Ask Tricia | Mysteries Series

I get asked questions all the time. As a wife of twenty-six years, a mom of ten—seven having been adopted, a homeschooler and a writer of over 60 books people want to know how my life works. Here is one of those questions and my short answer. More to come in the coming weeks!

Hi Tricia! I just finished reading Blessed Are The Cheese Makers. This is the second Guidepost series I am reading. I am so curious about how a series is put together. How do the variety of authors follow a story line with each volume building on the last? How are the details and characters so accurately maintained? Who decides how the series will begin and how it will end? Why do some books have one author and others two? How do two authors work together to write a single story? Thanks for sharing your gift with us! —Brenda

I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the Guidepost Sugar Creek Amish Mysteries Series. It’s been super fun to write!  One of my favorite editors Susan Downs asked me if I’d want to be one of the writers. I accepted and pulled in my author friend Cara Putman to be my co-author. (I love working with author friends.) There were seven or eight authors who worked on this series, and yes we all write our books at the same time so they come out quickly, one after the other.

The editors at Guideposts create series guides that tell all about the characters, the setting, and ideas for the first few mysteries. And then they turn the authors loose to write. We have a private Facebook page where we ask each other questions and share research and ideas. Also, as each book is finished and turned in the series guide is updated so we know what is changing in the stories. The editors then check to make sure that they stories flow and that all the details stay consistent. They do a fantastic job!

For our own books Cara and I work together on the plot and then we share writing sample chapters. She might write a few and then I’ll pick up where she left off. Cara and I have edited each other’s work for years and we’ve co-written before so we just easily mesh. It’s been fun to work with Cara, the other authors, and the editors on this series. It truly is a team effort!

Do you have a question for Tricia?
Email amy@triciagoyer.com with the subject “Ask Tricia”

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A 2-book surprise pack: Lori F.

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