As I previously stated, “I’m all for authors who decide that they should finish up a series if it is no longer fresh. If an author feels like he/she is simply ‘calling it in’ while writing their series, I say: Quit churning them out, start something new. ”
Boy! Do I believe that!
Sometimes I wonder about why I continue reading an author who I have gotten tired of… an author who just seems to be writing in his/her sleep, an author who seems to be going through the motions. But, I stay with my favorite authors until they finally stop writing their series… even though some of the authors I decide I am going to stop reading, but soon find myself getting the next book in their series… sort of like potato chips… very addictive! (And I like potato chips!)
I wonder if all readers are loyal to their favorite authors. Since I update authors’ pages on the site, I can see just how many books the individual authors are writing. Based on what seems to be an overall ‘cleaning house’ attitude of some of the publishers, I doubt that an author could continue to get published if he/she didn’t bring in the $ale$.
OK… Here’s an example of an author who just writes, writes, and then writes some more!
The author I am thinking about has one series that has more than 20 books in it… Sometimes this particular author writes two mysteries in just one year for this series. In addition to this best selling series, the author has another series with over 15 books in the series, sometimes two books have been published in one year, and this series is being written at the same time as the other series. That’s a prolific author!
But, wait, there’s more! This author has two more series which are being written at the same time as the other two series, and both of these have close to half a dozen books in them. WOW!!!! That’s a lot of books!
So, I ask myself about authors who are that productive… Are their last books published as good as their third books in the series? Are they as fresh?
Well, if the readers of that author are anything like me… Those questions don’t matter…. I just wonder if everyone is as loyal a reader as I am?!?
Dru says
I’m loyal to the authors that I like, in that I will continue to buy their books.
At least five series that I’ve enjoyed have published their last book, most due to their publisher’s wish and some because they want to start a new series. I’ll give these authors a chance with their new series, but if it doesn’t rank up there with the previous series, they won’t see me back.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I do the same thing you do, Dru. I try my favorite authors’ new series…
But I have to admit that most of the time, since they were favorite authors, I end up comparing their new series to their first series, and don’t enjoy the second (and sometimes third and fourth!) series enough to warrant continuing with the author.
-V- says
Life is too short to read bad books. That’s my motto. If an author is starting to get long in the tooth with a series, I move on. If an author starts a new series, and I especially like the author, I’ll try the new book. It doesn’t always work due to subject matter or the characters don’t click. I like Laura Childs’ Teashop mystery series, but I don’t like her scrapbook series. I like tea, don’t like scrapbooking.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi V,
I agree about your life motto… But try as I might>>> Right when I think that I have come to terms with dropping a “long in the tooth” series, I decide to give the author just one more chance and then find myself wondering why the heck I did! Once the series is on a downward spiral, it usually means that it’s a done deal.
But, sometimes, when I look at my lists of favorite authors quickly diminishing, I wonder if I was just going through a negative stage when I read the authors, and decide to try them just one more time. Second guessing myself is NOT a good thing!
Edie Dykeman says
One of my very favorite mystery authors has published her twentieth in a series. I was right with her until the last couple of books. Although I bought the books, hardcover even, I ended up skimming through the last half, at least, just to find out what the character was up to. The plot in each seemed to be old and tired.
Also, I have heard whispers that those who are as prolific as you mention, also sometimes have ghostwriters filling in the authors plot outline. That may be why the spark is missing.
Sometimes I become more interested in the character than the story, and that is when I don’t want the series to end. The author could write a bio on the character alone and I would be happy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Edie,
I think that I also have become involved with main characters in series which I no longer enjoy , but just can’t seem to “let go” of reading the new releases.
I know that there is one particular author who is (more than) prolific who is rumored to have a ghostwriter or two doing a whole lot of writing. I guess that it would be difficult to give up the money-train if you are a very popular author and your fans are willing to continue reading “your” novels even though they aren’t as good as the novels you actually wrote!