What’s Coming Next From Maddy?

I’ve had a few people ask me what was next on my plate now that the After the Crash series is wrapping up. I’ve had a few ideas.

For instance, I want to write an inspy contemporary Christmas novella tentatively called Under A Christmas Star. It takes place in northern Minnesota. A woman runs into the man who had a crush on her back in high school and finds he’s improved tremendously. My plan was to write it during June through August, send it to the editor in September, and publish it in October. I have a rough outline, but I can’t seem to concentrate on it when it’s so hot outside, so maybe that will be for next year.

Another idea is to write a story called Dream Lady that takes place in the same world as After the Crash, but 100 years later, in Japan. The people living there are descendants of Japanese Yakuza and American soldiers stationed in the area, and the culture has evolved into a very rigid samurai code. The hero, the lord of one of the largest clans, has been dreaming of a certain woman since he was a teen. He’s always accepted that he has a vivid imagination, but one day he sees her, arranges her kidnapping, and begins his assault on her virtue.

Then there is a fantasy romance series I want to write where women from our world somehow fall through windows to other realms. They are fighters in a medieval historical re-enactment group, so they know how to fight with swords. Each of them lands in a different kingdom. Some of them are able to take jobs as guards or warriors, some are captured and sold as slaves. All of them find love with the perfect man.

And then there is a stand-alone Young Adult novella called The Stinger’s Lady. It takes place in a mythical Empire called Helta. Imagine a blend of Roman Empire and Victorian England. Lisell Schulte is the bored daughter of a nouveau rich Imperial merchant about to be presented to society. Prince Merid is the younger son of barbarian royalty whose kingdom the Empire was never able to conquer. Merid gets into a bit of trouble with the Imperial Honor Guard and is rescued by Lisell. He falls completely in love with her and will do anything to win her for his princess.

I’ve been taking a little break from writing. I know so many authors who work a full time job, wrangle their families, and write three or four books a year. I don’t know how they do it!  I’m exhausted writing only one or two books a year, and I don’t even have children to take care of! Hats off to all those ladies. I think my break from writing needs to come to an end now. 

So what should I write? Which sounds most appealing to you?