Conventional wisdom and statistics suggest that books in a series tend to sell better than standalone titles. This makes sense; once an author gets readers hooked on a fictional world or a set of characters, they’ll buy new series volumes because they want more of what they enjoyed before. You only have to convince a reader once, rather than woo them anew for every book.
Nevertheless,
until recently, I haven’t had much success writing a series or even
a sequel. I’ve tried. I’ve left some plot points unresolved. I’ve
pondered my secondary characters. I’ve even outlined a series or
two. I found I just couldn’t do it.
Somehow,
when I’d finally typed “The End”, I felt that I didn’t have
more to say. My characters had achieved their HEA, the conflicts had
mostly been resolved, it was time to move on to something different.
Indeed,
my tendency to experiment with a variety of sub-genres has been one
force pushing me away from a series. I don’t like
to be bored. Plus I
enjoy the challenge
of
tackling something completely different from my previous work. Hence
my catalog includes contemporary, science fiction, historical,
steampunk, paranormal,
fantasy, gay,
lesbian, menage, BDSM, romance, humor
and dark erotica. This
diversity conflicts with the whole concept of a series,
which
might focus on different characters in each book, but requires
a consistent genre and world view.
The
relatively slow pace of my publishing also makes a series difficult.
My writing time is scarce. I do a lot of business traveling.
Typically it takes me many months to finish a book. A successful
series depends on regularly feeding the readers’ habit, which is
tough for me to guarantee.
Last
year, as something of a lark (and egged on by my colleague Larry Archer),
I decided to try writing stroke erotica. I
wrote Hot Brides in Vegas in record
time (for me...). To my great surprise, almost as soon as the book
came out, I had ideas for a sequel. The characters in Hot
Brides wanted
more time to play. Plus I had so enjoyed the no-holds-barred,
over-the-top fun of writing the first book, I wanted to do it again.
Last
month I brought out the second book in what I’ve decided to called
the Vegas Babes series, More Brides in Vegas.
More Brides
takes place about six months after Hot
Brides.
There’s an overlap in characters and setting with the first book.
More important, it’s equally outrageous in its action—if
not more so! That’s one problem with a series. You’ve got to
maintain the intensity, to hold the reader’s attention. To be
honest, I think I managed quite well in this regard.
And
guess what? I’ve already started Vegas Babes 3, Sin
City Sweethearts.
Once again, the book follows the previous one in time and reprises
some of the same characters (including some cameo appearances from
Book 1). I’m working hard to ensure that this new book is as wild,
as hot and as funny as the first two.
I
hope I’m up to it!
And
how many Vegas Babes volumes will there be? I have no idea. I’m
just following my muse, who seems to have decided that it’s time
for to write a series after all.
Actually, I have to thank Larry, too. I doubt I would have stayed around to play in Vegas if not for his encouragement. We've been trying to match our releases - though his books are more than twice as long as mine! His most recent is Crashing the Swinger's Pajama Party. And it's half price over at Smashwords, until the end of July.
Actually, I have to thank Larry, too. I doubt I would have stayed around to play in Vegas if not for his encouragement. We've been trying to match our releases - though his books are more than twice as long as mine! His most recent is Crashing the Swinger's Pajama Party. And it's half price over at Smashwords, until the end of July.
2 comments:
I think you've got the wind at your back and should run with it. Your last two Vegas Babes books have been top notch in my book and I think you're in your element as a writer of stroke erotica. We laugh about writing "stroke" stories but let's admit it, writing about sex is a turn on and fun to read.
It's like the other day, one of my wife's straight friends told her that she should wear a bra and stop wearing skirts so short. She came home upset and was standing in front of the mirror looking at her tits. "One of my friends told me to put on a bra. Do you think I should?"
I replied, "Do you want to wear a bra?" She said, "No, ever since you talked me out of one when I was twenty, I've loved going with the girls free!" I said, "Okay, there's your answer. Stop listening to other people and do what you want as long as it doesn't hurt another person."
Besides I love watching her jugs when she walks. :) Lisabet I'll tell you the same thing. When you self-publish you don't have to listen to editors telling you don't do this and don't do that. I think you enjoy writing dirty stories and so don't stop! Don't Stop isn't that the punch line in an old dirty joke?
Thanks for your encouragement, Larry!
And I'm with Foxy. I hate wearing a bra!
Post a Comment
Let me know your thoughts! (And if you're having trouble commenting, try enabling third-party cookies in your browser...)