A Little Update from Behind the Pages: Cowboys, Dragons and New Beginnings

It's been a busy few weeks in the world of Lina Louise Books, and I thought it was time to sit down, catch my breath and share a little of what's been happening behind the scenes.

Welcome to Calder Ridge

If you've been following my recent posts, you'll already have met Eleanor Munro and Rhett Calder, the two characters at the heart of my newest novel, The Skin Between Us.

And what a journey they've taken me on.

Set against the sweeping mountains and beautiful ranch country of Montana, this is the story of a British woman who has spent years fighting battles most people cannot see, and a rather infuriating American cowboy who turns her carefully arranged world upside down.

There's laughter, stubbornness, horses, family, plenty of banter and, of course, a little heat!

But beneath the romance is something much more personal.

El lives with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a debilitating condition that can affect every part of someone's life. Her story was inspired by experiences very close to my heart, and I wanted to write a heroine whose illness didn't define her or prevent her from experiencing everything life had to offer.

I didn't want to write a story in which love magically cured her.

I wanted to write one in which she was loved exactly as she was.

And Rhett? Well, let's just say that cowboy has rather stolen a piece of my heart.

I also have to mention June, a certain four-legged troublemaker who appears to believe the entire ranch exists for her entertainment!

The Hardest Part Was Saying Goodbye

Something rather unexpected happened when I finished writing The Skin Between Us.

I felt genuinely heartbroken.

As a writer, you spend so much time with your characters. You discover their personalities, their fears, their ridiculous habits and the little things that make them who they are.

You laugh with them. You cry with them. You fall in love with their world.

And then one day, you write those two little words.

The End.

I thought I'd feel nothing but excitement. Instead, I found myself wishing I could spend just a little longer at Calder Ridge.

Perhaps that's the magic of storytelling. Sometimes the worlds we create become places we aren't quite ready to leave.

The lovely news is that The Skin Between Us is now available on Kindle, and El and Rhett are finally beginning their journey into readers' hands.

To everyone who has supported the book, shared the posts, joined the ARC team or simply sent a kind message, thank you. It means more than you know.

So, What's Coming Next?

More from Calder Ridge

Although El and Rhett's story has reached its beautiful conclusion, Calder Ridge still has plenty of stories left to tell.

There are other characters waiting in the wings, including Tessa Wade and Dan Keane, whose story I'm looking forward to exploring.

And don't worry. I suspect we haven't seen the last of a certain troublesome horse, either!

The Emberbound Saga

For those of you who prefer your romance with dragons, ancient magic, danger and a rather darker kind of passion, the world of Where Shadow Holds the Flame is far from finished.

There is more to discover, more fire to awaken and more secrets waiting beyond the pages of Book One.

The Legends Saga

My original fantasy world is still very much alive, too. There are more adventures to come, old friendships to revisit and unfinished stories that deserve their next chapter.

And Something a Little Darker...

I've also been exploring some very different stories behind the scenes. Stories involving death, mysterious forces, dangerous connections and questions about what might exist beyond the life we know.

I'll share more about those when the time is right.

Thank You for Being Part of This

One of the loveliest parts of writing is discovering that the characters who have lived in my imagination can mean something to other people, too.

Every message, every review and every reader who takes a chance on one of my books helps bring these worlds a little further to life.

So whether you've been with me since Legends Never Die, discovered me through Where Shadow Holds the Flame, or are about to take your first trip to Montana with El and Rhett, thank you.

There are plenty more adventures ahead.

And I have a feeling a few more characters are going to steal our hearts along the way.

With love,

Lina Louise ❤️

P.S. If you've already started reading The Skin Between Us, I'd love to know what you think of Calder Ridge. And more importantly, have you met June yet?