The Valentines vs. The Groves – An Exciting New Series Update!

Greetings Lovelies!

I hope your New Year is chugging along swimmingly.

Mine is going just fine. I’ve submitted most of a book I’ve written in the Valentines’ series to the editor last Monday.

I say, “most of a book” because I hadn’t quite finished the read-through and dust-up before the editing deadline date so I submitted a few thousand words over the minimum that’s required.

The thing is, as I said before, I don’t want to rush it. There are a lot of moving parts in this series, just as there were in The Christmas Brothers Series. Even though I’m very happy with the Christmases series, I went too fast and missed pivotal opportunities to make the story and their world richer. I don’t want to do that with this next series. For instance, I think, I should’ve started with Holly and Bryn in college instead of those details merely being backstory.

In Valentines vs. Groves series (recognize how the series focus has changed from just the Valentines to include the Groves. The Groves and Valentines are clashing families and book one includes all of this backstory, interesting story details that would enhance the series if I write it all out before we arrive at Hercules and Paisley’s relationship. Because the thing is, I want you to FEEL the weight of why these two must fight to resist each other.  It’s like if I would’ve written Bryn and Holly’s college experience together and then transitioned into Holly’s career and a few of her failed romantic relationships, then you would’ve just felt it more when she arrived at the Christmas mansion and had her first interaction with Jasper. I wrote those books fast because I had to. But the next crop, I’m going to take my time. I’m going to give you all that I have. I’m going to lay it all out on the altar of sacrifice. Okay, like, was that melodramatic enough??? lol. Because I’m telling you, I’m feeling the melodrama here.

So this is how it’s going to go.

(Gosh, I want another cup of coffee) Sigh… I’ve been keeping to one a day, but I want two today. Hmm… I have this Panamanian light roast and I put about less than a half of tablespoon of Bailey’s Red Velvet liquor in it and about the same amount of Planet Oat, oat-milk, and OMG… Like, OMG… Delicious. 😋)

Sorry for the digression.

Anyway, all these creative thoughts are going through my head today, and I’ll have to reign them in at some point. But, I want to go back and tell the story of how Paisley came to be because her mother plays an integral role in giving the Groves the upper hand against the Valentines. There’s just so much beautiful and pulse-pounding backstory to capture. I’m going to try to write it out in one big book that’ll be released before the Hercules trilogy. As it stands, there are three Valentine brothers, Hercules (the youngest), Orion (in the middle), and Achilles (the eldest). Orion has his own forbidden relationship with Treasure Grove, Paisley’s cousin. And I have a few ideas about Achilles’ love interest. However, there’s also Max Grove, Paisley’s brother. He’s going to need his book(s) too. And maybe, just maybe, Max and Achilles have their eyes on the same woman.

You see, I stumbled onto a remarkable world here, with great characters. I don’t want to squander these precious gifts. I want to give you a Z.L. Arkadie reading experience that you’ve never had. So please bear with me, and don’t forget about me. I’m writing my a** off! And I don’t want to have any regrets this time, NONE.

Until my next update!😘

Z