I am restarting my mailing list from scratch. This list will have messages sent when one of the following happens:
A new book goes up for preorder on an announced pen name.
A book is releasing soon or has recently released.
A new audiobook has released.
A secret pen name has released a title. (Users on this mailing list will not find out about the secret pen names until after the book’s release; Patreon users will still get first crack at secret pen name books.) Note: this mailing list is the only place outside of Patreon I will be dropping links/info on secret pen names until the book goes to announced status.
I have any form of news I want to share with you. News can be “My cats are cute, and you deserve to see pictures of my cats.”
My other mailing lists will be gradually being deactivated, as I want to only deal with ONE. (At last count… I had maybe three? Maybe more? Color me overwhelmed. Overwhelmed is not a good color on me.)
Basically, expect book stuff. I will also do cover reveals of cool things I REALLY want to share but don’t want to share publicly yet.
This mailing list is like the Fight Club. We don’t talk about the Fight Club.
Aka: please don’t report the new pen names to places like goodreads, etc… I want my most dedicated readers to find out about things right away, but I don’t want every single person on the planet bothering me about when new and fun projects will release. (I want these things to remain fun.)
I do pen names for numerous reasons. Here they are, in no specific order:
I want some privacy, so I’m hiding out for a bit.
The series has too many books planned in it, and it would clutter R.J. Blain.
The tone doesn’t quite fit with R.J. Blain and what people expect from either the humor or the more serious fare.
I felt like it.
Here are the current list of my active pen names:
R.J. Blain (This is most everything paranormal/science fiction.)
Susan Copperfield (Royal States/books dealing with this specific large world series.) Tone is different from the Blain books.
Trillian Anderson (Defunct, being merged with R.J. Blain. Created for exploratory humor.)
Bernadette Franklin (Contemporary Romance, like mag rom com world if you remove the magic and just angle to have a good time. These are feel good books, so if you’re not sure if you will like contemporary romance, consider giving one of them a shot. They’re silly, they’re fun, and they share many similarities with the mag rom com world books. Juliette is the undisputed queen of awesome, although she doesn’t appear in EVERY book. And yes, Juliette is getting her prequel book, and it will be called Becoming Juliette. I don’t know when. I need to finish Murder Floof first.)
Bernadette will also be getting a punny Inn themed series, and I will be doing a second chances type series under her, too–those two series will not be in the Juliette world. (Look, it’s her world, I just play in it, k?)
Audrey Greene (Paranormal with Science Fiction elements, sweeter tone than R.J. Blain, large enough world/enough books in series to split off.)
Secret Pen Name #1: Magical cops doing hilarious things; eventual replacement series for the Mag Rom Com World stuff. This pen name will be worked on alongside the final books of the Mag Rom Com world, and will probably become my main jam for a while.
Like the Mag Rom Com world, different cops will handle different cases. Unlike the Mag Rom Com world, the different cops handling different cases will be repeat main characters. So, if you like Cop A, you will be able to revisit him numerous times throughout the story, and he’ll show up in the books of other cops; the main character is selected based on who is handling specific mysteries.
There will be several main overlying plot arcs. Currently, I have seven cases planned/generally plotted, with six different cops handling said cases.
There will be romantic elements, but unlike the magical romantic comedy series, those elements may not necessarily be completely resolved within one book. (And you may end up following pairings and their shenanigans through numerous books as they flail their way to their various happily ever afters.)
Like the Mag Rom Com series, there will be loads of HEA/HFN. That’s my jam. I don’t like reading cliffhangers, and I don’t really like writing them, either. So, you will know the fates of characters and couples at the end of each book, but you may not get the conclusion of a mystery, especially if it’s one of the big overlying arcs.
The covers alone will probably expose I’m behind the books, because they’re very much ME book covers. So very much me book covers. And if you can’t figure it out, if you’re on the mailing list, you’ll find out about book 1 shortly after its release. (Where Patreon users will be getting the book in hand 3-7 days prior to its release.)
