I write a series, and so many times the “next book” simply answers the questions left in the previous title. The third thriller in my series SHOW AND TELL included final chapter where my missing dog hero, Shadow, reappeared after disappearing for a week. So the new book FIGHT OR FLIGHT begins with what happened to Shadow during that missing week.

And yes, I write in “dog viewpoint.” Actually, it’s in German Shepherd service dog viewpoint. *s*

Also, since I’ve been a “pet journalist” for a couple of decades and worked as a vet tech and also am an animal behavior consultant, anything in the news sparks a plot idea. I love medical thrillers and my first three thrillers centered around these issues, but the fourth title FIGHT OR FLIGHT is a bit of a departure. Several news articles reported on the horrors of human trafficking in my own back yard–Texas–which is the setting for my stories. Also, some of my readers replied to my question about adding new character(s) and what might be special about them, which reshaped the story.

I have several new characters introduced in FIGHT OR FLIGHT, and in future they may spin off into their own series. My September Day Thriller Series has in the past focused on animal behaviorist September and her PTSD service dog Shadow. But in this story, September and Shadow act as supporting characters while Lia Corazon and her Rottweiler puppy (a police dog in training) take center stage.

During a natural disaster, Lia “hears” the thoughts of Shadow. It surprised the heck out of me that she never questioned the notion, and fully embraced the idea of animal communication. And it further surprised me that September thinks it’s crappiocca. That sets the stage for future fireworks.

So far, all four books in my September Day Thriller Series are set in North Texas, in the fictional town of Heartland, which could be in my own back yard. I based the plot and setting of my debut thriller LOST AND FOUND (which incidentally is permanently free!) on an actual freak blizzard I experienced here several years ago. Since my main character September’s family lives in Heartland, she’s developed relationships with others in the small town. I find it easier to harvest Texas gems for the plots from personal experience living in this area. But in the next story (#5), September likely will head out of town for a spell.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT has just become available for pre-order in all Ebook formats (special price $2.99), and releases officially on July 31 at $4.99. I’m still head-down in the release process, including final formatting for the print version! And yes, I do a lot of this myself via my own imprint Furry Muse Publishing.

My next project includes “voicing” the audio versions of SHOW AND TELL (#3) and FIGHT OR FLIGHT (#4) for the Audible and iTunes bookstores. In between, I’m plotting book #5 in the series, tentatively titled HIT AND RUN.

My dog Magic inspired the Shadow service dog character so this book has been bittersweet. We lost our Magic last fall to a devastating genetic disorder–that likely will be covered in a future story but right now, the wound hurts too much. His best friend, Karma-Kat, mourned him deeply and slept with Magic’s collar for a week. *wiping eyes*

For each of my stories, I ask readers to help me NAME THAT DOG/CAT animal character, usually minor roles in the story. Because portions of FIGHT OR FLIGHTappeared in another form, I needed to rename some of the principle characters. Readers voted to name the Rottweiler puppy Karma. And they also voted to name a future dog hero (also a pup in this story) after my Magic.

I have the absolutely BEST readers–and also the best pets. Karma-Kat spends his days teasing our newest furry addition, a Bullmastiff pup named Bravo. You can bet some of Bravo’s antics will inspire future story lines!