Unlike most of the authors here at Inspy Romance, I’m still on the journey to publication. Still learning what elements will help put my stories on the shelves next to the ones we all love reading so much. And part of that means thinking like a career author (to avoid setting myself up to be a “one-hit wonder”) and creating a bigger picture for my stories.
So I’ve been paying attention to book series lately. What are the elements of the best ones? What are the downfalls of some series that make them feel stretched and contrived? What are the different kinds of series? Off the top of my head, here are the types that I can think of:
- The same plot line written over the course of multiple books.
- Series that focus on characters that are common to some or all of the books.
- Separate characters and stories that focus on a unified premise or theme.
I’m sure there are more kinds (add them in the comments, if you please!), but those are the major ones I can think of. Isn’t it the best when you discover a book you love is the first in a series? More is almost always better, in my opinion!
While we’re on the subject, I was super excited to learn of another installment in one of my all-time favorite series growing up, the Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn. Have you heard of it? Maybe? :) While the bulk of Christy’s story is coming-of-age and geared toward a younger audience than we’re used to talking about here at Inspy Romance, I’d venture to guess she was the precursor to many an Inspy Romance reader’s TBR piles. When I was in college, I discovered a special College Years trilogy she did. My next-door neighbor and I sat on her futon one weekend and read them all the way through. Now we get to find out what’s happening in Christy’s married life. Personally, I think it’s a genius move on Robin Jones Gunn’s part to let Christy grow up with her readers. Can’t wait to read it!
What’s your favorite inspirational romance series? What did you love about it?
Laurie Tomlinson is a wife and mom from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a member of My Book Therapy and the American Christian Fiction Writers and received the 2013 Genesis Award for Contemporary fiction. Her work is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary. A self-professed bookworm, Laurie earned a degree in literature but bypassed the traditional education route to become a book publicist. In addition to writing contemporary romance, she enjoys cooking, singing with her church’s worship band, and going on adventures with her husband, daughter, and yellow Lab. She always has a good novel in her bag, usually tucked between the diapers.
For romance, I’m a big fan of the changing but related characters setup for series (which is why that’s what I did with my first trilogy). I like to get through a relationship with one and then keep lighter tabs on that couple while meeting/digging into a new couple (who we probably met at least half of before.)
If it’s not romance, I like series where the characters stay the same and you follow one set in more detail through their whole journey. (Seems to me that sci-fi/fantasy/speculative- however you want to label it – tends to go this route. As does women’s fiction.)
I wonder if the difference is because with a romance we’re expecting that happily ever after ending, and that’s hard to do if you’re not focused on one couple per book?
Hi Laurie, I really like romance continuity series, eg. Janet Tronstad’s Dry creek series with Love Inspired, because you can jump around and don’t have to read every book in order to follow a series plot. That said, I do prefer to start with book 1 and read the books in order.
Laurie, series are wonderful, though stand-alones have their time in the spotlight for me as well. If I’ve got plenty of time to read, I enjoy series. If I’ve only got time to squeeze in one story, I’ll reach for a stand-alone.
My favorite series so far is Dee Henderson’s The O’Malley Chronicles. I like how each book is in the POV of a different member of the family, and each builds upon the last one until the climax and finale in The Rescuer. This is the series I usually recommend to newcomers to Christian fiction because Dee did such a wonderful job of introducing each character to Christianity and Christ’s love. If I only have one chance to help my friends find Christ through books, that series is a great choice.
Best wishes for your writing journey! I’m also on the not-yet side of publication. Thankfully, I’ve got people in my corner, rooting me on and helping me improve my craft. Without them, this journey would be incredibly lonely and impossibly difficult. I’m sure you’re experiencing the same in your part of the world. :)
Blessings,
Andrea
Like Elizabeth, I’ve chosen to write series where I introduced the three young women in the first book. The series is chronological and the first three books follow one of the original group. With the decision to extend through six books, I’m introducing 2 of the upcoming heroines in the third book, so readers will have an extra “pull” to keep reading. The books will all be chronological with an overarching look at the farm that ties the series together.
Another series I am planning to follow this one will be more loosely connected.
I think that’s the best format for romance series, but I’m also a big fan of the continuous journey format for fantasy.
You’re right about the happily-ever-after expectation setting romances up to be one book per couple. I can think of a few series where subsequent books follow the couple’s journey through the trials of marriage, babies, etc. But those technically cross genres, don’t they?
Good to hear from you :)
I accidentally read book 3 of a series before book 2 and was awfully confused haha! Since there’s typically at least a year in between books, those series are good for me so I don’t have to mentally tally all the details from the previous books as I’m reading. :)
I haven’t read Dee Henderson, but it sounds like I need to! Thanks for the well wishes about writing. So fun doing this journey together :) I’m glad you have wonderful people in your corner, too!
My Lewis Legacy Series (just released Book #5 in the series) has been a lot of fun to write. The first book in the series is the love story of the core characters, Sam and Lexa. At the end of the first book, Sam leaves his financial planning position and becomes a full-time Domestic Missions Director of a fictional organization called TeamWork. They become the mentors of younger volunteers in TeamWork in the subsequent books, and those books feature the love stories of those volunteers (sometimes even two couples, as in Twin Hearts and the upcoming Enchanted, Book #6 in the series). Keeping the storylines fresh is key in each book, but readers begin to really feel as if they “know” these characters and that they are real to them. I love hearing that, and I also love the dynamic of adding children, growing and learning with all my characters. ! I have a second series waiting in the wings that’s another offshoot of the TeamWork ministry. Got to keep at it! Blessings on your writing journey, Laurie. :)