I’ve written a number of series now. Over the past year I’ve released the Original Six and Muskoka romance series (the latter is still ongoing), and next year will see the release of the Northwest Ice hockey romance series, and the Trinity Lakes series I’m in with Inspy’s Narelle Atkins. I’ve written a number of historical series, too. So I’ve learned a little about what readers appreciate in how a series ends, that many tend to enjoy a degree of resolution that’s not too cliched, but still answers most (if not all) of the lingering questions that might hover over a series of books.
Next week sees the release of Refining Josie, the last book in the Independence Islands series. (And today just happens to be the release day of Tabitha Bouldin’s book, Waiting on the Tides, the second last book in this series – yay, Tabitha!)
Writing about the work side of Greener Gardens was fairly straightforward. Yes, I researched information about plants and climate pertinent to that part of the world, but that wasn’t really where the heart of my stories lay. I think readers connect to relationships – family, friends, siblings, as well as romance – so it’s the emotions there, and the highs and lows of living with (and being challenged by) others that really help make a story resonate.
I started my five interconnected books by focusing on Samantha Green, who is forced to take on her father’s garden company when Samuel Green falls ill. Over the course of the following books we see the impact this has on each of the workers, as they each get their moment of romance and their book. So Samantha meets a famous novelist in Restoring Fairhaven, Sam’s second-in-charge Dermott woos a scorned reality TV star in Regaining Mercy, their administrative assistant extraordinaire Callie finds that opposites do attract in Reclaiming Hope, and strong, silent builder Tim finds joy with bubbly Bella in Rebuilding Hearts.
But for book 5, the last in my collection of stories about Greener Gardens, and the book that finishes off the entire series, I wanted something a little different. So yes, Refining Josie is still a romance, but it has extra depth and heart and all the feels as the prodigal daughter finally comes home. Now Josie Green, who we’ve seen pop up in various situations over the series, is certainly not everyone’s cup of chai. (Not least handsome Aussie teacher, Lachlan Jones) But she’s a troubled soul, and I don’t think people in pain are always going to be charming, are they? It’s called real (& I think relatable), and I LOVED giving the problem child her own time to shine, as some of the reasons for why she’s done what she has are finally revealed.
I’ve always enjoyed playing with reader expectations, and giving the alternative point of view to a character. And so it was fun to show there was more to Josie than first impressions might suggest, and to explore some of the dynamics in a family relationship.
I reread it last week for some final editing, and might’ve teared up a time or two. Because families aren’t always easy. And the road grime of life can be hard to wash off, so it becomes easy to hold onto offences and pain, even when we do know Jesus as our saviour.
So Refining Josie will help tie together a number of aspects of the Greener Gardens company and the people involved that readers may have met from reading the previous four books. (But it can also easily be read as a standalone) It brings about a sense of completion for the series, yet also takes it into the new, and hints at other characters from books of mine that are on the horizon, or in ‘parallel literary universes.’
And of course, with Refining Josie being a December release I needed to have a final Christmas scene, complete with some clues at what happens next for our previous couples. I love that, because even if we don’t meet these people again, at least we have a sense that they will be happy, that life will turn out well for them.
And isn’t that want we all want when it comes to reading a series?
You can buy a copy of Refining Josie here or Tabitha’s Waiting on the Tides here (or start at the beginning of the Independence Islands series here.)
Now let’s chat about series.
Do you like them? How many books is ‘enough’? Do you prefer multi-author series or one written by a single author? A focus on linked places, people, issues?
One commentator today will win an ebook copy of 
their choice of a book from either of my two other contemporary romance series, the Original Six or the Muskoka Romance series. And if you need some more Christmas feels (& enjoy a freebie!) then you can get your copy of Originally Yours, a Christmas novella here.
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
I have enjoyed series written by one author and series written by multiple authors. I tend to like the series that are connected to an area and have 6-10 books in the series.
