THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Delta James's Syndicate Masters Series!
SYNOPSIS:
The original, The Bargain, was released on August 26, 2021. The next one is Judgment, which releases on July 14, 2022, and there are three more planned after that.
The overall series is broken down into three groups: Syndicate Masters, Syndicate Masters: Northern Lights, and Syndicate Masters: Cosa Nostra. Each set has a tiger-shifter, leopard-shifter and lion-shifter. Syndicate Masters also has a sabretooth-shifter.
Each of the sets is interconnected with mentions of characters from other sets, but each has their own story arc or theme.
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or was that decided before the story began?
It’s a paranormal mafia story! All of the heroes are masters of their syndicate groups that come down from a goddess who left to care for their people.
Are you more character or plot driven?
Definitely character driven!
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind? Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
I keep a simple series Bible and write down names, relationships and which book they first appear in. I keep it simple.
I admire authors who go to the trouble of a story/vision board. Occasionally if there is someone who inspires a character, I will keep their picture up on my secondary monitor.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a life of their own. Were any of the characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of where you initially wanted them to go?
Oh God, all of them! LOL!
Con was the most obnoxious. He wanted his story told and would not take no for an answer. I finally gave in and wrote the first draft of the manuscript in four days.
Are any of the male POVs based on anyone you know?
I think writers take bits and pieces from all the people they know or have been involved with—good or bad!
Are any of the female POVs based on anyone you know?
Same as above. I always tell people when you’re friends with a writer, everything is grist for the mill.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
No. For the most part I really like my characters. Sometimes, it takes me a bit to get a handle on who they are, but once I do, it’s pretty smooth sailing.
What is your favorite book in the series?
Probably The Bargain. I conceived of the original story as part of an anthology, but ended up dropping out as I didn’t feel it was on brand for me.
Then Con wouldn’t shut up and when I told him, I wrote paranormal, he said, “Fine, I’m a panther shifter.”
Then I wrote it to be a standalone, but Con had way too much to say. I also like the storyline and his heroine, Katy.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
I guess either Jean-Michel in Marked and Mated (who is my readers’ favorite and who continues to find ways into different series and was never supposed to even have his own book!
The other would be Robert Fitzwallace of Alpha Dog. From this series either Con from The Bargain or Anders from Complication.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
Jean-Michel and Darby (not from this series, but from the Wayward Mates series) as they were never supposed to be.
Jean-Michel was to be a minor character and I had him slated for another woman. He wouldn’t have it. He wanted Darby and when I told him she didn’t even have a backstory, he told me “You’re a writer, write her one.”
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
My characters lead me through their story and to their HEA. Sometimes it’s not necessarily the HEA I envisioned, but it always works out.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
In The Bargain, there’s a scene where Katy returns from the dead and waits to see if Con is going to kill her for betraying him. She hears him behind her, but just continues to watch the sea. It has so much going for it.
I also liked the scene when Katy shifts for the first time and has trouble controlling her back end and tail—a little comic relief never hurt anything.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than others?
Generally, my books flow, but if I get stuck, I go out for a drive with the dogs and clear my head and do a reset.
So far, the one I changed the most was Judgment as I realized I had let part of Lars’ essence slip away so re-wrote the second half of the book.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further depth. Do you think you will write another book or series following this multiple POV outline? (if applicable)
I only rarely do a POV outside of the hero and heroine, but I do love going deep into the hero and heroine’s inner thoughts.
I think it gives the readers more insight into not on the characters but the action itself.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
I am very lucky that I write and type very fast. So normally a book takes 7-10 days for the first draft.
I am also fortunate to be in a place where I can write full-time so that 7-10 days is generally 8-10 hours a day… minimum.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
The Bargain is one of the few titles I’ve ever come up with. Generally, I suck at them so Renee comes up with a few choices and I pick from those.
I came up with The Bargain as Katy strikes a bargain with Con to save her sister’s life.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
I think so. For the most part, I like all my characters.
One of the best compliments I ever got from a reader was that she wanted to “go to brunch” with my characters.
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand their own story?
I didn’t even think it was going to be a full-blown novel and then when I dropped out of the anthology, I just thought it would be an idea I shelved for a while.
Con had different ideas.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Con and probably Bridget Moynahan as Katy.
I generally don’t do as detailed a description of the heroine as I do the hero.
I want the reader to be able to picture the hero closely but imagine themselves as the heroine. That’s the same reason I write in third person.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect next? Whether a new book and series or a sequel to an existing series? Can you share a small tease?
I’m currently working on Dragon Storm which is the first in the Reign of Fire series, but the next in the overall Syndicate Masters is Ruthless Honor, which is the first in the Syndicate Masters: Cosa Nostra set.
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2022/07/author-at-glance-delta-james.html
Bio:
If you're looking for paranormal and contemporary erotic romance, you've found your new favorite author!
Alpha heroes find real love with feisty heroines in USA Today Best Selling Author Delta James' sinfully sultry romances. Welcome to a world where true love conquers all and good triumphs over evil! Delta's stories are filled with erotic encounters of romance and discipline.
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My family has been making single malt whiskey for centuries and has a world-renowned reputation. A rival has been trying to put us out of business and acquire both our distilling methods and our land. In an effort to save me from a forced marriage, my grandfather leaves Drummond 51 percent of the business to hold in trust until I marry.
Now my grandfather is dead and I am left to deal with the distillery, the rival family wanting me dead, and Drummond - the black tiger. But I don’t know where else to turn to for help.
Gavan offers me a Pact ... submit for a year or lose my legacy. If I accept, will I be sharing the bed of a man or a beast?
The Pact is a dark mafia romance in the Syndicate Masters series. If you like intrigue, men determined to possess their women, and the strong intelligent women who stand up to them, then you’ll love Delta James’ newest Kindle melting paranormal romance.
The Pact is a paranormal romance with steamy heat in and out of the bedroom for mature readers only.
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The Agreement is a dark mafia romance in the Syndicate Masters series. If you like intrigue, men determined to possess their women, and the strong intelligent women who stand up to them, then you'll love Delta James' newest Kindle melting paranormal romance.
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The Understanding is a dark mafia romance in the Syndicate Masters series. If you like intrigue, men determined to possess their women, and the strong intelligent women who stand up to them, then you'll love Delta James' newest Kindle melting paranormal romance.
The Understanding has steamy heat in and out of the bedroom for mature readers only.
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