Between the Owen Family Saga and an Owen Family Story?
Good question!
Once I finished writing the novels that make up the Saga, and put them into the best reading order, I decided to call a halt to that series. I knew I was going to write further stories about the family members, either to fill in gaps, give more information, or tell new stories about this rambunctious lot. However, but they would most likely be written out-of-order.
Therefore, anything else I write about members of the Owen family will be labeled An Owen Family–whatever (novel, novella, or story). These new projects will be part of The Owen Family Universe.
You can see that one new Owen Family novella–the Origin Story called That Tender Light–occupies first place in the graphic above. I intend it to be read first, even though it’s not designated as part of the Saga.
Why am I using the “Owen Family” designation going forward?
Here’s the thing: There is no point in trying to formally shoehorn the new stories in between the novels of the Saga (it’s just too difficult to change things around in an existing series). Until after I finish writing new pieces of work, I don’t know where on the Saga timeline they will fall. I surely will not number the new stories on the covers. Imagine changing the numbers on multiple covers when each new story is released! Therein lies, if not madness, at the least a great deal of work, worry, and confusion.
To keep everything simple, I will continue to write stories about the family and label them as such, then update my Best Reading Order page.
So what is this “Shenandoah Neighbors” thing?
The Owen Family Universe includes a great many characters and their stories. The neighbors who came west with the Owen family from the Shenandoah Valley have their own stories, and most of them are linked in some degree to the Owen family. However, I didn’t want them to be classified as Owen Family Stories or Novels or Novellas, so I came up with the Shenandoah Neighbors tag.
There are currently four works in the Shenandoah Neighbors list: the novella Mended by Moonlight, and the stories Ned’s Choice, Broken, and Bloodied Leather.
There could be those who would argue–with good reason, given my parameters–that Trail of Storms is not an Owen family novel, and should fall under the classification of a Shenandoah Neighbors Novel. Well, it’s firmly stuck in the Saga. In this imperfect world, those of us afflicted with OCD will just have to live with that.
For more information about the placement, year, and locations of all the published stories in The Owen Family Universe, refer to the best reading order page on my website.
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