Writing a Series
A friend recently suggested I read FOREIGNER by C.J. Cherryh, a popular sci/fi writer. It’s the first book in a series and has a fascinating premise. A spaceship from Earth has gone off course into an alien universe. A colony is sent down to live on a planet populated by the atevi, an intelligent group that resembles humans, but are taller, stronger, and have black skin and yellow eyes. The hero, Bren Cameron, is a human translator who has learned the atevi language and culture. He wants desperately to maintain the peace between the two diverse groups, but things never run smoothly. By the end of the book, he’s so badly injured he’s on his way to the hospital for surgery, but for the moment, he’s out of danger. The second book, INVADER, begins with Bren leaving the hospital and right back into deep trouble. I don’t usually read sci/fi, but this series is so fast-paced and exciting, it drew me right in. Bren is such a sympathetic character, I couldn’t stop after the first book!
Having one continuing character works well not only in sci/fi, but also in mysteries and thrillers. Sue Grafton has pushed Kinsey Millhone through the alphabet. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum humorous mystery series is on NOTORIOUS NINETEEN. Fans know they won’t be disappointed when they read the next book in a popular series.
When a family friend married a bullfighter’s daughter, I thought it a great premise for a book, but I hadn’t anticipated a series when I began. Wealthy men often have multiple wives and create new families, and a matador was a perfect fit for the role. My goal in FIERCE LOVE was to tell the story of Magdalena Aragon, a young woman in her twenties who’s meeting her famous father for the first time. She’s the daughter born of his brief marriage to an American woman, and this is her first visit to Spain. That she has half brothers and half sisters she’d also never met added near endless complications to her reunion with her father. When she falls for a matador herself, he’s the very last man she wants to love. The story is set in Barcelona, a city I love, and the book was a joy to write.
When I sent the finished the book to my editor at Samhain, it proved impossible to leave Maggie’s eldest brother, Santos, behind. He’s the bullfighter’s son, and deserved a book of his own. FIERCE PRIDE is an entirely different story. He’s a matador himself and someone wants him dead. That he falls for Maggie’s half sister, Libby, strengthens the ties created in the first book and gives characters I’d grown to love a chance to come back for an encore.
You can probably see this coming, but Maggie’s father had a mistress, a super-model with an independent spirit, who demanded a book of her own, FIERCE PASSION. This series grew from the characters and their complicated relationships, and I had to run to keep up with them. I do believe the FIERCE series is complete as a trilogy, but Maggie has twin half sisters who may someday get a book of their own.
Do you love to read books in a series? I’ll be happy to send pdf copies of FIERCE LOVE and FIERCE PRIDE to someone who comments.
FIERCE LOVE is available in both ebook and print from Samhain. FIERCE PRIDE, a February 2013 ebook, and will be in print in February 2014. The beautiful mistress’s story, FIERCE PASSION will be a November 2013 release. Rest assured, no bulls were harmed in any way in the writing of these books.
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I just love series and I would love for you to send me a copy of both books Thank you.bibbiesparks@yahoo.com
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Oh yea I love to read series novels, b/c I like to invest in the story a bit, and a stand alone just doesn’t give me the same getting to know all the characters feel, b/c then I’m constantly wondering ok well what happened to this person later on, or oh oh I bet that person’s story would make an awesome book
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This series sounds interesting…would love to read it! đŸ˜‰
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I absolutely love series! I love watching the characters grow and the relationships deepen and the secondary characters coming to the forefront.
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I love series. I prefer to read only series, because I love to follow the story and see how the characters develope and grow. I love the growing storylines and love to see the other characters and secondary characters get their storylines/HEA’s.
I do like stand-alone books, but prefer the series.
đŸ˜ˆ
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I prefer series! I have several series that I follow. While stand alones are great when you have a series the reader can develop a “relationship” with the characters more easily. Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series is a great example of this.
Thanks for sharing! I love learning of authors and their books that are new to me.
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Yes, I’ve always been a bit of a series reader, starting with my Little Golden Books when I was a child. Some years and lots of books later, when my finances required me to trim my must-buy list, I kept series and authors that I knew wouldn’t waste my precious book money.
The downside to series writing is that I might be reluctant to start a newly discovered series if the early books are hard to find and expensive.
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Thank you so much for your comments, everyone. Following a series does allow you to bond with the characters and see them grow.With ebooks, it’s so much easier to follow a series because the books will be available when you find them. I’ll pick a winner in the morning. Thank you again for your insightful comments.
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I enjoy reading a series. In a series the author has more time to fully develop the story and characters which makes a more interesting read.
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I LOVE Cherryh’s series…I have Protector (#14) on my TBR pile right now. The problem with series is coming in late and trying to catch up with the previous stories if they are as densely interwoven as the Foreigner series. Thanks for the post and for the giveaway and good luck with the new release.
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Good Morning!
Thank you for all the enthusiasm for series books! I’d love to send everyone a copy of FIERCE LOVE, and Virginia E. is the winner of FIERCE LOVE and FIERCE PRIDE.
Please send me your email addresses and I’ll forward the books.
phoebeconn@earthlink.net
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Love series. I do read stand a lones but, series are the best. Would love to get your books. Some of my ancestors are from Spain so these would be awesome. Thanks for the giveaway.
Corkit@att.net
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Yes, I read books in series. I have made many friends in person and on line thanks to Nancy Drew and Judy Bolton Books. I am reading several cozy mystery series of which I will include the Midnight Louis books. I will even be a character in a cozy series thanks to a giveaway.
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I love books that are a series.
They are one of my favorites.
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I’ve sent our winner, Virginia E. FIERCE LOVE and FIERCE PRIDE.
If any of you would like a pdf copy of FIERCE LOVE, please send your email address to me: phoebeconn@earthlink.net
Thank you so much for your comments on my blog.
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Thanks for sharing about this series, Phoebe–I do love a good series! And congrats to Virginia! Happy reading!