Since becoming an author, one of my biggest desires had been to be invited to a collaborative project with other authors in my genre. Last year, God kept challenging me to BE BOLD with my writing career. That meant investing money in marketing efforts where I’d been hesitant to do so before. And, it turns out, it meant launching my own collaborative series. After all, I wasn’t receiving invitations from other authors – why not start my own?
When I initially surveyed author groups for interest, I was thrilled at the response. Over 30 authors were interested in my little series? And – better yet? There were familiar names on the list! I carefully screened the authors to make sure they wrote Christian romance (like me). If I hadn’t read their books, I read their most recent release so I could get a feel for their writing style.
And lastly, I selected 6 other authors and invited them to join me in a private facebook group. We worked together to make major decisions in that group and over video chat. These discussions led us to decide on a Series of Christmas books, with “Heroes” as main characters.
Initially, the Heroes of Freedom Ridge was called the Heroes of Crystal Ridge Mountain, but we voted together to change it! I couldn’t be happier with how the series came together. Along the way, one author decided the series goals didn’t align with her own, and we parted ways amicably. Such is the flow of grou projects!
Yesterday, the fifth book in the series released, and in two weeks – the final installment (mine!) will finally be live for every one to read!
![Rescued by the Hero: A Christian Firefighter Christmas Romance (Heroes of Freedom Ridge Book 1) by [Mandi Blake]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Yk1FgT3NL.jpg)
Fellow InspyRomance author Mandi Blake was the very person I invited to be in the series with me. Her book kicked off the series back in October. Rescued by the Hero was the perfect start to our series with the firefighter/snowboard instructor, Aiden!
The group had a blast building the world of Freedom, Colorado – a small ski and tourist town near the world famous Freedom Ridge Resort and nestled along Freedom Ridge in the Rocky Mountains east of Denver.
Another IR author, Liwen Ho, was the second person I invited to join the series, and she brought with her a wealth of knowledge about collaborative projects. Without her, we were definitely the blind leading the blind!
One of my favorite things about a collaborative series like this is that we are able to deliver the benefits of a rapid-release series (a new book every two weeks!) without taking on those aggressive deadlines as an individual author! We were able to include all kinds of Heroes in the series, including firefighter, EMT, police officer, veterans, search and rescue, and a bodyguard. And all kinds of storylines – like second-chance romance, love pact, mistaken identity, and brother’s best friend! Check out the complete series here!
This project has been unlike anything I’ve ever worked on. For all the collaborative decisions – each person is still ultimately responsible for writing their own book. But you also have to make sure you don’t say something that doesn’t match what another author wrote. The coffee shop can’t be in town square for three books, and next to the shopping mall in another. It meant a lot of side conversations, spreadsheets, and fact-checking during the writing process!
But, I think you’ll agree that the final product was worth all the extra hoops we jumped through!
Have you read any of the Freedom Ridge books yet? Which has been your favorite? Do you like multi-author series? Or would you prefer multi-author boxsets instead?
Should we do a second round of Freedom Ridge books next Christmas?
Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually her black lab - Ruby - and a good cup of coffee or tea. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living.
I’m new to the Freedom Ridge books. I like multi-author series and box sets. I recently read a multi-author books. Each author wrote a chapter. 13 authors. The editing must have been spot on because the story just flowed beautifully. One voice.
This sounds great! I have a long list of TBR now!
I have not read these. I enjoy series books as long as they come in paperback. I don’t do ebooks.
I absolutely love this series! I am just starting book four Stranded With a Hero. I am so glad I started it. I don’t have a favorite so far because they all flow together so well. I prefer a series over a book set by far.
I haven’t read these but am looking forward to finding them now. I like series and box sets both. I like the continuity. I am also very thankful for the IR( Christian) influence. I always am excited to find books like that. God bless!! Thanks for writing!!
I splurged and got the Freedom Ridge set which is now on my TBR pile. I do enjoy multi-author sets and box sets. They represent a fun opportunity to binge read. I have enjoyed the Chapel Cove series and Arcadia Valley as well as several of the Crossroads series. I’m looking forward to adding Freedom Ridge to the list.
I have not read any of these books, but they are certainly on my very massive TBR list. I LOVE having Kindle Unlimited because I can borrow each one (can you say “binge read”).
I love both multi-author series and multi-author boxed sets. I’ve often found new-to-me writers or read books by writers I already know & love.
I think you should do a second round of “Freedom Ridge” next Christmas! Starting in late November I begin to read Christmas books, so I always look forward to new reads. :-)
I find it fascinating how authors collaborate to come up with a great series, I’m sure there’s plenty of “behind the scenes” going on that readers have no idea about. I also like the fact that the books release fast, especially helpful to me so I don’t have to wait so long between them.
I haven’t actually read any of them yet, though Mandi Blake is one of my favorite authors! I, too, have been dreaming about being in a multi-author series. Maybe one day!
The covers on these books are absolutely gorgeous! Kudos to whoever put that together. ❤️ I have purchased one of the books in this series and am looking at the others.
I haven’t really thought about multi-author series before (although I just finished one elsewhere). If the shared setting details are ironed out and character cross-overs correct, I can see the benefits. It worked pretty good in the other series I read. Just a few details not consistent between the various authors – not enough to be a negative.
That’s so cool how you all wrote books set within the same world! I haven’t read any of these yet, but I will have to check them out.
Hi, I have not read any of the books in the series, but I sure have been eyeing them. Have a great rest of the week and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
Congrats on your endeavour and thanks for sharing. I only know the IR authors in this series, but I’ll keep an eye open for some of the others. I’ve been expanding my reading options since following this blog.
I have not read any of them yet. Mandi Blake is new to me but I have seen her name/heard of her a lot this past month! Looking forward to reading some of her books.
I haven’t read this series.
I haven’t read any of this series but I do like series and I ones where the books intersect in some way. I like characters that pop up in other books and having a place that is focal. I also like Christmas books.
I like the idea of heros cos right now we are celebrating the Healthcare and other service heros on the front line. (Nurses, Drs, firefighters, police, Lifesavers, to the ones people don’t think of as much in the domestics/cleaners that keep the places clean etc.
Its always nice to revisit places.
I’ve read Love Pact and really enjoyed it :)