Stephanie Laurens on a new generation of Cynsters

Stephanie Laurens, author of By Winter's Light, explains how she's moving into a new generation of Cynsters with her 22nd Cynster novel. (Not that we're complaining!)

Stephanie: From those unfamiliar with the Cynster novels, I suspect the first question might well be: Why? Not why a new generation per se, but why continue for so long you need to move to a new generation?

The answer is: readers. As a voracious reader myself, one who loves "series," I believe that once an author has created a world readers love and want to continue returning to, then, the muse being willing, that author should continue to deliver to her readers. So I see the upcoming Cynster evolution as me keeping faith with my readers.

When I first started writing the Cynster novels, I assumed I would do the first six cousins — and in those days, six was a large number for a group of connected novels — and that would be it. Instead, By Winter's Light will be the 22nd Cynster novel. By the time I'd written the last of the original six Bar Cynster cousins' romances, I had several other Cynsters whose stories I wanted to explore —and my readers wanted to explore those characters' stories, too.

And so it went. While I digressed somewhat in novels 11-15 to include the romances of certain key in-laws, the Cynster connection was always there, and readers were aware they were returning to the same world. And, of course, returning to a particular "world" is a critical aspect shared by all successful long-running series.

But if a series is family-based — as the Cynster novels are — then no matter how large the initial family tree — and I started with four branches and 14 marriageable scions — you and your readers are inevitably going to reach a point where all the romances of that initial generation are told.

So what then? Leave that world and never return?

But readers wanted more — and I, too, love returning to the Cynsters' world.

So naturally, one turns to the next generation. At the end of the last of the original-generation Cynster romances, The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh, the eldest children of the six cousins whose romances started the series are on the cusp of adulthood. They are 16- and 17-year olds just starting to evolve into the strong, powerful and intriguing individuals we hope they will become. In the epilogue of The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh, that eldest group of Cynster offspring are seen planning that year's Cynster family holiday celebration.

By Winter's Light is the story that arises out of that planning.

The group succeeds in having the family celebration held in Scotland, at Casphairn Manor in the Vale of Casphairn, taking us back to one of the most magical Cynster settings, especially in winter. And because of the number of children involved, several of the governesses and tutors from the different Cynster households also attend, thus bringing together Daniel Crosbie and Claire Meadows. It's their romance that plays out against the holiday background and the Cynster children's evolution as characters.

The principal raison d'etre for By Winter's Light and its place within the Cynster canon is because the events within the work give us an essential introduction to the next generation of Cynsters — those whose romances will follow. The challenges that occur, and the young adult Cynsters' reactions to these, build our insights into this group, allowing us to get a feel for their characters and their cousinly dynamics, and establishing each as a unique individual. Consequently, when we get to the next books — those that deal with their romances — we'll start each book with some understanding of who these people are, what moves them, what directions they have chosen to pursue in their lives, and why, and what for each is their own particular Achilles' heel.

Yes, there are challenges in moving into a new generation, but there are also opportunities. It's my hope that By Winter's Light will act as a pivoting story-segue, leading us from one generation's stories into the next, and that once readers have absorbed the nuances in By Winter's Light, they'll be eager to plunge into Lucilla Cynster's romance, The Tempting of Thomas Carrick (March 2015), which will be closely followed (of course!) by her twin brother's romance, A Match for Marcus Cynster (June 2015).

Find out more about Stephanie and her books at www.stephanielaurens.com.