What are your intentions? By May.
Recently I read a short story that I quite enjoyed, and when I went to the author’s website to find out if there would be more (it was an Urban Fantasy type world), what her plans were, and if I could expect another installment soon I found nothing. No information at all other than the fact that the book in my hands was coming out. This got me thinking (and ranting to fellow Smexy reviewer Tori) about author intentions and I wanted to write up my thoughts on the subject. With any luck some authors will read this and help us readers out.
Right off the bat I must state that I do not ever believe any author owes me anything. I understand that things happen and life can change and that sometimes a book is delayed, or cancelled even. That said, I also know that somebody who is an author is publishing their books, most likely, as a means of income. It is a profession, authors create a product to sell, and I am a consumer of stories.
So as a consumer, I do like to know what I’m getting into. If I’m thinking about starting a series, trying a new book, or especially when I read a book I really like, I immediately visit the author’s website. I want to know if they have books I’m not aware of, what they’ll work on next, and generally any information I need to make note of for future reading goodness.
For example when I dove into Iced, I knew KMM wouldn’t be releasing the next book for about a year and that she had several books planned for Dani. When I picked up Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series book 1, I knew I could expect at least a few books and that it would be much darker than her previous series. In other words, the authors made it clear not only what I could expect from the current book, but what kind of a timeline and general number of books I was looking at.
A few months back I read an interview with an author of a romance series that irritated me. Let’s just say that she made it clear that the star-crossed lovers that show up in most of her books and that seem to be at the heart of her series don’t have a clear HEA timeline, she didn’t say when she’d get to their story, for that matter I don’t think she confirmed they’d HAVE a story. Well now hang on. The real heart of this series for me is these two people, and you’re telling me you can’t give me some idea of your plan? Or even make me feel there is one outside “make this series last long as possible”?! Well let me tell you if I had any inkling I was going to be teased and the mystery/drama/romance was going to be drug out over an indefinite number of books that feel increasingly weak and with less and less interesting characters I never would have started.
Being upfront about what you intend to do not only makes me happy from a “I have the insider scoop” standpoint, but it also lessens the chance that I’m going to one day be an irate reader/customer who feels taken advantage of.
If you’re building a series that is very in-depth, that will take place over multiple books, and that has a very distinctly connected plan, I’m going to need a bit more information from you. Especially if this is an UF or PNR or otherwise tightly knit series, or a contemp/historical series with a tightly connected overall story arc, I need to be clued into your plans. Whether it is a trilogy that will be released over the course of three years, or you have a five-book contract but hope to write beyond that, whatever your general plan is, whatever basic information you can share is helpful. Not only am I investing time in reading your series, but money on buying the books too so I do look for details that will help me decide what series I should (and shouldn’t) invest in.
This could be done by having an “about” page for the series, a FAQ page, or just a “thanks for visiting my site, here’s what I’m working on…” type paragraph or two that you keep as up-to-date as possible. Even if the note is “I’m writing the next book, expect it in a 2014”, or “at this time I am developing a new series, more information to come this summer” this is information I want.
Basically, as a reader, I want to know your intentions. The more clearly labeled and upfront, the better! I understand that things can happen, contracts can fall through, life challenges can put things way behind. I’m not asking for promises or guarantees.
If you’re an author, what you need to remember is that I am not just a fan, not just a reader, I’m your customer. You should not assume I am following you on social media outlets or that I read your blog- after all I might have just discovered you! I do not have time to dig through all your past posts to find a nugget of information about your future plans either.
So please, for my sanity as a book lover and as one of your valued customers, throw me some info and let me know what your intentions are. It is much appreciated, and knowing what you have planned for our author/reader relationship in the future makes me happy and you’d better believe I make notes of upcoming releases and books to watch for.
Amen. I can’t recall such an article that rightly summarizes my feelings about series. Being a professed HEA reader, I routinely skip to the end of books to make sure that HEA does indeed occur in my romances. Similiarly, I will read a series with cliff hangers or continuing arcs if I know there will be a HEA for a main couple at some point in a later book. I stopped a major series by Kim Harrison bc as much as I wanted a HEA for two characters, the author has indicated at least obliquely (that I am aware) that this series is NOT a romance series.
