Silver-Tongued Devil (Portland Devils, Book 1)

Release day is always exciting. And nervewracking. And thrilling. And scary.

All of which is to say: I not only have a new book out, but a new series. And I’m doing all sorts of things new.

1) It’s a football book without that much football in it. Blake defines himself by football, but it’s no longer in his life. In fact, that’s his problem. What is a quarterback when he isn’t a quarterback anymore?

2) It’s a New Zealand-style book set in Idaho. I really wanted to write a feel-good book, a book about family and friends and loyalty and the best kind of love. But I wanted to write THIS book.

How did it happen? I went to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (near where I’m from) last Northern Hemisphere summer. I was standing and looking out at the lake, and this book just came to me in a flash. I knew Blake was opening up a resort in a north Idaho lake town. I knew Dakota was a house painter. And soon, I realized she was a stained-glass artist as well. It was all I could do to finish writing FOUND, I wanted to write this story so badly.

3) It’s not the book I was expecting to write.

I started the book with two stories: Dakota and Blake’s, and Evan’s story as well. But Evan’s story started overshadowing the book. I ended up doing something I never have: I changed my book. I pulled Evan’s story out, wrote the best Chapter 1 of any book I’ve ever written, and kept it there. Now that book is sitting there, fully 15% written, urging me to write IT.

I think this series might just end up being my best. I’d love to hear what you think of it.