Company at Vastine's...Welcome, Charlie Cochet!

Greetings, darlings!

Today I'm sharing the house with on of my favorite authors and a lovely friend, Charlie Cochet. 

Ms. Cochet first caught my attention with her fabulous writing in historical 

novels. She's got a wonderful vintage voice and delivers delicious historical fiction served up with all the flare and flavor of days gone by. But...but...she's proven now that she's awfully gifted in the contemporary romance fiction game, too. And...she's sharing an excerpt today from her upcoming release, Hell and High Water: The Thirds Series, Book One.

So....let me step aside and make room for Ms. Cochet! She's talking about writing a series. And, speaking of which, she asks a question in her post, and I want to hear your answers! In fact, there's a chance to win a $5.00 Amazon gift card for sharing your thoughts on her query.

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Hello all! I want to give a big thank you to the fabulous Vastine for hosting me. This year, I tackled my first true series. I know some of you are thinking, “Wait, but you’ve got a bunch of series.” Yes, I do, but the majority of those contain stories which are stand alone and in some cases, the MC’s are a different couple from that world. They’ve also been released across several years.

Between July and the new year, my new contemporary/law enforcement-shifter series called the THIRDS will be unleashed upon the world. It’s a four book series with one continuing storyline plus a standalone storyline for each book. It also features the same couple through all four books with secondary characters who will be getting their own spin-off books in the same THIRDS world.

This series has pretty much taken over my life for more than a year now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved every moment and I’m so excited to be sharing it with readers, but what’s made writing this series so much more daunting than writing my other series? Well, by the time I submit the fourth book, the first hasn’t even been released yet, so you have that moment of panic where you hope folks like the first book because there’s a whole bunch more after that! I’ve loved writing these guys, so I hope readers will enjoy reading about them just as much. 

What I’ve found in writing a series like this is how the flow is easier to maintain because everything is fresh in my head. Also if I add something in a later book or change a plot point, I can go back to the previous books through editing and change things, something you can’t really do once the books are out there. I’ve found it’s easier editing a series together than months or even years apart.

The challenging part is upping the stakes with each book. Throughout the first four THIRDS books, we get a developing relationship between Dex and Sloane which continues to grow just like any real life relationship. Except with shifters. And explosions. Oh and cheesy eighties music.

With each book, not only does their relationship get tested but it evolves. The dangers they face on the job, their cases, their own team dynamics, and the antagonists have to keep building, getting better and more treacherous otherwise you get one of those generic cop shows. You have to keep readers coming back for more. I’d like to think I’ve achieved that with this series. 

What keeps you coming back to a favorite series?

Hell & High Water Blurb

When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley’s testimony helps send his partner away for murder, the consequences—and the media frenzy—aren’t far behind. He soon finds himself sans boyfriend, sans friends, and, after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, he’s lucky he doesn’t find himself sans teeth. Dex fears he’ll get transferred from the Human Police Force’s Sixth Precinct, or worse, get dismissed. Instead, his adoptive father—a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron otherwise known as the THIRDS—pulls a few strings, and Dex gets recruited as a Defense Agent. 

Dex is determined to get his life back on track and eager to get started in his new job. But his first meeting with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who also happens to be his new jaguar Therian partner, turns disastrous. When the team is called to investigate the murders of three HumaniTherian activists, it soon becomes clear to Dex that getting his partner and the rest of the tightknit team to accept him will be a lot harder than catching the killer—and every bit as dangerous.

For more information on the THIRDS series, visit: www.charliecochet.com

Sneak Peek Excerpt

Sloane waited, his jaw clenched as Dex hurried over. As soon as they were outside the kitchen, Sloane turned to Dex in disbelief. “We’re in the middle of a case, and you’re flirting?”

“I wasn’t flirting, I was eating. I’m starving. Which is your fault.”

“My fault?” Clearly he’d had a momentary lapse of judgment by thinking the two of them could get along. The urge to punch the guy was steadily rising. “How is this my fault?”

“You gave my Cheesy Doodles away!” 

“Jesus Christ, again with that?” Sloane tried to summon patience, but instead he kept seeing Dex’s stupid tongue poking out to lick his bottom lip. He pushed that thought away, grabbed Dex’s arm and hauled him toward the exit. “That back there had nothing to do with food, unless we count you being a part of the menu. The guy was two seconds away from pouncing on you.”

