by James Scott Bell
@jamesscottbell
A little horn toot today as I announce that my tenth Mike Romeo book, Romeo’s Truth, is available for pre-order for Kindle. And at a special deal price, too. (The publisher insisted on this, and after a tense three-hour meeting I agreed to go along with it. Since I am also that publisher, I’ll leave it to the psychologists to figure out what’s going on in my head, a project my wife has been working on for 44 years.)
Ten is always one of those numbers you pause and reflect upon. A tenth anniversary. A tenth child. A tenth bagel. Thus, this series author wonders, wherefore art thou going, Romeo? How long should a series go?
I look at some of the big name series authors and am in awe. As of this post John Sandford has written 36 Prey books (#36 is coming out next year). And 12 Virgil Flowers books. He’s 81 years old and still cranking them out without employing ghost or co-writers or, God help us, AI.
And then there’s Michael Connelly, with 25 Bosch books, 8 Lincoln Lawyers, and 6 Renée Ballards.
(One interesting difference between Lucas Davenport and Harry Bosch is that Sandford has frozen Lucas’s age while Connelly has Bosch aging chronologically with each book, making Bosch about 74. Funny, but in the first Prey book, Rules of Prey, Sandford describes Lucas as having “straight black hair going gray at the temples.” Makes me wonder when Lucas started using Grecian Formula.)
Even dead series authors are still at it. Robert B. Parker is “co-writing” two series, Spenser and Jesse Stone, 15 years after his death. Ditto Vince Flynn, Stuart Woods, Clive Cussler and others.
How can that be? Money, of course. That’s why the traditional publishers of these books perform literary reanimation. It makes complete economic sense.
On the other hand, many a series that doesn’t earn enough dough is dropped, leaving the authors pleading for their rights back, which may or may not happen.
With indie publishing, the author is in full control of the length of a series. Money is a factor, but not the only one. Maybe a series is only making Starbucks scratch but the author still enjoys the writing. (I have no advice to pass along to those who produce by bot. The reward of working hard on a book and nailing it to one’s satisfaction is a joy that cannot be bought by prompt.) Sweating a novel is also fantastic exercise for the brain, which I’d like to keep healthy for the years I have on this orb.
There are also the readers to consider. If they’re pleased, I’m pleased. One reader offered:
“As others have said, this SERIES was hard to put down. The main characters were exciting and not one dimensional at all….I tried to figure out why the plots were so engrossing. There were no chapters…. Just a fast paced, hard hitting story line that flowed from one moment to the next and plot twists that kept one guessing. I hope Mr. Bell writes more in this series.”
Mr. Bell will. I am already at work on Romeo #11. If you’re new to the series, you should know that you can read any of the books as stand-alone thrillers. Romeo’s Truth is a good one to whet your appetite for the others.
If you’re outside the U.S., got to your Amazon store and search for: B0FT6ZR4PJ
As I worked on the last lines of the book, I got that feeling that happens sometimes when an author finishes a project into which they’ve poured blood. A warmth, a palpable satisfaction. And I realized how much I love my characters—Mike, Sophie, Ira, C Dog. It’s that deep affection that comes only when you’ve walked side-by-side with people through a life-threatening crisis (even though it was a crisis of my own making!)
Thanks for listening. Now tell us about a series you love, and why. And if you’re in the midst of writing your own, how are you feeling about it?
Glad the Mike Romeo series is continuing. When I saw the top line of your post I went to Amazon to do my pre-order and it said it was book 10 of 10 so I was thinking you were going to say that you’d decided that 10 was the limit. Glad to see you feel there is yet more ground to cover with this series.
Writing series is an interesting thing – and sometimes a complex one. Especially since some series feature the same character, yet others different characters from the story world. So a lot of things factor into how long the series goes.
And while I may be the world’s slowest writer, my brain tends to think in series. I guess I figure if you’re going to put all that time and energy into developing a protag and a storyworld, you might as well get maximum mileage out of it if feasible.
I’m co-writing some mysteries with someone & book 1 is done. Our best estimate at this time is that we’ll probably get about 5 books out of it (featuring same protag), in part because the storyworld is tied to particular historical events. And I’m working on 2 solo projects where one seems like it will be a 3-book set, and estimate that my other series will end up being perhaps 6-7 books. All subject to change on a whim. 😎
Series are both fun to write and fun to read. You always look forward to that next one.