I’ve read mostly series by a single author, but I wouldn’t mind trying a multi-author one. And I’m pretty open as to what ties them together, but I think I may be partial to a good location that sets the “mood” :-) The challenge for me is more about the reading time and trying to catch up on the whole series once I start! 😁
I LOVE series!! I do think that they can get too long, though! I really enjoyed The Tales of the Grace Chapel Inn, which had 46 (I think) books in it, and they were written by different authors. I enjoyed each of those books! I read another series that was good the first time I read it, but NOT the 2nd time! The first time I read it, I had to wait for each book to come out, so there were many books between each one! When I went back to re-read it, that series made me a little ill, and I couldn’t finish it. The characters were too much; some were too good to be true, some were the black sheep through out, no matter what they did. I read another book by that author, but didn’t care for it, and haven’t read another of her books since. Mostly because she still writing about that same family, and I’m done with it. So, I think it depends on the series! I think 6 is a good number for a series, but one author I know will have 26 in a series, and I’m loving it, so again, I think it depends on the series!
I enjoy series too – I love finding out what happens to previous characters when they pop up in later books. I think the series I have read have generally been by the same author, but i’d happily read one by multiple authors. I think the longest series I read was 9 books, which was fine, I can’t imagine getting through 46 like one of the comments above! I don’t really mind what links them, I’ve read a few following different members of the same family which can work well, but the link of a place or issue would also be good. I really like it when the final book ends with an epilogue or something giving me an update on all the characters.
I don’t really care how many r in a series if it’s about sibblings I enjoy getting to know them better in each book.
I love a good series written by one author. Family/sibling stories are always fun, but ones with a group of connected friends works for me too…
I love reading series, and writing them. My first series was 3 books, and there’s a prequel to be written. My second series was also 3, and I’m currently writing two more. Readers say they enjoy catching up with earlier characters as the series progresses, so I always drop them in to say hi!
I think ending a series must be so hard, partly because you don’t want to see it end and partly because you want it to be a solid ending. I love series and it makes me happy when all the characters end up with a conclusion to their stories.
Finding the ‘right’ number of books in a series can be interesting. I think a lot depends on reader interest (are they still buying later titles) and are you as the author still invested in finding them telling these stories. Thanks for commenting!
Oh, I hear you! (How many books are on the TBR pile?) I think you’re so right about ‘mood’ – some series have it, some (especially by multiple authors) can seem more disjointed. But a lot depends on writing styles too.
I think ‘mood’ is why I decided to sidetrack into writing the Muskoka series. The setting is real (I’ve been there) so the stories help reflect the gorgeous lakeside small town, and the connections characters can have in a small town give that sense of authenticity too.
You know I’m curious now: what kinds of locations do you think help set a good mood?
46!!?? Wow, that’s impressive. And says a lot about the authors that you and other readers kept reading.
It’s an interesting challenge to make your books ‘same same but different’ – giving readers a familiar experience but with different characters/ settings you hope they’ll enjoy.
My Muskoka series was a bit of a surprise to me, in that I wasn’t really planning to do it, except I realised it would springboard nicely off my last hockey book. Now it’s taken on a life of its own and I don’t know how many books there could be! (So many stories begging to be told…)
Yes!
It is SO fun to see what’s happening with previous characters isn’t it? And it’s fascinating to see the various ways authors can link their books. (I’m with you – 46 is impressive commitment that I’m not sure I’d have!)
Yes, siblings can have SUCH a fun dynamic that it’s great to see how that pans out over a series. Thanks for commenting!
Yes, I agree. I enjoy reading series based on friends or family connections – as long as it feels real and not too cliched. Thanks for commenting!
Yes! I love reading comments from people who appreciate the updates on their favourite characters. They’re still alive!
Yes! You want that sense of happiness for them all, don’t you? All will be well in this series world.
I’ve done some parallel series too, where you get tiny updates about other characters in the previous series. That can be a fun way around it too.
