Jennifer Lewis | The Siren Call Of The Series

April 14, 2009

My new book out this month, The Heir’s Scandalous Affair, is the third in my Hardcastle Progeny series for Silhouette Desire. This is my first author-generated series, and I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to carry my characters through three different books. It was quite a challenge because each book had to stand completely alone, so you could pick it up without ever having read—or even heard of—the other two. I also wanted them to mesh together so you could read all three as part of one overarching story about the Hardcastle family. As a reader I enjoying seeing characters from previous books and learning what they’re up to now, and I know from experience that I’m not the only one.

The Hardcastle Progeny

Soon after my first book The Boss’s Demand, came out in July 2007, I started getting emails asking if I planned to write books for the two brothers of my hero, Elan. I wrote back that I honestly wasn’t sure. I’d always wanted to create stories for all three brothers, but I wrote that book before I sold and publishers aren’t always wild about the idea of buying several linked books from an untested author. After all, what if the first one is a big flop???

I can now boldly state that one of the hero’s brothers will be coming out some time in 2010, since I’ve just finished penning his story. I will have published seven or eight other books in between, so I apologize for the wait! It was a lot of fun revisiting Sara and Elan from my first book, and given the passage of time it should be no surprise that they now have two children.

Last year I had my first experience with a publisher-generated continuity, when the editors come up with six linked stories and pick six different authors to write them. These are a big adventure for the author as we usually sign the contract before we have any idea what the story and characters are like. My first continuity book, Prince of Midtown, came out last fall as part of Silhouette Desire’s Park Avenue Scandals series. It was a fun experience for me to rise to the challenge of taking someone else’s story and making it mine, and to coordinate with the other authors to make sure all the books work together as a series. I’ve since been asked to write books for two more Silhouette continuities and the next one, The Mavericks’ Virgin Mistress will be out in November as part of a new Texas Cattlemen’s Club series.

Jennifer Lewis' books

This whole series thing is rather addictive. Although I’ve written two books that aren’t related to anything at all, Seduced for the Inheritance, and Black Sheep Billionaire, I’m definitely planning another series for the near future. It’s just too much fun to check back in with a former hero and heroine and enjoy the warm glow of their happy ending. And I’ve already started getting letters asking me if there are going to be more books in the Hardcastle series—particularly Fiona’s story. As with my first book, I can only say—I hope so!

Do you like series books, or do you prefer books that stand alone? If you have any questions about the Hardcastle Progeny series, or about writing a series, please ask away. One randomly chosen commenter will win a signed book from my backlist.

Jen

www.jenlewis.com

Comments

28 comments posted.

Re: Jennifer Lewis | The Siren Call Of The Series

I like series books more than stand-alones because I always wonder what happens next to the characters that I've now grown attached to.
(Jacqueline Lam 2:35am April 14, 2009)

i love series books... when i'm into a book, i never want it to end, so i'm happy to have more to devour later ;)
(Tina Werner 7:05am April 14, 2009)

I love series books also, just for the chance to see the first HEA still being HEA. I would like the book to stand alone in case I miss reading the previous book.
(Lisa Freeman 9:31am April 14, 2009)

I enjoy series when each book can stand alone so that if I start the series in the middle it all makes sense.
(Maureen Emmons 9:52am April 14, 2009)

I enjoy series books. I like it when characters who are introduced in book one get their own story.
(Crystal Broyles 9:56am April 14, 2009)

I enjoy series books. I'm always looking forward to what happens to charaters after the read!
(Teresa Warner 10:51am April 14, 2009)

I enjoy series books. There are several series books I have been reading for decades.
(Vikki Parman 12:25pm April 14, 2009)

It takes real talent to write a continuing series and have each book stand alone. Congratulations. I love to read about people I have already met, and how they are doing.

