While we like to chat about any and all things on our blog, the Romance Writers Weekly group came together because we are all exactly that – romance writers. So this week, A.S. Fenichel asks: Tell us about your latest novel and/or what you’re working on. Bonus points for sharing what you love about your genre. If you joined me from Leslie Hachtel, welcome! In June of 2015 (yes, more than three years ago) I started to write a trilogy of romance novels. Because I had never done a set of stories that linked together, I decided not to publish the first in the series until I’d finished the last one, just in case I had to make changes to it because of new ideas that might come about later on. Well, I finally finished the third novel this past summer (no one every accuses me of writing too fast!). I am letting it sit for a bit while I do a copy-editing project, and then I will go back for the first round of revisions. It is my hope that I’ll be putting out all three stories next year. Fingers crossed! The trilogy centres around the Bendixon sisters – in order of age, Camryn, Mattie and Jo. Mattie’s story comes first in Allegro Court. She’s loved Marcus Temple almost all her life, but he had different dreams. Here’s what it’s all about: As a teenager, Marcus Temple escapes his despised Northern British Columbia birthplace, driven by his passion for music. Now a sophisticated, world-class cellist, he must return when his mother suffers a severe stroke. Going back also means dealing with the one woman he'd most like to avoid, Mattie Bendixon. More comfortable in overalls than orchestra seats, Mattie's childhood dreams were simple—working for her grandfather's construction company and building a life with Marcus. His ambitions forced her to abandon one goal, and now her beloved company is also under threat. Mattie thinks she sees a way to save Bendixon and Sons—if she can convince Marcus to stay in his hated hometown for one month. But if he stays, will she be able to save her heart? Jo’s story come next. It’s less loosely linked to the family’s construction company, but still has ties. Jo is the butterfly of the Bendixon sisters, always flitting from project to project, excited about all but finishing none. Luke Donwell is a committed high-school teacher—who is considering the priesthood, encouraged by his devout parents. While Jo and Luke have known each other for years, it isn’t until Jo invites herself to help Luke produce a concert with his young students that they get to know each other. Her carefree, modern spirit is completely at odds with Luke’s sober, traditional attitude—and yet he can’t help being drawn to her. Is it possible the one woman that is completely wrong for him, is also the one woman that is perfectly right? And then there’s Camryn Bendixon. As the eldest, she’s been the poster child for birth-order personality charts. And then it all falls apart. Reeling from an embezzling boyfriend that put her in debt and caused her to lose her job, Camryn Bendixon is so desperate she agrees to join her grandfather’s ailing construction company. During her urgent quest to keep the business afloat and clear her own name, she finds herself attracted to Will Danson, the young, confident manager of an aggressive competitor. Their tentative relationship cracks when it turns out Camryn’s lawyer is Will’s ex and the estranged mother of his daughter—and that she’s decided she wants back into their lives. Beseiged on both a personal and business level, Camryn is devastated further when she learns Will has made an offer to buyout Bendixon and Sons, even though he knows she put her heart and soul into bringing it back to life. Building a home takes more than lumber and nails—it takes the courage to hope, even when nothing is going your way. As you can probably tell, I’m still working on the blurbs for Books 1 and 2, but I hope you get an idea of what the series is all about. I’d love to here your comments! From the little inkling I’ve given you, what do you think of the Bendixon sisters? Be sure to hop over to the instigator of this blog as A.S. Fenichel is next on your list!
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