I believe I know who you referenced in historical romance regarding and she has written some good, if not at least one great, book that is a go-to reread favorite. But yes indeed I’m now waiting for the end of the series and will catch up on back list once I know if the missing heir and aloof do gooder get that much much anticipated HEA. With the proliferation of social media, websites, blogs, Facebook, for goodness sake authors, throw us a bone and let us know your intentions. Some authors do a very good job of this. It’s not hard for you to do; and in fair exchange I’ll be more likely to purchase your books!
yes! I can be patient… if there is a payoff.
This topic of Author websites is perfect timing for me. I recently heard a rumor that an author was writing a sequel to a popular book she wrote in 2005 that I had recently reread so I popped over to her website for the first time. So many people had asked about a follow up to this book (You may be familiar with Sunshine by Robin McKinley)that in the FAQ section of her website she addressed this question specifically. It was the condescending tone of her answer that really ticked me off. She answered the sequel question (NO) but went on to divide fans who asked about it into categories and basically made it clear to stop bugging her about it. Fine. Did the story have loose ends? Yes. But more along the lines of “use your own imagination” rather than a story killer or cliffhanger. She seemes so irritated to be asked about it. Heres the kicker. She is re-releasing this very book thereby inviting the exact behavior she seems so irritated by. Pick one or the other please. Im sure avid fans of this person will be rabid about the criticism but as a first time viewer of the website/author I feel I shouldnt be chastised for being invested in the characters of an authors story.
oh my. Well clearly her intentions are to alienate fans and make them mad!!
I totally see where you’re coming from and what you mean. I, too, want to know if that particular couple is going to get a HEA. I do think the author could write their book and still continue writing the series, as opposed to having their book the last or near the last. But it could simply be a thing where the author isn’t yet ready to write that book so doesn’t want to commit to saying, yes, I’ll have a book out in a year or two with this couple because if that year comes and goes with no book, then you can risk disappointing readers who really want that particular book.
I mean, I know readers are already disappointed but I’m going to give her the leeway that she just doesn’t know yet or that the particular couple hasn’t really spoken to her and/or clamoring for their story to be told yet. I hope that’s the case anyway, and that it’s not that the book is done or nearly done but she’s holding off on publishing it because she thinks it should be the last book in the series. Personally, I’d love to have that story soonish and see the couple in other stories, and how they grow post-HEA.
I can only speak for myself but sometimes I really don’t know what’s going to come next. If you had asked me back in January of this year, I would’ve said something totally different than what I’m doing right now. So sometimes it’s just a matter of not really knowing of where you want to go but once I do know, I try to put it on my site, etc.
I think it makes a difference if you’re putting out single/stand alone or loosely related books vs a tight series too. To me, most series have a clear overall arc/story that spans the novels and in my experience at least, authors who are clear about the general direction have stronger books than those who seem to make it up book by book.
For example if there is a murder mystery spanning the five-book romance series, you’d work towards the whodunit in book 5 giving pieces along the way that will all come together.
For me the straw that broke the camel’s back on the interview I read was the feeling that I was going to be strung out as long as books are selling.
I am totally comfortable with “hey, they’ll get an HEA, just isn’t quite there yet some more things need to happen…” or whatever. But feeling like the reason is “because I want to sell more books” = I’m gone.
Thank you for articulating so succinctly the frustration I feel regarding this issue. Makes me bonkers!
I’m glad to know I’m not alone!
I <3 you. :P
of course you do.
I see those classes in humility are working. :P
That interview caused me to lose any interest I still had in that series…
I think it did for a LOT of us loyal readers. It just had an icky feel to it, and when I tweeted her about it the replies made me convinced it was time to just QUIT.
As a reader, I 100% agree with what you are saying here. Nothing frustrates me more than not knowing when something is coming out or if it’s EVER coming out.
As an author, I know I need to be more organized on my website. I know what my plans are, but whether my website reflects that is a little more iffy….*marking to check that on my calendar this week* I know I need to detail how many books I plan for certain series that I’m working on and that’s not on my website. I just recently updated all my upcoming projects, but need to detail the plans for those series that are coming.
