I'm excited to share a new series with readers this fall.  I've introduced a new family of brothers that have really captured my imagination this year and it's nice to finally be able to talk about them with readers now that the books are starting to be released.

The Murphy Men had a prequel in an Online Read at eHarlequin in August.  “Living the Fantasy” is still available as a free read and follows the story of the oldest, Ryan Murphy, who inherited the CEO spot in his father's mega-successful resort business.  Then, MAKING A SPLASH (Blaze 9/11) and this month's RIDING THE STORM followed, with the stories of Jack (just released from the Navy) and Keith (a rogue entrepreneur who founded his own business outside the family's successes).   Next year, the other brothers will have their moment in their son, including Kyle – the youngest biological son who is a hockey player in the NHL in ONE MAN RUSH (Blaze 4/12).  Followed by Axel, a Finnish import and fellow hockey player who was taken in by the Murphy family as a teen.  Ax's story is available next May and it's called HER MAN ADVANTAGE.  Finally, I'll wind things up with Danny, who's still in the Navy and has a darker backstory then the rest.  His book will be a Uniformly Hot story out in September of 2012.

Today, I thought I'd share with you some of my world building for this family.  Take a look at the photo of the Cape Cod house I've used as an inspiration home for the Murphy's home base.  Sure, my guys are all out on their own, but it helps me to know where they grew up and where they go to spend the weekends.  I could picture the guys playing football on the lawn and racing their sailboats off the shore.

Jack's boat

Keith's boat

Having real photos to work from helps keep me oriented as I return to the same world again and again.  Instead of making up the house, a visual aid ensures I'm always working with the same model.  In the same way, I found photos of the boats I wanted Jack and Keith to captain in their respective stories. Jack sailed a vintage sailboat since the hard work and sweat labor required appealed to his old-school sensibilities.  Keith, on the other hand, commands a boat with more bells and whistles, a souped-up vessel with GPS docking and extras that remind him he has achieved success in the world. 

For the sake of MAKING A SPLASH and RIDING THE STORM, the brothers switch boats on a bet.  After all, Blaze's popular Wrong Bed miniseries is rooted in fun and sexy mix-ups, and both brothers get a surprise when they find a woman on board.  Because I'm not a sailor myself, I needed lots of help from the boating experts in my family and again, the pictures helped keep me rooted in a realistic environment.

I hope you'll check out the Murphys!  And until then, I'd love to know what have been some of your favorite miniseries of all time.  Still loving the Black Dagger Brotherhood?  In love with Jennifer Blake's Men at Arms?  Tell me about some of your favorite series and I'll give a random poster a copy of their choice of book from my backlist.