Fresh Fiction Blog | Joan Johnston | The Challenges of Writing a Series

Joan Johnston | The Challenges of Writing a Series

June 24, 2014

You might think that writing books in a series is easier than writing a book that stands on its own, but each type of novel has its challenges. Thirty-eight of my fifty-six novels are connected in some way, part of several different series, including Bitter Creek, Hawk’s Way, Captive Hearts, and Sisters of the Lone Star. I also have a couple of “two-fers”—two connected books.

I just finished writing three connected historical Mail-Order Brides books, TEXAS BRIDE, WYOMING BRIDE, and MONTANA BRIDE, which are part of my long-running Bitter Creek series, and I’m currently working on a brand-new contemporary Bitter Creek spin-off called “King’s Brats,” which includes SINFUL (in stores December 30), SHAMEFUL, and SURRENDER. So you can see this is a format I love.

With a continuing series I don’t have to come up with a brand-new set of characters for every book. On the other hand, I have to figure out how to weave every book together with the others using both an underlying theme for the series and an individual plot for each book. I need to give you, the reader, conflict, climax, and resolution in each book, while leaving the lives of other characters in chaos until they get their own book.

The hardest part? Three books in, I can’t remember what I wrote in the previous novels! I don’t keep a “bible” containing all the information about each character, so I’m constantly asking: What color were his eyes? What color was her hair? How old was he? When was it he broke his leg? What did I name him/her? Omigod. How old are they now? My Hawk’s Way series runs through both children and grandchildren. I had a couple of kids I thought were six-year-olds playing around the hero’s ankles, only to realize (thank goodness before the book got published!) that they were actually sixteen. So the hardest part is managing consistency between books and ensuring that details connect in a way that makes sense. Apologies in advance for all the mistakes I have made (and will make) that you catch! Because you do catch them and let me know where I’ve gone wrong.

In my upcoming King’s Brats series, Taylor, Gray, and Victoria Grayhawk are mentioned in a sentence here or there in the first eight or nine Bitter Creek novels. I always suspected those characters were two boys and a girl (I may have put that in a book somewhere in a single sentence) but I never wrote any details about them. I’ve learned, from past mistakes, to leave details about characters undefined in early books, so I don’t write myself into a corner. For SINFUL I needed these characters all to be female, so I could match them up with brand-new characters, “those Wild Flynn Boys.” I also wanted their ages to be close, so Taylor and Victoria ended up being the elder sisters and fraternal twins, while Gray ended up being renamed Eve. I worked out a complicated reason for why Gray ends up being named Eve, so readers would understand the change, but my editor, who didn’t realize the problem I’d created for myself, cut it out as extraneous. I will expect a few letters from discerning readers and apologize profusely and explain as best I can.

After 56 books, how do I manage to keep it all straight and not make distracting mistakes? “It’s a mystery,” as they say in THE PRINCESS BRIDE. That mystery is what keeps me, and hopefully you, intrigued and waiting for the next book!

Take care and happy reading!

Bitter Creek

Texas Bride
Bitter Creek
#1.0
March 2012

Wyoming Bride
Bitter Creek
#2.0
January 2013

Montana Bride
Bitter Creek
#3.0
January 2014

Comment below to win your own copy of MONTANA BRIDE, and check out all of the Bitter Creek books above.

Comments

31 comments posted.

Re: Joan Johnston | The Challenges of Writing a Series

(Cindy Olp 1:22am June 24, 2014)

LOL! I listened to my first mail order bride book a short
while ago and really enjoyed it. I'm glad to see you do them
also. You're a new author to me... glad I saw you on Fresh
Fiction. :-)))
(Linda Townsend 8:34am June 24, 2014)

I love the interconnected series of books. It just gives so much room for the stories to grow over the series.
(Pam Howell 9:21am June 24, 2014)

I'm looking forward to reading your series, and must commend
you on the covers of your books!! It's nice to see that you
didn't cut the heads off of your models!! I've seen so many
beautiful covers as of late, like yours, where for whatever
reason, the illustrator decides to cut the heads off of the
models, and destroy the cover!! You have really beautiful
covers to your books, which I'm sure will have just as
beautiful stories inside. To me, that's called attention to
detail!! (no offense to the other Authors)
(Peggy Roberson 11:02am June 24, 2014)

Sounds like a great book, I'd love to read it, she is one of my favorite authors.
(Wilma Frana 11:04am June 24, 2014)

