Book Series, Writers and Readers

An author writes a book that becomes popular, even a best seller. Their readers clamor for more. And so a series is born. We began reading series of books back in our early reading days. Did you read two or more of the following children's series books? 

• The Hardy Boys
• Little House on the ....
• Bobbsey Twins
• Junie B. Jones (one for today's kids)
• Boxcar Kids
• Sue Barton, Nurs
• Cherry Ames, Nurse
• Nancy Drew
• ___________Shoes (Ballet, Theater, Circus etc)
• Harry Potter

As an adult, some of us found a series that we liked well enough to continue reading as each new book was published. I could offer a very long list here but will offer just a few: 

• George R. R. Martin--The Game of Thrones series
• Diana Gabaldon--Outlander series
• Daniel Silva series about Gabriel Allon *
• Louise Penny series about Inspector Gamache*
• Stieg Larson--The Girl With The ....series
• Janet Evanovich--Stephanie Plum series
• Hilary Mantel--The Wolf Hall series
• Kate Burkholder--Amish mystery series
• Sherry Thomas--The Lady Sherlock series
• ...and many more

Why do we like to read a series written by the same author along the same vein? When we read one of the series, preferably the first book, we get to know and like the protagonist character. We get to peek into his/her life, get to know the place where he/she lives or travels, and if we like the character, we want to know more. We watch the book lists to know when a favorite series author has published a new book in the series. 

The two book covers (starred in the second list) are from two of my favorite mystery series. I just started reading Louise Penny's latest book about Inspector Gamache, a police superintendent who lives in the Quebec area. As the series moves steadily along, Armand Gamache and his wife move to a small village outside the city, almost hidden away in the forest. The 'characters' who live in this village occupy a great deal of Armand's life. Louise Penny is a fine writer. With every one of the books in the series that I have read, I hated to see the last page. I opened the new book last evening with great anticipation of good things to come. 

Daniel Silva's newest suspense-thriller featuring Gabriel Allon, art restorer, and Israeli spy was as satisfying as all the others. Nearly 500 pages, but I raced through it last week as the twists and turns kept me turning pages. Not only are the stories excellent, but I have also learned a great deal about the life of an art restorer, as well as those who are spies. 

What about the authors who write a series? Writing a series takes great commitment from an author. Once a new book in a series is finished, he/she must come up with a new plot using the same main characters. It has to equal the first book(s) or readers will be lost. I have found that the succeeding books are often better than the first. 

Add to that, the need to keep the books coming on a fairly regular basis, and the author is under more pressure than when writing individual books that have no future additions. But wouldn't that be a good feeling for an author to know that their readers are eagerly awaiting another book?

Information about happenings in the earlier books needs to be woven into the current one so that it can stand alone. Some readers might start with book #5 in a series, and once they get some of that earlier info would want to go back to Book 1 and start from the beginning. If I like a book in a series, I will go back and read them in order.

I remember feeling like the kids in those children's series were my friends. I cared for them, worried when they inevitably got into trouble, cheered silently when they came out alright. I kind of feel that way with some of the protagonists in the adult series I read. 

How often have you read a book and upon closing it, thought I want more!

Writers--how would you feel about writing a series? Readers--do you like or dislike reading series?