Thanks for the good word, BK.
And yes, continuing to be fun to write is a major factor, as that will show up on the page.
Three of my favourite series have reached 25 episodes. James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux, Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks, and Ian Rankin’s Rebus series. At times I’ve felt some of the later episodes have run out of steam, sometimes they pick up, but not always.
There’s also the issue of ageing and in Banks’s case career progression. Rebus is a “troublemaker” so that explains how he’s a Sergeant at the start and only rises to Inspector. But Banks must be wondering why he rose to DCI so fast, and just stayed there for decades. Both Rebus and Robicheaux are feeling their ages in the latter books and would be long retired in real life. Rebus does retire, but comes back as a civvie.
As a rough guide, I’ve noticed a series hits its straps around episode six or seven, and starts to decline around fifteen or sixteen. You’ve got six more. 😉 unless you buck the trend. Enjoy writing them.
Good analysis, David. And thank you for my timeline! I am going to try to buck the system. I’ll plan another blog post when #16 comes out. 😁
Knowing your admiration for John D. MacDonald, I’m surprised you omitted the Travis McGee series – 21 when JDM passed in 1984, and he was working on number 22.
There’s the rumored “finale” – _A Black Border for McGee_ – allegedly narrated by his compadre Meyer after McGee meets his demise – but rumor is probably too “hopeful(?)” a word, as this link will explain –
https://thetrapofsolidgold.blogspot.com/2010/06/black-border-for-mcgee.html
Here’s to continued walking alongside Mike, Sophie, et al.
I was thinking in terms of contemporary writers, George. But yes, for previous series Travis McGee is right up there.
And what about Mack Bolan? Don Pendleton wrote the first 37 Executioner books, then handed it off to ghostwriters. The character has continued in well over 600 books since then! And Bolan, who debuted in 1969, has remained 30 years old. That doesn’t seem to bother the fans.
I’m working on book 16 in a series. As I pants everything in my writing life, I never approached the series with a finite number. That said, I stopped reading Lee Child as I felt his later novels including those written by his brother as running out of steam and I don’t want to reach that point as a writer.
Congrats on getting to #16, Alec.
If I ever feel like I’m running out of steam I’ll either pack it in or figure out a way to shovel more coal into the boiler.
My apologies if this is a repeat – I hit submit and the screen returned without my two cents… 🫤
Trying to recreate it here while still on my first cup of coffee, I’d commented that I was surprised you’d omitted John D. MacDonald’s 21 Travis McGee novels – and that he was working on number 22 when he passed in 1986.
There’s a rumored final – and rumored being too “hopeful(?)” a word – supposedly titled _A Black Border for McGee_ and narrated by his compadre Meyer.
The following blog post tells more about this and the twenty-second unfinished novel:
https://thetrapofsolidgold.blogspot.com/2010/06/black-border-for-mcgee.html
And here’s to continued walking alongside Mike, Sophie, et al.
See above.
I have four series going at the moment, although most of them are “connected books” because that’s how the romance genre defines a series. Two have four books, although one might be five because there’s a spinoff. I just finished my 9th Mapleton mystery, and those are true series books. There are also 3 novellas in there, so does that make it 12? As long as I enjoy the writing and the characters (and the perk of those “connected” books is I can play around with new characters), I’ll keep at it. As I’ve said before, if I wasn’t writing, I’d be expected to clean the toilets.
As for a prolific series author–JD Robb’s “In Death” books have crossed the 60 book mark, and they’re going strong.
Oh yeah, Nora Roberts! Amazing!
I did a three book series under the pen name K. Bennett, published by Kensington. It was he first, and perhaps remains, the only zombie legal thriller series. The rights I now control and publish under my own name. It’s a TV series just itching to happen! Interested parties may contact me directly.
Pre-ordered yesterday, Jim…thanks for the heads up. 🙂 Glad there’s no “rules” for series’ length.
My fave series(s)? Yours, of course. Also, Mr. Gilstrap’s Jonathan Graves series.
Have a great Sunday!
