Ask five authors for a description of a series and you’re
likely to get five different answers. I’m one of those who believe that there’s
a certain amount of latitude allowed in describing a series.
For example, is a
series similar to the old serials that were shown before the main feature at
movie houses? Those generally featured a main character, who managed to get
into, and out of, a different dangerous situation each week.
Or is a series a set
of books on a theme?
Or is a series an
evolving string of stories? This type is often set around a family. In the
romance genre, you’d be amazed how many families have 5 or even 6 dazzlingly
handsome, incredibly successful brothers. Oh, I musn’t forget… they’re all
great lovers, too.
Am I making fun of
those? Not a bit… I’ve written my share of similar men. After all, romances are
fantasy at heart.
What’s my point? I
have embarked on a new series. It will be the longest series I’ve written, and
I’ve devoted a lot of time to considering all the angles. No doubt there are
some I haven’t considered, but that’s what keeps me learning all the time.
This blog (Part I) will concentrate on genre. Sounds silly, right?
After all, I write romance. What’s so difficult about qualifying that? Fair
enough. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that this blog will concentrate on the
heat index – or how sensual the series will be, if you prefer that terminology.
Does it matter? Yes,
I think so. I have written everything but erotica. A couple of my books have
what is termed sexually explicit scenes. A couple of my books have sex scenes between the
two main characters, but the heat index is quite far down the scale. And
recently, I’ve been concentrating more on story, with any sex being what we call ‘behind
closed doors’.
When I advertise my books with sexually explicit scenes, I put a warning in the book blurb that goes to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, etc. Not only is there a
sensuality level warning, but the book blurb itself is unambiguous. And so on,
through the sensuality levels of my various books.
Why is this
necessary? Because I would never willingly offend my readers. Some of them have
come to know me through my very first books – the ones published through a
small press called Avalon. Amazon now owns those titles and continues to advertise
and sell them on my behalf, and they are considered Sweet Romances.
Let’s face it.
There are plenty of books out there with a lot of sex… that’s no secret. And
those authors do it well – far better than I. So I cheerfully leave that market
to them while I work to develop my style.
And what’s my style?
As evidenced over my past two series, it’s tender romances with well-developed
characters and an interesting, unique story line. Some old-time writers say
there’s no such thing as a new story line and that may be true, but I try to come up with something fresh for each book I write.
In part two of The
Birth of a Series, I’ll tell you about the new series I’m working on. In the
meantime, I’m hard at work on the second book. So keep in touch.
ps: If you’d like to
receive notices from me on new releases, and free or discounted books, please
sign up for my e-mail newsletter. Sign-up form is on my facebook page. See the
envelope graphic in the left-hand panel; that’s where you sign up. Here’s the
link: https://www.facebook.com/MonaIngramBooks?ref=hl
