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State of The Trout: The Ex, Pre-Order Snafu, and First Time

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Hello, everyone! The first thing I want to tell you guys is that I’m aware of the issue with the pre-order of The Ex from Barnes & Noble. I’ve contacted Smashwords, and I’m hoping we’ll have this issue resolved as soon as possible. Thank you all for your patience; I know it suuuuucks to be waiting for something and have it delayed. In the meantime, if anyone has ordered from another outlet and had this problem, please let me know in the comments.

Now, in case you missed it, OMG THE EX IS OUT FLAAAAAAAIL!

the ex

Amazon • Smashwords

If you prefer to buy from B&N, I’ll update everyone when the problem gets worked out!

New project in the works

Okay, I’m really, really excited to talk to you about First Time, the new book with characters from the Sophie Scaife series that I announced at the back of The Ex.

Okay, remember when I was rolling my eyes about the idea of E.L. James and Stephanie Meyer et. al. rewriting their stories from the hero’s POV? A lot of us agreed that authors who do that are generally doing it to capitalize on their most lucrative projects; many of the rewritten-from-the-male-POV books have only released or been announced after their counterpart was a staggering success. And there’s nothing wrong with making money, or giving readers what they want.

For a while, I blew off the notion of these books, thinking they were just kind of a lazy cash grab. But then I started thinking about it, and they seem very hard to write. Months after you wrote the original story, you’re jumping back into the world, trying to get every scene between the two main characters exactly the same, but from a different angle. Fuck that, that is not lazy, and you will not catch me doing that kind of work.

So, I’m going to do it, but write the two books at the same time so I don’t have to go back and look shit up.

First Time will be the first book (obviously) in the By The Numbers series. I expect it to be a four book series, comprised of eight books. Because for each title in the series, there will be one volume from the hero’s point of view, and the other from the heroine’s point of view. Both will tell the complete story, so if you choose to read only one of the books, you’ll still get the entire thing and you’ll know what’s going on. You’d even know what was going on jumping from one POV for the first story the opposite POV from the second story. You can read both, or pick the voice you like, it doesn’t matter.

Now, if you haven’t read The Ex (and I’m impressed at how many of you have), the next bit is about the new project. Learning more about it will give you a (minor) spoiler for The Ex, so click the “read more” link with care. After the jump, I’ll share more information about First Time.

First Time will feature characters from the Sophie Scaife books. If you’ve read the The Ex, you know that Sophie has been dying to set up recently-separated Ian Pratchett with her bubbly, superstitious assistant, Penny Parker, and that’s just what happens in First Time. While the By The Numbers series will be all about Ian and Penny’s love story, characters from the Sophie Scaife series will make cameo appearances. Kind of like when a Buffy character would show up on Angel.

It’s not an erotic romance. The By The Numbers series will be contemporary romance. That doesn’t mean there won’t be hot scenes, just that there won’t be as many, and their sexual relationship won’t be such an integral part of the story and character development.

Yeah, it’s another May/December romance. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?

The timeline is very much entwined with The Baby, and any possible future books in the Sophie Scaife series. Because of this, First Time will release before The Baby. For fans of Neil and Sophie, I know it’s going to seem like I’m making you wait longer, but it would be too difficult to be vague about the events of The Baby to keep from spoilering you in First Time.

Like The BossFirst Time will end with a bit of a cliff-hanger. People were pissed off by the end of The Boss, so I’m going to be open about the lack of a HEA in First Time from this point on, just to save myself the angry emails.

That’s all I’ve got for this week, stick around for the Buffy recap!

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Here for the first time because you’re in quarantine and someone on Reddit recommended my Fifty Shades of Grey recaps? Welcome! Consider checking out my own take on the Billionaire BDSM genre, The Boss. Find it on AmazonB&NSmashwords, iBooks, and Radish!

28 Comments

  1. I’m confused
    “Because of this, First Time will release before The Ex.” but The Ex just came out? Do you mean before “The Baby”?

    I’m excited for “First Time”! “The Ex” was awesome and I can hardly wait for the next book. Whatever comes out first will help keep me tided over :D. Your books are good for my sex life, haha.

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  2. Rachael
    Rachael

    I love that the Sophie Scaife series — and now the new series — features the nonstandard May-December partnerships. It’s totally because I’m biased, and I’m involved in a long-term relationship with a man who is 14 years older than me, but it’s good to see something that involves a pretty realistic portrayal of that type of relationship (OK, maybe without the oodles of cash and the BDSM facet, but still…). Lots of people are grossed out by that, and it’s nice to see a erotic and, soon, regular romance series that just sort of treats it as normal. Because you love who you love.

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  3. Maitri
    Maitri

    Awww .. reading that just spoiled The Ex for me a bit =\ Haven’t finished it yet…

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  4. RedHandedJill
    RedHandedJill

    I don’t know where else to post this, but it appears that the link to the new Buffy post is broken. Other than that, I am super excited to read The Ex!

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  5. Maria
    Maria

    The By The Numbers series sounds amazing; I love books that are set up to look at one story from two different point of views. I’m so excited about this project!

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  6. Jon
    Jon

    A Buffy recap incoming?!!

    Darn – I need to find a 45 minute gap in my schedule now 😉

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  7. Flo
    Flo

    Sounds exciting! Another idea for somewhere down the road-a May/December romance with a younger man/older woman. Would love to see that!

    November 24, 2014
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    • soren
      soren

      Seconded!