This Gilstrap fellow of whom you speak, he’s got three series going. Which does have me thinking, should I start another? Right now I like writing stand alones “on the side.”
If you start another, I’ll read it! And I’ll tell all my friends to read it.
😁
Congratulations, Jim on the impending publication of Romeo #10. I’ve pre-ordered it.
The only “rule” for me concerning how long a series should run is that it remain engaging, for the writer and the reader. For me this means a progression arc, where the hero does age, evolves in someway. For others it may mean simply being able to revisit old friends again in a new story.
I can’t pick a favorite series, but I’ll pick two of the ones I really enjoy:
Lawrence Block’s Matthew Scudder novels, which show him evolve and change.
Glen Cook’s Black Company series, a gritty series about a mercenary company in a morally gray fantasy world, which has gone through narrators, each being the chronicler of the company’s history.
Right now I’m revising the third book in my Meg Booker 1980s cozy mystery series, and considering whether this will be the last or whether I’ll go for another book or two (I have the next two loosely mapped out). I had a case of “revision block” which is now passed, so I’ll probably go for two more, to finish her arc and because I have two more cool mysteries for Meg to solve.
As you say, Dale, as long as it’s engaging for both writer and reader. I’m feeling both at the moment, so on I go.
“Revision block” –causes and cures — should be the subject of a post. Care to tackle it?
Thanks, Jim! I’d love to tackle a post on “revision block” 🙂
I just finished Book 22 of the “Ellie Jordan” series by JL Bryan, ROBBER’S ROAD. It’s one of two series I automatically pre-order. I’ve never been disappointed. It’s paranormal suspense about two women who deal with dangerous ghosts and other nasty things that are going after families, often with small children. The two main characters are intelligent and brave, and they help both the living and the good dead find peace, and the bad things stopped. So scary as heck with lots of warm fuzzies at the end and interesting historical research about the South.
To stay fresh, each book uses a different horror trope, often with a twist, so a haunted lighthouse, a Halloween corn maze with a headless Hessian, a Civil War hospital/hotel, and a drive-in movie site straight out of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. ROBBER’S ROAD has a ghost car attached to the local version of Bonnie and Clyde that causes fatal wrecks.
Ellie has changed over the series. She starts as someone haunted by the death of her parents by a demonic fire ghost, but she gradually opens up to her partner and a romantic interest. There’s a long arc where she finally ends the fire ghost, and she’s lightened up a bit. This last book actually had her quipping with her friends.
So, highly recommended, and suitable for the season. The first book is free as an ebook.
Thanks for the recommendation, Marilynn. To never be disappointed in a series book, that’s a high bar indeed. But it’s also a challenge to embrace.
Congratulations on Romeo #10, Jim! I just pre-ordered my copy and I’m looking forward to spending time with Mike, Sophie, and Ira. I’m in awe of your ability to do so much.
I have three series going, and I think that’s going to keep me busy for a long time.
As far as series I enjoy, I also love the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald and the Alphabet series by Sue Grafton. Also grateful for the Nancy Drew mysteries by that mysterious author Carolyn Keene.
Yes, Sue Grafton. She almost made it to the end, but what a run (a metaphor I thought you’d like).
🙂
My ‘series’ is a trilogy, and that’s the way it’s going to stay.
I do plan short stories in the ‘verse – it lends itself to following the characters, and new conflicts are obvious – but I’ve inserted characters into 2005/2006 real events that are resolved by the end of the third volume, which I’m still writing.
I’ve just hit 76. I’m STILL chronically ill, and the researchers have had a lot of their work and funding gutted and/or disbelieved, which has set any solutions back decades, and I’m not promising anything behind doing my best to finish the original trilogy plan.
The interesting events that might affect the characters are at least twenty years in the future at that point, which would put them around now, and I don’t see it.
I will instruct my literary executors (probably my kids) NOT to let ANYONE, ever, touch my characters – they were too hard to create, and I’ve seen the kind of nonsense that happens (Scarlett? Really?) when someone else picks up the reins. Eventually, the books will be out of copyright, and I hope I don’t suffer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fate. Likely not, unless fame happens somewhere along the way.
Sometimes a planned, controlled end is best.