I’m a writer of historical romances, and today, while driving home from a weekend getaway with my family, I was contemplating the fact that most historical romances published these days are part of a series, as opposed to stand-alone books.
I can point to a few popular examples: Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower Series, Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton Series, and Jo Beverley’s Malloren Series. These books usually follow a family or group of friends through a number of books, where all the members eventually get their own book and the characters from previous books return for secondary roles or cameo appearances.
So what is the appeal of the romance series? And do stand-alone books stand a chance in the marketplace these days?
I don’t have all the answers to these questions, and I confess I’m curious about what others think. Obviously there’s an appeal for the reader – as well as the author – in that you never really have to say goodbye to characters you love, at least not right away. When the book is finished, there’s another one coming along right behind it, where you can follow the characters into the future BEYOND the happily ever after, which is where most fairy tales end. But as we all know, in real life, that’s just the beginning, so it’s a little taste of reality in books that are sometimes deemed to be mere fantasies.
It seems to be a trend that really took hold in the 1990’s, and now most historical and paranormal romances are part of a series. I’m in the middle of writing one myself, called the Pembroke Palace series, and I even went so far as to end the first book with a clear cliff hanger, which leads directly into book two, which begins the very next day. I worried that readers might become frustrated with having to wait for the book to be released 8 months later, but my feeling was that they are accustomed to waiting for follow-up books. It’s the norm now, and a stand-alone book seems to be a rare occurrence.
So I’m curious – how do readers feel about this trend? Do you feel let down at the end of a great book, reaching the absolute end and knowing there is no more? Or do you feel a sense of relief, knowing you can close the book with a sigh and call it a day because all the loose ends are tied up in a neat bow?
And what about the authors? As a writer, do you find it more satisfying to linger with the characters you created? Or would you prefer to just move on and start something new?
And when is the right time to let a series go? Can we overdo it and become stale?
Lastly there is the biggest question of all for publishers – which sells better? Do books in a series build an author’s readership more effectively than stand-alone books?
Feel free to chime in. I’m listening, because I’m about to finish my current series, and I’m wondering where to go next.
Stop by to read Andrea’s review of The Mistress Diaries.
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AndreaW
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 6:59 am:
Hi, Julianne and welcome!!
So glad you’re here. Congrats on the release of TMD!! You know how I feel about it. Wonderful.
I love series and I love stand alones, too. As long as they are written well, I’ll enjoy it! I agree that series is so appealing because sometimes we just don’t want to let go. The good thing about books is that we can revisit our favorite characters anytime we want.
You’re about to finish your current series, huh? *bats eyelashes* Care to elaborate? What do you have coming up next?
Oh, and I love the video for The Mistress Diaries. Absolutely hilarious!!
Marisa
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 8:14 am:
Hi Julianne, so glad you could visit with us today. Funny you should be talking about series romance, I was just having this conversation the other day. I remember about a year and a half ago reading my first romance which ended in a cliff hanger (the book will remain unnamed) – I threw the book across the room in a fit and went off to watch a re-run of the Andy Griffith show – I felt I needed some satisfaction. To say I was pissed off was putting it mildly. But, I must say after a few days I simmered down and realized it was a great read and the characters stayed with me and I continued to wonder “how would they fare?” So when the second book in the series came out, I rushed out to buy it… I couldn’t wait to find out what had/was going to happen. I enjoyed the second book a great deal. I even wondered if I would have loved the second book as much if I hadn’t had all the anticipation leading up to it.
It’s funny – because I’m a huge, huge fan of series television, I mean I eagerly await the tv show LOST every year. I relish the fact that they are going to leave me with the “duh, huh?” feeling every week… so I had to ask myself why I didn’t feel that way with romance novels. I concluded that it was all about expectation. I always expected to get my HEA in every book. NOW, I’ve adjusted my expectation and I happily read books that will leave me with the “duh, huh?” experience. Just took me a while to get there.
Gannon
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 8:20 am:
Hi, Julianne! Thanks for visiting with us today. I do enjoy a series for the very reason you mentioned; I hate to let the characters go. But I feel that way with just about every well written book, which is why I have so many “keepers” on my shelves. I love to go back and re-read and reconnect with beloved characters.
Your video for The Mistress Diaries is a hoot!
Buffie
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 8:26 am:
Hey Julianne! To great to have you with us today! I can’t wait to read THE MISTRESS DIARIES.
