Comments on: Flirting with the Edge

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:12:27 +0000

I don’t mind the long character arcs, but then I think it does create a very high bar for the author. To write a story worthy of the couple when we readers have been waiting (it seems) forever – it is too easy for the author to let us down. I don’t think most of us want “one more book in the series” at that point. We want something that deserves fireworks and fanfares.

So I thin kthat an author sometimes sets herself up for readers disappointment by waiting too long to do a favorite pair’s story.

By: Ell

Ell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:34:35 +0000

I know just what you mean, and it drives me crazy. There is definitely a point – I think maybe in different places depending on the author’s skill and the type of story it is – where dragging out the teasing stops being tantalizing, and just becomes obnoxious. It’s a breaking point for me.

I quit reading Suzanne Brockman before her Max and Gina story finally, finally came out because of her political commercials. Went back for their story, found it SO much less than the long wait warranted, that I broke with the author for good.

Katja mentions stories that were dropped by publishers – what were they? Susan Sizemore ended her last book of the Laws of the Blood series with a cliff hanger literally years ago. I really liked that series, and have always wondered what in the world happened here. Does anyone know? Is this series one of the ones dropped by the publisher?

By: Gayathri

Gayathri — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:25:50 +0000

As of now the only series I am still following is Eve and Roarke. Every book adds layers to their stories and they are really good. Other than that, I prefer trilogies as I know there is a quick end to that. I like Mary Balogh and Mary Jo Putney now as I do not know who the hero/heroine is going to end up with.

By: amers

amers — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:28:46 +0000

Or what about the start of a series (ok, a trilogy, but I get the word out about this whenever I can) that never goes anywhere? You mention JR Ward, so I will gripe about her non-existent stories from The O’Banyon brothers series, written as Jessica Bird. Sounds like she’s moved on from romance because of the BDB. I congratulate her on her commercial success. But to me, an author should fulfill commitments to their fans unless illness or death prevents it. Some sense of integrity and loyalty to your fan base is essential in my book. Doesn’t mean they have to write how we “want”, but should please be professional and fulfill promises!
For long-term series, I read until I’ve had my fill. Sometimes that means that I stop reading for a few years and then pick it up again (Jaqueline Winspear/Maisie Dobbs is an example). Other times it means I’m done for good.

By: louiseaar

louiseaar — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:31:49 +0000

DJ, that was kinda where I was going with this! That authors have to flirt with that line of suspense that we crave before we give up hope and just don’t care anymore. The series above that I mentioned still have me strong, but they are getting close….

By: DJ

DJ — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:57:36 +0000

Yes, absolutely, I know what you mean. Suzanne Brockmann did this with a number of couples.

One in particular took so long to get their own book that I found it hard to care much when that book arrived, and also felt that the couple in question clearly didn’t belong together, since it took so very long for the “romance” to come together.

By: Staci H

Staci H — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:50:50 +0000

What about Janet Evanovich’s By the Numbers? Is anyone else ready for this series to be done?! I don’t know of any man (let alone 2) that would hang around waiting for a woman to make up her freaking mind as long as Morelli and Ranger have been circling Stephanie Plum. Let’s wrap it up Janet.

By: Victoria S

Victoria S — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:26:51 +0000

…when C.S Harris put Sebastian St. Cyr and Hero Jarvis together, instead of Kat Boleyn…oops

By: Victoria S

Victoria S — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:22:00 +0000

Louise, I don’t think authors “string us along” per se. I think, that as you said, “authors write and we read”; I truly think they don’t see the story the same way we do. And you gotta admit, that what we SAY we want in a story (and sometimes get) we later hate. I think more we are anxious for our favorite character to have their own stories, and the pairing does not matter to us, as long as the story is good.

When C.S. Harris put Sebastian St. Cry together, instead of Kat Boleyn..brilliant and totally unexpected and I am looking forward to that story evolving more that I can tell you.

When Nora Roberts insists Eve and Roarke stay childless, brilliant again!

Sometimes what is obvious is not the right road to travel, and I think authors have to work things out first and foremost for themselves, and if the characters take a road we didn’t expect, as long as a story is well written, I’m willing to go along for the ride.

Remember Moonlighting? When Bruce Willis got married to Cybil Shepherd, I stopped watching , ’cause then the story line changed from witty banter to insipid, badly done romance. More recently, The Good wife. When Alicia started sleeping with Will…once again, I stopped watching cause hey, where’s the “good wife” story line in both married parties indulging in adultery? Look at the Mary Tyler Moore show spin off Rhoda..stinkeroo. As long as she was on MTM bemoaning her single status the writers were brilliant. As soon as she got married, she got cancelled!

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:12:10 +0000

I might have adult-onset ADD but I can’t seem to stay with a series for the long haul. I think trilogies are a much better idea for so many reasons. I have only followed a few series for more than 4 or 5 books. Even when I like the series, I tend to let them drop by then because they can’t help ending up sounding/feeling the same. I went back after reading this post and realized that in the series I tend to stick with the author doesn’t string along secondary character relationships. I sometimes don’t mind suspense plots taking several books to finish, but I do prefer series were the story arcs finish in the one book, and the subsequent books are not strongly tied to previous ones.