Do you often browse through your Kindle reader or app to see what you have read, haven’t yet, or totally forgotten was there? Most of the time readers are asked about new ebooks or at least a title still on sale. However, my question today is about history.
You see, the three Multi-Author Boxed Sets (MABS) in my blog post today only exist in your Kindle app or reader if you ever bought them when they were still for sale. This is another reason I always remind my readers to grab a promotional box set they like when the opportunity is still there. Having said that, if you missed the sale, you can always wait for the box sets to be unpublished and then you can still buy each ebook from the individual author.
Do you like to read MABS? So often we see boxes of books in the “bargain bin.” Few know the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that go into the making of successful boxed sets. For one thing, you have busy authors with their already packed schedules coming together from various time zones to discuss a group project that has its separate aim and goal. To keep things simple, all the MABS I was in had broad themes that enabled each author to fit the project into their existing publishing plans.
Question #1: Do you own MABS in your Kindle reader? Or perhaps I should ask: How many MABS do you own? Please comment and mention your favorite boxed sets.
October is a special month for the MABS I’ve participated in because three out of my four boxed sets that made the USA Today bestselling list all made it on the chart in October in various years. They just worked out that way. Two of the MABS were in the Contemporary Christian Romance (CCR) genre, and the third one was Christian Suspense (outside the scope of this blog). The other CCR that made USA Today published in July 2016, and I’ll mention it anyway, just because that was my first MABS that made the chart.
By the way, you might have noticed that all three covers below have the same color scheme even though they were released in different years. They were all designed by author Marion Ueckermann, who passed away last summer. Aren’t these covers pretty? They make me smile when I go down memory lane, except that I am also sad when I remember Marion, gone so soon.
Question #2: Do you have these three boxed sets below in your Kindle reader? Why did you buy them? Do you go back to reread any of the stories in these MABS?
October 2021
SAVE THE DATE was my latest CCR boxed set of novellas that made USA Today on October 21, 2021. This MABS underwent heartbreaking moments during the global pandemic. We dedicated the boxed set to Marion Uckermann and Shoshanna Gabriel, two novelists who passed away while SAVE THE DATE was still on preorder. I remember reading their posts and comments in our author planning group only days before they passed away.
Since I have many secondary characters in my books and an endless supply of stories in my head, I picked two people who knew each other and paired them up for this MABS. I wrote Time for Me (A Vacation Sweethearts Prequel) in just a few weeks, and then sent it off for three rounds of edits plus ARC readers. Today, Time for Me is available for sale, but it’s also free to my newsletter subscribers.
October 2016
My Christmas novella, Wish You Joy (Savannah Sweethearts Book 9), debuted in the CANDY CANE KISSES boxed set. Since this MABS came out just three months after WHISPERS OF LOVE, we all knew it would be amazing if both boxed sets hit the USA Today chart in the same year. And praise the Lord, they did.
What you see in the 3D box set cover above is the final product after months of brainstorming the best cover to carry our theme of romance at Christmas time. I don’t even remember how many hundreds of stock images were eliminated before we finally settled on this cover design. Once again, Marion delivered.
July 2016
Going back in time all the way to July 2016, we have WHISPERS OF LOVE, with that exclusive wedding photograph on the cover. This MABS is also “out of print.” The WHISPERS OF LOVE boxed set contained twelve novels. Yes, you heard that right. Novels. What were we thinking when we sold a box of 12 novels for only $0.99? We were thinking of our avid readers, that’s why!
For this MABS, I spun off a new series from Savannah Sweethearts and wrote Book 1, Smile for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 1), the story of artist and potter, Tina MacFarland, who returns to the Bahamas where her nemesis, assistant principal Byron Moss, awaits her. We follow their story at a summer art camp under the Caribbean sun as they go from enemies to friends to more.
Question #3: What new boxed sets do you have on your Kindle app or reader? Have you read them or are they still on your reading queue? Do you usually read the books in order or do you pick and choose, reading whichever stories you like first and sometimes only those stories?
Well, time for me to go look in my Kindle app again to see how long my TBR is. I kid you not, I think my TBR is now about 6-7 years deep. How about you? So many books to read, so little time!
