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  Why Series?

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  I've recently noticed that my reading preference is greatly geared towards book series. I went from the Harry Potter series, to the Twilight series, and now I am reading the Sookie Stackhouse series. Of course I have read a few individual novels here and there between series...but it makes me wonder why I am so attracted to series as a reader?
  
  In my opinion, I prefer book series because usually there is a more extensive and complex plot as well as more well developed characters. I feel like I "get to know" the characters better in a series. Also, there is a feeling of anticipation when you're waiting to read the next book in a series.
  
  Any other book series fans out there?

  Jamie G started this discussion 3 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  JC Phelps 

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  I agree with you! I prefer a series when I enjoy the first book(s) because that means it doesn't have to end just yet.

  One series I've recently began and don't know if I'll finish is the Twilight series. I found her writing very repetitive and boring except in a few spots. I feel the story was good enough, but horribly drug out. I know a lot of people are fans of this series but I read the first one and haven't even attempted to pick up the next one. This isn't to say that I will never read the second or finish the series, but just to say it wasn't to my liking at the time I read the first one. I've heard that the books get better and better as they go along.

  What do you think of the Sookie Stackhouse series? I have never read them and am not really all that familiar with them.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Jamie G 

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    I think the reason I fell in love with the Twilight series was because of the intriguing love story that it contained. I did feel as though the writing in the Twilight series wasn't quite up to par with some of the other series that I've read such as Harry Potter. I also thought that there was very good character development in the Twilight series.

    So far, I really like the Sookie Stackhouse series. It is sort of a more adult version of the Twilight series. It is basically about the adventures of a Louisiana bar maid who gets thrown into the mysterious world of mythical creatures (vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, etc). The character development is good and the writing is witty. I also like the fact that the plot moves along quickly which makes the books a fast read.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    JC Phelps 

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    Until I ran across this thread, I didn't realize I actually prefer series as well. I think it has a little to do with familiarity. If you liked the first book chances are you'll like the next one as well. However, I do believe the saying about "too much of a good thing." I LOVE Janet Evanovich, but I haven't read her Plum series past book 8 and she just recently released Sizzling Sixteen.

    One thing I've always hated about series reading is waiting for the next book to be released! I prefer to read series that have been out for a while to avoid having to wait a year or more for the next book.

    I really tried to like Twilight. There are so many people out there that absolutely loved the book(s) it makes me feel like I read something entirely different. However, there is no pleasing everyone all the time. When I try the next one (eventually) I may become one of those that has decided to love the series.

    I'm seriously considering the Sookie Stackhouse series. I like the fast reads as well as I like series. I get a sense of accomplishment with every book I read and if I can read them fast I feel even more accomplished. :-)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Jamie G 

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  I agree with you about the familiarity. I also love the feeling that I "know" the characters in a series where the author has used good character development.

  I haven't tried any Janet Evanovich books. What genre does she write? Which books would you recommend?

  I know what you mean about waiting for book releases! I usually begin series after all of the books have been released. However, when I started reading the Harry Potter series about half of the books had been released, so towards the end of the series I had to wait for the releases which was agonizing!

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  JC Phelps 

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  I'm sorry it took me so long to reply. I either deleted the email with the alert or I didn't get it at all.

  Janet Evanovich writes romance and chick lit. I think that's how you'd classify her Stephanie Plum series - chick lit. I'm not a romance fan but I did try some of her other books. I'm still not a romance fan. ;-)

  I'd definitely recommend the Stephanie Plum series it begins with One for the Money and book two is Two for the Dough (I believe). They continue in that manner... Three to Get Deadly and then Four to Score. Stephanie isn't who I want to be but I could relate with her somewhat. What really made the series for me was the humor in the books. Grandma Mazur is my favorite! I only made it to book Eight though before I quit reading them and she just released Sizzlin' Sixteen.

  Janet Evanovich was recommended to me several years ago and I happened to find Three to Get Deadly at a rummage sale so I picked it up. I finished it in record time and went looking for the rest. There's a character in book eight that inspired me to write my series. That's part of the reason I quit reading Evanovich... didn't want to steal from her.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Jamie G 

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  Wow, so you're writing your own series? That's cool! I would love to write a book, it's just so hard for me to find the time to work on it.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  JC Phelps 

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  I wrote the first book in the series in 21 days. I had a job and a two year old. But the story was so compelling inside me that I just sat down and wrote and wrote and wrote. It was so much fun! Of course, the book wasn't FINISHED in 21 days. I still had a lot of editing and stuff to do.

  I just got a great review of the book today too. If you're interested, you can look it up at: http://www.kindleobsessed.com/bs-books/paging-mr-white/

  I sell them in Kindle format and all three are available in paperback, but just the first one is available on Amazon as paperback. I hope to have the other two available soon at Amazon too.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Jamie G 

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  How did you go about publishing and marketing your books?

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  JC Phelps 

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  I bought the necessary equipment and just did it! I have a website: www.newpubbinding.net

  My prices are as low as I can go and I think I'm one of the cheapest sources out there. I've helped a few other authors publish too. I don't market their books though. Just my own. That is something I'm still learning how to do.

  Most of my copies have been sold "out of the back of my car." Not literally, of course, but most of my sales have actually gone from MY hands into the readers. I've sold a few copies online and now I'm available on Amazon so I'm hoping that sales will pick up.

  I've considered Amazon many times before, but, until recently, I would have lost money putting them up for sale on their site. They keep 55% of sales - or did. I only marked my price up (from my cost) 50% so I could afford to pay for the one I just printed and pay for the next one. I also don't care for $15 paperback books in my genre. Because of that, I couldn't afford to sell on Amazon until recently - Kindle has helped. Though I don't sell them for much at all on Kindle. I only sell them for $2.99. If my sales pick up I may, or may not, raise the Kindle price, but I'm fairly certain I will never bring the e-book price over $5. I firmly believe the e-book price should be lower than the paper version. But then again, I know what kind of money goes into producing both. And yet, I don't market my books (with money) like traditional publishers do, so that's one cost I don't have for either the e-book or the paperback.

  There are tons of ways to market that I'm just now learning about. A lot of them require money and that's something I don't have. I have three daughters and a husband! The whole point of writing the books was to make money, not to spend it. So, I'm trying the blog thing, the Facebook thing, the making friends at forums and places like Shelfari.

  If you ever sit down to write your book(s), I'd love to help you in any way I can!

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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