Talk about a slow burn... I've wrote the first Jenn Herrington book during the pandemic and have only released one every 1.5 years since then. For me, that's glacial pace, but absence makes the heart grow fonder with those we love (or so they say), so for Red Grade, I decided to further that concept with a giant "family reunion."
First, I will admit I've had the concept in place for this book since the pandemic as well. Polo is a big, big deal in tiny Big Horn, Wyoming in the summer months. How could I resist setting a murder smack dab in the middle of such an intriguing community?
But how I execute the story of the characters within the plot is where the real fun is for me, and, in Red Grade, I hope for you, too.
With no further ado, I give you... plot-centric appearances from the What Doesn't You world. Katie and Nick Connell. Emily Bernal and Jack Holden. Maggie Killian and Hank Sibley. Ava Butler and Collin Kovacs. Michele Lopez Hanson and Rashidi John. Plus the usual cameos from the Patrick Flint books. PLUS plot-centric appearances by Delaney Pace and Leo Palmer from the Delaney Pace series.
It was so much fun doing this, and putting it together in a way that was realistic and necessary. With Patrick Flint and Delaney Pace, it helps that the characters exist in the same area and time frame (albeit Patrick and family have to age forward for the Jenn books). Maggie Killian —same. But Katie and the rest of the gang needed a reason to be in Wyoming, and I gave them one with an engagement party for Maggie and Hank. This also created a mention for Laura Sibley Begay, although she doesn't actually appear. I think she's waiting for her own series someday and withheld herself as leverage on me ;-)
I can't wait to hear what you thought of how all these worlds collided. Drop a line and let me know. Meanwhile, I'm already planning their next get together, because this was so much fun. Like a family reunion but without the random potluck buffet table.
Read it here: