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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Reader Survey: What Should I Write?


Congratulations to "Crystal B", the winner of Julie's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!

As I'm finishing up one manuscript and starting in on the last book of my Precinct: Task Force miniseries, I receive an email from my agent telling me I need to be thinking about my next proposal to my editor. I love coming up with new story ideas, especially when I'm slugging my way through a manuscript—the grass is always greener…  But there's one problem...I never have a shortage of ideas for stories I want to write. But I can't just throw a hundred what if's at my editor.  How do I narrow them down and select the best ideas for me and my readers?

So I have an informal survey for you, and I'd love to hear some feedback from readers.

Here are some of my ideas.  Which ones do you like?  Not like as much?  Please share your opinion on any or all.  Thanks! 

I'll give a print or ecopy of my March release, TACTICAL ADVANTAGE, to one lucky poster!

1.  A new Precinct miniseries.
 Maybe linked by a theme, like The Precinct: Cold Case
 Maybe linked by a family of cop brothers like the Taylor Clan or Kincaids?


2.  A miniseries featuring cowboys.
Maybe bring Sheriff Boone Harrison's 3 brothers to Kansas City?
They’d all be connected to the law/law enforcement, but would feature a cowboy rather than the more urban heroes I write.

3.  More stories featuring Marine Corps heroes?
Hope Lockhart in my September book, TASK FORCE BRIDE, has a brother in the Marines. There is a military base near Kansas City where MP’s (military police) from different branches of the military receive training, so I could work that angle into a Precinct book.


4. 2 or 3 stand-alone stories that feature supporting characters from, say, my Precinct: Task Force miniseries?
Some of my favorite titles (and reader favorites, too), like BEAUTY & THE BADGE and NANNY 911, were spin-offs from previous miniseries

5.  Something completely different.
Every now and then I get to write a story set in the mountains of Wyoming or Washington, DC or elsewhere. They're still romantic suspense, but may feature a government agent or military hero. No Kansas City cops.


6. You’d like another story that’s a lot like ________ (you fill in the title)?
Why did that storyline, or those characters, speak to you so much?

7.  Do you have a particular character from one of my books whose story you'd like to see? If so, who?

8.  Do you have a favorite storyline you'd like to read more of? (Beauty & the Beast, reunion story, friends becoming lovers, amnesia, pregnant heroine, bodyguard hero, etc.)

9.  Do you have a storyline you're tired of reading?

10. Anything else?

I appreciate the feedback. It will help me fine-tune my proposal for upcoming books, and give readers what they want to read. And remember, the next book in my Precinct: Task Force miniseries, TACTICAL ADVANTAGE, comes out March 1st!

Our host, Maureen Miller, will pick the winner after tomorrow.

Thanks!
Julie Miller
www.juliemiller.org

Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST March 1st. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@justromanticsuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway. 
Posted by Maureen A. Miller at 12:30 AM
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31 comments:

  1. I really loved Immortal Heart, Shadow of the Hawk, and Always Faithful. I liked the idea of Special Op team bonding after the military and the paranormal twists.

    Another great idea would be to have a investigative team within the precinct that deals with the paranormals.

    But everything that I have read by you has been enjoyable so I think anything you pitch I will enjoy!

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    1. Thanks, shellbelle! I'm so pleased to hear you're enjoying my Ladytech books. I do still want to write Rafe Del Rio's and Kel Murphy's stories. Just haven't found the time slot to do that yet. Hopefully, in 2013-2014.

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  2. If I had to choose, it would be #3. I would love to see more cowboy stories from you. Loved the THREE COWBOYS Intrigue you did with Dana Marton and Paula Graves where there was a mixture of law enforcement and cowboys. But I'm sure whatever you decide will be great. Really enjoy your books.

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    1. Thanks, Brenda! THREE COWBOYS was a really cool project--I loved the creative challenge of making one story mesh into the next so that our "trilogy" had the feel of one story, featuring the three McCabe brothers.

      One thing I've gone back and forth on is whether there's a glut of the market of cowboy romances. I debate whether I should stick with my niche of cops and Marines, or have more fun with cowboys.

      But I would love to write stories for Boone Harrison's brothers (Boone is the hero of my Intrigue, KANSAS CITY COWBOY)!

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  3. Oh I answered on another blog... I hope everyone's input is helping Julie... Wish you the best & Happy Writing! :)

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    1. I appreciate your input Colleen. Trust me, I'm making notes. ;)

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  4. Hi Julie, I answered on another blog, too, but just dropping in to say hello. I'm just about finished with KC Cowboy and it is excellent as usual. Tactical Advantage will appear on the Kindle tomorrow! :-)) I do have a question for you, though, what is an "unsub"?? You use the term in KC Cowboy and I have never seen it in a book before.

    Kathy B.

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    1. Good question, Kathy. "unsub" means "unknown subject" It's a term law enforcement uses when they're looking for an unidentified suspect. (Check the show CRIMINAL MINDS--they use it a lot)

      Hope you're enjoying KC COWBOY. And yes! I'm excited to see TACTICAL ADVANTAGE show up on my Kindle tomorrow, too!

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  5. I liked KC cowboy... an as you know I just finished Up against the wall and really enjoyed it. As for the military aspect's I read plenty of them thru Harlequin. I like the long lost lover's too! Can't wait for tomorrow!! Pam

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  6. Thanks, Pam! Glad you're enjoying the books. (btw, I sent you a message on FB re NINE-MONTH PROTECTOR ;)

    I'd love to write some more military-themed stories. I did a lot of them for Harlequin Blaze, but right now my editors want me to focus on Intrigue. So I am looking for ways to get my military romance fix, too. After all, I have a lot of veterans and active military in my family.

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  7. 2. A miniseries featuring cowboys.
    Maybe bring Sheriff Boone Harrison's 3 brothers to Kansas City?

    I love cowboys but what every you choose I sure will be awesome

    MinDaf @ aol.com

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    1. Another vote for cowboys. ;) Thanks, Crystal!

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  8. Just finished KC Cowboy. WOW!! That was a wild ride at the end. Thanks for another very satisfying read.

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    1. You're welcome, Kathy! So pleased you enjoyed it. So did Boone's brothers spark your interest? Are they contenders for future heroes? ;)

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  9. Laura AKA Loves 2 Read RomanceFebruary 28, 2013 at 9:16 PM

    I commented on the Intrigue blog with your survey. I can't wait till Tactical Advantage. It will be a treat for me to help get through tax season!!

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    1. I admire you, Laura--I'm sure this is a tough, busy time of year for a lot of businesses. Hope TACTICAL ADVANTAGE turns out to be the treat you're looking for. Thanks!

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    2. Laura AKA Loves 2 Read RomanceMarch 1, 2013 at 8:25 PM

      Thanks Julie! I just realized that I didn't put in my e-mail yesterday.

      Here it is: fantum2004 AT sbcglobal DOT net

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  10. How about a Beauty and the Beast reunion type of story?

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. It's my favorite storyline, bn100. So I'm guessing there'll be at least one B&B story in my proposal somewhere. Thanks!

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  11. I will always put my hand up for cowboys.

    Love triangles seem to abound right now. I don't like the third wheel being hurt.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Yeah, I don't think a love triangle would work well in an Intrigue--not in most Harlequin lines (a few, perhaps). I agree--they're not my thing. I want everyone to have a happily ever after. Although, I have seen some good stories where that third person who gets heart-broken does go on to become a hero/ine in his/her own story. Just wasn't quite the right person for them yet.

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  12. I'll be honest here...you could write the phone book and I would buy it and read it. You are one of top 5 authors to buy and read. I even have your Blaze books on my bookshelf that no one can touch but me. Stalker much? No, just a huge fan of everything that you write.

    Beauty and The Badge is up there for me. You have made Kansas City sexy for me. Who knew?

    As for what to write next? I'm up for anything. Again, the phone book. :)

    I will have to agree with Mary Preston...no love triangles. I like stories that deal with one hero and one heroine and there is a HFN/HEA for them. Call me a weirdo for saying that but recently read a book that featured a love triangle and I was too mad at the end of the book. The book itself as a whole was great but the love triangle just pissed me off.

    Marika Weber w/a Harlie William
    maw1725@gmail.com

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    1. Wow, Harlie Reader, I'm blushing. ;) I'll try to do a little better than the phone book, I promise. But thanks for the lovely compliment.

      I LOVED BEAUTY & THE BADGE--it was one of those rare books that flowed out of my fingertips and kind of wrote itself. Hopefully, I can strike that magic again. Don't know if there are any Blazes in my future right now (Intrigue is keeping me very busy), but I do miss my Marine heroes--one reason I thought I'd try to work one or two into my other books.

      Thanks!

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  14. Loved Tactical advantage. I reviewed it a couple weeks ago. It seems like you have tons of great ideas but need to pick one lol I like anything military (hubby and i are vets) and i like cowboys too. I don't think you can go wrong there. I like the spin off idea too. Was i supposed to pick only one? lol

    Good luck with whatever you choose. I'm sure it will turn out amazing!

    Lisa B
    @Modokker

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    1. Thanks, Lisa--that's all good feedback. That's kind of how my brain is going right now--I like thing 1, but I like thing 2, and, oh yeah, thing 3 is really speaking to me. Great for creativity, but not so much for decision-making.

      Where did you review TACTICAL ADVANTAGE? Did you get a NetGalley copy? Order it early through Harlequin? I'm always curious to know more about how readers are getting books.

      And thank you to you and your hubby for serving our country!

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  15. Netgalley Julie. My friend Dana Marton recommended you and so i saw it on netgalley and decided i needed to read it and see. lol She was right. I have a blog and reviewed it.


    Lisa B

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    1. Thanks so much, Lisa! Word of mouth is the best way to get readers to try books. Used to do that in bookstores when booksellers sold them; now I think bloggers & reviewers are the ones getting that word of mouth out there.

      And I love Dana's books! So I'm honored to get a recommendation from her.

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  16. I also commented on a previous blog, but it is interesting to see what other readers are thinking.

    And, I have finally read everything on your booklist, even the novellas. It took a little bit of work to track down some of them, but I've read'um all! Now I must wait, patiently, for Assumed Identity. (Got Tactical Advantage early through Harlequin) I suppose I can bide my time with 7th and 8th grade essays. Fun.

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    1. Wow, Jennifer, I'm impressed! And thank you so much for reading all my books (and tracking them down--I know some are not easy to find!).

      Ah, yes. I've read many an 8th grade essay in my time. (I'll try to write faster. )

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