I’ve got a big question for you, and would love to hear your thoughts!
I’m just now starting to write the last novel of my five-book Aspen Creek Crossroads series for Love Inspired, and I’ve had a great time writing them. I love the setting–a small, quaint tourist town set in the scenic bluffs and heavy timber of the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. And it has been such fun giving each set of characters very different challenges! My main characters aren’t related to each other, but they’re friends, and run into each other throughout the series.
In the third book of the series, coming out the beginning of July, The Single Dad’s Redemption, my cowboy hero was incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, freed after DNA proved him innocent, and he’s searching for the son he hasn’t seen in five long years. But challenges along the way land him in Aspen Creek, where he meets a pretty antique store owner who desperately needs his help. He’s a fish out of water in her world, and they couldn’t be more different. But is it possible to find his son and also finally find a once-in-a-lifetime love along the way?
In Aspen Creek Christmas (November, 2016) my heroine was jilted years ago by a guy who now comes back into her life. And now, I’m writing the final book– about the local vet clinic and two veterinarians who end up working together, but couldn’t be more wrong for each other.
All are very different stories, but are set in the same community and include some updates about characters readers met in the previous novels.
So my question is: Do you prefer stand-alone novels, or do you enjoy books in a continuing series? And if you enjoy reading series, do you like the stories to be very closely tied together, with an ongoing/overarching plot thread, or do you prefer a looser connection based on, say, a location, or relatives or friends, so you don’t need to read each book in order to understand what’s going on?
I’m eager to hear your thoughts! Oh…and by the way, I just couldn’t resist. That cowboy above isn’t really my hero–he’s actually our son Brian, on his horse Smokey! :)
I actually sent this photo to the publisher with my Art Fact Sheets, hoping it could be on the cover of my second novel back in 2000…maybe with the heroine next to the horse. Alas, they didn’t use it…and the cowboy they did use had his western hat on backwards. Every time I autographed a copy for a reader, I put my “signed by author” sticker over that hat. :)
Blessings to you all,
Roxanne Rustand
USA Today bestselling author Roxanne Rustand is the author of over thirty-five traditionally published novels, and four indie novels. Prior to 2007 she wrote for the secular market, but since then has been happily focused on inspirational fiction and sweet romance. A Golden Heart winner in 1995, she has received two RT Bookclub Magazine Reviewers' Choice Awards, and has been nominated for an RT Bookclub Magazine Career Achievement Award. She is currently writing for Harlequin's Love Inspired line, and is continuing with self publishing. She and her husband live in the country with three horses, two goofy rescue dogs, and a half-dozen barn cats.
I prefer a looser connection only because in the past, I’ve purchased books that I didn’t realize were part of a series and I got lost. It’s helpful when reviewers indicate the book can be read as a stand alone. Congratulations on your series. Roxanne!
I enjoy books that are connected, but prefer a looser connection- I also enjoy having updates about previous characters. Basically, I just enjoy books:) Cool photo, I did think it was part of your cover:)
I like both, but I think the looser connection is easier to do well. I’ve read a few series that were trying to have some big connection over the whole thing and…it got lost or muddy. Plus the romance is often too slow when you try for that big series-wide plot. I want my HEA in each book.
I enjoy all kinds of books, though these days I’m more likely to buy stand-alone novels or series with a looser connection that can be read as stand-alone books.
That being said, in the past I’ve read many continuing series very closely tied together that you needed to read the previous book to understand the next one. I really enjoyed them, but they can be frustrating at times because sometimes you don’t even get a happy for now ending. I’m reluctant to start a new series, so I do appreciate a warning before buying a book from the middle of a series that they are not a stand-alone.
nice photo! I love series. I always want to know what happened next to the characters. Probably loosely connected is best for ease of reading a book out of order. I love it when I find all the books and can read a set from beginning to end.
Hey, that photo of your son is great, it would make an awesome cover for one of your books! I prefer books that are stand alones or loosely connected. Continuing stories tend to frustrate me, especially if I have to wait a year or more, because I read so many books!
I prefer stand alone or loosly connected series. I do enjoy reading a series as long as it is clearly marked and stated that it should be read in order. I have picked up a few books not knowing it was part of a series and was confused and never finished them.