Personally, I love a series. And like everyone else has mentioned, the reason being I like to revisit old characters. Plus whenever I am reading a book, I always wonder about the secondary characters, especially when the writers does a fabulous job of showcasing the secondary characters without outshining the h/h.
Julianne MacLean
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 9:20 am:
Great comments, guys. And I’m glad you’re all enjoying my videos. We have so much fun doing them.
Andr – you asked about what might be next. I’m really not sure. Book three in the Pembroke Palace Series comes out next February (Blake’s book), and I have one more to write. After that, I have two ideas for two very different stories, and i’m not sure which one to do. I suppose I should talk about it with my editor. Maybe I can somehow do both
Donna E.
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 12:14 pm:
Hi Julianne, I just read The Mistress Diaries twice and simply loved it. I think it is my favorite book of all time although I did really enjoy the others. I cannot wait until I read Blake’s book. My daughter discovered you when looking up Love According To Lily. Since then we have purchased and read every book of yours. We cannot wait until your new book comes out.
heidenkind
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 12:32 pm:
Hi, Julianne,
OMG, that video is toooo hilarious. ROTFLMAO.
I’m very excited to start your new book; it sounds great. I don’t really care if a book is part of series. I guess the bottom is if I like a writer’s work, I’ll read their books whether they’re part of a series or not. I think another appeal of series, especially to historical authors, is that you don’t have to start researching a whole new era/setting with every book.
PJ
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 2:03 pm:
ROFL! That video is hysterical!
Welcome, Julianne. I picked up The Mistress Diaries over the weekend and am looking forward to reading it. I like all books that are well written but being a part of a series is a lovely bonus. I tend to become invested in the lives of the characters and want to know what happens to them after the final scene. I loved In My Wildest Fantasies and you had me drooling for Book #2 by the end of it. The only thing I don’t like about a series is when I read a book, only to discover its the middle of a series. I want my series books in order, thank you very much.
Anne M
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 3:37 pm:
Julianne, just watched your video and loved it – too funny.
I don’t really have a preference between series and stand alone. As long as it’s a good book, that’s all that matters to me. However, if I pick up a book from the shelf that’s part of a series and I haven’t read the earlier books I don’t buy it unless the bookstore has the earlier ones. I have to read the books in order.
Nancy C
on Aug 11th, 2008
@ 5:56 pm:
Hi Julianne!
You know I see people mentioning that they buy series books to not say goodbye to the characters they’ve come to love. For me that is nice but not so impartant as the fact that by buying into a series I can expect the same quality, the same flow and style from the author – for at least those usual 3 books. Unually if I enjoyed book one I feel comfortable expecting to really enjoy book two.
So, I don’t think that the current trend of series popularity is necessarily the end of the single release – just more along the lines of readership loyalty being the marketing goal by any publisher. I’ll be just as likley to buy another single from someone I loved the first time around, but publishers know they can get a solid 3 books or more in a series to sell for the same reason.
Not to be too commercial! 
Nancy
Michele Gardner
on Aug 12th, 2008
@ 7:12 am:
Well its like this Julianne, I love singles and series. Its hard to say though when an author over does it on a series. I will give you an example Stephanie Laurens I had to stop reading her and havent picked up a book of hers in a long time, I still buy them though. I cant read her anymore, her series has been ongoing and I love her characters but Im pooped out on that series. Also for a while I couldnt read Christina Dodd and just started back with her paranormal series. But hers were stand alones and series, actually it was her Princess series I couldnt finish reading I bout her books too but ended up giving them to someone who loves her that couldnt afford to buy books. There are however a lot of authors that write series and even at the end of a 3rd or 4th book I want more or there are characters minor though they are that catch my interest and I want to hear about them. Like Liz Carlysle she kept being questioned about Kimballs book he is like a servant I cant remember, she couldnt really write about him but did the next best thing and wrote his sisters book. But your books are always perfect. Some of your books Id love to of had more of a series or a series made out of a stand alone. Sometimes it feels like a let down when you know there is not another book but its also rewarding especially if the book is a darker book and becomes brighter near the end.
julia
on Aug 12th, 2008
@ 8:39 am:
Hi Julianne!
Series are my favorites because once I fall in love with characters and a great story world, I hate to say goodbye to it. Goodbyes are not my favorite in real life, either, come to think of it.