by K. C. Cross
So even back in 2013 when I writing the last Junco book (again, six-book series, stupid-complicated plot) I had to stop writing the last book to figure out how Junco was going to save the world. I had the very last scene—I had that last scene from the very first day I started writing that series. But I didn’t have anything else. The story kind of wrote itself. So I had to stop writing the last book for about a week because my climax scene wasn’t right. And then, BAM. The scene came to me while I was in the shower. And I sat down that day and wrote the rest of the book in one sitting.
This happened in Manic, Rook & Ronin book two. And that was only book TWO. That manuscript was due to my editor at 5 AM (she’s on UK time) and I was literally writing the end at 4:30. This was back in the day when RJ didn’t just drop everything to help me out, we were both really new. She needed time to get the edits done. So this was a serious deadline. And I could not find the epilogue for Rook in Manic until I figured out what Spencer was painting on her body at Sturgis.
This happened in The Company. Don’t get me started on the stress of ending that series. It was so bad. It happened in Meet me in the Dark. It happened in Mr. Match. I thought I was going to die writing that book five.
But there’s a pattern here. And a point.
And the point is: Book One is easy.
Standalone books are easy too.
But last book in series?
That is the definition of SUCKS.
I hated every moment of writing Uncrossed and Bossy Luke. And part of it was just 2020. Every day people were talking about new crazy shit. I don’t even know how I got any writing done but I released five books in 2020. It was a very difficult time to be creative. Especially when you MUST end your book with a happily ever after. (#1 Rule of Romance.) That’s why Sick Heart took me six months to write. Though Sick Heart is way up there with Ford and Junco as far as my own personal favorites go.
And of course I love both Bossy Luke and uncrossed now. I have listened to the audiobook of Uncrossed so many times, I lost count. It’s such a good audiobook. I love it. And the ending of Bossy Luke made that whole struggle worth it. Just… Nick Tate, man. I love that guy. (And he’s coming back in Gorgeous Misery and Lovely Darkness!) And I got a LOT of satisfaction when I tied the little girls in Luke to the same little girls in Wasted Lust. Seriously, I’m not gonna lie. That was the best moment in the entire series for me. And I think a lot of readers who went on the full Rook & Ronin/Company/Bossy journey got that same satisfaction. Someone wrote something like, “Why didn’t I wonder where those little girls came from in Wasted Lust?” I didn’t wonder either. Not until the ending of Luke and then those scenes with Posie and the girls turned into the only scenes that mattered as far as I was concerned.
Ending a series is very satisfying. (Once it’s done).
But starting a series—that’s the BEST of all worlds in my opinion. You don’t have to worry about all those stray plot points or how old everyone is.
Oh. My God. Let me just tell you about ages. I just finished the Vicious book and this is in the Rook & Ronin world. Specifically in Spencer and Veronica’s world. And they have all those damn kids. I wanted to kill myself every time I needed to know how old these kids were. I had to go searching through six years of emails to actually find where I wrote it down. Now you know why I never delete emails and have hundreds of thousands of them just hanging out in my inbox. And now you also know why I can’t journal. I am just not that organized.
Anyway. Damaged Gods is book one and I loved it. I loved this whole story.
And I’m not saying writing it was easy or that it’s perfect, or anything like that. But I surprised myself several times as I pulled this story together. It was a fun escape for me.
And I LOVE the cover. I made the Damaged Gods cover months ago and when I was done I just sat and looked at it for like a week and then immediately started making magnets and stickers to celebrate.
I’m very happy that there will be a book two and hopefully it’s up for pre-order right now. It’s May as I write this—this book is going to narrators in a couple days—so I won’t even have the cover reveal for another month.
So my plan is to have book two, SAVAGE SAINTS, up for pre-order when Damaged Gods releases. I love that cover too. I just made it like a week ago and wow. I don’t usually get to make covers like that (and when you see it, you’ll understand) because covers for romance need to look a certain way and covers for paranormal or fantasy need to look another certain way. So doing these covers was amazing.
I am planning on a March 2022 release for Savage Saints and I know that feels like a long gap between the two books but listen. I learned my lesson in 2020. I don’t want to wake up dreading my job the way I did last year. I am not interested in the stress of deadlines anymore.
Why write fun books like this if I can’t enjoy them?
When I started Damaged Gods I wasn’t even sure I wanted to do a series but when the interior of Tarq’s tomb popped up out of nowhere my excitement level for a book two became very, very high. I had originally planned something more frightening and suspenseful for Pie’s tomb trip. But I love the way Tarq turned out. And I especially love that Tarq now owns Pie’s debt.
So many smiles coming up with Tarq and Pie.
And Tomas. Oh, the fun I will have with virgin Tomas out in the real world. Maybe not in book two, we’ll see if I can fit him in. But he was an unexpected delight.
If you’re wondering if this is a reverse harem, I’m not sure yet. I don’t know. I like all these characters. And Pie is a fun girl. And when Pie is uncomfortable, she’s the best. I plan on making her squirm and blush like crazy in book two.
I set this series up so that Pie has many choices. The sheriff will be back as well. I kinda went in to Monsters thinking it might be a little bit like the Sookie Stackhouse series (True Blood show on HBO, if you’re not familiar with the books). But Sookie Stackhouse was always solving mysteries, and Monsters won’t be a “mystery” series. Still, Sookie had lots of love interests and I want Pie to have the “full experience” too.
Also, another interesting note. I am an avid YA reader. I love young-adult fantasy/urban fantasy and science fiction. And there has been a rise in popularity in ancient Roman gods and goddesses in the YA world recently. I didn’t really plan on making Pell from Ancient Rome, it just kinda happened. But now that it’s part of the story, I’m excited to see what the old gods and goddesses are up to.
So I guess that’s it for this End of Book Shit. I hope you enjoyed this new story. I hope it didn’t stress you out. :) It wasn’t meant to stress you out. It’s just fun.
My next book releases August 31, 2021 – Vic Vaughn is Vicious. Yes, that Vic Vaughn of Sick Boyz Inc. fame. It’s so fun. So cute. And I know I do not normally write cute—my books are a lesson in mind-fucking almost every single time. But there is no mind-fuck in Vicious. It’s just a sexy rom-com.
I’m also writing two “vellas” for Amazon Vella. Have you heard of it? It’s serialized fiction like the stories on platforms such as Radish and Wattpad. I don’t expect any of you to give a single fuck about these two serials BUT if you’re curious – that’s where that “Vampire Story” will end up. And I have Cyborg Romance I’m going to put up on there too. (No, he will not have two dicks.)
I don’t know when that whole “Vella” thing will go live—Amazon tells us nothing. We are but mere content creators. But I think it might be live by the time this book releases.
Who knows? Just wanted to let you know that was coming if you’re interested.
Also, I’m only writing stories for Vella for fun.
That’s my new goal in life.
Have fun.
You might want to make it your goal too.
Thank you for reading, thank you for reviewing, and I’ll see you in the next book!
Julie
JA Huss
May 18, 2021
TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK TWO…
SAVAGE SAINTS
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JA Huss is a New York Times Bestselling author and has been on the USA Today Bestseller's list 21 times. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.
Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world. Her book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
