Welcome Guest Blogger Christy Reece

SERIES: LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM?reece_pic

Hi Cindy and everyone! Thanks for having me on the Muse Interrupted blog. I’m excited to be here and look forward to a good discussion. Since RESCUE ME, the first book in my back-to-back trilogy just came out a couple of weeks ago, and the second book, RETURN TO ME, comes out on May 19 and the third one, RUN TO ME, is out on June 23, I thought I’d blog about series. Why we love them or hate them. I have to admit, I’m more in the ‘love’ category. And not just because that’s what I’m writing, though that does help.

Here are the reasons I love them:

1. The continuity of a storyline or theme: If it’s a storyline I love, I want to know what happens next. If the series revolves around one particular person, I love sharing their adventures. Or if there are different characters each time but have some kind of link, I love the familiarity of knowing other characters and their storylines. It’s like a good television series. You get close to a character or characters and want to visit them frequently. You can do that in a series.reece_rescue_cover

2. Secondary Characters: I don’t know how many times I’ve read a book and have fallen in love with a secondary character and wished I could read his or her story. Creating characters can be hard work and making them interesting and likeable even harder. So when an author creates a secondary character that captures my attention, I feel a bit cheated when I don’t get another story.

  1. 3. Saying goodbye hurts: I have to admit, when I love a book and its characters, I often don’t want to let them go. That’s one of the reasons I love epilogues. I want to extend my happy ending as long as possible. I don’t have epilogues in any of my upcoming books, but I think that’s because most of my characters make an appearance in the next book in the series. If they weren’t so closely connected, I’m sure I’d be tempted to write an epilogue. It’s just so hard to say goodbye, but with a series, you don’t always have to.

4. Predictability: And I mean that in a good way. When I read an author I’ve read before, I have certain expectations of what the book will be like. I recognize the author’s voice and know what type of book they write, so I’m rarely surprised by a completely different kind of story. However, with a series, there’s no doubt. If the book is connected, whether it’s through a relationship, an event or in my case, an organization with a common purpose, you have an assurance that even though it will be a different story, there will be similarities to the previous books. If you liked one, more than likely, you’ll like the others.

5. The anticipation: This kind of goes back to the first point of falling in love with secondary characters. I love looking forward to a book of a secondary character I’ve liked. There’s just something about the excitement it generates. Will it be as good as the book before it? Will it be better? Will it live up to your expectations? Will you be glad that character got their own story? Will you be happy with who the character ended up with? And if it’s by one of your favorite authors, the anticipation blooms even bigger.

6. Back-to-Back Trilogy: Okay, I admit, this one’s a bit different, but it does often apply. More and more publishers are putting out back-to-back trilogies. And I love that they are. Of course, since that’s what I’m doing, I’ll admit I’m a bit biased. However, I love reading back-to-back from other authors and here’s why. Almost immediate gratification. How often have you read a book you’ve loved and found out that indeed there’s another one coming out in the series but you have to wait months, perhaps a year or more to read it? The wait can be agonizing! That’s the great thing about back-to-back releases. Almost no waiting. How cool is that?

So what about you? Do you love or hate them? Why do you feel that way? What are some series that you absolutely adore? What are some upcoming series books you’re anticipating?

Thanks again, everyone. Now let’s talk series!

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Please leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Christy’s RESCUE ME. Entries accepted until midnight PST.

To read Christy’s bio and the back cover for RESCUE ME, please see yesterday’s post. To learn more about Christy and her books, please visit her website.

By Cindy

I'm irritated because my posts won't publish.

45 comments

  1. Hi, Christy! Nice post!

    I adore a good series–doesn’t everybody? 😉 As a writer, I fall in love with my secondary characters and want to tell their stories. As a reader, there’s something about returning to familiar characters that feels like “home.”

    I love SEP’s Chicago Stars series (I could read these books again and again…and, okay, I do) and Tara Janzen’s “Crazy” series (that went on for so many books she ran out of two-word combinations beginning with “crazy” and has moved on to “loose”). I also really enjoyed Rachel Gibson’s series about the four writer friends.

    Thanks for posting!
    Leshia

  2. There is a lot to love. I agree when you fall in love with a character it hurts to let them go. Thanks.

  3. Hi Christy,
    Congratulations on your back to back trilogy release! Me, I love trilogy’s and/or series, which is probably why that’s what I tend to write. 🙂 My favorite trilogy’s are a toss up between the Born In series or the Chesapeake series of Nora Roberts. But I love her Jewels series as well. I also enjoy Janet Evanovich’s # series.
    My sincere best to you!

