Truncate series name using template -- Help!! (use first 3 words)

Hi -
I want to display custom book titles in my library which will look like this:
[shortened version of the series name]-series #-book title

I am using a template/plugboard. However, I keep getting template errors.

I need help to edit (shorten) the series name.
I am trying to do this in a 2 step process:
1 -If the first word is an article (A/An/The), it is removed.
(I can do this using a custom column, and the following template:
#stripped_series. Template: {series:re(^(A|The|An)\s+,)||}


2- this is where I get stuck! (It's easiest to explain with examples so if my explanation is confusing, see the examples below.)
I then need to examine and keep the next two words of the series title.
BUT...if the word is an article, preposition or conjunction (a/an/the/and/&/or/of/from..etc), it is kept and NOT counted, so the next word is examined and kept.

EXAMPLES: SO, FOR EXAMPLE if your series name is
a) - Lord of the Rings and Other Stories by Tolkien
-->it would be shortened to Lord of the Rings
OR b) if it is -Kincaid & James mysteries --> it would be shortened to Kincaid & James
or c) Annie and the Alaskan Huskies -->would appear as Annie and the Alaskan


I'm really stuck. If anyone can help, I'd be eternally grateful! (Maybe there's an easier way to do this....??!)