“What? No way. We were talking about chocolate and café con leche.”

Sloane stopped in his tracks. “You’re not serious are you? You can’t be that oblivious.”

“To what?” Dex’s wide eyes told Sloane he most probably was. How could a guy like Dex be so clueless? The way Hudson kept trying to have eye sex with him, the Therian in the kitchen undressing him with his eyes? Hell, Sloane had even caught Letty eyeing Dex’s ass on more than one occasion. Yet Dex never seemed to notice.

“To the fact that he wasn’t talking about drinks, you idiot. He wanted you to be the leche in his café.”

Dex frowned when it dawned on him. “Ohhh. I misread that.”

“I don’t….” Sloane shook his head. He didn’t even have words. “Get in the damn truck before I shoot you.” He pushed Dex from behind, guiding him into the lobby, grunting every time Dex paused to talk at him over his shoulder.

“You know, you should try yoga. Find a way to channel all that aggression.”

Sloane gave him another push. “I have found a way. It’s called shoving my foot up your ass.”

“That doesn’t sound very relaxing.”

Push. “I’m sure I’ll feel plenty relaxed afterward.”

“You got a problem.” Dex grimaced at him, and Sloane gave another push to get him moving again.

“Yeah and I’m looking right at it.” This situation was a heart attack waiting to happen. He just knew it. The stress of the job, now this. Yep, he was going to keel over. He could see the writing on his tombstone now: Sloane Brodie departed this world at age 37 due to massive coronary trauma as a result of idiot partner Dexter J. Daley.

“Ouch, man. That’s harsh.”

Sloane had just about reached the front door when Calvin’s voice came over his earpiece.

“Sloane, we got a problem.”

“What is it?”

“Press is outside.”

“Shit.” Sloane crept up to the large glass front, grateful for the wall-to-ceiling venetian blinds. Careful not to jostle the thin wooden slats, he peeked outside. Damn it, there were at least three news vans that he could see. He pulled back and tapped his earpiece. “What about Cael and Rosa?”

Rosa’s concerned voice came over his earpiece. “We’re in the truck. We didn’t see you guys so figured you’d already headed out.”

Sloane cast Dex an accusing glare. “We got momentarily held up. Dex had to take a shit.”

Dex’s jaw dropped. He made to touch his earpiece when Sloane caught his wrist and twisted his arm behind him, making him double over.

“Ow, ow, ow,” Dex moaned, glaring up at him.

“Thank you for the disturbing visual,” Rosa grunted. “What now?”

“We’re going out the back. Have the BearCat ready to go as soon as we get there.” He released Dex’s arm, pulled him up and grinned at the sour expression on Dex’s face.

“That was not cool, man.”

“Maybe next time you’ll think twice about wandering off. Now let’s go.”

They rushed through the lobby and reception area to the double doors on the right. Behind him, Dex mimicked him, lowering his voice as he repeated Sloane’s words, adding an unintelligible rambling of grunts and growls at the end.

“There’s something seriously wrong with you.” Sloane followed the hallway he’d come in through earlier to the pantry and out into the hall leading to the loading dock.

“Must be the company I’ve been keeping,” Dex quipped. Sloane turned and grabbed Dex by the shoulders.

“Okay, shut up for a minute. Let’s pretend you’re a normal agent for a sec, and that you weren’t sent to drive me out of my freaking mind. Can you do that?”

Dex pursed his lips. “I’ll have to reach really deep for that one, but I think I can manage.”

“Good. Soon as we get out there, make a beeline for the truck, and try not to shoot anyone.”

“No promises,” Dex muttered.

About the author

Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website: http://www.charliecochet.com
Blog: http://www.charliecochet.com/blog
Email: charlie@charliecochet.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet
Twitter: @charliecochet

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Charlie, the excerpt was perfect! I love these guys, and they promise to be delightful and sexy! Congrats on the upcoming release, by the way!

Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts on the writing of a series, and for the yummy tease!

So you guys out there. I'd love to hear your answers to her question: What brings YOU back to a series? Interesting question, and I'd love to hear if your thoughts are the same as mine!

 For every answer, there will be a chance to win a $5.00 Amazon gift card! C'mon. What makes you return to a series?