    Diana
    http://www.dianacosby.com
    Romance Edged With Danger

  4. Hi Christy,

    Thanks for blogging today. I love series that feature secondary characters from previous books. I think I could continue to read SEP’s CHICAGO STARS series forever, for example. I also enjoy series that feature the same returning POV characters, for example, I’m totally enjoying Stephanie Bond’s BODY MOVERS series (just went to read Book 4 and realized I don’t have Book 3 – Argh! – back to the bookstore). I’m also reading Gemma Halliday’s 1st person HIGH HEELS MYSTERY series and enjoying it. But, I do admit, I like knowing Gemma’s series is ending at book 5 or 6, I think it is. I like knowing I’ll eventually get a resolution on the POV characters. I do get frustrated with series when I don’t get that resolution. If I come to a series too late (like the author is 6 or 7 books in and has no plans on ending the series), I can totally enjoy the first couple of books, but feeling like I’ll never catch up puts me off the series. I’ve missed some super popular series because of this idiosyncrasy, but so far I can’t seem to change it. #1 my preference is for series that feature secondary characters from previous books. I feel like the “community” of characters is ever growing and evolving. Love that feeling.

  5. Hi Leshia, you mentioned some great series! And you’re so right. When you read a book where you’re already acquainted with the characters, it does feel like home. Like you’re visiting friends and family and catching up with them. Especially if the author has created characters you love.

    Thanks for commenting!

  6. I love a good series. I’ve written both — and in at least one case wrote what was supposed to be a standalone but I loved my own characters so much a sequel came to me. I like it partly because it does give me the author time to develop a character, and as a reader to go back to a familiar character I love. For practical reasons I also love a series — the same research and settings can be used, like a stage set that I don’t have to tear down after one use and have to build another one.

    When I stumble across a new author and find they have written a series I always do my best to find those other books.

  7. Hi Kwana–

    You’re right. Saying goodbye just hurts. I don’t like saying goodbye in real life either, especially to people I love. And saying goodbye to characters I’ve loved can be painful too.

    Thanks for commenting!

  8. Hey Diana, thanks so much! You mentioned some great series too. Some day I hope to just glut myself on series. Like take a series each month and read everything in it. What fun that would be!

    Thanks for commenting!

  9. I love series, especially with known authors and occasionally I’ll try a new one. I start wondering what the story will be for the secondary characters and that keeps me hooked once I fall in love with the main characters. Getting to know all the players is always interesting! I’d love to win a copy of Rescue Me and get started!

  10. Cindy, thanks again for having me here! And yes, SEP’s Chicago series is one of my favorites. Love her characters! And I would rather start at the beginning of a series too. I remember years ago finding one of Christine Feehan’s Dark books…think it was the third or fourth. I devoured it and then had to go back and get the others. I was like a sugar addict in a doughnut shop!

  11. Hi Christy,

    Thanks for blogging and congratulations on your trilogy! I love series – J.R. Ward’s The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a biggie for me (and I don’t normally read vampire romance but the characters are so well-drawn and the writing grabs me instantly). I also love Stephanie Bond’s Body Movers series and Meg Cabot’s The Mediator Series, which I think is being re-released. I’ll have to look for Rescue Me now!

  12. Hi Pat–

    I know what you mean about writing a stand alone and suddenly realizing you love your characters too much to let them go. I started writing RESCUE ME as a stand alone, but Noah McCall, the founder of Last Chance Rescue caught my imagination. Or actually, I fell in love with him and just had to see him find his happy ever after. Then, of course, in the midst of writing his story, another character popped up and caught my attention. And a series–6 books so far–was born. LOL. Just love these people!

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  13. Christy, I love series! Two of my favorites are both from the same author – Eloisa James. I read her Essex sisters series beginning with Much Ado About You, and I’m now reading her Desperate Duchesses series – can’t wait for the last two books! The mother of all series though, has to be Philippa Carr’s (aka Victoria Holt) Daughters of England series (written during the 70’s and 80’s). About 20 books beginning with Tudor England and ending with WWII, each heroine the daughter of the previous heroine. I read all the books in order.

  14. Hey, Christy! I love series for all the reasons you stated above. More than anything, I get attached to characters and don’t want to let them go. Hopefully in the series, I can visit them from time to time.

    I’m about to start the first book in YOUR series and of course I can’t wait!

