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Amy Gregory | Standalone or Series...Which Do You Prefer?
November 18, 2015
Happy autumn! I want to pose a question to you! I am often asked why like to write in a
series.
And I’ll tell you, but then I’m going to turn the tables and ask your opinion.
I’ll first admit I am the ultimate pantser, a wing-it, a go with the flow
writer.
I’ll get a tiny kernel of an idea (usually from a country song lyric!) and I
run
with it, or well, sit at my laptop and type away. As one character meets the
other, they usually have friends, they have a town, a work place, a setting of
some sort that is perfect for another story. And so the series blooms. My
secondary characters have a way of inserting themselves in each other’s books,
and
I can’t seem to let go with only one book.
So I’ll throw the question out there. Do you prefer standalone books because
you
know you can purchase it, read it and not have to wait for the next? Do you
wait
until an entire series is out before you’ll buy the first, then binge read
them?
Okay, I guess in all fairness, that was two questions.
Here’s my big pet peeve, and I get some flak for it. I have read books, not
knowing they were part of a series (or which book in the series), then only to
figure out halfway through, duh, no wonder I was lost as to why he’s mad his
brother was married to Sally down the street and—you get the point. I label my
books for a personal reason. It’s me, I have to prevent that frustration, but
this
circles back around to my questions. When you’re in that special fictional
place,
do you want to stay there for several books, or do you need to stick to single
story books because the wait between is frustrating?
I hope each of you has a wonderful, cozy winter, wrapped up with a cozy
blanket,
coffee, tea or hot chocolate and your next great read. Or for our warm weather
friends, maybe skip the blanket and just get straight to the relaxation and
reading.
Hugs,
Amy
GiveawayWhich do you prefer: standalone novels or series? Why? Leave a comment below
for a chance to win signed copies of MIKE'S WAY, the first book in the Finding
Perfect series, and EASTON'S EVERYTHING, the newest book in the series!
When asked ‘when do you have time to write’, Amy Gregory simply laughs.
The
real answer is, “in bits and pieces”. She and her husband live in Kansas City
with
their three fantastic kids that keep them running in three very different
directions. Because she sits so much, she always carries a notebook with her at
all times.
She has an off the wall, snarky, off the cuff sense of humor that often shocks
even those who’ve known her for years. And she loves that her children have all
been blessed that ability to make others laugh as well. At least she’s grateful
most of the time! Her husband often teases her about how she “makes this stuff
up”
when he’s reading a piece of her work. … The answer—“it just comes to me when
I’m
typing”. Scary thought, huh!
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Easton Montgomery demands control and order. He’s purposely kept to himself,
no
strings and no nonsense. He prefers to be in charge of his destiny, keeping his
life neat and tidy, all wrapped up. Life is perfect, until the bow comes undone
and his world unravels.
Jessica Pierce left Denver years ago with nothing more than her clothes and a
need
for a new beginning. After planting roots where her car broke down, life was
good.
Then the ranch owner who helped her rebuild threw her a curve ball. Now she’s
the
new girl in Renlend, Kansas on the Montgomery’s ranch, and their son Easton is
a
constant source of frustration. Getting her hands around the veterinarian’s
neck
looks better by the day.
After a week of stepping around each other, dodging barbed comments, and
Jessica’s
smart mouth, Easton realizes she’s got more fire than any other woman he’s met.
Suddenly Easton wonders if this curvy, blonde pistol might just be the
challenge
he’s been waiting for.
Comments
32 comments posted.
Re: Amy Gregory | Standalone or Series...Which Do You Prefer?
Standalone novels since sometimes I think series tend to be
stretched out.
(Marissa Yip-Young 10:12am November 17, 2015)
I like standalone novels, also, standalones within a
series. My reason - my experience with George R.R. Martin.
(Deb Philippon 1:34pm November 17, 2015)
I like both. It depends for me on whether or not the author
creates compelling enough secondary characters in the first
book to maintain a series.
(Edward Washington 2:24pm November 17, 2015)
I enjoy standalone novels but read many series and enjoy them
greatly.
(Sharon Berger 5:02pm November 17, 2015)
i like series adn then stand alone the series are great they get to now all the family and then who going to be next
(Desiree Reilly 8:05pm November 17, 2015)
I like standalones, I like series made up of standalones.
Ahhhh....I'll read anything.
(Deb Diem 11:53pm November 17, 2015)
I m on the fence ! I love the standalone but I also love a series ah--i just
love to read I read about at least 6 hrs. A day love ur books
(Lexie Davis 2:44am November 18, 2015)
If I were to choose between the two, I would pick a
standalone, and this is why. Perhaps it's my luck of the
draw, but the series that I've been choosing, or should I say
most of them, the Author seems to have lost steam while
writing the series, and the books tend to get boring along
the way. In other cases, they don't know what direction to
take their series, or what to do with their characters, so
the stories just get stupid, for lack of a better word. So
I've spent my time reading these books, to get to stupid
books. It's not fair to the reader. That's why I stay clear
of them. Since it sounds like we might have the same sense
of humor, however, I might give your books a second look.
