When you go to pick up books either in ebook or print, do you prefer standalone novels or ones which are in a series?
I'm a series gal myself. I can get hooked to the story background and characters, and always want to read more. In my own works known as the Dark Moon series, I wound up having spin-off novellas of minor characters whom people wanted to read more about who didn't get their due in the main books. After Blood of the Dark Moon was released I wound up writing Blood and Mint Chocolates is one example, and due to popular demand, it too will have a sequel.
The disadvantage to a series is that sometimes you can't stay on top of the latest releases, and if you read book 2 first you may be a bit lost. I think the key is a good series is to have books written in such a way that if someone missed a book, they can still start in the middle and not wonder what is going on.
What do you think? Standalone volumes or series?
Love & Magic,
Adrianne
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
5 comments:
I love love love series books but I like them to be standalone as well just in case I haven't read any in the series yet.
I sometimes like characters so much that I like them to reappear in later books but I prefer for those books to be able to be read as stand alone titles also. One thing that bothers me is reading a book and then finding out later that it is part of a series and I started in the wrong place- frustrating to say the least!
Kissa
I really agree that the best series is one in which each book stands alone, and yet all follow a larger storyline. I think remembering to write in plot-dumps in appropriate places is really important; if the series is a good one, if will prompt a reader who starts at the second or third book to buy all of the previous ones.
I'm anal enough to really hate in when I accidentally pick up a book in a series that's not the first one, whether they stand alone or not.
Personally, I much prefer books that aren't series books, unless the series books feature different characters. For example, I like series if in book one, couple A gets together, and then in book two, their friends couple B get together as well.
I'm not such a big fan of series that feature the exact same couple who can't work out their issues in one book. My attention span is too short for that, lol.
So many interesting takes on this! Thanks guys. :)
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