie
    Writing Class
    Writing Conference
    Writing Workshop
    YA
    Young Adult
    Young Adult Novel

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly