Elisabeth Grace defends the much-criticized serial
Elisabeth Grace, author of the serialized romance Indiscretion, explains what she loves about serial romances.
Elisabeth: In literature, as in other areas of life, different trends come and go and fall in and out of fashion. The year 2014 has been dubbed the Year of the Box Set by some, but there is another format gaining popularity: serials.
Serialized fiction is nothing new. In fact, it's been around since the Victorian era. Charles Dickens is widely considered to have published one of the first pieces of serialized fiction. Anna Karenina, The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, Madame Bovary. Recognize these titles? All published as serials.
I'm pretty active on social media, and I often see the serial format getting a bad rap in reader groups or book clubs. The concerns I see most often from readers are the pricing (some 25K works are priced the same as full-length novels), the long wait times between releases and cliffhangers at the end of each installment.
I understand these frustrations, and admittedly have had them myself from time to time. But I wanted to share with everyone a few reasons why I've fallen in love with serialized fiction.
• Fast reads. Serials are low on time commitment. There are times when I either don't feel like reading a full-length novel, or when I have a commitment coming up in my schedule and know I'll have to stop reading halfway through a 90K book. I hate having to put a book down before I'm finished with it. Serials are the ideal quick reads for me! Unlike novellas, the author doesn't have to try to fit an entire character arc into a short work of fiction. As an author I can tell you it's very hard to do that well, and as a reader I find I'm not often satisfied at the end of novellas.
• Cliffhangers. Not all serial installments will end with a cliffhanger, but the good ones will always leave you wanting more. As much as the average reader complains about cliffhangers, I think we all secretly love them! If you look at the most popular TV shows or books, they very often end with a cliffhanger. Take a look at the novels at the top of the romance charts — a good many of them won't have the couple's story wrapped up neatly in a nice bow at the end. I love nothing more than reaching the end of a book and being unable to stop thinking about the story, the characters, and what might happen next. I find myself in this predicament more often than not when I read a good serial.
• Binge or savor. Depending on how you like to read, you can either choose to read each installment as it comes out, or wait until the story is complete and then start reading. If you're one of those people who can't handle waiting to find out what happens next, just wait until all the installments are out. Unlike with full-length novels in a trilogy or a series, the wait in between isn't nearly as long. I purposely finished writing all installments in my upcoming Indiscretion serial so that I could release them two weeks apart.
If I've pleaded the case for serials well, and you're thinking you might want to give a serial or two a chance, consider giving my new release, Indiscretion, a try, or if that doesn't peak your interest here are some of my favorites that I always recommend when asked:
• Reasonable Doubt by Whitney Gracia Williams. I dub Whitney the Queen of Banter — both sexual and the humorous kind. Andrew Hamilton will have you confused as to whether you want to swoon over him, or throw something at him!
• Songs of Submission by C.D. Reiss. These serials feature deeply layered characters and ooze sensuality, regardless of whether it's a love scene on the page, or a conversation between the characters. The journey of getting to know these characters and their story is superb!
• The Professional by Kresley Cole. Since all parts of the serial have been released, it's been repackaged into a full-length novel, but it's still worth checking out. It follows the superhot journey of a regular American girl reluctantly falling in love with a Russian mob enforcer. If you're a fan of Kresley's paranormal works, this one will not disappoint!
• The Intern by Brooke Cumberland. This romantic suspense serial ranges from superhot to sweet, all while trying to uncover a decade-old mystery. Once the first lie is told, you'll keep turning the pages to find out how it's all going to come crashing down!
What is your opinion on serialized fiction? Are you a fan? If not, what concerns you most?
Find out more about Elisabeth and her books at elisabeth-grace.com.