I like both. I will say that I would rather read a series that doesn’t continue with the main characters but each book is about secondary characters from the previous book. This way I can read them out of order and they can be considered a stand alone.
I enjoy series with the characters from each book playing some part if not too big but just being somewhere in the story. The stories link in loosely with each character being centre stage in each book
As Diana said above, I liked connected series as long as I find them after all the books are written :-) Otherwise I have to go back and re-read the first ones.
I’m so glad to receive some feedback on series, Jill. I’ll soon be working on a new proposal! Thanks so much! :)
After reading your comment I went back and added the “rest of the story” about that photo! :)
Interesting comments, Elizabeth–and you are right. It is indeed easier to write with looser connections between the stories.
I’ve done six author series where there is an overarching plot thread while each book has its own HEA at the end for the hero and heroine. But I’m not sure I would want to write such a series on my own! :)
It’s great to hear so many readers like to read the kind of series many of us like to write! I love having previous characters pop in for a visit, and my readers enjoy seeing the early characters as married couples with families by the end of a series. That said, each romance stands alone.
I think series where one story continues over several books are more common in other genres, but romances tend to have a new couple with an HEA in each volume.
That’s a great photo of your son, Roxanne!
I guess that’s why I’ve always felt better about keeping the connections loose between books in my own series. A reader could read any of the books, and not feel they were missing anything. It could be frustrating for them to track down the previous books!
Some readers have told me that they like to collect an entire series before starting to read the first book, so they can sail right on through. I don’t think I could withstand the temptation, though! :)
Thank you for your comment on the photo. I went back to the blog post and added “the rest of the story” about the photo!
I know what you mean! I sometimes buy what I think is a single title. stand-alone, only to find that it’s not, when I become totally baffled by the massive info-dump about past characters at the beginning. Sometimes I just give up and toss the book onto the stack destined for the used bookstore.
I agree. It’s interesting to see that almost everyone here is on the same page…so to speak. :)
I’m really glad I asked the question, and have heard from so many of you. This will be so helpful while developing a new proposal this summer/fall.
Thank, Carolyn!
I wouldn’t remember the previous ones either, if there was a long stretch between the release dates! But if I like an author well enough to keep following a series, I keep the books. Then its just a matter of actually finding them…maybe. :) My bookshelves are overflowing!
Thank you, Valerie! I wish I could find the original—this was just a scan copy I made long ago and isn’t it color. But I love it anyway. :) Happy times!
I enjoy series books if they are loosely connected so you can read them as stand-alone books. I don’t like ones that leave you hanging. Also, if it’s a long time between releases, I forget what’s going on. Stand-alone books are also great.
I prefer stand alone so or loosely connected, where the author gives subtle r minders of what happen ended in previous books in the series. I have several authors whose series I buy in read in two different genre – inspirational romances and cozy mysteries.
Since retired as a high school English teacher with limited income and time, I have enjoyed exploring new authors that offer free or inexpensive e-books – only to discover the next books in the series are rather pricy and I wasn’t warned that I needed to continue with the series.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Winnie. I’ve learned a lot today from everyone here on the blog! :)
Renate, I agree–subtle reminders are great. :)
What you describe is something that quite a few authors do–offering a big discount on an introductory book, in hopes that readers will enjoy them and then decide to buy the next ones, so the author still has some income from her work.
But you are so right: it would be nice if the front cover or the amazon listing page were always very clear about whether one needed to keep reading the following books in order to find out the ending! While shopping on Amazon I’ve seen reviews expressing disappointment regarding this very issue. So you are not alone!
I really love series books. Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series is one of my all time favorites, Dee is the master of tying a series together in a way that can be a stand alone or can be really enjoyed as a series. Debra Clopton does an amazing job creating a series book set with her Mule Hollow theme. And I just finished Belle Calhoun’s “Seven Brides, Seven Brother’s series which tied the series together with family relations.
When you fall in love with characters it’s hard to let them go. A series lets you hold on to them a little longer and also allows both the writer and the reader to continue on in the lives of characters.
I love series and nornally can’t wait forcthe next book in s series!! I prefer a looser conection that way you can have a hero & heroine and a happy endjng in each book. Otherwise you have to read thrpugh 5 books for them to get the hapoy ending!! I imagine it is easier for sales as welll when the books can be read as a stand alone. But lke I said, I love series!!!!