Congratulations on your latest book!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:01am November 18, 2015)
If I were to choose between the two, I would pick a
standalone, and this is why. Perhaps it's my luck of
the draw, but the series that I've been choosing, or
should I say most of them, the Author seems to have
lost steam while writing the series, and the books
tend to get boring along the way. In other cases,
they don't know what direction to take their series,
or what to do with their characters, so the stories
just get stupid, for lack of a better word. So I've
spent my time reading these books, to get to stupid
books. It's not fair to the reader. That's why I
stay clear of them. Since it sounds like we might
have the same sense of humor, however, I might give
your books a second look. Congratulations on your
latest book!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:03am November 18, 2015)
Hi. i love series. you get to know i whole family or town
so much more then it only one book but in a series you get
to know more if the town and the people
(Emily Stemp 8:12am November 18, 2015)
Oh I enjoy stand alone books. I hate the wait for a series! It takes too long for me and I get anxious for the next book HA. Usually I do not read the first book until I have the whole series even if it takes a year.
(Bonnie Capuano 8:35am November 18, 2015)
I like the standalone books better . If I'm reading a series I can't always get the next book or read them out of order then I get bored with them . Thanks for this giveaway , I'll keep my fingers crossed .
(Joan Thrasher 9:13am November 18, 2015)
I enjoy both... just sometimes move on if the series is really long or if the wait in between is long.
(Colleen Conklin 12:10pm November 18, 2015)
Standalone. I like to know how everything turns out before I can move on to the next story.
(Nancy Marcho 1:22pm November 18, 2015)
I like series mostly, because I get interested in the peripheral characters and want to fine out more about them. The more I think about it, the more I realize I tend to read series, predominantly :)
(Kathleen Bylsma 1:46pm November 18, 2015)
I may be in the minority but I prefer standalone novels.
Life is too short.
(Richard Brandt 4:59pm November 18, 2015)
It depends.. I love series, but I also enjoy standalones
from time to time. I love series the best because you get
to know the characters more than you would have in a
standalone. :)
(Michele Wiegert 7:04pm November 18, 2015)
I like stand a lones because I rarely can afford to buy two in a
series at the same time. However, the series can be stand alone's
two as long as there is not a big cliffhanger at the end.
(Nancy Luebke 9:24pm November 18, 2015)
I like series because I like to get invested in characters.
(Carrie Edmunds 12:52pm November 19, 2015)
series seem to be running 8 books and up. that's to many for me. If it's just 3 books that's fine.
(Lorelei Frank 8:59am November 19, 2015)
If I really like the characters then a series but only if there is new material yet to be explored.
(Pam Howell 9:46am November 19, 2015)
I liked standalone
(Ron Frampton 10:30am November 19, 2015)
I usually like stand alone books, but some series are great also!!
(Susan Patterson 11:52am November 19, 2015)
I like to read both. I wouldn't choose not to read a book just because it was
a stand alone or just because it was a series. However, I do enjoy series
because I get to follow the characters and watch their stories develop from
book to book. I already feel invested into the characters when I read the first
book so sometimes it is hard to just forget about them in stand alone books.
(Lily Shah 2:12pm November 19, 2015)
I like series, but I won't start one until I have all of them. I don't want to get frustrated waiting on a story line if I'm really caught up in it. If the series is written so that each novel is truly a stand alone, so much the better. It's great to be reintroduced to characters from previous novels, but there shouldn't be so much explaining needed that it's like rereading a previous one.
(Flora Presley 5:52pm November 19, 2015)
I like both - a series of stand alones. I enjoy catching up
with couples from previous books.
(Jen Barnard 4:16am November 20, 2015)
I like the them both, especially the ones that are so streamy and feature strong and sexy cowboy men, but of course all of them are sexy and all of that!!!
(Tiffany Miles 4:56am November 20, 2015)
I like both. With series, I hate to read a book and then find it is the third in a series. Then I have to go back and read the first two to find out what I missed. If I know the book will be in a series, I purchase it and read it first.
(Linda Harrison 10:56am November 20, 2015)
I like both types, but am often anxious to locate the next in a series.
(Anna Speed 12:04pm November 20, 2015)
love series getting to know more people in the town or
family memebers
(Emily Stemp 2:10pm November 20, 2015)
I like both.
(Irene Menge 4:02pm November 20, 2015)
I love series, mainly because i don't want the books to end
so I'm always glad when I know there is another one coming
soon.
(Brittney White 12:24pm November 29, 2015)
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