The first book in the trilogy based on brothers called THE LEGACIES OF POWERFUL MEN.

My first story is based in Ireland where my hero, Cristo, a typical stuffed shirt banker will clash with a heroine out for revenge against him and his family. It promises to be a fiery and passionate story and I’m really enjoying the plot.

I’ve called my heroine, Betsy but I’m not very happy with that name and will probably change it. So check back to find out if I stay with “Betsy” or choose another name for my heroine!

As I forecast (being unhappy with the name I had picked) Betsy has become Belle and Betsy will star as Nik’s heroine in the second book of my trilogy.

I had hoped to finish this book before I went on holiday but that was always a bit too optimistic because the first in a trilogy always takes me longer to write. Before you even start you have to have the whole background worked out to frame the three books – bearing in mind that once a book is accepted you can’t change anything. The same goes for the heroes and heroines and the need to know roughly what the other two books will be about. I have everything but the story for the youngest brother, Zarif planned.

Right now I’m over halfway through the first book and have written a wedding and a good wedding night fallout as well as other complications for my unlucky characters! I never like leaving a book unfinished before a holiday but I’m happier to leave it at this stage than if I had only recently started it.

I’m now halfway through Nik’s story and both he and Betsy are having a hard time, both of them hurting but not sharing and it really does feel like the most powerful story I’ve ever written because there are some very deep emotions driving my characters in this particular book and a secret that the hero cannot bear to share.

All the stories I write feel very strong and current WHILE I’m writing them because my hero and heroine are constantly in my head exchanging bits of dialogue and feel as real to me as people standing in front of me do – only I don’t rush off to write down their words on the nearest scrap of a paper before I forget them. There are always scribbled notes of dialogue and ideas lying around my desk.

I’m rushing on with this story because I want it finished by Christmas and ideally even sooner but when I’m writing i can never tell how long it will take me to finish because some days the words flow and some days they don’t and you need to work out what’s wrong and fix it before you can move on again. Today was a good day for work and I feel I can enjoy my weekend with a clean conscience.

UPDATE (22 Sept 2013): It took me what remained of the summer to finish Cristo’s story – never a good idea to leave a book while I’m away on holiday for a few weeks as I always find it hard to recapture the mood when I return. Sadly, sometimes these hiccups can’t be helped and you simply have to struggle through them. I finished Cristo’s story a week ago and it’s currently with my editor.

UPDATE (20 Nov, 2013): The title for Cristo’s story will be Ravelli’s Defiant Bride.