Many authors write series of books using the same
characters. There are many reasons that
support this approach to writing.
For readers it is comfortable returning to characters you
have gotten to know over time. You get
to continue the adventures with known good guys and bad guys, those you love
and love to hate.
For the writer you don’t have to invent an entire new cast
of characters. You can pick up with
where you left off at and continue the grand adventure of the cast you have
already developed and your readers have come to know.
One of my favorite Science Fiction/Fantasy writers for years
has been Piers Anthony! The funny part
is I haven’t read the series for which he is most famous for, his Xanth
Series. I tried one of them once and
couldn’t get into it. My reading friends
tell me if I finished the first one and started the second one that I would
surely be hooked. The reason I mention
Mr. Anthony in particular is because of the publishing nightmares he has had to
endure because of the extreme popularity of the Xanth Series. There was a point where he couldn’t get anything
else published! All any publisher wanted
was another Xanth book and a part of the action.
When I started writing full time I researched writing,
publishing, and everything I could find on the authors whose books I’ve read. I took good notes and studied hard. That is one of the reasons why when I was
getting close to finishing my first book “Whisper”, I opted for
self-publishing.
1. I own the rights
to my work. Which means I pick where it
sells at, for how much, and I can continue to change things at will, release
new editions, because I have control!
2. I can write and
publish what I want, when I want. I don’t
have to wait to be accepted by a publisher.
I can throw it out there and people will either like it or they won’t.
I rushed publishing “Whisper” initially because of my own
impatience and ignorance. The initial problems
with “Whisper” have been rectified. It
now has a new and professional looking cover, and has been completely
re-edited. Plus having moved on since
January of 2011, it now has bonus material at the end of the book. The first chapter of “No Rules Of Engagement”
and the first chapter of the sequel to “Whisper”, “Leviathan Deterrent”, which isn’t out yet, hopefully it will be by
June or July of this year.
“No Rules Of Engagement” has a new cover and is getting
re-edited as I write this. I rushed the
first one because I just wanted to see if I could actually do it. To see if I could actually publish a book by
myself and get it on-line for sale! To
get some feedback as to if I actually had any talent with this writing
stuff. I published my second novel prematurely
also because I didn’t want to only ever write just one book and then
nothing. I wasn’t sure I could actually
do it a second time. For those of us who
have been through the process, and OMG it is a process, it is daunting to say
the least.
I know I can keep at it now, keep writing, and finish more
books. I know it is worth the effort to
put your best foot forward from the start.
If your primary criticism is going to be that you have poor English and
Grammar skills and that can be fixed, FIX IT!
As far as who has talent and who does not, we may never truly know, for
chances are by the time we get to be legendary in literacy we will probably be
dead. I have read about more authors who
didn’t reach the Great Status until after their demise. If you are writing to get rich quick, you
haven’t done any research on writing, publishing, or the business aspects of
the book market. Some will hit it big during
their life time. Many will make enough
to stay home and write full time. Many
more will write as a secondary job to their regular source of income. That’s the bare facts of the situation.
I discovered as many do, that I love writing. To me when I am doing it properly I get the
same feeling you do when you’re reading a great book, only it last much longer
because I can read much faster than I can write. Just like with anything in this world there
is a lot more to the work than the part you enjoy, there is a lot more to writing
than just writing the story down. We
have to go through the other stuff to get us back to the fun part. I would still write even if I never sold
another book! It brings me peace, and
happiness. That some people really enjoy
reading what I write and that people will pay to buy my book, an un-known
author, and give it a try is truly a blessing from God. My goal is to get to where I can stay home
with my family and write full time.
On that note, Wiley Randolph will be back this summer in “Leviathan Deterrent.” There will definitely be a third book in that
series.
Alexander Hawk, Intel and crew will be back in the sequel to
“No Rules Of Engagement” hopefully before the years out. There will be definitely a third book in that
series.
2013 will be the third books in each of the series. Stay tuned to my blog for hints of up and
coming stand-alone books and New Series that I will be doing for 2014 and
beyond. If you like these first stories
you’ll love the other stuff I have planned.
I have purposely held up my better ideas until I have learned enough to become
a writer worthy of the stories I wish to tell.