My mother got me hooked on these types of books along with
the author Andrew Greeley. I use-to be one of those that if
I read by the time I hit the 5 line of the book I was
asleep. Trust me when I say I was asleep that is no joke.
I would get into trouble at school when it came to reading.
I am smart and can comprehend it all with no problem but to
sit an read it was a task so when you say keeping them all
straight I understand on some level what you mean. I also
have insomnia and that is what got me to be able to sit and
read a book. Now I have something to do when it acts up,
which is often. My mother loves the western books and she
reads you all the time. I would love to win this for her. I
do enjoy your books and read them and look forward to the
next one. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Congrats on
you new line of new books, can't wait to read them.
(Tina Ullrich 11:21am June 24, 2014)

I enjoy following the stories. that continue through the generations. Sometimes when I pick up a book from a series it seems like I am reconnecting with old friends. As a reader I am sometimes amazed at how well authors can weave the story lines and have the books work so well together.
(Denise Boyd 11:21am June 24, 2014)

I enjoy seeing characters and their future generations share their own stories... Congrats on your new series... love mail order bride stories!
(Colleen Conklin 12:58pm June 24, 2014)

I've been a fan for over 20 years. Keep them coming!
(Laurie Gommermann 1:42pm June 24, 2014)

I love a great interconnected series where each book is a
standalone, but the author manages to make me really want to
read the other books because the characters are so compelling.
Sounds like you manage despite a few mishaps along the way. :-
)
(Glenda Martillotti 1:50pm June 24, 2014)

Ooo! That makes my head hurt just reading about all the facts you have to try and remember and keep straight. It will be no difficulty for me to remember that I want to read Montana Bride, though. It sounds great. I love reading about distrustful men (or women) and the lies that inevitably come to light. They always seem to work it out though. I hope that is the case in Montana Bride.
(Debbie Kelly 3:19pm June 24, 2014)

Joan- Thanks, for the contest. I have been reading your books, historical & contemporary for years now, ie. I Promise & Heartbeat for example. You still capture my attention as you move thru your books with the amazing plots. Your reader.
(Lois Imel 4:23pm June 24, 2014)

I can imagine how hard it can be. Each character must be different and
must be believable. Job well done!
(Joanna Moreno 9:41pm June 24, 2014)

This series is one that I will enjoy reading. I'm glad I was
introduced to you through Fresh Fiction.
(Sharon DiPrima 11:03pm June 24, 2014)

Very interesting.
Love how you do this.
(Lisa Hutson 1:10am June 25, 2014)

i am very interested i love your books so keep them coming
(Denise Smith 8:37am June 25, 2014)

I would think that writing a book would not be an easy thing to do. But after reading your books...you make it seem so easy! would love to read this book! Thank you!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 9:26am June 25, 2014)

NOT entering because I alread have this book. I want to
comment this is a good read.
(Leona Olson 9:38am June 25, 2014)

love the books !
(Katarzyna Keen 10:26am June 25, 2014)

first congrats on the book they look great and then i love the
way you done the books the color and ten the title ar e eye catcher thanks for letting us enter
(Desiree Reilly 11:26am June 25, 2014)

Thank you for the chance!
(LeeAnne Hardin 11:38am June 25, 2014)

Fifty-six novels that is truly amazing!
(Denise Austin 3:28pm June 25, 2014)

I can understand how after a lot of novels the stories can be hard to remember. Thanks for the chance to win!
(Kimberly Woodall 3:37pm June 25, 2014)

Haven't read any of your books but this one sounds good. I'd love to win. I just took a quick glance at it on Amazon. Congrats on having so many books published!
(Michelle Fidler 5:00pm June 25, 2014)

Thank you for the chance. Congrats on 56 novels. Wishing you another 56 more :)
(Aimee Robison 6:27pm June 25, 2014)

Thanks for the chance to win this book. It sounds like a fun read.
(Anna Speed 6:30pm June 25, 2014)

Do you ever reuse names? I don't remember that happening but if I've read
all your books it's been a while.
(Laura Gullickson 7:24pm June 25, 2014)

I love the historical western romance novels more than any other genre. It's amazing the number of books you've written. This sounds like another great book. I will be sure to write these titles down of your latest books and get these to read. Thanks!
(Linda Luinstra 7:54pm June 25, 2014)

I love historical romance and I have never ever read a book of yours. *gasp* I
must remedy that ASAP as I love interconnected stories. And WOW! 56 novels.
Way to go and can't wait to read your books soon. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Val Pearson 8:40pm June 25, 2014)

I've always enjoyed mail order bride stories. I love the fun premise of yours.
(Cheryl Castings 10:53pm June 25, 2014)

Maybe you should keep a diary of each character! But then that
would be one thick diary considering how many books you have!
And imagine the time spent going through it to find the color
of someone's eyes?
(Alyn Yang 11:55pm June 25, 2014)

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Authors To Watch

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Joan Johnston | The Challenges of Writing a Series

AVAILABLE

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Comments

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SPECIALS

FOR AUTHORS

We Love

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Get to Know Your Favorite Authors