Keep up the fantastic job you are doing!
(Betty Cox 12:28pm April 14, 2009)

I love series books - I like to see the different characters come to life and revisit with the older ones. I also enjoy single titles, but I am a sucker for a series.
(Crystal Fulcher 12:34pm April 14, 2009)

I like series books but I like when they can be read alone. I am just finishing up a series by Pamela Clare that can be read either way and am enjoying them.
(Judy Anderson 12:40pm April 14, 2009)

I like the series books because I also like to see 'what happens next'. I also like to know what happened 'before' if I start a series in the middle. What I don't like is the author spending the whole first chapter abstracting the past five or so books in order to catch me up. There has to be a better way to do it.
(Karin Tillotson 12:50pm April 14, 2009)

I like series books, but tend to join at the tail end of the series. I love when characters are described in the beginning of the book, so I can know their place in the family. It gives me a little bit more grasp in what's going on in the story. Otherwise, I feel like I'm behind in the race and can not run fast enough to catch up.
(Alyson Widen 1:15pm April 14, 2009)

I prefer series books - I like going back and seeing what old friends (or nemesis') are up to. And I always love making new friends that are brought into the series!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 1:28pm April 14, 2009)

Hi Jennifer!! :) Congratulations on getting to write a series about your own characters...and deciding who to write about. I know I love it when I read family stories...you have background and something to look forward to. :)
(Rachael Grime 1:30pm April 14, 2009)

Hi everyone and thanks for stopping by! I'm glad there are so many series lovers here. Before I started writing I often made up extended sequels in my head for existing books, so I guess it's no surprise that I started writing series :-)

Jen
(Jennifer Lewis 1:42pm April 14, 2009)

I really don't know if I prefer stand alone books or series. With series, the story stretches out and you can stay with it longer - stay in that "world" of the story, but there are several books I have read and loved that were stand alones.
(Judy Bradley 2:21pm April 14, 2009)

I like series books, but I also like it if the stories can stand alone in case I'm not able to read them in order.
(LuAnn Morgan 2:38pm April 14, 2009)

I think it's really important for all the books in a series to stand alone. Otherwise I picture someone picking one up years later and saying "Who are all these people?" LOL.

Jen
(Jennifer Lewis 3:06pm April 14, 2009)

I like both. If I have a lot of time then I like the series. If I don't have a lot of time I like the stand alones. With the series you find out what happens to the characters.
(Gail Hurt 4:03pm April 14, 2009)

I enjoy both stand alone books and series books. It really depends on my mood and if I have a series already started. Have a great day.
(Roberta Harwell 4:17pm April 14, 2009)

I'm always really excited if I like a book, then I discover that it is part of a series and there are book I haven't read yet :-)

Jen
(Jennifer Lewis 4:18pm April 14, 2009)

I am always interested in whether the characters have enough dimension to bear series
(Dawn Raymer 5:02pm April 14, 2009)

I truly love series. I definitely prefer to read them in order but if they are good as stand alones, I still like to read about the secondary characters! Best wishes with the latest release! Thanks for a chance to win!
(Martha Eskuchen 6:09pm April 14, 2009)

While I will read either stand alone books or series, I prefer a series book. I enjoy finding out what has been happening to the characters after i turned the last page of a book.
(Robin McKay 7:25pm April 14, 2009)

i love series books because you get more details and more hea
(Sonya Hucks 8:03pm April 14, 2009)

I do like being able to get a glimpse into the HEA of a previous couple. That's part of the fun of a series.

Jen
(Jennifer Lewis 9:01pm April 14, 2009)

I like series, but it is frustrating when
you find old books and can't find all
the books in a series. I work in a
library and we get donations all the
time. I've discovered some good
authors that way. However, someone
gave us 8 books in a 12 book series
and the last one is missing. The series
came out in the 80's I think so it will
be a challenge to find the rest. I'm in
trouble because I started some of our
patrons on the series. We've all
enjoyed seeing how the characters
grow and interconnect.
(Patricia Barraclough 11:42pm April 14, 2009)

Hi Patricia, it's usually possible to find almost anything on the internet these days, though older books can get very expensive if they're rare. You could try asking the author if she has any copies left over!

Jen
(Jennifer Lewis 7:10am April 15, 2009)

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