Today I am so pleased to welcome Kelly Jensen to Joyfully Jay. Kelly has come to talk to us about The Complete Counting Series. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
A Story in Three Parts
When I sat down to write Counting Fence Posts, the first story for Henry and Marc, I had no idea I would be writing a series that would extend to three novellas and three short stories slotted in between. But I should have known. I should have figured that Marc would demand a voice, resulting in their second novella, Counting Down. And once he’d had his say, I knew I’d have to give them a happy every after, so I wrote Counting on You. And once I’d written that last story, I wasn’t ready to let them go, so I wrote a final short, Counting Out, which ended up around the same length as that first novella.
I love that this story became something more, though, and I’m equally thrilled that all three novellas are now available The Complete Counting Series anthology, because they should be read together. Marc and Henry’s journey from rivalry to love happens in stages, but each is linked by a common thread. No, it’s not that they tend to get stuck in places, though it’s definitely been fun to write that. It’s that both Henry and Marc are forward thinkers. They both have wanted more.
But though I love that all of their novellas can now be read one after the other, I’m equally glad that their story happened in three parts. Normally, when I plot a novel, I work on three separate arcs—one for each character, what they want, how they plan to get it, and what’s standing in their way—and one for the book as a whole, the journey that will either bring my characters together, or test them. Hopefully both. When I plot a novella, I shorten that process. I still work on what my characters want, but the main plot, if you will, becomes more of a conveyor belt. Something that’s simply in place to move everyone from A to B. What this allows me to do is drop my characters into the middle of a story and then pluck them back out of it whenever I want. It’s not the A to B that’s important. It’s what happens in between.
Basically, I go for more character depth in a novella, and over the course of this series, I delved pretty deeply into Henry and Marc. I got to know them really well. So well, in fact, that when I sat down to write Counting Out to celebrate the release of The Complete Counting Series, I didn’t even have to glance at my notes. I knew what they’d say, what they’d bicker about, how they kissed, and how they felt about each other.
I did have to look up the color of Henry’s eyes, though.
Each of these three novellas is a building block. They don’t really work together as a novel. But together with the short stories I wrote for in between, I feel as though I’ve given Henry and Marc something more complete than many of my other characters get, and I have a feeling that I’ll be tempted to keep writing shorts for them for a long time to come.
To read the short stories set between the novellas, visit the Counting Series page on my website.
Thanks for following the tour for The Complete Counting Series! At the end of every post, I’ll be asking a question. Leave a comment with your answer (and your email address). Every comment throughout the tour counts as an entry in my giveaway. One winner will receive $15 (US or equivalent) to spend at the Dreamspinner Press store. Giveaway open internationally.
Q. If you’ve read any of the Counting Series novellas and short stories, which is your favorite? (If you haven’t read them yet, visit the Counting Series page on my website and pick a favorite cover.)
Blurb
Henry Auttenberg and Marc Winnamore have an interesting approach to dating. Bare acquaintanceship gives way to a mutual attraction as Marc confesses he’s not exactly straight—while they’re trapped in a rental car on the side of the road during a Christmas Eve blizzard. Back in Boston, they try an actual date, only to spend New Year’s Eve locked in a basement, exploring every avenue of escape… and the deepening attraction between them
Then, after two months apart, their fledgling relationship held together by flying visits, phone calls, and text messages, a joint assignment in Washington DC serves up more togetherness than Henry and Marc might be able to handle. But the real test isn’t the assignment. When Marc finally lays his heart on the line, can he count on Henry to be there for him, in every way that matters? And can he do the same for Henry when Henry needs him the most?
Follow Henry and Marc’s journey from work colleagues to lovers, from roadside disaster to locked basements, to a final ultimatum in the three novellas of the Counting series: <em>Counting Fence Posts, Counting Down, Counting on You</em>
Buy links: Amazon | Dreamspinner Press
Bio
If aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.
Kelly is the author of eight novels, including the <a href=”https://kellyjensenwrites.com/chaos-station/”>Chaos Station</a> series, co-written with Jenn Burke, and several novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Social links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Newsletter:Â http://eepurl.com/czGhYz
Giveaway
Thanks for following the tour for The Complete Counting Series! At the end of every post, I’ll be asking a question. Leave a comment with your answer (and your email address). Every comment throughout the tour counts as an entry in my giveaway. One winner will receive $15 (US or equivalent) to spend at the Dreamspinner Press store. Giveaway open internationally.
Q. If you’ve read any of the Counting Series novellas and short stories, which is your favorite? (If you haven’t read them yet, visit the Counting Series page on my website and pick a favorite cover.)
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
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My favorite is Counting on You as it tied up all the happenings around Marc and Henry’s life and they could finally really start their happy beginning. 🙂
puspitorinid AT yahoo DOT com
I’m so glad I got the chance to finish their story with Counting on You. <3
I haven’t read the series yet, though I must recognise I already have the first and second books… I just haven’t got round to it!
Thanks for hosting me today!
You are so welcome!
Welcome, Kelly, and thanks for a fun post. It’s always interesting to me to learn how a writer goes about writing. My favorite cover is from Counting Stars though they are all appealing.
Thank you!
I haven’t read these, but I do love the covers! Counting Down is my favorite of the three, just because it’s more colorful, but I love the continuity of the style.
I love the continuity too. 🙂
I’ve reads all of them and the first one is still my favorite.Such a good written, nice little story 🙂
Sorry, I forgot my email address: booklover-forever(at)web(dot)de
Thank you!
I haven’t read them yet, but I own them. I’m planning on reading them closer to Christmas. I like the Counting Fence Posts cover the best.
jlshannon74 at gmail.com
That’s the cover that cemented the visual image I had of Henry and Marc. 🙂
Well, Counting on You as the third book pretty much “wrapped up” all three parts, so that’s my favorite ^^
amie_07(at)yahoo(dot)com
It was such a joy to be able to write that.
I have only read Counting Fence Posts so far but am looking forward to reading the rest.
I hope you enjoy the continuing story. 🙂
I like less trouble for the guys, so I pick COUNTING ON YOU!
I have not as yet read them. My favorite cover is Counting Down.
I read them out of order (which I never do!) because I got to proofread Counting Down, having never heard of Counting Fence Posts (hangs head in shame…) I loved Counting Down so much I had to go back and read the first, and then obviously waited for the last. So Counting Down is my favorite, but I’ve loved them all almost equally:)
I’ve read some of my favorite series out of order. 🙂
I haven’t read the books yet but own one or two of the books in the series. I like all the covers in the series. They look cute.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
I am enjoying these tours and finding all the terrific books my family is enjoying reading. Thanks for bringing them to us and keep up the good work.
I haven’t read any of them yet…it’s hard to decide favorite covers but from the set with MC’s pictured I finally decided on Counting Fence Posts. From the other set I like Counting Stars, but Counting Out is a close second. 🙂
aelnova@aol.com
I loved every book in the series, but I’d have to choose ‘Counting on You’ since it ties up some loose ends and gives us more information on the background of the characters. I read the series in order and each book gave us more insight into the characters and built the romance. Love them!
Thank you!
Oops… I guess you need my email in the comments section.
dfair1951@gmail.com
I haven’t read them yet, but I definitely will whether I win them or not! As to covers, I like the intimacy of Counting Fence Posts and Counting on You, but I won’t know which I like better until I know the people involved. Can’t help but playing favorites then!
I love the cover of Counting Fence Posts for the same reason!
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who commented!