I'm pleased today to welcome author Laura Briggs to the blog to tell us a little bit about her very unique approach to writing her new fantasy series. I'll leave it to Laura to explain, but suffice to say I'm really excited to see how this series will turn out, and given I'm a huge fan of all things fairytale related, I need it to be 2014 already so I can have the completed book in my hands!
SHAPING A BOOK SERIES WITH FAN FEEDBACK
This month has seen the debut of something a little different in my writing career. My co-author S.E. Steinbrenner and I are kickstarting a new fantasy series. And we want fans to help us write the first book before its 2014 debut.
Titled A Time of Once, the series will mix the modern world with classic fairytales we all know and love. My co-author and I have released two special edition prequels via Smashwords and Amazon, with interactive ways for readers to offer feedback and help shape the series world.
Once: The Series Beginnings and A Time of Once: The Series Prequel each contain different scenes from the work-in-progress. These short volumes offer readers a glimpse of the series’ key characters and plotlines, while providing ways for them to share ideas and questions.
What the Time of Once Series is Like:
Previously, I’ve co-authored historical fantasy re-tellings, such as First Bite: The Wicked Queen’s Tale and its companion books in THE DARK WOODS series.
But A Time of Once will take place in a contemporary setting, where fairytale elements began to manifest as part of a curse. It’s basically a different twist on the gimmicks explored in hit TV shows like Grimm and Once Upon a Time.
Small town USA will be caught up in the path of dark forces that are changing everything–and everyone–into something from the fairytale world. Heroes and villains will take their natural roles, and the good guys will face otherworldly obstacles in their quest to restore normalcy.
A quote from the series’ character known as the Storyteller pretty much sums it up: “What's evil becomes evil. What's good becomes good. And what's in between, it gets caught up either way.”
How Readers Can Get Involved:
• Visit the series webpage at: http://atimeofonceseries.blogspot.com/p/home-page.html
Here, readers can view a photo gallery, character bios, and leave their suggestions, questions, and comments concerning the series so far. More interactive features, such as a discussion forum, will be available soon.
• Currently A Time of Once: The Series Prequel is available for 99 cents on Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads list here.
• Once: The Series Beginnings–which features completely different scenes–is currently free on Smashwords
The Smashwords volume will be available at other major retailers (B&N, Kobo, etc) within approximately three weeks.
