sequel! (because old habits do die hard)

I had no idea when I began writing Old Habits Die Hard that publishers wouldn't touch it unless it was part of a series. Obviously being able to publish a series provides huge perks to a writer because there's an opportunity to create a repeat audience, IF they enjoy the first book. (I don't know a soul who'd pick up a sequel if they hated the first installment, so there's a fair bit of pressure on that first story.) It's easier to continue a series because the heavy lift of creating characters, settings, etc. is accomplished in the first installment. On the flip side, you best be organized if you want to write a series because audiences WILL notice if you get the details wrong and they WILL call you out on that. This means vigilance in keeping track of characters' names and descriptions and (for this writer) heavy use of the FIND feature in Microsoft Word. You need to keep things fresh, but not TOO fresh in a series. Audiences have expectations, so you can't get too weird in a sequel, but you also need to write a fresh plot. And then once you DO start writing the sequel, you need to include enough background for someone brand new to the series so they aren't confused by all the characters and settings and relationships you established in the first installment, but do NOT belabor the background otherwise you'll bore and annoy your audience.

When I started the process of selling Old Habits Die Hard, I got the classic Deer in the Headlights expression on my face because I only wanted to get the book published for Mariana and then get back to my own stuff. I had to make a decision and fast: commit to three titles, three books, years of work to create the series and fulfill the vow I'd made to get Old Habits Die Hard in print OR back down.

not actually me, but close

You know what I decided, but my back was against a wall as I tried to come up with a plausible storyline for book two. A retired nun and a millennial detective can only work so many murders together, right? I can't kill another victim in The Abbey: Senior Living, it's a cheap move and besides, Meadow would get in a LOT of trouble and we like her around here. I'd established a TONE in book one, it's cozy-adjacent, which means abiding by certain conventions (to a point) and I went and made people fall in love with Bernie and AJ, so they had to show up again.

Fortunately for me, I'd JUST had a crazy idea for book two one day whilst hiking in the woods (which is where I do my best praying and thinking as it happens). What if someone wanted to publish a second book, like this became a series? I could bring AJ and Bernie to a comic con and have them solve a murder there! (I guess I did have a wild fantasy that I'd become a serial killer--of fictional characters!--and that someone out there might love the first book enough to ask for more.) But when pressed for a third title and plot (GULP!) I panicked and asked for an extra day to come up with something.

You see, I did that really dumb thing where the first book features a retired nun and a millennial detective. How do I keep bringing them back to solve crimes together? Unless...AHA! A murder takes place near The Abbey: Senior Living! If I branch out a block or two, then all those delightful folks at The Abbey, like Rin and Jan and Leo and Jorge will be safe and Meadow won't lose her job!

Now, I won't bore you with the details of why and how, but I learned that the order of book 2 and book 3 had to be switched AFTER I was more than halfway finished writing book 2 (which added to people's confusion when I told them I was working on "new book two"). (Is your head spinning yet? Mine was.)

And then I got a little carried away in book 2 and instead of only killing ONE character, I went and killed THREE of them, but I had so much fun coming up with the expansion pack for Nun the Wiser Mysteries. The businesses and people populating Chestnut Street fill me with so much joy, and I hope you feel the same way as you get to know them. You'll leave Eugene in book 3 as AJ and Bernie head out of town and get caught up solving a murder at a comic con event, but you get to return to the neighborhood in book 4, A Holiday Habit. (Wait--what? Oh yeah, book 4. It features Bernie, AJ, more murder, Christmastime, and so many familiar faces and places.)

But back to book 2. It comes out WEDNESDAY! I'm so excited to bring readers back into Eugene show how Bernie and AJ's relationship develops as they work together to solve a fresh case and introduce everyone to the new people who moved into The Abbey: Senior Living and take everyone down the street to shop at In Stitches and Scilla's Subs and the Corner Market.

don't you LOVE this cover? Tule does the BEST job designing my book covers!

The e-book is available and I know the paperback links should be up soon, but IF you're in my neck of the woods, I'll be signing paperback copies at The Book Store in Appleton, WI on Saturday, August 23 from 11-1. I'll be signing MORE paperback copies at Lion's Mouth Bookstore in Green Bay, WI on Thursday, October 9 from 5-7. And you can always shoot me an email to arrange for signed copies or a book club event or whatever. My dear friend Kara has designed some cool stickers featuring some of the businesses featured in Dropped Like a Bad Habit, here's one of them:

did I mention I'm giving away a 4-pack of exclusive stickers with each paperback? plus these are the good kind of sticker that you can put on your water bottle or laptop case.

I mean, STICKERS! Plus a paperback! It's all terribly exciting!

Spill it, reader. What's one thing you're looking forward to as the Nun the Wiser Mysteries continues? I hope you have as much fun reading Dropped Like a Bad Habit as I had writing it, and when you finish reading, PLEASE circle back and leave a review for me. I truly appreciate it.