Anyone out there a fan of the short-lived sci-fi show "Firefly"? Well, I fell fanatically in love with Joss Whedon's awesome space western after the very first episode. Imagine my broken heart when it was cancelled before even a full season. Fortunately, I was not the only person who loved this show...legions of self-proclaimed "Browncoats" (named after the hero's attire) rallied together in a desperate attempt to sustain the life of "Firefly." While they failed to convince another network to pick up the show, they did make sure it came out on DVD. And even more amazing, they were instrumental in getting the show made into a feature film, the critically-acclaimed "Serenity."

I could only imagine how gratified Joss was seeing all these people so enamored of his show. To me, that would be just about the coolest thing that could happen to a writer. Well, on a very tiny scale, this is what I've experienced during the process of creating Bloodchained. While only a half-dozen people have read the first draft as I write this, their response was amazing. They and others of the larger group, who have only read excerpts, are already giving the book incredible support. I have reviewers chomping at the bit to do reviews, I have bloggers posting about their experience being Partners, I have people posting the Bloodchained logo on their My Space pages, I have writers working on articles to submit to publications about the Project.

These people are more than just cheerleaders. They have taken ownership in this book and feel like its their book--and they should. When started the Soulful Sex Partners Project, it was my hope that I could put my writing ability at the disposal of my readers and fans, let them take part in dreaming up a book they wanted to read, and have them truly make a difference in what that book became.

And that's what happened, even beyond my wildest dreams! So how does this affect me as a writer? I have more at stake than my own pride here; I have a responsibility to make these 60 folks proud of their book. So when I write a description of Grace and Sebastian's inn, I want to make it so vivid, so cozy, that they will feel they'd want to visit there. And when I write an exchange of dialogue between Grace and Finn, I want to make it so alive that every one of those 60 readers believes these characters would have said just that. I want to write love scenes that drive readers crazy, and I want them to feel genuinely in love as they read. I want to create a book that people won't be able to put down.

And I'm hoping it will be a book so well-loved that it won't be just me clamoring for a sequel!

So, one more chapter in our saga...tune in tomorrow for Part 7 of "About Bloodchained" to find out my most significant conclusions from writing the book!

Link to part 7
Link to part 5