USA Today bestselling novelist Jan Thompson writes clean and wholesome multiethnic contemporary Christian romance with elements of women’s fiction, Christian romantic suspense with an air of mystery, and inspirational international thrillers with threads of sweet Christian romance. Join Jan's mailing list for her latest book news: JanThompson.com/newsletter
I love MABS, because not only are they usually affordable but I often get introduced to new authors.
I thought that I had bought all Marion Ueckermann’s books but these boxed sets seem to have slipped past me.
I always read them in order, otherwise I might miss one!
I have three unread boxed sets at the moment (because I am busy re-reading another boxed set by Jessie Gussman). They are: Keeping Christmas, Love’s Treasure and Chocolate Centered Cozy Mysteries (a single author set).
Hi Jan! Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane and the tribute to our dear friend Marion Ueckermann. As I was interacting with some authors this week and volunteering in my granddaughter’s 3. grade class, I remember how Marion and I used to share stories of being a mom of boys and Oma of grandsons and then having a granddaughter. She was a talented author and loved graphic design.
Q1 – This reader preorders MABS. When I first retired from teaching high school English in 2012 and could read for my own enjoyment, MABS was the way to discover new authors. MABS led me to this website and I have explored ever since. I have 5 in my TBR stack. You mentioned my favorites.
Q2 – Yes, I have read the three MABS, because I did advanced readings for Marion Ueckerman. Since I had to reread classics taught in my high classes, I very seldom reread a book. I keep notes on some of the MABS and will write reviews when the stories are released as a single.
Q3 – Presently I have two MABS in my reading queue. Keeping Christmas and All is Bright. When I first starting reading MABS, I read the stories in order. From beginning to end. Now with so much to read and even in retirement not enough time to read, I pick and choose. Often start with my favorite author. Or if I start with the first story, if after several chapters the story doesn’t relate, I move on.
I was just thinking yesterday, that with inflation and the amount of work an author puts into a story (design, writing, editing, promotion) that the price on MABS has not changed in a decade. Maybe MABS books should be on preorder for $1.99 or $2.99. Would still be a bargain to explore new authors or new genre. SO THANK YOU to all authors. I do my part by writing reviews. Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Jan,
Q1 I do enjoy MABS, I find they are a really good way of discovering new authors, if an author I like us included in a MABS, I generally find a few other writers I enjoy. They are crazy good value
Q2 I don’t have the sets you’ve mentioned, a couple are from before I had an e-reader and could read so much online.
Q3 At present I have the Chestnut Ranch boxed set, Amish Christmas Miracles and Kailua Marines as boxes sets to read, but I’m looking out for some nice festive MABS to add . For single author boxed sets I usually read in order, with MABS I tend to read the authors I know first, the whichever titles or descriptions appeal most.
My TBR list is growing by the day…one day when my kids are all in school I may catch up!
I have quite a few MABS on my Kindle! Some day, I’ll read all of them!
Christmas boxed sets are so much fun to read, especially if they’re all novellas. Quick reads in between long books IMHO.
Here are Marion’s books in those three MABS. Since those boxed sets are now unpublished, you might find her books under her own author page on Amazon. Check and see?
Save the Date MABS:
I Take You by Marion Ueckermann (2021)
Candy Cane Kisses MABS:
A Husband for Holly by Marion Clair Ueckermann (2016)
Whispers of Love MABS:
The Other You by Marion Clair Ueckermann (2016)
Happy reading and thank you for your comment!
Thank you so very much for writing reviews! That’s something that helps authors and readers in many ways.
Thank you also for getting all three MABS! Hooray. I also seldom re-read books, except my own books, which I’ve read countless of times before the world sees them.
That’s true that MABS is a good way to find new authors. I’ve been in MABS with authors I know from online author groups, but I’ve actually never read their books. We write in the same genre, but that’s the thing. Authors are busy writing our own books. MABS is a way for me to put TBR on my Kindle so that I don’t forget to read them later.