      November 28, 2014
      |Reply
  8. Meghan
    Meghan

    None of my business and you are brilliant, so whatever you decide will be right, but I am crossing my fingers that “The Baby” is not Sophie and Neil’s baby. One of my favorite things about Sophie and this series is Sophie’s commitment to being childfree, and I can’t think of a better depiction of an abortion in Romance. Could The Baby possibly refer to Sophie’s magazine?

    November 24, 2014
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    • Hearing more about the magazine would be so cool!! I just finished the Ex today. It was great, but I was also really (sort of unpleasantly) surprised not to hear more about her bad ass magazine. I feel like the last couple books were about her getting swept along and adapting to Neil’s life. So when she decided to start a magazine at the end of The Bride, I hoped maybe we’d be seeing more of Sophie’s personal growth and how she handles being a boss herself. It’s got to be a pretty interesting story, when you think about it. She starts the series as an assistant and now she actually co-owns a magazine.

      November 25, 2014
      |Reply
    • Ange
      Ange

      I concur, though I think it’s been said before the baby wasn’t necessarily an actual baby. Or maybe it wasn’t Sophie’s, something like that. I love her child freedom too, we don’t get many people representing us in literature. 🙂

      November 25, 2014
      |Reply
      • zvi
        zvi

        Calling it now: it’s her mom’s baby.

        November 26, 2014
        |Reply
    • Cheryl
      Cheryl

      I can relate to Sophie’s “decision” not to have a baby (and Neil’s), but people do change their minds and I kind of hope they do. They have created such a wonderful family and are such caring people who are constantly trying to grow. I really hope the “baby” does not refer to Rebecca and Tony. But maybe Emma and Michael will be able to conceive again!?! I just loved “The Ex”—-my fave book so far!…and I put my vote in now for more of Emir in the next installment!!!

      December 1, 2014
      |Reply
  9. Nonnie
    Nonnie

    You’re totally pulling a Pokémon. And just like them, you’ll probably end up with all my money.

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  10. fan
    fan

    What about The Ex for KOBO readers? I can’t find your book there…..I am dying to read the book….

    November 24, 2014
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    • Sarah C.
      Sarah C.

      Smashwords has epubs, which work on Kobo. It’s super easy to drag/drop from your computer. 🙂

      November 25, 2014
      |Reply
  11. Read this, was like “meh” about that new book. Read The Ex, came back, am now squealing with excitement about First Time. Can’t wait.

    November 24, 2014
    |Reply
  12. Kora
    Kora

    So I took a really weird, accidental nap that lasted from 5:30 to 11 pm… And then I thought I’d download The Ex, and just take a peek at the first few chapters… It’s now 7 am, and I’ve read it cover-to- (virtual) cover. Absolutely loved it. Best in the series so far!

    November 26, 2014
    |Reply
  13. zvi
    zvi

    FYI, I was able to download The Ex yesterday from B&N.

    November 26, 2014
    |Reply
  14. Belladonna
    Belladonna

    I just have to say I cried during the last 75% of the book and I pride myself at not being easily moved to tears. I don’t want to spoil, but one gift really had me going.

    [Spoilers?]

    Can you put up a polyvore or inspirations for Sophie’s wedding dress? I’m dying to see it and the jewelry! For some reason I imagined it like Katniss’ Catching Fire wedding dress, mostly because Shelby reminded me of Effie so much.

    November 27, 2014
    |Reply
  15. Cressida
    Cressida

    Barely three hours to tear through “The Ex” after downloading.
    Veering between heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching, and wryly funny, it was wonderful.
    Slow clap.

    November 28, 2014
    |Reply
  16. Neu-romance-r
    Neu-romance-r

    I have just finished reading the ex (after binge reading your 50 shades recaps and the other titles in the boss series) and I absolutely loved it! Such a relief to find well written smut for the discerning feminist sub. I’m excited that we will be getting more from this compelling world. Well done Jenny!

    November 29, 2014
    |Reply
  17. Alistair Vaginafoot
    Alistair Vaginafoot

    After reading through your spectacular 50 Shades recaps and shuddering in revulsion multiple times during each one, I read all the Boss books this last week, and I just want to thank you for writing something so deliciously naughty and yet fantastically feminist. I love, love, love this series and I totally want to be your friend. You are awesome.

    December 2, 2014
    |Reply
  18. Kelsey
    Kelsey

    Hey Jenny!

    I *finally* have the disposable funds to buy books, and of course, The Boss series is first on the list! But I’m buying from amazon.ca and wondering – is there some weird delay in getting the paperback on there? All I can find is the kindle edition and I reallllly want to order them all at once!

    February 4, 2015
    |Reply
  19. Chloe
    Chloe

    I just wondered, I thought “Mode” is the magazine of Gabriella Winters as mentioned by Jake. Then it suddenly became Sophie’s. I don’t understand.

    March 17, 2015
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      That’s because I fucked up. Let’s all pretend it never happened.

      March 17, 2015
      |Reply
  20. Grace
    Grace

    So I’ve just finished reading the series for probably the fifth time and I’m dying to know when we can expect The Baby and The First Time. There’s a lot of 2015 left & I don’t know if I can wait that long for a Sophie/Neil update. I’m definitely excited to read about Penny & Ian don’t get me wrong but I really hope that there won’t be too big a gap between the release dates. Any update would be amazing! Thanks

    April 27, 2015
    |Reply
  21. Jenn
    Jenn

    I just read Ian’s and Penny’s versions of First Time. I didn’t expect to love that couple because of the age difference. But I adore them. In fact, they are one of my favorite fictional couples ever. Thank you for such a great read.

    September 18, 2015
    |Reply

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