  15. Hi Christy,
    wonderful post, thanks! I love series for all the reasons you stated with one small exception. I can’t remember who the author was or what series it was, but it was forever ago (think 80s, I believe) – I adored the first book and was thrilled when a second book came out – until I read it and learned the heroine and original hero were no longer together! Ack!!!! I was so disappointed by it all. I distinctly remember feeling both cheated and angered because the first book was so moving. The second one came out much later so maybe it was an attempt to regain readership or revitalize the author but it totally didn’t work for me. Other than that, I do love to look in on them after the HEA whether it’s as another adventure of their own or as characters in someone else’s books.

  16. Christy, you nailed all the reasons why I like trilogies. I started a series with stand-alone books, and I hope the reasons transfer to series. I love to see the h/h from previous books. It’s like meeting old friends. I have to say, though, that they should have a good reason for being in the sequels, and not just to show the reader how happy they are.

  17. I love series for all the reasons you posted. I love to see in a later book that the couple I thought would live HEA are, while they’re helping the next Hero/Heroine overcome the obstacles to their HEA. Christy, your Last Chance Rescue series sounds intriguing.

  18. A back-to-back series is brilliant marketing. Just enough time to build anticipation, but not too much that authors risk losing an audience.

  19. Hi, Christy and Cindy! I am crazy for great series, too! Janet Evanovich, Suzanne Brockmann, Diana Gabaldon, Harlan Coben immediately come to mind as wonderful series authors. However, giving way to “so many books, so little time,” I will not necessarily pick up a sequel or the whole series. Or sometimes I’ll buy the subsequent books and never get around the reading them!

    In any case, Christy, yours sounds like one of those gotta-read-’em-all series…and I’m looking forward to picking up a copy!

  20. Put me in the column for enjoying a series of books, though I prefer that they are published relatively close together. Mary Balogh is publishing a series of books about a family and they are coming out every couple of months except for the final book. Nora Roberts is also writing a series of books about a group of friends running a wedding planning business but the second book in the series won’t be published for months.
    As a reader, I appreciate getting to read a series published close together and if published as a paperback without the last book being published in hardcover as a grand finale.

  21. Hey Christie,

    As a HUGE fan of Denis Leary’s Rescue Me TV show, I have to say, I love your first book’s title. I’ve forever thought that would make a fabulous RS title, and I’m glad you got it! Looking forward to reading your book(s)!

    I’m a series fan as well. I write them and I read them. All the ones listed above are my favs – SEP’s Chicago Stars, Nora’s Chesepeake Bay, Gemma’s High Heels Mysteries. The only times I don’t enjoy a series are:

    1) When a series is established and then the publisher doesn’t finish it. Elizabeth Lowell wrote four books out of six in her Donovan family series back in the late 90’s/early 2000s, then for some reason never wrote the last two brothers’ books. I loved that family, loved the stories and really hate that there were never more. As an author myself, I understand how authors change publishers and directions and sometimes they’re unable to finish a long-running series. But as a reader, it’s frustrating.

    And 2) When a series is so long running you feel like you’ll never catch up. I enjoy Nora’s books, and I know I’d love her In Death series, which she writes as JD Robb. But there are something like 18 (or more?) books in that series, and as bad as I want to read them, I don’t have the time to commit to that series right now.

    Good luck with your new series. You mentioned there are 6 so far in the series, three are back to back releases. When are the next ones slated to release?

  22. Hey, Christy! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on series. In romances, I like those that have interconnected characters. I very much enjoy seeing secondary characters have their own stories. And like you, I enjoy revisiting worlds that have been well-crafted by the authors. Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, and Victoria Alexander come to mind. And of course Nora Roberts and others.

    However, I don’t care for series billed primarily as romance where the primary heroine and hero continue to work at establishing a relationship through several books; I get frustrated and don’t enjoy the continuing tension. I also think there should be logical conclusions. One author I’ve always enjoyed has placed so many stories in the same small town that I can barely read them anymore. Even my credulous imagination is strained.

    I can handle more romantic abiguity in mystery series. I’ve really enjoyed the Kay Scarpetti series by Patricia Cornwell, even though her main character has had ongoing romantic chaos featuring the same man. HEA is not the point of those stories, and the vacillations in their relationship emerge from the storylines.

    As for your book… well, you know what I think! I devoured Rescue Me in two days, in spite of all the other things I had going on. I loved it! The building relationship between the two main characters set the stage for a wonderful ending, but the thriller storyline was very well crafted too. I will be hanging around my mailbox near the release date for Book 2 since I pre-ordered it from Amazon! There are several characters I hope have their own stories. And the central premise allows you lots of latitude for story lines. I’m eager to see what ideas you come up with.

