J is for Jaffarian: Sue Ann Jaffarian

Continuing the Mystery Author Alphabet Meme, today I welcome Sue Ann Jaffarian.
J IS FOR JAFFARIAN. 
  
Sue Ann Jaffarian is the author of three mystery series: The Odelia Grey series, the Ghost of Granny Apples series, and the Madison Rose Vampire Mystery series. In addition to mysteries, she also writes general fiction and short stories, recently launching a Holiday’s From Hell short story series for e-readers. Visit her at www.sueannjaffarian or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
  
Book giveaway. Comment below for a chance to win. Tell us which series intrigues you most, and you might win the first book in that series from Sue Ann Jaffarian. 

8/17: WINNERS: JANET A & PENNY T. Sue Ann will be in touch with you shortly!

SUE ANN JAFFARIAN:

Like Cerberus, the terrifying hound who guards the gates to the underworld in Greek and Roman mythology, I need three heads – one for each of my three mystery series. So far I’ve managed to keep them all straight, but as the different series grow in number of books, I fear without three heads, I’ll never manage.

Then again, maybe I don’t need three heads. Maybe what I need is five or six heads, each with their own independent brain. There would be one for each mystery series, one for my Holidays From Hell short story series and one for all the future writing projects gurgling around in my brain. Let’s see, that makes five. Nope. I’ll need six. I’ll need one head to handle my paralegal day job and personal life. They will have to pair up because six is the top number of heads I’m willing to shampoo and blow dry on a regular basis.

OMG! Six heads means six monthly cut and color jobs. It means six sets of teeth requiring dental care. Six sets of glasses. Six faces that need plucking, washing and make-up application and removal. Hold on a moment while I do the math … okay, based on the cost of up-keep and maintenance, I’m going back to one head and liking it.

I won’t kid anyone, writing three different series is quite a challenge, but it is doable. If you’re thinking of trying it, here are a couple of tips:

Make each series different in style, character and genre or sub-genre. For example, write one in first person and the other in third. Mix up the types of protagonists, their backgrounds and personalities. If one is a police procedural, make the other a paranormal or amateur sleuth. Keeping each series different also keeps you, the writer, better engaged mentally as the clock ticks by and one deadline merges into another.

Make a schedule and stick to it. We’ve all heard this as a tip to successful writing, but when writing different series, it’s not just a daily schedule, it becomes a monthly or even seasonal schedule. Remember, life happens and if you’re on schedule to begin with, the less likely an illness or emergency will throw you too far off track.

Kirkus once said of me, “Like Stuart Kaminsky, Jaffarian juggles her franchises deftly, giving each a unique voice and appeal.”

Hah! If they only knew the truth. I’m really juggling various shades of insanity – tossing power saws along with knives and Tasers. The reality is, the above information aside, the series write themselves. I’m just the medium.