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Let's welcome Helen now...
Do readers like a series?
In my experience, the answer would be yes, they do. When I
had my first book published I received so many reader emails asking about some
of the secondary characters in the story – all wanting to know if different
characters would be getting their own happy ending one day. Fortunately, I
could reply that they definitely were.
While we’re reading a romance we can get swept up in the
passion and conflict surrounding the two main characters. For those few hours
we are the heroine, and want to fall
in love with the hero. And while we’re on this romantic journey, some of
the other characters in the book – maybe the heroine’s sister or the hero’s
lovable best friend, remind us of real people that we might know. Maybe even our
own friends and family. So naturally, we become invested in these characters
and want to know more about them.
I also think that the place and setting becomes important to
the reader. Along with the developing love story, romances often explore the
idea of community and family and readers get to know the favourite hang-outs,
corner store’s, taverns, homes, parks etc. When a reader picks up a book and is
taken back to familiar places, they are transported into a world they know and
already care about.
When I wrote His-And-Hers Family, the third in my series set
in the small town of Crystal Point, I was delighted that I could give the
heroine, Fiona Walsh, her own happy ending. She’d turned up in my first two
books and was a popular character amongst readers, many sending me emails
asking about her own love story in the future. It took a special man to win her
heart and give her the family she’d longed for.
So, do you like reading books from a series? Leave a comment
as I have a copy of His-And-Hers Family to give away.
I love reading them. But let me share a two star review from one of my stories that I recently got dinged with on Amazon to answer your question:
ReplyDeleteThis short story is a prequel to a novel I have not read.
There is either a God or an AI, in an alternate earth. The God / AI has a mental (?) breakdown and develops a second personality. Lives of humans are sacrificed to make a liquid energy to keep the whatever he is alive.
Kind of like Soylent Green, I suppose. (Soylent Green is people!) Sorry - couldn't resist.
So, regardless of whether a God or an AI, I don't see the need for the liquid life.
Or, God forbid, another trilogy. I Hate Trilogies.
So if you are writing a series and this ignoramus reads the first book, he'll ding you with this. I clicked on his other reviews too. Apparently, the dude thinks that the world needs no more trilogies (or series).
Hi Michael - so pleased to hear you like reeading a series. As for your review - celebrate the good ones and ignore the one's that aren't. Works every time :) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi Michael,
DeleteWhat Helen said above is true. Celebrate the good reviews and ignore the bad.
Thanks for calling in!
I enjoy reading a series. It's almost like a death, though, when I get to the end of the last book. His and Hers Family sounds like a winner~
ReplyDeleteHi Shelly - I know what you mean when the last book is read. Lovely to see you here. You're in the draw.
DeleteSo true, Shelley!
DeleteI love reading series. In fact, I've read very few completely standalone novels. Of course, some series start to get a tad ridiculous when the have 10-20+ novels in the series, but it is nice to fall back into a world and characters you already love to read about.
ReplyDeleteHi Cherie - another series reader - and yes, going back to that familiar place is a good feeling. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteHi Cherie,
DeleteThank you for reading along and commenting!
Great post, Helen! I loooooove series. I prefer them. I want to spend time with people I've invested hours reading about. (Diana Gabaldon is my FAVORITE!!!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and for your comment Morgan!
DeleteHi Morgan - I love DG books. You're in the draw :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, and it is a romance of sorts. :0)
ReplyDeleteThanks Carole!
DeleteI used to love series, but I found I would forget what happened in the last book by the time the next one came out. At first it wasn't a problem because I would reread the book. With my TBR pile now it's not possible. Now I prefer standalones or standalones with secondary characters from previous books now being the main character. Of course, if all the books in the series are already out, then it doesn't matter. If I love the first book, I'll read the rest.
ReplyDeleteHi Stina - I get what you're saying. I remember years ago when I read the Virginia Andrew's series I always re-read the last book to jog my memory. Thanks for stopping by today :)
DeleteHi Stina!
