Overcoming traumas of the past in order to step into the future flavors Susan’s new Montana Marshalls series.
Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of more than 65 novels. She kicks off her new series, Montana Marshalls, with Knox (Stonewater Books). In this interview, Susan shares the delight she had in preparing the new series, how it interconnects with others she has set in Montana, and how her personal experiences informed some of the characters.
What inspired the story in Knox?
I love country music, and love going to country music concerts—so when I heard about the shooting at the Jason Alden concert, in Vegas, I couldn’t help but think, what would I do?
I read reports about people who saved lives (and some who gave lives) and I wondered how that event might bond strangers together. And a story lit in my heart about a guy who was in the wrong place at the right time to save the life of a girl he’d just met.
I was already noodling on a story about a family of cowboys from Montana, and my hero, Knox, suddenly stepped up to be that hero. From there, I explored the woman he saved—and just how she might save him back!
And, how this event could actually be the start of an epic adventure that could span five books, five brothers (and a sister) and possible bring the Marshall family together. It’s a suspense, a romance, and a story about overcoming your past even when it feels overwhelming.
What were your goals writing Knox?
The first novel in every series is a challenge: the author has [to] introduce the characters, create a strong setting for the characters to return to (and a place the reader wants to hang out!), ignite a series arc (if it is a connected series) and write a story that will draw a reader into the world. They must raise even more stakes at the end of the story, while still completing the main story thread. And, of course, the reader has to fall in love with the characters.
With Knox, my goal was to introduce the amazing Marshall family, bring readers to the Marshall Triple M ranch, make them fall in love with Knox and Kelsey, ignite a subplot relationship, and create a plot that could be solved in this book, but also ignite a bigger plot — one that would carry readers to the next novel!
What were your biggest challenges or surprises as you were writing this novel?
I really wanted to write a mini-series, a series that would build with each story, and draw the reader deeper into the bigger plot. Which meant I had to drop hints and develop the series plot and make it integral to the individual story plots.
But each story plot had to be compelling in its own right. So, first I had to plot the series arc. Then, I plotted each story. Then I integrated the series plot into the main story, and then I had to figure out who in the stories and make sure the plots fit my hero/heroines! Finally, I had to figure out the romances.
Frankly, it was all very, very fun. And with each book in the series I write, it is even more exciting to see it all come together.
In this book, however, I also had to figure out what kind of bomb, and where, might go off with the minimal amount of damage. I also did a lot of research about raising champion bulls. But my favorite part was writing a couple country songs for my characters to sing!
Click through to find out which hymn inspired the new Montana Marshalls series…