Genres > Series

Any Series writers out there?

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Jen:
Unless you're writing to someone who is specifically looking for a series (there are sometimes a couple in CWIM who say things like "will accept queries for middle grade series"), then I'd send it out as a stand alone and not even mention the word "series."  

Lisa M.:
Jeff- as soon as I saw your pic to the left, I knew you liked Animorphs!  (I noticed it way before this post)  I love series books and think they are even more popular now than ever before.  Or maybe because I've been in tune with them more in my library?  Kids in grades 1-3 want series books and want them all the time.  I think more and more books are being turned into series books.  Agree?  Disagree?  I think publishers want a "sure" thing.  (Although nothing in publishing seems like a sure thing.)  Has anyone read Gooney Bird Greene by Lowery?  HILARIOUS!  Students in k-3 love it.  As soon as I read it, I knew Lois Lowry would be writing more of them.  (She is.)  Great discussion.  Linda Joy- really enjoyed the Regeneration books!

LindaJoy:
 :typing:
Hi!  

Lisa, thanks for the nice comment about my series, Regeneration.  I had a great time writing those books and still hope they'll someday find a new publisher.  Of course, for now, I'm very lucky to have two new series coming out THIS YEAR (nice words!) with Llewellyn Publishing.

As for subbing a book that may be a series, I agree with Lisa.  Let the book stand on its own to begin with, then when there's interest, mention that it could become a series.  But sometimes the word "series" is seen as more mass market books, rather than hardback originals.  So if subbing to a publisher who does hardbacks only, it's safer not to market the book as part of a series.  

I do notice a trend toward books spawning sequels or trilogies.  If one book does well, editors seem really open to continuing the characters.  Several juvenile authors I know of have strong first books that are continuing with sequels, in one case, following a different character.  So when writing a book, it can't hurt to keep the plot line open for additional books later on.  

Here's a fun question....what current series do you admire and wish you'd come up with first??  My choice would be the 1-800-Where-R-U series by Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll.  I love psychic topics -- and luckily I'm now writing my own.

Linda

Lisa M.:
Two younger series I wish I thought of that come quickly to mind are the A-Z Mysteries by Rob Roy and the Zack Files which are new to me.  Both are simple and light.  "Fluff" and fun.  I do think it's harder and harder to break in now.  It seems that more of the open slots are being taken (deservedly so!) by newer authors who are writing a sequel.  On an up side, I do know of two brand new authors who were offered a two book contract first time out based on first novel only.  

Jeff_S:
You know what's funny is that my signature picture is based on my own book, HORUS, not Animorphs.  But it sure is similar, what with the boy turning into a hawk and all -- although in my book, only his head changes ;)  I always enjoyed the Animorphs cover art.  An artist named David B. Mattingly did them.  Nice guy, I talked to him a couple times.

As for series, seems to me that the "in" thing seems to be hardcover books that are released many months apart, like A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, and of course HARRY POTTER.  Paperback series don't seem to do anywhere near as well as they did when I was a kid.  But I expect at some point the mass market, monthly paperback series will have a resurgence -- all we need is a new BABY-SITTERS CLUB or GOOSEBUMPS.

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