This is a great post…thank you!
glad you liked the post – and good luck on keeping the site updated!! I know it can be a pain/hard to maintain. but it is much appreciated!
Thank you and totally agree about wanting to at least know the amount of books in a series or HEA. It if series drags along…I will choose to go else where with my time & money.
Preach it :)
AMEN!!! Thank you for this post! It’s so frustrating to not know if a book is part of a series and can’t find out the name of the series or how long it’s expected to be. If it’s a trilogy-TELL ME! An ongoing series – great – TELL ME. It’s one of the reasons I sign up for author’s newsletters, to glean when the next book is coming (so I won’t miss it) and where it fits in a (unknown?) series. — Off my soap box now, lol.
Very nice post. Feel the same way about authors not telling you upfront (not in the blurb or the author’s website) that a book is the beginning of a series and ends on a cliffhanger with no HEA in book one. Don’t like cliffhangers and only found out after I read the book and after the book came out that it was part of a series.
Just curious, what author were you referring to, so I can stay clear of it?
YES! That is so frustrating!! I was discussing this post with an author friend of mine & she said that the author may not be aware that he/she hasn’t shared that info. She said that if she had forgotten to do something that important, she hoped that one of her readers would let her know. She said that sometimes she gets “author brain” & she forgets important things because she has so much other stuff going on. Being an author comes with a lot of deadlines & a tight schedule. He/She may have just overlooked it. Send him/her a quick email to let the author know their oversight. This was a great topic May!! :)
To make it short, yes please!
Great post May!
THANK YOU for validating the hours I’ve spent last night tweaking my site before my new adult fantasy comes out the end of this month. It IS the first of a series, and I thought, heck, why not add the middle grade fantasy I’m working on too.
Whew. Just when I was thinking I should have spent all that time writing! LOL
(BTW, would LOVE to do a guest post or interview with you guys when the book comes out)
Thanks much for this. I’m getting ready to release a novel that I hope will be the first in a series. Just updated my about page and will try to do good job refreshing it.
You sent me on a trip down memory lane (oops, cliche!) when I read about you reading Beverly Cleary’s ‘Fifteen’. I loved that book! I still remember, it was Jane Purdy and Stan who drove for the Doggie Diner. I suppose teenagers today would consider it too tame but that’s their loss. I cited a couple of your paragraphs on my blog and hurried to provide some information. A well-timed post for me. Thanks.
As a reader I share all of your frustrations. I used to wait for a series to be officially “completed” just to make sure I got all the books and there was a real ending. (Laurell Hamilton is the one who drives me nuts — when one of her recent books covered less than 48 hours of real time, I was done.)
As an author, I try to go the extra mile to make sure that my website information is up to date, with publication dates and brief descriptions of upcoming titles, and complete info on everything already published.
I know that fans who sign up for newsletters want to hear more, but what i can’t tell is if the information is enough for those who don’t sign up or leave comments. Do you tell the authors who disappoint you that you wish they had more information?
I don’t think I would email and tell them…If we tweet and it gets brought up maybe I would say something. I think I would feel pushy if I brought it up…I don’t know
Excellent article, thanks! It amazes me how little can be learnt from some author sites :( If I take the time to visit, I do expect to find more than just what I’ve only just finished reading! Mind you, I’d also suggest that authors should give a clear indication on backlinks to their sites if there’s anything which might be regarded as offensive. I’m not a prude – truly I’m not – but going from a homey short to a site jammed with BDSM works and images is a trifle too much, even for me! Not to mention browsing with young kids around!
This was so helpful and prompted me to add a FAQs page to my website. I’m unlikely to ever write a series, but I have already gotten questions about my next book, and the first one isn’t even officially launched yet.
Oh good!
I agree, I like to know what I am getting into before picking up a book. Series? More in the works?
Made me realize though that I need to enter something about my plans on my website…I have finished book one and have begun searching for an agent but I should say on there somewhere that I have plans for a trilogy. So thanks for the post! :)
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