I have a very serious affliction. I call it series-itis, and it does not discriminate. Whether I’m writing or reading…I’m already thinking SERIES!
Lately I’ve read a lot of flack at how many romance novels are part of a series. And, while I understand that frustration, I don’t share that opinion. I love, love, love a good series. If you look at my Goodreads shelf, it is littered with series. If I enjoy reading a book, it’s always partially because the author has created a world I like being in, so returning to that world in another book makes me happy.
Still, a few years ago when I sat down to write Seven-Night Stand
, my recently released Indulgence title, I wasn’t actually planning to write a series. I was trying something new by writing sexy category. I figured I should focus on THAT, not what secondary characters might get their own story somewhere down the line.
Fairly early on I knew Nate, the hero of Seven-Night Stand, had a brother. The story just didn’t work if he was an only child. Nate needed someone different from him, someone he didn’t always get along with, but someone he shared a really strong bond with nonetheless.
I didn’t mean to turn the brother into series material, but the minute he popped into my brain along with the idea he and Nate were identical twins, I knew Ryan had a story too. Even better, it meant I got to return to Harrington Airfield and Mechanics (the primary setting of Seven-Night Stand). I love the private airfield I created for this book, and I had a ton of fun bringing polished LA women to this small, desolate Kansas town.
There are a lot of other Indulgence series out there, so as many people are tired of series, I think there’s still plenty of us who love them. Where do you fall? And if you like a series as much as I do, what are your favorites?
What a fab post. I love a good series. Like you say, if you enjoy the world the writer has created, it’s great to be able to revisit it again with other characters. Because category romance writers understand the importance of creating credible and realistic motivations for all of their characters, whoever appears on the page, tends to leave their mark. They already exist fully-formed in the writer’s head anyway, so being able to share those stories as well with readers, is really satisfying.
Agreed, Eve! Thanks for the comment.
Great post. I love a good series….and am working on one now. Instead of a family, mine focuses on a town. It’s interesting, as every “character” develops, I look at them with the thought, hmmm, do they need their own story? Glad to hear “the series” is alive and well.
I know the “do they need their own story” thought well. I couldn’t escape it even if I wanted to! Thanks for the comment, CL.
You’re welcome, Nicole. And when do you know a character needs their own story? For me, it’s when they try to take over the story I’m currently writing.
Yes! Or any time I start wondering about why they are acting the way they are, then I know–uh oh–here comes another story,
Huge congrats on your release, Nicole! I LURVE that cover.
I’m a big series fan too. Love it when I meet up with characters from other books. It feels like catching up with old friends.
Tank you! The cover is amazing. Libby Murphy did such an awesome job.
And youre right, Another great thing about series is getting to see how those previous HEAs are going!