Thank you all for commenting on the Lilian Jackson Braun entry. David, I followed your link and found it a really interesting link to follow… Lots of information about Lilian Jackson Braun.
But, the news doesn’t look good: It doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing The Cat Who Smelled Smoke any time soon! (If at all!)
I got a very informative e-mail from a Cozy Mystery site reader who tracked down a popular author of a Crafting Cozy Mystery book series. The author told Denise that she wouldn’t be publishing any more books in her series because her publisher decided not to continue with her series. Unfortunately, because the publisher is dropping her series, she wasn’t able to write a “wrapping-it-up” book for her loyal fans.
Hmmm… So what’s going on?!?
It seems like lately, a lot of publishers are deciding to drop some of their authors simply because they aren’t popular enough to have their books in the grocery store “buy-it-on-impulse” area (right before you get to the conveyor belt… You know the area… where you are stuck between two sale’s racks that hold “Don’t-I-look-delicious” chocolate bars and the “latest, must-have” paperbacks.
I guess that when it gets right down to it, publishers (obviously!) have the right to discontinue authors’ series >>> But wouldn’t it be nice for those of us who follow their mystery book series to be able to read a last Cozy that lets us feel like our favorite characters “lived happily ever after” >>> and be assured that they didn’t fall victims to all of the sinister happenings they had been able to solve for the police?!?
Maria BearMountainBooks says
It would be wonderful if authors could make their wrap-up available. Some of them even have the books written from what I’ve read on author blogs. Maybe with it being cheaper these days for an author to take a book to Kindle or trade paperback through POD prints, some of them will do it.
I know one author put the “last” manuscript out on her website for free. I’ll have to think of her name. I know you have her listed out here…
Maria
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, I kept waiting for an author who I followed (Lynne Murray>>> Josephine Fuller series) to put out the fifth book in her series. I finally went to her site and asked when it was going to be published… I was so disappointed to find out that her publisher had wanted her to revamp the whole series… which she decided not to do.
Dru says
I know. That’s all I want is for the cozy mystery series that I enjoyed reading to have a conclusion. Too many that I’ve read have been left in the dark.
Petie says
There are at least 30 CAT WHO books that have been published and to NOT have perhaps the last one published is totally unfair! Obviously Ms Braun’s popular enough to have written for decades and had sales and fans all that time. It’s so hard to believe that publishers can really do that – not only to an author who has given her life to writing but also to the reading public.
Petie
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh, oh…. I didn’t mean to imply that Lilian Jackson Braun’s publisher dropped her! >>> By any means!
I have no idea why The Cat Who isn’t going to have an ending book in the series…
Maria BearMountainBooks says
I would guess that Lilian’s books were making money such that being dropped wasn’t a worry (as it is for some many mid-list authors). It could easily be health or pace of writing or any number of problems.
I know a lot of authors do get dropped if they aren’t “breaking out” by the second or third book. That may mean they are making some money for the publisher, but not “enough.” I just read on another site that Jeff Cohen’s series (that started with Some Like it Hot Buttered) won’t be continuing after the third installment.
On the “finished” note, I was pleased as punch when Elizabeth Peters put out the 6th and final Vicky Bliss mystery! I waited more than 10 years…
Petie says
Oh no I didn’t mean to imply you said it was the publisher. I simply meant it’s a shame any publisher would do 90-something year old author that way with the following I’m sure she has. It’s their loss…
Cheryl says
I’m pretty sure it hasn’t been Lilian Jackson Braun writing the books for YEARS. I’m not sure where in the series it became really noticeable, but the last half dozen, maybe more, have had little mystery story line, and glaring continuity errors. I’m guessing they were written by several ghost writers who weren’t as familiar with the story line as faithful readers.
I’ll continue to re-read the bulk of the series, but have little interest in re-reading the last few.
Dawn says
I agree with Cheryl (8/22/09). Been wondering for last half dozen books or so who was writing the books. If it is LJB, something’s wrong-no mystery, murder in another place or barely mentioned, Qwill & the cats didn’t help solve it-just stories about people & happenings in town. And there’s no way I believe LJB would send Polly packing in that way (if at all), replace her in Qwill’s heart so easily, burn the barn down??? Hope she’s alright, hope her reputation can be redeemed after “60 Whiskers”, she’s too good for that ending. If this book is the ending. I guess I get too invested in the characters I read about, because I’m heartbroken.
Madison Johns says
I know of another author that asked for her rights back for her books and continued her series on Amazon. They don’t give authors a chance before pulling the plug.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I like it when authors continue their series on formats like the Kindle, Madison. Unfortunately, isn’t always easy to find out when they publish their books in e-format…
Mary B. says
After reading these comments, I’m getting cold feet. My cozy, to be part of a series, is ready for publishers, but now I’m not so sure this is the way to go. Maybe I’ll check out POD and go that route. Any reassurance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary B, if you can find a publisher, that’s probably the route I would go. They are set up to be able to publicize their authors’ books.