Some MABS do preorder for $2.99 and up. I think a lot of times, the 99c pricing is for promotion. Readers who don’t know the authors in the MABS might be willing to splurge 99c on 8-12 new books to test them out. My current MABS (suspense) is $9.99 at the moment but will be on sale via BookBub next month.
Sounds like you have some Christmas books on your TBR. Fun! I love good Christmas stories. We had to buy a new Christmas tree this year and I can’t wait to plug it in. Once I do, it will be the season of Christmas music and Christmas books! :-)
Thank you for your comments and have a blessed weekend!
I hear you! From time to time I scroll through my Kindle and go, wow I need to read this and this and that and that…
So many books, so little time!
Yes, MABS are definitely a great deal, especially when they are on sale.
I used to read more paperbacks and hardcovers and I still do, but I am adding more and more ebooks to my list because I can resize the fonts to be bigger (ahem!) since I’m wearing trifocals now. Even when I get books in the library, I often prefer large print books.
Oh yes to Christmas boxed sets. Unfortunately I’m not in any this year, nor do I have enough Christmas stories to box them up myself. I keep saying I’ll write more Christmas books, but then I haven’t done so. Maybe next year :-)
Thank you for your comments and have a wonderful weekend!
not a fan of box sets- have found out most end on cliffhangers or are “excerpts” only
Thank you for your comment! So sorry you had a bad experience with boxed sets. As for your comment that “most end on cliffhangers or ‘excerpts’ only” though, I have happy news for you. The boxed sets I was in all have complete books. I hope you will check out some new ones by InspyRomance authors. As far as I know, all the box sets most of us are in all have complete books. Happy reading!
I have the Save the Date box set. I may have one or two more. I like to hold the book in my hand. I will be honest. I have been reading ARC’s and book club books. I have not thought about what is on my Kindle. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I agree, so many books so little time
I have quite a few on my kindle and many unread. I do have Save the Date but have only read one or two in the set.
The latest I got was a box set I will probably never read as its general market and some are clean reads but most aren’t but it was to support the Ukraine.
I do have lots of unread books and some read this year haven’t been latest releases.
Yes, indeed.
Thank you for buying Save the Date. Well, you have a one-of-a-kind because we will never republish that box set, as we won’t any of the other unpublished anthologies.
That’s nice of you to support a good cause re: Ukraine. Yes, I have lots of unread books. Some of them, I’ve forgotten I even had it. Some of them come across my radar again on Amazon, and it will tell me that I’ve bought the ebook like YEARS ago LOL.
Thank you for your comments and have a wonderful week in the Lord!
Thank you for buying Save the Date and helping us make #109 on the USA Today chart. We had a good time in the project, though sadly two authors weren’t there to celebrate the success. However, many of us gave large portions of our royalties to the families in grief so that they know we care. God is always good, and our friends are in heaven now, where they are now healed from their medical illnesses.
I hear you about holding books in my hand. I do like the local public library for that reason. The hardcovers are readable for me more than the paperbacks. That’s why when I publish paperbacks, I make sure the fonts are readable for me LOL. I have to be able to read my own books, right! I also have them printed with glossy cover so that it’s somewhat water resistant if left on the coffee table. Hehe.
Thank you for your comments. Hope you have a wonderful week in the Lord!
Yes, I have many MABS! I also have the ones you’ve mentioned.
Why did I buy them? I guess the best answer is that I love the work of the authors and they all look so cute and were sweet to read!
I’ve got many in different genres, too. Some rom/com, suspense, mystery, and dramas. It’s really fun!
It’s also fun when there is a new-to-me author in the mix. It’s a great way to read something from them and see if I want to start following them.
That actually has bee the case often!
I have some boxes focused on Christian romance and cowboy clean romance, I haven’t read them yet.
Happy reading!
Thank you for buying the MABS!
I also read books from many more genres than I write in. Yes, I agree it’s fun to read all these different genres. Never a dull moment!
That’s a great point too about new-to-you authors. In boxed sets, readers are often introduced to new authors. In fact, authors in the box sets also get to know their fellow authors they might not have interacted with before.
Thank you for your comment and have a wonderful week in the Lord!