    (Do you think they could move the publication of the second 3 up to fall 09?) ;D

  23. I LOVE series. I am always looking forward to Lora Leigh’s Breed series, Christine Feehan’s vampires, Sarah McCarty’s werewolves, Patricia Briggs Alpha & Omega series, Candace Sams Tales of the Order and a lot of others that I can’t remember off the top of my head.

  24. Hey Raynene–

    You’re so right. Once a character intrigues you, you begin to think about what kind of story they could have. One character in particular comes to mind and I’m blushing because I can’t remember his name off the top of my head. He was Dane’s best friend in Linda Howard’s DREAM MAN. He was a cop, engaged to another cop. I loved the main characters, but I so wanted to read a book about this guy. Anyone remember what his name was?

    Thanks for commenting Raynene. LOL. Now I’m going to have to go find his name or it’ll drive me crazy all day!

  25. Laura–

    Thanks so much, I hope you enjoy RESCUE ME! And you’ve mentioned a few series I haven’t read yet. Cool! I’ll be sure to look for them.

    Thanks for commenting.

  26. Carol–

    I love Eloisa James! She’s awesome. And wow, Phillippa Carr’s series with 20 books. Oh my…now that takes some serious writing. They sound wonderful.

    Thanks so much for commenting.

  27. Hey Karen–

    Exactly. Letting go of characters you love is so hard! Hope you enjoy RESCUE ME! LOL. And find you don’t want to let go of these characters either.

    Thanks for commenting.

  28. Hi Jennifer–

    Oh man, can I get on board with you about that. When you close a book with an HEA, you want to know that the HEA was real. Reading in another book that they didn’t stay together… that would so hurt!

    Years ago, one of my favorite authors wrote a wonderful book…oh I just loved those characters. Then a couple of years later, she wrote a sequel with the couple’s daughter as the main character. I was thrilled with the book until the end, when the hero from the first book was killed. I cried my eyes out. I didn’t care that the daughter got her HEA. And, LOL, I boycotted her for about 10 years. I doubt that it hurt her sales at all…but it was my own little protest. I’ve recently started buying her again. She’s completely changed genres and I love her writing, but I will say that I will never forget how much that hurt.

    Thanks so much for commenting.

  29. Hey Edie–

    I agree. If the characters from a previous book don’t have a purpose for being there other than to say, ‘We’re still here and we’re still living our HEA,” then I’d just as soon they get mentioned but not appear. However, I love it when they get involved in the new story and you get to see how they’re relating to each other after their story ended. LOL. I’m just nosey that way.

    Thanks for commenting!

  30. I love series as long as they’re not too long. If the series features the same main character(s) all the time, I usually lose interest after 5 or 6 books… So I prefer series where the secondary character in one book is the central character in another. If there is one thing that will make me buy the next book in a series, it’s a tantalizing glimpse into the life of a secondary character who will be featured in the next story… Like Elizabeth Hoyt’s To Beguile a Beast, which was just released. The hero has a brief part in the previous story, and I couldn’t wait to read more about him.

    As for back-to-back trilogies, NO!!!! I don’t read fast enough to handle back-to-backs and all the other books on my TBR list. I’m ALWAYS behind. (Of course, I can see why it’s cool from the author’s POV. Congratulations, Christy!)

    I’m not into predictability (except good writing) or instant gratification. I’ve been known to buy but postpone reading a book by an author whose writing I love until I really NEED a good read. And if it’s good but different, so much the better.

  31. Caroline–

    My thoughts exactly. I want to see the HEA I believed would happen and I want them there for more than just a ‘hi there’ moment.

    Thanks for your kind words on my trilogy. Hope you check it out.

    Thanks for commenting.

  32. Hi L.A.–

    Seems like a lot more publishers are getting into the back to back releases. Brilliant marketing and wonderful for fans and authors. A win all the way around!

    Thanks so much for commenting.

  33. LOL. By the positive posts here, I have to grin. I recently pitched my MS to an editor and mentioned my second WIP, a sequel to the first. She said readers are not interested in sequels, and that they want different H&H’s. Need I say more. I personally love Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum and JD Robb’s LT Eve Dallas.

  34. Tina–

    You’ve mentioned some great authors with wonderful series. And as long as they truly are stand alone books, I don’t mind jumping in the middle of the series. Then if I really liked it, I’ll go back and read the others. However, I’ve read a few like that and I felt like I missed out on something. So, of course, I went back and read the first ones. LOL. Another marketing ploy? Maybe…but it worked.

    And thanks so much for your kind words. I would love to have created a ‘gotta read them all’ series. We’ll see!

    Thanks for commenting.

