Here We Go Again

Pat here, dropping in momentarily to introduce Honorary Word Wench, Eileen Dreyer, on her latest project--or is that projects?

   Eileen: I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Funny how often I say that about a writing project. I think I have a perfectly good idea for a book. One book. One story about a hero and heroine and maybe a nefarious plot against the British throne or a hospital CEO. I actually believe I have a beginning, middle and end. That last part is important. An end. As in, that’s all she wrote.
    And then, before you know it, I’ve created extra characters. A supporting cast, if you will, of people who will confound, confuse, contest and contrast my protagonists. Still going well. There are few books with only two characters. Well, few books I’d read, anyway. It's always much more fun to have our intrepid protagonists play off someone not like them.
    It all starts out so innocently.  I’ll say something on the character profile like, “best friend to hero” or “female spy in guise of abigail.” Again, perfectly innocuous. 
    But that's when I make the mistake. Because I actually allow those characters onto the page. And that’s where I run into trouble. You see, I can’t leave a secondary character alone. I can’t just paint them in enough strokes that they fulfill their function of, say, carrying out the heroes varied and secret orders, or protecting heroine from evildoers. Suddenly, rather than being a two-dimensional convenience, they’re a full-blooded character I want to know better. They might even begin to make demands of me. Demands like, God help me, a book of their own.
    That’s what happened in my Drake’s Rakes series. I knew that Jack Gracechurch was a spy. I knew he had brother spies, because I needed enough heroes for the trilogy I’d planned. That’s right. A trilogy. It was meant to be titled the Three Graces after the heroines. But then, when I wasn’t looking, three heroes morphed into ten. That’s ten. More than the number of innings in baseball. The number of months a woman is pregnant. The number of books that will now be in my series, retitled Drake’s Rakes, after my heroes(actually, there will only be nine books. One of my heroes, Chuffy, adamantly refuses a book of his own).
    I didn’t mean to do it. I only meant to show that the Rakes were a clever and committed bunch of heroic aristocrats. But once I wrote that first scene with them all slumped over the chairs in Jack’s flat at the Albany, I knew I couldn’t take them back. There was Ian Ferguson, a huge, mad Scot who admits that the only Englishman worth the powder to blow him to hell is Wellington. Chuffy Wilde, that pudgy boy-man who loses his spectacles and blurts out the most amazing statements. Alex Knight, who seems too honorable to be true, and Nate Adams, who seems just as dissolute. All with secrets, all with dreams and devils to plague them. Wounded, noble Kit Braxton and grieving Beau Drummond. And most mysterious of all, the leader of the group, Marcus Drake.
    Well, here's the problem. I'm one of those people who hates to read books til the series is finished. And this is nine books. Oh no, I thought, no one would ever read the first ones at all. And then it occurred to me. I did write the first three books as a trilogy, self-contained enough that you don't need to wait for the rest of the books to read it. And unofficially, I still called it the Three Graces.
    So I'm doing it with the whole series. I'm dividing the books up by heroines. And it's time for my second trilogy, which I'm unofficially titling The Last Chance Academy, which is the school my three heroines attended together, a place that should have been safe, but wasn't.
    To introduce the new series, I've written a short e-novellita entitled IT BEGINS WITH A KISS, which is a prequel that introduces the girls, and offers Fiona Ferguson(Ian's sister) the chance to meet Alex Knight. They'll meet again a few years later in their own book. Sarah Clarke will meet Ian, and Pippin Knight will continue her pursuit of Beau Drummond. All while working to prevent the Lions from taking over the throne.
    I love this new set of characters, too. I can't wait to introduce them. I just hope I don't discover too many secondary characters, or we could be at this forever.

Comments

[Janga]

I read It Started with a Kiss almost the minute it was available. I love that we’re getting more Drake’s Rake’s books. I love the setup for the new trilogy. I love the three new heroines—although Pippin is my favorite. And I love the kiss! If the name “Eileen Dreyer” hadn’t been enough to hook me on the next trio of books, the prequel definitely was. I eagerly await Once a Rogue.

And am I right in thinking that what you have on your web site about book 5 means that Chuffy gets his HEA even if he doesn’t get his own book?

[Pageturner]

I love books that continue the characters - I read very quickly so the more the better! I haven't come across your books before I will go and look for them now - especially the Last Chance Academy, which sounds fun.

[email protected]

[Isobel Carr]

I kind of thing "at this forever" is what most of us are hoping for when it comes to your books!

[Isobel Carr]

THINK! THINK! It's too early ...

