I don't know about you, but I've been downloading ebooks by the truckload lately. So many out there, seems like every week something new comes along that I simply must read.
I've picked up on a trend, in the post 50 Shades fallout. Of course erotica and erotic romance is booming. But another seems to be these serials. Instead of a series, i.e. a world where different characters reside and each has his/her shot at an HEA over the course of one book, we have two main characters over the course of several books or "episodes" continuing their journey. Some are monthly installment, others are weekly, still others have the six month gaps between release dates.
Of course this isn't a new trend, any more than erotic romance is. Janet Evanovich has been stringing Stephanie Plum along for years in this format. The Twilight and Harry Potter books are all serialized like this, as well as many others.
What is new is the popularity. Go check out the bestselling ebooks on Amazon or B&N. Now, count how many of them say Part 1 or IV. There are a TON! And many of them are self-published!
Here's my upcoming serial from Sanibel Moon Books, dubbed Caught Up In You the first installment due out later this month. The first part is going to be .99 cents, with follow up (longer) second part coming out in early September. I've back-burnered everything else to get this project off the ground because I believe this is what readers want right now. More for less, and sooner rather than later.
So I have some questions for you. Do you like this serialized format, with a new short installment more often? Or would you rather pay $9.99 and wait six months for a complete book? For $2.99 how much of an episode do you expect? Some indie authors, myself included, are selling full novels for that price. Are you satisfied with 60 pages that ends on a cliffhanger or are you going to ask for your money back?
In the end, publishing is like real estate. The book is worth what people are willing to pay for it and not a penny less.
For more about Caught Up In You follow the conversation on twitter with #caughtupinyou
4 comments:
I'm very used to reading in a serialized format because of my years of reading manga. But I have to say, some of those cliffhanger endings have very nearly killed me! Still, can't deny that I was chomping at the bit to buy the next one.
With romance novels serializations are great, to an extent, but I prefer for the ending to not be too cliffhanger-y for the sake of my own mental health.
I know what you mean, I've about lost my mind with a few cliffhangers, obsessing about what's coming next.
I'm dying to read the responses on this post. Ranae, I'm a manga fan, too, and I have a love/hate gotta have it relationship with those cliff hanger endings, too.
Jenn....let's hope we're right since I'm there on your heels with Night Shift 1; Destiny's Choice
I have to admit, I want the whole story upfront. I have had experiences with serials where the writer just quit without finishing. Perhaps because they weren't getting the sales they hoped for, I don't know. All I know is that I ended up irritated that I invested time/money and never learned how the story ended. It has made me hesitant to start a serial unless I know it's complete.
Now, coming from YOU, it's a different story, but as a general rule I avoid them.
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