I am hard at work on the first book of my Prosperity, Montana, minsieries. This story has absorbed me completely. I hurt for my characters and the suffering they must endure. Sharing their pain on the page is difficult, both for my characters and for me, but that’s how it is. What makes the whole thing bearable is that I know that in the end, they will find the happiness they deserve.

Genre fiction readers expect upbeat endings in the form of character growth and change, and the hope of something good to come. Those kinds of endings are the payoff for all that suffering we endure as we read the story.

When that payoff doesn’t come, I feel disappointed and cheated, and it’s a safe bet that  won’t pick up another book by the same author. The same goes with movies. Make me suffer, make me sit on the edge of my seat and chew my nails to the quick, but please, let a satisfying ending justify all that agony  I endured. That doesn’t mean I expect everything to be perfect. All I ask for is that things are looking up.

What about you? Agree or disagree?

Until next time,

Ann

Happy June, all! To kick off the month, The Rancher She Loved, book #4 of my Saddlers Prairie miniseries is out today. Yay!

I enjoyed writing this book. Sarah Tigarden is on a a quest to find her roots, a search that leads her to Saddlers Prairie. Clay Hollyer is a bull rider at the top of his game. Or he was until everything changed. Now he’s reinventing himself in Saddlers Prairie.

That’s all I’m going to share about Sarah and Clay. To find out more, read the book. 🙂 It’s a great summer read. You’ll find a link to purchase on the home page of my website. www.annroth.net.

I’d love to hear what you think of The Rancher She Loved.

I’ll be back soon.

Until next time,

Ann

If you read my novels, you know that my stories often take place in small, fictitious towns. I love being able to create a new place for my characters and their stories. That way, I don’t have to make sure a building is on the right street, or that I have the correct name of the mayor.

Choosing the location and the right state is important. I’m working on a new miniseries now, set in Montana, and having a wonderful time visualizing the city. Yep, this place is more a city than a town, complete with a downtown, an uptown and the other side of the tracks. There are ranches, too–some of my heroes are ranchers.I don’t usually draw maps, but found one that intrigues me. To avoid confusion later, I just might draw this place.

Currently I’m working up synopses for three stories set in this new city, but I visualize many more. I’ll keep you posted.

If you have suggestions or comments, let me know.

Until next time,

Ann