My guest today is Myla Jackson who writes for several publishers - Ellora’s Cave, Kensington Aphrodisia and Avon Red. She’s a very busy lady! Her most recent release is Thorn’s Kiss, which came out last week. Thorn’s Kiss is book two in the City of Wolves series.
And I might add, Myla has written some wonderful genie books for Ellora’s Cave. See my post regarding genie books in early December for details!
Today Myla is talking about series and she’s giving away a download from her backlist to one lucky commenter. All you need to do is post a comment and you’re in the draw! And don’t forget to check back in the comments section the next day to see if you’re the winner.
Series…Love ‘em or Hate ‘em?
THORN’S KISS is the second in the City of Wolves Series. I’m getting lots of emails asking what the first story was. For those who are new to Myla Jackson, SHEWOLF came out a year ago during Ellora’s Cave’s Autumn Animalia in October. It has since been released again in the print book FERAL FIXATION. SHEWOLF is the first in the City of Wolves series. When I wrote SHEWOLF, I wrote it as a quickie with no real intention of making it a series. Lyka was the main character with three strong, sexy and handsome brothers. Everyone who read it, including my editor, asked when would they see the brothers’ stories? I write under more than one pen name and have been very busy with both, so here it’s been over a year!
I’m like most people, when the story ends, I like a complete ending, and most stories give it to me. However, I want to know what happens next. If there are hunky brothers, I want to know their stories. Don’t just introduce characters I can love and let them die out in that book, give me more!!!!! Thus a series is born. THORN’S KISS nagged at me for several months until I thought up a story for Lyka’s brother Miko. I’m working ideas for the next City of Wolves story as we speak.
First I have to finish off my TROUBLE series. I have one last book to wrap it up. It goes along the lines of Shelley’s latest Genie book. My TROUBLE series is about ordinary (ha! Indian Jones-like) men who become reluctant genies and the crazy wishes they have to rescue their ladies from. So TROUBLE WITH MITCH before the next CITY OF WOLVES. So many stories…so little time! How do you feel about series? Do you love them, do you hate them? Do you love to hate them and can’t wait for the next to come out? Ack! Writers take too freakin’ long!
I’m a huge fan of series…If the book is really good I never want it to end so having a series always works for me…whether it’s about the same characters or ones that were just mentioned in the first story…I love to find out what happens to them later on!!
by Stephanie December 16th, 2007 at 12:47 pmI LOVE series. Once I’ve invested time in a character I really want to know what happens to them. And yes I do get anxious for the next one to come out.
Shelley, awesome blog party!!!!
by Sara Hantz December 16th, 2007 at 1:02 pmI love series, too. I enjoy the familiar characters and setting and coming to feel as if I’m really part of the world. I never worry about series coming out with a huge gap between because I’m never short of books. You should see my to-read pile!
I do feel that some series shouldn’t go on and on. I’ve actually stopped buying series that might be on book 6 or 7. For me they start to sound the same. I think that three or four books in a series is about right. Two notable exceptions for me are JD Robb’s In Death series and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. These are two that keep me coming back because I’m so invested in the characters. Stephanie - PICK Ranger!!
by Shelley Munro December 16th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
LOVE THE COVER wow!! my must read list is a mile long now. THanks for blogging!! i love getting to know authors I have not read before
by Tina brunelle December 16th, 2007 at 1:24 pmHi Sara! Thanks for stopping by. I’m having a blast - the best birthday party ever.
by Shelley Munro December 16th, 2007 at 1:29 pmI love a good series too, and agree with you Shelley about JD Robb and Janet Evanovich. As long as the stories are compelling and keep advancing the story, I don’t have a limit on the number of titles.
by Cathy M December 16th, 2007 at 3:16 pmThorn’s Kiss sounds wonderful! (sigh) Another book on my TBB list.
And I really don’t like series to last beyond three or four books, either, especially if they involve the same characters every time. I only buy Laurell K. Hamilton’s series because I got hooked on them before I realized there were so many and I really want to know how the main characters end up. But I’m definitely feeling a bit resentful because, unless I buy all ten or fifteen or however many books there turn out to be in each series, I’ll never get that feeling of resolution that I read a book for.
by Robin L. Rotham December 16th, 2007 at 3:36 pmO I definitely enjoy series books! They are my favorite to read. I love reading about the characters who got together in the previous books and how they’re getting on in their lives. I have to say my favorite series are the Stephanie Plum books (remember Janet Evanovich when she wrote Loveswepts) and JD Robb’s Eve series.
by Laura K December 16th, 2007 at 3:58 pmI have a love hate relationship with series Cause i’m not patient. I think sometimes authors take was too long between books. If its more than a year between books then i get tired of waiting. I do love reading them but hate waiting for them. I love finding good series when they are already started and having lots of books to read.
by Pamk December 16th, 2007 at 4:29 pmI love series books. It gives me the chance to revisit the characters I enjoyed reading about and see what happens to the others. Oh, and yes, writers take too freakin’ long! lol I do feel that sometimes.
by Kim December 16th, 2007 at 5:55 pmI used to not like series until I found some that I fell in love with the characters. So anymore I do love some series and usually can’t wait until the next one comes out. I know some authors release each one around a year apart so the wait can be long and difficult but it is usually worth the wait.
by Larena Wirum December 16th, 2007 at 6:02 pmI love series. Like you, if I’m interested in a character like the hero, I want to know what happens to him.
by Amelia December 16th, 2007 at 11:34 pmPam - I agree. There’s nothing better than finding a good series and being able to read them one after the other. I started the JR Ward series earlier this year, and boy, was that fun!
LOL - Kim. No pressure or anything
Larena and Amelia - for me series are all about the characters. They start to feel like family.
by Shelley Munro December 17th, 2007 at 2:54 amRobin - I have to agree. The cover is very nice to look at.
Laura - are you a Joe or Ranger fan?
by Shelley Munro December 17th, 2007 at 2:55 amCathy - JD Robb and Janet Evanovich can keep writing their books for as long as they like. I haven’t missed one book in either series.
by Shelley Munro December 17th, 2007 at 2:56 amI love the Janet Evanovich series. I love humor in what I read and she does it soooo well!
by Myla Jackson December 17th, 2007 at 6:37 amI like Ranger the most. Got to love that man candy that’s inheritingly dangerous. Yum.
by Laura K December 17th, 2007 at 7:29 amI love series books and Myla is one of my favorite authors
Blessings,
by Rhonda Barnes December 17th, 2007 at 10:06 amRhonda
And today’s winner is Pam K
Congrats Pam. Email me at shelley munro @ gmail .com and let me know which one of Myla’s titles you’d like plus the format.
Congratulations!
by Shelley Munro December 17th, 2007 at 11:55 amHey guys,
by Myla Jackson December 17th, 2007 at 9:42 pmI didn’t pay Rhonda to say that. But I love you Rhonda! Glad you like my books. And I’m really glad Shelley asked me to guest blog with you all. This was fun! Congrats to Pam K for winning a copy of one of my backlist! Can’t wait to see which one she picks!