I have a friend. Her name is Robin Lee Hatcher and she writes romances and women’s fiction. I write contemporary suspense and, under the name K. Bennett, zombie legal thrillers.
Robin likes me anyway.
I first met Robin at the CBA conference in New Orleans, back in 2000. We were part of a writer’s gathering and were both finalists at the very first Christy Awards banquet. We both won, too, in our respective categories--Robin in Romance, me in Suspense.
Little did she know, however, I was about to stick a toe in where men fear to tread: historical romance. I’d come up with an idea for a series set in turn-of-the-century Los Angeles. It would be about a young woman who is determined to practice law in what was then a man’s profession. She’d find mystery and romance and all sorts of colorful characters, which Los Angeles has always had in abundance.
I named the character Kit Shannon, and when Bethany House bought the series they had the good sense to team me up, for the first three books, with Tracie Peterson. Tracie and I made a compatible team and had a great time doing City of Angels, Angels Flight and Angel of Mercy.
Then Tracie, like a mother sending her child off to school alone, gave me the series to continue on my own. I produced A Greater Glory, A Higher Justice and A Certain Truth.
I loved doing the series. And now, through the wonder of digital publishing, I am bringing it back for the e-reading public.
City of Angels, Book 1 in The Trials of Kit Shannon series, is now available. Here’s the summary:
The courtrooms of 1903 Los Angeles are a man’s world––until Kit Shannon arrives
With shoulders squared and dreams set high, Kit Shannon arrives in Los Angeles feeling a special calling to the law. Yet under the care of her socialite aunt, Kit quickly comes to realize that few understand her burning desire to seek justice and practice a profession known only to men. When her aunt adamantly refuses to support her unconventional career aspirations, Kit questions whether she is truly following God's will. And when her growing love for a man pledged to another threatens scandal, Kit knows her days might be numbered in Los Angeles.
A chance meeting with Earl Rogers, the city's most prominent criminal lawyer, garners Kit an apprentice position. And work on a notorious murder case. Someone has been killing prostitutes in Los Angeles, but Kit is certain it is not Rogers’ client. Determined to find the truth, Kit runs full on into forces that want to stop her, forces that stretch all the way to the citadels of power in the City of Angels.
"...a great story, historical fiction plus legal thriller in the style of John Grisham." - WorldHistoricalFiction.com
City of Angels is a full length (90,000 word) novel at the launch price of $2.99.
So there you have it. Thriller author James Scott Bell paying a visit to Robin Lee Hatcher territory. I’ll try to be a good guest. And if the series is a hit again, I may decide to add to it. I originally wanted to follow Kit Shannon right up to the 1950s. Now that’s a real possibility because of e-book publishing.
James Scott Bell’s website is www.jamesscottbell.com
He blogs each Sunday at www.killzoneauthors.blogspot.com
And Tweets at Twitter.com/jamesscottbell
Thanks, Robin, for having James! I have read Sins of the Father, No Legal Grounds, Glimpses of Paradise...loved them. I am glad to hear about the E version of City of Angels and will purchase it! I hope the entire series will be available for Kindle (and that great price!).
Posted by: Jackie S. | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Help, I was unable to order it on Amazon.....said not available to US?????
Is that correct???
Posted by: Jackie S. | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Well, never mind....musta been a glitch. I tried again and all is well!
Sorry!
Posted by: Jackie S. | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Glad that worked out for you, Jackie.
And thanks, Robin, for giving me the space today!
Posted by: James Scott Bell | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 03:06 PM
Thank you, Robin for hosting James. Always great to meet other authors and hear about their new projects. My husband gave me a Kindle for Christmas and I am always looking for additional reading material. Thanks to this post, I can add another book, and hopefully more. Thank you, James!
Posted by: Mariepul80 | Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 06:23 AM