Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts on backstory and chat about my new release, SECURITY FORCE OF TWO, the first book in my MOUNTAIN TOWN MYSTERY Series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone.

How many times have you heard too much backstory will spoil your book? But how are your readers going to find out about what makes your characters tick? What makes them who they are today? What if this is a series? Your readers need to know a little history about the characters and previous events that shape the character’s interactions.

Now I’m not talking about an info dump. I’m suggesting a sprinkling of backstory for each character throughout the book where appropriate so the reader can better understand the characters reactions and plot development. Otherwise, your reader may get lost in your story, not in a good way, or your characters will fall flat rather than be engaging.  This is especially important in writing a series or sequel. Scattering a smattering of information about what has
happened in the other books and what the characters have endured previously makes for a richer experience for your reader.

So in my mind, I’d say yes to backstory in small amounts sprinkled throughout the book, as necessary to keep the reader engaged.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

Now let’s see what my new release,  Security Force of Two is all about.

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.

Candle Bearclaw, a gifted computer analyst/programmer with talents she’s buried when recruited out of college by the CIA. After fifteen years, she abruptly resigns her position with the agency. She returns to her sleepy hometown only to discover her childhood crush has also returned and a violent crime has been committed.

Due to their covert operations experience, Candle and Miacoh are thrown together to assist Homeland Security, FBI, and her father, former chief of police, with a murder investigation. As they search for the perpetrators, will their secrets be revealed as the investigation takes an unusual twist that could blow the case wide open.

How about a sneak peek between the pages of  SECURITY FORCE OF TWO?

Candle Bearclaw stood in front of Carl’s large mahogany desk, laid the unsealed white envelope face up on the polished desktop, and slid it toward her boss.

“What’s this?” Carl eyed the offending envelope.

“It’s what we talked about last week, my resignation.” Candle swung her briefcase onto the leather chair beside her. Pulling out a laptop computer, a manila file folder, and a memory stick, she sat them on the corner of her boss’s desk. “It’s all here, including the passwords necessary to access the sensitive files, my work thus far on the assignment, including my contacts, and it’s a good stopping point for me. Someone else should be able to pick up exactly where I left off, seamlessly. I am requesting a no contact status by you and the agency.” She pulled out a .380 semi-automatic tucked into the waistband of her slacks, ejected the magazine, and racked the slide open. Gingerly setting the gun on the desk beside the other items, she sighed.

He looked across the desk at her, observing her actions. “I understand your position, but that may not be possible. How deep were you?”

Hands flat on the desktop, she leaned over and glared at him. “Deep enough to understand the assignment went against every fiber of my being. You knew that when you assigned it to me, and yet, you did it anyway, knowing it would be my final act as a CIA operative.”

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler https://books2read.com/u/bMN2X5

About the Author:

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance/mystery with an over-active imagination.  She wrote her first vampire romance as a
tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a
forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.

 Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.tenastetler.com

Authors’ Secret’s Blog – https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/

My Say What Blog – http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author

Twitter Page: https://www.twitter.com/TenaStetler  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler

Newsletter: https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler

Tribber – http://triberr.com/TenaStetler

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/tenajean2014

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tena-stetler-10057978/

________________________________________________________________________________________