To series or not to series?

Series can encompass a variety of different things. As a kid growing up, I loved the teenage mystery series—Trixie Belden, Donna Parker, the Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, heck, even the horribly dated Bobbsey Twins. Nancy Drew was the one exception. Never could stand her. These books followed the same characters through a variety of adventures, hopefully learning a little something with each episode. Then I discovered fantasy and science fiction. The Narnia books, Lord of the Rings, and so many more. Still the same concept though—same main characters, different stories.

But in romance, series usually don’t work that way. For a romance to be a romance, you have to take two (or sometimes more) characters from not being together, to their happily-ever-after. That’s pretty final. Although I have read a few great books where the romance continues to grow and evolve in a second book, (Jayne Ann Krentz has a couple good examples of this) that’s about the limit if each story is really a romance. So a series takes a different turn. Usually it’s a common world, town, family, or group (a Navy Seals team, perhaps) that have overlapping stories. Each book of the series features a different character finding that HEA. So each book as a unique hero and a unique heroine. One of the great features of this kind of series is that you get to peek at the HEA of earlier couples. It can be kind of like catching up with old friends.

From a reader’s standpoint, I love series. I love seeing that couple A is still together a few years later, maybe with children, or still helping to save the world. I still have the first romance series I ever collected, Roberta Gellis’ fabulous Roselynde Chronicles. She broke a rule in this series, too. The first two books had the same heroine. Yep. Her first HEA wasn’t so ever-after. Husband number one was much older and died while she was still in her 30’s, leaving her to remarry a man much closer to her own age. I’m not sure you could get away with that in today’s market, but as Ms. Gellis was one of the founders of the historical romance genre as we know it, she did. I had the chance to meet her at last year’s RT convention, and practically genuflected at her feet.

Series have problems though. They can go on way too long. Then they run the risk of being repetitive or jumping the shark. There are a couple of very big names that I used to run right out and buy on release day. Now I get them from the library if I bother at all. I totally respect author Linda Howard who said she wasn’t writing any more books in her MacKenzie family series, because she didn’t want to have to kill off the parents. Sometimes, you just have to let go. And who knows? If she hadn’t, we might not have had all the NEW wonderfulness she’s written since.

As an author, I am learning about the pitfalls of series. Writing book number three can be hard. There’s a lot already written in that can’t be changed, so you have to write around what’s been set in stone by previous books. You have to work to make each hero and heroine different from the others—can’t have them all blending together. Even names are a bigger challenge. But sales-wise, there’s a definite plus. When a new book comes out, sales spike again for earlier books in the series. And when you’ve written a character who’s just too cool to say goodbye to, it’s nice to be able to give them their own HEA.

I’ve written several series, for several publishers, and I love them all. So yes, I’d have to say I’m in favor of the series concept, both as an author and as a reader. And if I ever drag one out to the point of absurdity, will somebody please let me know? Now, though, I’d like to introduce you to my newest series, The Gaslight Chronicles. Book 1: Steam & Sorcery, debuted this week from Carina Press, and I couldn’t be more excited. Here’s a snipped to whet your appetite:

Steam & Sorcery

Gaslight Chronicles #1

By Cindy Spencer Pape

Buy here from Carina Press

BLURB:

Sir Merrick Hadrian hunts monsters, both human and supernatural. A Knight of the Order of the Round Table, his use of magick and the technologies of steam power have made him both respected and feared. But his considerable skills are useless in the face of his greatest challenge, guardianship of five unusual children. At a loss, Merrick enlists the aid of a governess.

Miss Caroline Bristol is reluctant to work for a bachelor but she needs a position, and these former street children touch her heart. While she tends to break any mechanical device she touches, it never occurs to her that she might be something more than human. All she knows is that Merrick is the most dangerously attractive man she’s ever met—and out of reach for a mere governess.

When conspiracy threatens to blur the distinction between humans and monsters, Caroline and Merrick must join forces, and the fate of humanity hinges upon their combined skills of steam and sorcery…

EXCERPT(pg):

“Caroline, dear, I’m so grateful you could come.” Miss Hadrian hurried into the foyer just as the butler was taking Caroline’s serviceable gray cape. The older woman clasped Caroline’s hand warmly in her own and held her arm to guide her down the wide, imposing hallway.

As usual, Miss Hadrian was dressed in understated elegance. Her deep blue gabardine day dress was made from the finest fabrics, but boasted a single flounce to the skirt and simple braided trim in lieu of the usual ribbons and ruffles. She also wore far fewer petticoats than was the norm for women of her social class. In such company, Caroline didn’t feel quite so dowdy in her brown serge dress, trimmed only by a small ivory lace collar with a tiny brown-and-green ribbon at the throat. It was her newest costume, though it was no more flattering than any of her others. Flattering was not something she strove for when meeting prospective employers.

“You really couldn’t have been available at a more opportune time.” The paneled corridor was unexpectedly free of any knick-knacks or even paintings, though there were several nails still showing where paintings would once have hung. Odd. Had the Hadrian family fortunes taken a sudden reversal? “You’ll understand why I thought of you when you meet the children, my dear. You are exactly what they need.” There was a harried note in Miss Hadrian’s voice that Caroline had never heard before. Certainly something was amiss in this household.

The two women entered a pleasant sitting room, though it too, was devoid of any decorative items save a single bronze urn and a pair of small silver statuettes on the mantelpiece. The furniture was expensive and covered in quality fabrics, so whatever reverses had occurred must be quite recent.

Sir Merrick stood as they entered. The moment she laid eyes on him, Caroline forgot all about the sunny yellow room with the thick green and bronze carpet. Twin shivers coursed down either side of her spine and she knew at once she was going to have to regretfully decline the position.

Households with men were dangerous to a young, relatively attractive governess.

Households with men like this were dangerous to any woman with blood in her veins.

CONTEST:

To see more of Merrick and Caroline’s adventures, I’d love for you to stop by the Carina Press website and check out Steam & Sorcery. To celebrate the new release, I’m running a contest. Comment on any (or all) of the blogs I visit on my blog tour this week. One entry per person, per blog stop. You can visit my blog to find the other stops. After the final stops on Sunday, March 13, I’ll draw one winner for a free download of Steam & Sorcery, or their choice of my other available titles. Happy Reading!