  35. Hi Ann–

    I adore Mary Balogh! And I’m like you, I love having them come out so close together. I sometimes have a bad memory and if I have to wait months to read the next in a series, I have a tendency to have forgotten some things. Then I have to go back and skim the first one to help me remember.

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  36. Hey Elizabeth–

    Glad you like my title! I do too and was thrilled when my editor wanted to keep it. I actually got the title of RESCUE ME from an old Aretha Franklin song. RETURN TO ME came from a Dean Martin song and RUN TO ME from a BeeGees song. But having such a popular television show with the same name as my first book sure doesn’t hurt. And it fits the series so well.

    And I’m with you on the disappointment if the author doesn’t get to finish the series. When you fall in love with secondary characters, it’s only natural to want to see them have their own story.

    My next trilogy, LAST CHANCE, SECOND CHANCE and NO CHANCE will be released back to back January, February and March 2010. So there’s barely six months between the two. I’m hoping readers will enjoy having them come out so close together.

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  37. Susanna–

    I think it goes back to expectations. If I don’t expect a happy ever after or a conclusion for several books, I won’t be disappointed. However, if I buy a book thinking it will end with an HEA or a satisfying conclusion and it doesn’t, I would be disappointed. Of course, if I enjoyed it, I’d look forward to the next one too.

    Thank you so much for your kind words on RESCUE ME. That just thrills me to pieces. And I think just about every operative I mentioned in RESCUE ME will have a story. At least that’s the plan!

    Giggling and snorting on getting these books out any faster! My June 1 deadline looms!

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  38. Hey Chris–

    You’ve mentioned some of my favorites. And I’m so behind on them. I have a fantasy of taking one series at a time and just glutting myself on them till I’m finished. Kind of like a good box of chocolates. I can’t eat just one and be satisfied.

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  39. Barbara–

    I’m with you, I enjoy having the secondary character introduced and then having their own story. As far as predictability is concerned, I just love knowing that though the storyline and characters will be different, I can expect the same satisfying read as an author’s previous work. Kind of like enjoying an author’s voice. I know what I’m going to get. If I pick up a Nora Roberts or a Linda Howard, their voice is so strong and identifiable, I instantly know it and know I’m going to get a great read!

    And you’re much more disciplined than I am. If I have a book I’ve been dying to read, I’ve been known to pull over into a parking lot and start immediately. LOL. Yes, I’m that bad.

    Thanks so much for commenting.

  40. Tanya–

    Wow, that’s a surprise on what the editor said. I remember when I pitched to my agent, I only pitched the one book. I had already started the next one, but didn’t mention it. She’s the one who brought it up and wanted to know about a series. Of course, that was over two years ago. Maybe things have changed.

    This is such an interesting industry, isn’t it? Good luck on your next pitch!

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  41. Hi Christy. Great post. I really enjoy series because they allow me to stick with characters that I’ve grown to love in a book or world. I am a fan of Maryjanice Davidson’s Queen Betsy series, as well as Sunny’s Demon Mona Lisa series. As for upcoming series, I look forward to reading the next book in Sunny’s Demon Princess series.

  43. Congratulations on your series. Everyone has said it all. Love secondary characters, continuing with their stories; the predictability of series; becoming enmeshed in their world—makes us clamor for #2, #3 and more in some cases.
    I lived in Alabama for a couple of years and LOVED it there(near Huntsville).

  44. Hey Judy–

    Thanks so much. Looks like there are lots of readers who love series. Yay!

    And Huntsville is a great place. Lots of cool stuff happening there.

    Thanks so much for commenting!

  45. Congratulations to Tanya! The Magic Safeway Grocery Bag coughed up your name as the winner of Christy’s RESCUE ME. Look for an email from me in your in-box so we can arrange collecting your prize.

    Thank you to everyone for the great response, and thank you to Christy for a fantastic guest blog.

    My final guest blogger for May is debut Samhain author Avery Beck, a two-time Golden Heart finalist. Avery is giving away an ebook of her first release, SEXY BY DESIGN. Please drop by May 26th for your chance to win.

    Beginning in June of this year, I’m cutting down to 2 guest bloggers per month. I’ve tried to arrange them approximately every 2 weeks, but sometimes the schedule blips. You can always check the schedule in my sidebar under UPCOMING GUEST BLOGGERS. If you’re on Facebook, search for the group, MUSE INTERRUPTED GUEST BLOGGERS and join if you’d like FB notifications of my guest bloggers as they appear. I only use the group to promote the guest bloggers/book giveaway opportunities. No harvesting happening here. 🙂

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