Secret Pen Name #2: I have been becoming critically bored in the evenings, and I don’t want to WORK WORK, but I want to write, so I’m doing this carrot pen name. I will publicly announce this one as soon as I’m ready to set up the preorders.
This one is also slightly cop themed because let’s face it, I like writing about cops, FBI agents, secret orgs, and stuff like that. WHAT? I likeeeeeee it.
Tone will be closer to Booked for Murder for Secret Pen Name #2 with some humor tossed in. I mean… one of the main character’s super powers is the ability to open jars and cans without issues.
And yes, yes you may accuse me of self-inserting on this magical power, because fuck those jars of spaghetti sauce anyway. (What? What? I have tendonitis, jars are my BANE.)
As I like being up front and honest, all profits earned from Secret Pen Name #2 are going to dream vacations. Like, that’s all this pen name exists for, is for me to have fun writing and be able to travel once she earns enough $$$. All pennies tossed in her jar will be used to board my cats at frou-frou happy cat boarding center (that they really like) and send me off to places… like Hawai’i. Or on a cruise somewhere. Or something.
… and to buy a fancy camera so I can take pictures when I do finally earn enough to take a guilt-free vacation.
Secret Pen Name #2 has Mr. Blain’s stamp of approval. (Wheee.) I think he wants to go on fun vacations, too.
There has been a severe lacking of vacations in the Blain household… for some reason. (Gesturing at the planet.)
That was a lot of words to say “this mailing list is where you want to be.” https://sendfox.com/lp/1xq2dz
Please note that if you are a subscriber to the other lists, you will not be receiving mail from them. (Sorry? You’re welcome? I’m not sure which polite phrasing I should use here…)
First newsletter will go out roughly on Monday. I will be cross-posting this between Facebook and the blog.
Done. Please be less stressed, we like you less stressed. One list sounds like a good idea! And holiday away, I agree with Mr Blain. Holidays are brain food and that is what feeds your mind. If you think about it, it’s like being a farmer, you gotta fertilise the soil. So, being a lover of your books – I selfishly want you to take a holiday so the creations you come up with are a sweet and awesome fantastic product. ? (hint: They always are, but holidays are fun and you work hard, go have fun!)
Re spaghetti sauce jars: have you tried the Kuhn Rikon jar opener? Since far I can open EVERYTHING I’ve tried, though sometimes I have to hold with both hands and push with the side 9f my chest, my jaw, eyc
Honestly… I use my husband most ruthlessly. I utilize the magic power of sad eyes and stand there, waiting, holding out the jar.
That tactic works 99.9% of the time. 😀
Right oh! Sounds good.
I hope this helps you chill out; I’m looking forward to your new works.
Regarding your spaghetti jar problem…I have an old beer bottle opener( the kind with curved pointy end,also used to put holes in juice cans). I put the point under the lid of the jar, pop it up. Vacuum is gone and I can open up the jar,( rheumatoid arthritis, and the only way I can open new jars
I beat the jar with a knife and usually get it open that way, or if I’m feeling vindictive, stab it in the center. Usually… just a few whacks with a knife does the trick. Or I give it to Mr. Blain using my magic power of sad eyes.
Cats…I want to see cats. 🙂
I find it also helps to put one of those flat rubber jar openers *under* the jar on tbe counter so it doesn’t skitter away on me.
When that doesn’t work I go straight to the sad eyes too!
By the way, I really like how you summarized the appeal of each of your various pen names, it’s very clear. Am I okay to forward the email to a young librarian friend just starting to learn about the romance genre? Or do you prefer I provide a link to this post to drive more traffic here?
Go ahead and forward the email! <3
Thanks!
I was wondering which way is the best way to see pictures of your cats. I can’t have cats and rely on friends and family to get my fill of felines. The management are adorable. Or photos of your vacations. You had some of the most amazing pictures! I loved them.
Probably the blog, although cat pictures show up here there and everywhere. Discord is most likely to get the kitty pictures first tho