Last month I talked about a letter I had written to myself that contained goals. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had accomplished all five things on the list. One of the things on the list was to request my rights back for one of my Love Inspired books, Montana Match. A week after I wrote that blog post I received word that the book was approved for all rights reversion. That means I can reissue the book, which I plan to do in January 2020.
Two months ago I wrote about finishing the last book in my Front Porch Promises series, A PLACE TO FIND LOVE. The book will release this week on November 14. It is now available for preorder. You can find buy links by clicking on the title. I mention this because Montana Match was supposed to be the first book in the series, but I had sold it to Love Inspired with the hopes of selling them the other books I had planned, but my editor and I could never come to an agreement on the content of the other stories in the series. At that time I only had three books in mind for the series, so I decided to publish the stories on my own and regretted having sold that first book to them. So now that I have this book back, I want to make it the first book in the series. That’s why the blog title is “A New Beginning.”
I plan to make additions to the last scene of the book to tie it in to the current book #1, A PLACE TO CALL HOME. I am also giving the book a new cover and title. Here it is.
I have a question for readers. If you have read a whole series of books, would you go back and read a new book #1 to find out where it all started?
I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of A FAMILY TO CALL OURS, the middle book in the Front Porch Promises series. It is perfect for this time of year because it starts in the fall and goes through Thanksgiving and Christmas and ends as the characters bring in a new year. I will choose a winner on November 14, 2019 at 9PM MST from the people who leave a comment.
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
Hi Merrilee! I would go back and read the first book. :) also your covers are beautiful!
I’m glad you got your rights back to your book. I would go back and read the prequel. It’s interesting to see the roots of a story even after the fact.
I would go back and read the first book.
Hi Merrillee! Congratulations on getting your rights back! As a reader, yes, I would definitely go back and read the first book in a series if I had read the rest. When I find a series I like, I’m eager for any more I can find!
Hello! Yes, I would! I’ve done it before, and I’d do it again!! I read parts of one series totally out of order, then found someone had donated most of the set to our church library. I found a list of the books in published order, and read them that way. Some was for the 2nd time, some for the first. They were all good as stand alones, but you got the seasons in order if you read them in order. I did a few other sets like that, too, and didn’t miss anything, but it was nice to go back to where they started.
I would go back and re-read the first book if I had enjoyed the series. Especially if the first book had been changed a bit.
I would go back and read book #1 if the title was reissued. I’m so happy for you that you got the rights back to your book Merrillee!
No need to add my name since I’ve read this book….and that looks like the book quote graphic I made for you *wink* I loved the story so much, the whole series really :-)
Thanks, Lindi.
Sherri, thanks for your input.
Margie, thanks for answering the question.
Thanks, Sally. I was excited to get the rights back so I can give that book new life.
Trudy, thanks for that information.
Megan, thanks for your reply.
Thanks, Trixi. I’m glad you enjoyed the series.
I’m sure I’d go back and read the first book. Congratulations on getting your book back. Now your whole family of books can be together
Yes, I would go back and read the new book; it’s always interesting to find out more about the series, especially how it began,
Beth, thanks. That’s a good way to think of it. A family of books together.
Kathy, thanks for your input.
I have gone back to read a number 1 book and then read as many in order as I can even if I’ve read them previously. Congratulations on your new beginnings.
Thanks so much, Diana.
I am late had a bad day with back pain.
to answer your question it would depend on the series. If its a series with 10+ books maybe not. Or a series that seemed to have a starting point or reason for being. Like Gilbert Morris’s House of Winslow Series or his series set during the Civil War where the reason for the series was already set out in book one. But if its a series which just started at an event or time without much background story Yes I would read a prequel and I have before. Giving the background and lead up is great. I have actually read a few with a prequel and then the series. With some series I like to have the whole set before reading especially if it takes time before the next book is out.
AusJenny, I hope your back is feeling better.
Thanks its still a bit sore but its so much better than 2 days ago. While I still feel it a little sore but I can do so much more now. I will still avoid doing Hands on Health (its a gentle circuit at the local gym under the care of a exercise physiologist) for at least another week.