Fresh Starts and New Beginnings featuring Joel Skelton

   

Hello readers and fellow authors, I’m Joel Skelton and frankly, I’m scared.

    Here’s the deal—I’m frightened I won’t like the new characters I’ve planned for my next book. And if I don’t like them, my readers certainly won’t. Maybe the characters won’t like me. What if they retaliate each time I attempt to bring them to life—speaking in unrealistic bursts and refusing to connect with one another? Perhaps collectively, they’ll revolt against the plot I’ve devised. Holy crap, this could be a real frickin’ mess!  (Wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead.)
     You might think it’s silly for me to worry. I would agree, except for the last four years I’ve had enormous pleasure creating the characters and locations that inhabit a world Beneath the Palisade. For those unfamiliar with my series, the Palisade is a stunning rock formation located on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. It’s also home to the Palisade Beach Resort, The Men’s Center, and the Lip Smacker Cafe, to name just a few of the story settings.  
     Harper and Ian, Alex and Theo, Brent and Owen—those endearing rascals, along with a host of quirky supporting characters, have grown very dear to me. You may have heard other series writers complain about growing tired of their characters—how they long for the opportunity to break new ground and start fresh. Not me. I know these characters inside and out. And I will miss them immensely. The next story in the series (and most likely the last) titled Beneath the Palisade: Justice is due for release by Dreamspinner Press in April. 
     Now that I’ve shared my worries, I must confess—there’s also excitement building to take my writing to a new place—a fresh start—a new beginning.  I feel I’m gaining some distance. It might be fun to skip around—maybe explore some solo projects—and in the process, perhaps plan a new series. Right now, investigating a new path is what I find most appealing, despite my apprehensions of leaving those old friends.
     Another consideration before beginning a new project: should I write another romance or switch genres? A post on Facebook the other day caught my interest. Without realizing it at first, it answered the question for me.
     A relatively new author commented that when she told family and friends she was an M/M romance writer, the response was not what she had hoped—it was even hurtful in some instances.  Not because she was a straight woman writing gay characters, but because she had chosen the romance genre.
     Crazy and sad rolled into one, right? When you’re finally lucky enough to be published, the thrill is without equal. All the work you put into your story seems justified. So what happens next? You go out into the world and shout your joy to anyone who shows even the slightest interest.
      Like the Facebook post, my elation the first time around was tempered by the fact I had succeeded with a romance—a gay romance. In my mind at the time, what I had accomplished wasn’t worthy. I have since learned to dodge these foolish, and usually jealous, bullets—and instead, to proudly claim my little piece of the romance pie. So at least for now, I’ll proudly be serving up another slice.
      Thank you Zachary Phillips and Writers Online Network for this opportunity to share a little about myself and my writing. Here’s to successful fresh starts and new beginnings for one and all!