[Patricia Rice]

I've always loved Eileen's books but her historicals are really hitting them out of the park.

LOL, Isobel. It's much too early for thinking or thinging.

[Beverly Abney]

This column answers a question I had about this ebook. It didn't seem to come to a satisfactory conclusion. ( I read the end of things early on.) I wasn't too sure I wanted to read it if the book that had to follow wasn't close behind. Now I know what was intended, I will read it with joy and try to be patient for the trilogy featuring these young women.
Bev Abney

[Cindy vonHentschel]

I absolutely love the Drake's Rakes series, I can't wait to get my hands on another full length novel!!

[Eileen Dreyer]

Thank you all so much, especially my Word Wench buddies for inviting me to play. I've never written a prequel or a short before, so I hoped it made sense. I do admit I had so much fun discovering the heroines. And I"m having a blast putting them in danger and getting them out. My poor heroes, though. I really have to stop beating them up(yeah. no.)

[Eileen Dreyer]

Janga--I could never leave Chuffy alone. I have found the absolutely perfect heroine for him, and I can't wait for you all to meet her. She and Chuffy meet in Fiona and Alex's book, which is tentatively titled Twiced Tempted. I really think you're going to love them together.

[Eileen Dreyer]

Isabel--thanks so much. And believe me. Considering the fact that I didn't get to the computer til 1PM, I understand perfectly.

[Jenny]

I read It Started with a Kiss last week and loved it. I am so excited to read the next trilogy. I don't know how I will stand it until it comes out next year. And I really want to know Marcus Drake's story!

[Phyllis]

"we could be at this forever."

You say that like it's a bad thing???

I liked It Started With a Kiss, but it was much too short and too much a teaser for impatient people like me. I want more!

[Annette Briggs]

The first Eileen Dreyer book I read was historical and she so brilliantly took me to the time and place without seeming to drown me in the details of the era in a way that sidetracks the story. Loved it. Always looking forward to her skillful books.

[eileen dreyer]

Annette--I can't tell you what that means to me. It was quite a leap to historicals for me, and I'm another person who gets bogged down fast. I'm glad my history worked for you.

[eileen dreyer]

Jenny--I'm even sorry I have to wait for Marcus's story. It's a beaut. He's another imperfect, wounded hero...which, you might have been able to figure, I love. But first, the heroes of Last Chance Academy

[chris bails]

This book looks great. Have read a couple of eileens books and enjoyed them. Definately adding to my tbr pile. Thanks for the givdaway.

[librarypat]

I too prefer to read a series after all the books are out. Breaking it up as you have does work, but I want to know those upcoming books/series will be continuations of the first series. I can think of several authors that have done this and it has worked out well. I can pick up the new series which is self contained, but also check in on characters I enjoyed before. Best of luck with the new venture. I look forward to more of your books.

[Diane P. Diamond]

I love your Drake's Rakes series Eileen. You never cease to please me.

I like a series over stand alone books as it’s nice to meet and follow characters from one book to another. I also think this heightens the excitement in waiting for the next book to be released. :-)

Thank you for this opportunity.

[Patricia Rice]

We love having you, Eileen! You have a loyal readership over here.

[Diane Sallans]

I'm looking forward to getting to know all the new characters & reading their stories. I especially enjoy a series where we can catch up from the characters in earlier stories.

[Margot]

I read and enjoyed the Three Graces, and I'm looking forward to reading these next ones (after the three of them come out. I'm definitely the type to prefer to read a series all at once, otherwise I tend to forget the continuing details...)

[Olivia]

Eileen,

You can always be counted on for heroines who have been wounded deeply but learn to overcome in spite of everything life (and their men) throw their way, and men who know how to learn from their mistakes and be better than they think they can be.

Can't wait to see what happens next.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1544509004]

I'm looking forward to reading this ebook but I think I may wait until the book that it's a prequel to is around. We'll see.

Robin C. Greene

[LouisaCornell]

I absolutely LOVED the first three Drake's Rakes books! LOVED them! And of course I downloaded It Begins With a Kiss as soon as it was available. The three girls are such enchanting heroines and what a hook at the end of the short story!!

As Isobel said "at this forever" suits me just fine! Long live Drake's Rakes!

[Na S.]

This is another gorgeous cover from the Drake's Rakes series. I really like when secondary characters get their own story. There can never be too many heroes! I don't mind if a series start off with two eventual heroes but because they have sibblings or friends and their character is so memorable they deserve a story :)