January 17, 2015
why are readers so angry with authors?
Let me start by putting it out there–I’m confused?!?! Said confusion was incited by the many posts I came across in reference to Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series. Readers/fans of this series are complaining about the fact that it’s been extended from 3 books to 5. WHY?!?! If you love a series, the writing, the characters–why are you flat-out angry that some of your most beloved heroes and heroines are having their lives extended by the author??? In many cases, like Raine Miller’s Blackstone series, Sylvain Reynard’s Gabriel’s Inferno series, and Belle Aurora’s, Raw Family–the true fans were clamoring for more books; Reynard stated that was the whole reason he wrote the last book in the series–for the fans.
What about the Rizzoli & Isles books from Tess Gerritsen? James Patterson’s Alex Cross series? What if those were one and done? These writers have more story to tell so they do–because it’s what they do and what their readers want. Good plot-lines extending the sagas of the characters they love.
Yes, some series may have a natural end to them–it’s why my one of my most beloved tv shows, Sons of Anarchy, had its series finale last month (still haven’t recovered from that one…). But in the case of Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series, we’re talking 5 books–FIVE.
I have seen so many write ups about this series, in particular, being extended just for money, and/or in spite of it originally being slated to end after 3 books.
- Day is a professional writer (i.e. she writes to make money), books are the way she does that.
- Seriously, if you’re going to complain about an author doing the best she can to provide readers with a good book to read, maybe reading isn’t really your thing.
- Lastly, you don’t have to read the book! (Something tells me Day’s books aren’t on many ‘required reading’ lists. Solely due to subject/content matter, not because they aren’t awesome–which they are!)
There you have it. My first rant of 2015. I will now step off my soap-box. For authors out there, especially the independent ones–good luck to you all!
tara’s tips: My actual review of Captivated by You is forthcoming.
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larryvisgar said:
Personally I feel that the want for creativity has left the building, it seems no one wants to jump into new worlds anymore but get into the same. New authors aren’t given chances, if someone has a new view their cast out. I like to think out of the box and id think any fan would be grateful for their fav series to go even further as long as it doesn’t lose it’s flavor and structure.
T.L. Finney said:
Thanks for weighing in. I agree. Extending a series beyond its natural flow is wrong. And a good author knows when enough is enough and readers can tell when something is being milked. But so many characters are created with many books in mind. I’d rather see 4-5+ books than the standard ‘trilogy’ formula where you essentially know exactly what’s coming by book 3. I think it’s gotten so hard to get a mainstream book published that many talented authors are doing the indy thing – and I applaud them!
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