{"id":5231,"date":"2020-11-29T21:40:48","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T04:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pjmaclayne.com\/?p=5231"},"modified":"2020-11-29T21:40:54","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T04:40:54","slug":"theres-a-stranger-in-town-openbook-blog-hop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pjmaclayne.com\/?p=5231","title":{"rendered":"There’s a Stranger in Town #OpenBook Blog Hop"},"content":{"rendered":"

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November 30, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every story starts with a stranger in town or a journey. \u201cPa, we\u2019re takin\u2019 the wagon to Virginia City,\u201d every story ends with \u201cGolly gee, Wally. I thought we were goners.\u201d True or False?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I really wanted to say, ‘nope, that’s not the way it works.’ And if I dig hard enough, I can probably find examples to contradict it. But there’s lots of truth to the premise.<\/p>\n

Let’s start with my Free Wolves series. It’s backwards from the theory because each of my main characters is the stranger that came to town. Dot, Tasha, and Lori are the outsiders trying to fit in and find their place. Here’s Tasha’s (from Wolves’ Knight)\u00a0 beginning:<\/p>\n

Her tactical knife slid easily from its ankle sheath. With a curse, Tasha leaped out of the leather chair and slid across the wooden conference table, praying she’d make it in time.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

Although the stories are from the same ‘world’ they feature different characters and each story can be read as a stand-alone. Each story introduces a new stranger and a new situation.<\/p>\n

The Harmony Duprie Mysteries are different. The Marquesa’s Necklace, the first one, opens with the stranger in town.<\/p>\n

I first noticed him at the other end of the row when I glanced up to find another book. I recognize most of the regular patrons, and he wasn\u2019t one of them.<\/em><\/p>\n

But because each story is told in the same world, the little city of Oak Grove, the villain may not be a stranger but someone from Harmony’s town. Perhaps someone she didn’t know well, or doesn’t know at all. Or perhaps it’s someone she thought was a friend. (I’m trying not to give too many clues!) The Samurai’s Inro is a good example of this. (Yes, a minor character is from out of town, but the book doesn’t begin with him.)<\/p>\n

In the sixth and final book of the series, the Ranger’s Dogtags,\u00a0 Harmony becomes the stranger in town after going on a journey. I got both tropes covered there!\u00a0<\/p>\n

How about those endings? \u201cGolly gee, Wally. I thought we were goners.\u201d\u00a0 There’s lots of books that this doesn’t hold true for\u2014I’m thinking mostly of women’s fiction and romances. For my own books, I’ll argue that one a technicality. My stories combine romantic elements with action and adventure. Yes, my characters are placed in life-threatening situations, but I wrap every story up with the romance. Because I believe in happily ever after.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The next thing I knew, he\u2019d pulled me into his arms and his lips were devouring mine.<\/em><\/p>\n

I may have been a wee bit distracted with kissing him back, but I swear my toes curled, birds sang, and fireworks exploded in the background.<\/em><\/p>\n

And magic happened.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let’s find out what our other authors have to say by following the links below.<\/p>\n

And, until next time, please stay safe,<\/p>\n

November 30, 2020<\/p>\n

Every story starts with a stranger in town or a journey. \u201cPa, we\u2019re takin\u2019 the wagon to Virginia City,\u201d every story ends with \u201cGolly gee, Wally. I thought we were goners.\u201d True or False?<\/p>\n

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit\/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet\/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.<\/p>\n

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You are invited to the Inlinkz<\/strong> link party!<\/p>\r\nClick here to enter<\/a><\/div><\/div>\r\n