Into the Fire

Some readers prefer series with ongoing characters, others like when certain lesser characters get a continued story about them, and then there are those who love a featured constant hero like Mitch Rapp and/or a heroine like Raleigh Harmon and never want the series to end because a final book is rarely good enough to do the hero/heroine justice. Know what I mean?

The problem I've encountered with some series novels is that the first one is definitely attention-getting. If it wasn't, we wouldn't continue to the next one. However, sometimes that second one just doesn't quite measure up to the first, and that might make it debatable whether or not to progress to the next installment.  

Series writing presents a paradox. It can be fulfilling for an author to have an established character to continue the stories surrounding that guy or gal and develop him or her in each storyline, going deeper each time while keeping some facets of who they are "secure" for the reader. Contrasting that, it can be troubling when an author strives to keep that character or storyline as hard-hitting, as dramatic, or as meaningful – whether serious or comedic – as the first book or each one that follows it.

For those authors who choose to use the peripheral character as their next featured protagonist, it can be fun to give that one new depth and validity while making a continued but different storyline for him or her. The contrast there can be making sure this enhanced character is as good, valuable, and as desirable as the first in the series. 

It's critical for the second novel in a series to be appealing whether or not the next one or the next one continues to be as compelling because if an author waffles on the second book, there might be those of us readers who won't make time for the third. 

A few readers of Race asked for a series because of the three additional detectives involved in the storyline making it ripe for a series featuring the peripheral characters. Since I had such a battle writing that first-for-me mystery/police procedural, I told them not to count on it. However, I do confess those three detectives piqued my interest . . . 

I love stand alone novels but I love a good series too. If written well, I'm all in for both. 

Father, I love your writers, what you've given them to do. I'm thankful you've given me stories to write. May I always honor you in the ones you inspire for me. Please, Lord, bless your writers of fiction that they may share you in their stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.