I like the heros of freedom ridge series.
Yes! That’s a great one for how the books are linked, isn’t it?
prefer no more than 5
Good to know! Thanks for commenting.
I like them both ways. I cannot give you a total number of books. I would have to say when the loose ends have been tied up. There still maybe some small questions unanswered, but the majority have been. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Oooh, you got me thinking!!!! How do I put it? It’s definitely the ones that ignite all the senses: there’s a fragrance that’s almost tangible, the air gives you tingles, your eyes water from the sight with emotions trying to burst out. In the quiet, you hear nature – a bird or a brook, but with people around there’s a comforting buzz. Hhmmm, I think I’ve just described Canada! 😂
I like series that are connected in some way. I like seeing previous people in books. I have read a few series with multi authors but have only read some of the authors as they don’t seem to be connected except by location. Although in saying that LI normally have a 6 book series in a location or on a subject. One was in Alaska and there was a theme that connected some more than others with the last book tying up the series. (2 of my favourite LI authors were involved in Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad) You could read the books on their own but it was better as a series due to the mystery thread in it. They also had one set in Texas I loved. They also do it with LIS and did it with LIH.
Narelle and Elizabeth Maddrey did the Tuscan Legacy that had a mystery weaved into it.
But then the Independent Island series don’t seem to be connected with other authors books.
Barbour do the multi author novellas and I always bought the Christmas ones and normally all would be good but sometimes there may be a story that just doesn’t connect with me. This happened once when it was set in NY City.
How many as many as needed. Gilbert Morris’s House of Winslow is 40+ but others 3 is enough. It really depends.
I like some link like location where you see people pop up in other books. Again with the Barbour novellas the ones that were connected by a location were much better to read than those that were connected by a theme. as by theme you don’t get to see the place you have come to know.
Please don’t enter me I have the books I want already.
I love reading series as well as single stories. With series, you bond with the characters and get to watch them grow over a longer period of time as well as supporting characters and/or get to watch them get into different conflicts.
I don’t have a specific number of books in a series I prefer. My first series was the Nancy Drew Mysteries. I had all 64 and loved every single one!
Haha! You described Muskoka perfectly! 😉
Yes, it’s a tricky balance between feeling too ‘neatly tied up with a bow’ and giving that sense of completion. Thanks for commenting!
Yes, multi author series can be tricky as everyone has their own idea on what is right regarding setting, character interaction, etc. I think a lot comes down to initial planning and whether people can write in the order of release so others can read and build on it in their stories. Not every situation lends itself to that which means sometimes authors just have to ‘link’ more loosely.
Thanks for commenting!
Oh yes! Nancy and Trixie Belden were two of my favourite series growing up. Then Anne of Green Gables, then… :)
I agree. There’s a lot to love about finding out how some of your favourite couples are doing (or whether Trixie and Jim are EVER going to get together!)
You are a new author to me. Your books sound very good.
I like series, if each book is short (75 pages.) But I also like a series that is made up of stand alone books, as I like to mix it up and read different books and genres at the same time!
I love series books. James Patterson’s Alex Cross and others, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Hope they don’t end for a long long time! When the next one comes out it feels like a family reunion. It doesn’t matter to me if its one author or two…its what’s inside the covers that counts.
Wow, 75 pages would make for a very short book indeed! (Sounds like a fun challenge, though!) I like to write all of my books as standalones, even though they may be part of a series. You want that sense of completion within the book, don’t you?
Oh, I have SO many Stephanie Plum books (although after book 12 or so, I started to wonder if the unique storylines had diminished – they’re still fun, though). And yes, it DOES feel like a family reunion, doesn’t it?
I enjoy series unless they are too long.
Yes, sense of completion is very important!
I love getting invested in a good series where some of the characters weave back and forth through multiple books
Yes, that makes it fun to ‘catch up’ with them, doesn’t it?