Why Readers (and Writers) Are All In
When I began writing the Kira and Henry series, I didn't fully grasp the scope of what I was getting into. Now, as I finish the third book (Dangerous Treaty) and the second (Lost in the Enchanted Forest) gains momentum with readers, I understand something fundamental about modern storytelling: we're living in the age of the binge.
COVID-19 had a huge impact on how audiences consume stories. The pandemic didn't create binge culture, but it accelerated and normalized it. Viewers discovered they could watch entire seasons in weekends. Readers found comfort in knowing that more books were waiting for them when they finished one. This shift fundamentally changed audience expectations.
Today's readers approach books differently from previous generations. They're not just investing time in a single story; they're auditioning an entire fictional universe. Before committing, many readers want to know: Is there more after the last page?
Why Series Work: The Reader's Perspective
Readers who connect with your characters don't want to say goodbye after 100 or 300 pages. Series allow them to develop deeper relationships with fictional people who feel like friends. With my Kira and Henry, readers watch these characters grow, face new challenges, and evolve across multiple adventures. That investment becomes more valuable with each installment.
I'm a huge Stone Barrington (Stuart Woods) fan, and Lindsay Boxer is my alter ego. I've read every Women's Murder Club book by James Patterson. In an era of overwhelming content choices, series reduce the exhausting task of finding something new to read. If readers loved book one, they know exactly what they're getting with book two. This trust is powerful. The familiar becomes comforting rather than boring.
There's genuine excitement in waiting for the next installment. Readers discuss theories, predict outcomes, and stay engaged with your fictional world between books. This ongoing relationship keeps your work alive in their minds far longer than standalone novels. Following Stuart Woods' death in 2022, the Stone Barrington series has been continued by other authors, such as Brett Battles.
Series allow for richer, more complex fictional worlds that standalone books simply cannot achieve. With my multiple series, Kira and Henry, Wilma Wallaby, and Carmen and Cypher I try to add layers to the universe, making it feel more real and lived-in. I also try to send a message to teens; "it will get better." If you've read my previous blogs, I didn't have an easy time with a bully of a big brother and I share that in my Wilma character. I thought I could fly and that I was fearless - but like Kira, I was afraid of failure. How about Carmen? Like me, she's learning to live with AI - embracing it and understanding how it can enrich our lives.
Why Series Work: The Writer's Perspective
For me, writing a series creates forward motion for my characters. As I enter my 3rd act of life, I can live it all over again through my characters. With each book, my characters' voices become clearer, world-building details accumulate naturally, and the story develops a life beyond initial planning. I know Kira and Henry so intimately now that their reactions to situations come automatically.
Each new book markets the previous ones. Readers who discover book three often purchase the earlier installments. Series create superfans who eagerly await each release, leave reviews, recommend books to friends, and engage with your author platform. These dedicated readers become your marketing team. Multiple books provide multiple revenue streams and more opportunities for discovery. Retailers often promote series by discounting early books, introducing new readers to your work.
The Modern Challenge: Visual Consistency
Working with my cover designer, Nilesh, I'm facing an interesting challenge that previous generations of series writers never encountered: how to age characters visually across books using AI tools.
Nilesh researched consistent character generation using AI; a crucial consideration for anyone thinking about animation or visual adaptations, including book covers. The technology relies on creating comprehensive data sets featuring characters in various poses, expressions, and environments. This custom-trained model then generates consistent imagery across different contexts.
As Nilesh explained, standard online AI platforms struggle with the frame-by-frame consistency professional animation requires. Training custom models is the solution, allowing us to generate varied content while maintaining character recognition across the series.
Why does this matter? Modern readers expect visual consistency. Book covers should show character growth while maintaining recognizable features. If Kira looks completely different on each cover, it breaks the series identity. I plan to move into animation, so this is fantastic that he is thinking ahead. I'm all in!
Benefits of Series for Authors
Writing a series allows you to test the market with book one before making a full commitment. If readers respond enthusiastically, you continue. If not, you can pivot without having written an entire series that doesn't resonate. I read every review that I get, take note of any suggestions and learn before I start the next book. I've received a 1-star review before, but it had no comments. I think it is a special type of person that gives a book a 1-star. I didn't think I had enemies because I avoid conflict at all cost (think of the Gorgonites in Small Soldiers), but this person wasn't even a "verified purchase." Their 1-star was intentional and might have been done by one of the hundreds of "influencers" who want my money to write a review.
Anything other than a 5-star devastates me, but this 4-star review was priceless.
"I went in expecting polite castles and maybe a sword fight or two. What I got was a princess accused of treason, hiking into a death zone with her best friend, while pretending she doesn’t have claws. Literally. We meet trolls debating recipes for human, a mountain with mood issues, and a bridge that tries to kill you before you can cross it. But the weirdest part? Those things aren’t even the big problem. The big problem is Kira—because if her people see what’s under her skin, they’ll fear her more than anything she’s fighting. This isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a slow-burn panic attack in a crown, and I loved every nerve-wracking page."
I wondered why I didn't get 5 stars, but this review made my day!
Yes, series authors develop more engaged reader communities. These readers leave more reviews (fodder for our egos), participate in discussions, and feel personally invested in your success because they want more books. In addition, writing multiple books in the same universe hones your craft. You learn from each installment, improving pacing, dialogue, and plotting with every book. You don't need the entire series plotted before starting. Many successful series evolved organically as authors discovered what worked and what readers wanted more of.
Is a Series Right for You?
So, do readers want assurance of more content after the last page before investing their time? Absolutely! But it's not just about quantity—it's about the promise of a satisfying journey. Readers want to know that their emotional investment will be respected, that character arcs will develop meaningfully, and that the fictional world will continue to surprise and engage them.
A series signals that you, as the author, are committed to these characters and this world. You're not offering a one-night stand; you're proposing a long-term relationship. Writing a series isn't easier than standalone novels—if anything, it's more challenging because consistency matters enormously. But in today's binge-conditioned market, series offer unique advantages for both readers and writers.
Whether it's Kira and Henry navigating their next adventure, Wilma Wallaby solving mysteries, or Carmen and Cypher using AI to understand this world, series storytelling matches how modern audiences want to consume fiction: deeply, repeatedly, and with the comfort of knowing there's always another chapter and story waiting. The journey doesn't end with one book anymore. Today's readers want to know there's a whole spectrum of stories stretching into the future. And honestly? As a writer and reader (I have had an Amazon library since 1998 and own 2087 titles), I always want more! Onward!