DeleteThanks for dropping by!
Good post. I definitely love series. When I read series I feel as if I'm meeting old friends. It's the sense of familiarity that makes me enjoy them so much.
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley - I love how you describe it as meeting old friends. You're in the draw. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThank you SHelley!
DeleteI love reading books in a series --- at least as long as there aren't too many spoilers in the early books. I especially like series set in small towns.
ReplyDeletersgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Hi Renee - I'm with you on the spoilers :) A few little teasers are ok though. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi Renee!
DeleteThanks for reading along!
Thanks for visiting my blog earlier today. I agree that when characters remind us of people we know, we grow to become interested in their stories, how things turn out for them. That's why I work hard to develop my characters so they seem like real people.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cynthia!
DeleteHi Cynthia - that's very true - and making our character's real in turn makes readers care. Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteVery cool blog. Interesting posts. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice atmosphere guests with you here on the blog. ;]
Yours. Have a nice day. !
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I like following characters through a series. You really get to know them!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sherry! Thanks for dropping by!
DeleteHi Sherry - exactly. Thanks for stopping by today :)
DeleteOh I agree! When I love a setting, I hate for the story to end. I want a series to continue that feeling the setting gives me. Along with the great characters, of course!
ReplyDeleteSo true, PK! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteHi Pk - I'm with you, when I love a story I don't want it to end either. :)
DeleteSeries are nice because you get to go on a new adventure with old friends. :)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, Ibdiamond! Thanks for your visit!
DeleteHi Ibdiamond - thanks a great way of describing it. Thanks for commenting :)
DeleteI like reading series. I like revisiting a familiar setting and sometimes finding out more about people I already know a little (or a lot) about.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Chey!
DeleteHi chey - I enjoy that too. Especially for secondary characters who seemed just a little bit wicked and become fabulous heroes in their own book. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHey Helen. I absolutely love reading series books. I know the characters (except any new ones) and I'm very at ease in the pages. Like my neighbors down the road. *waves to Nas)
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn!
Delete*waves right back*
Hi Robyn - great comment - thanks so much for stopping by today. You're in the draw.
ReplyDeleteI love reading books on series. I really like to read stories about another character on book. So when i read a book, i always search info about that book, are series or not.
ReplyDeleteHi Filia - great to discover someone else who likes a series. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteHello Filia!
DeleteThanks so much for reading and commenting!
I love series. Unfortunately, new books get my attention and I don't finish all the ones I want, but I still buy them hoping to get to books 2 and 3. I do occasionally finish them.
ReplyDeleteHi Medeia - I can be like that too..... something new can easily grab my attention. Thanks for commenting today :)
DeleteHi Medeia!
DeleteYou should see my to read pile! New books, books from series which are absolute musts. It's tottering now!
I love returning to a familiar location, or feeling as thought I'm in a setting that's inseparable from the characters.
ReplyDeleteHi Deniz - great description of what a series means to you. Thanks so much for stopping by :)
DeleteThanks Deniz, I also liked how you put it.
DeleteHi Nas, Hi Helen. I love books from a series... I think it started with my childhood obsession with Enid Blyton's Famous Five and all of her boarding school series's :)))
ReplyDeleteHi there Tash - ah, Enid Blyton .... now she knew how to write a series :) Lovely to see you here.
DeleteTash, we seriousy need to talk! Famous Five? Secret Seven?
DeleteI went through them like tornadoe! Then started Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators!
I love the idea of giving secondary characters their own stories. Makes me think of The Mallory series by Johanna Lindsey. So engaging.
ReplyDeleteHi Pk - I love Johanna Lindsay! A fab example of an awesome series. Thanks for dropping by :)
DeleteHi PK!
DeleteSo true! We meet someone and want to know what happens next with them. So it's really good to read these books, which are stand alone yet series. And we get to re-visit our previous characters and see how they are doing!