When it comes to urban fiction there are plenty of series being created that has readers begging for more and running to the nearest book store. Not to mention I bet Amazon is making a killing off their urban fiction sales because any book worm knows Amazon is the place to go when wanting a urban fiction read. Although readers love their series and authors love to write them one can't but help to to ask certain questions pertaining to this phenomenon such as, how many books in a series are to much? and how long should a reader have to wait when waiting for a sequel? And that's exactly what I asked reader's in this months editions of The Reader's Voice Sequels & Series to spill the beans and tell me what hey think. And these reader's did just that, they didn't hold back.
In the world of literature today series now go past your average three book mark. Authors such as Deja Joy King, Wahida Clark, and Kiki Swinson are taking series farther and allowing their reader's to take a seat and get a chance to the know the characters they either love or love to hate. And although some reader's prefer for series not to go past three books, readers are still accepting of these large quantity of books and are not going to stop reading. Leilani Brown,18, says she believes a series should consist of three books at most with the exception of the Thug Series written by Wahida Clark who just released it's fifth part to the series Justify my Thug. "My favorite urban fiction series is the Thug Series even though it surpasses by three book maximum rule" Brown says. Yet their are reader's who are fine with books who surpass three novels. Tajauna Jackson, 39, says a series should consist of at least four-five novels.
But their are concerns reader's have when books go past a trilogy and that is the time line set for it's next installment to release. Preschool teacher and mother of two, Sandy Thebookconnoisseur Barrett Sims says "I prefer that a series end after the third book. Sometimes when there are too many books in a series, the reader tends to lose focus on what the original story was about. I especially dislike when the parts are spread out to be released years apart." Reader's also has set in their mind when they believe the next book in a series should be released. Sims says she thinks a sequel should follow no later than six months to a year. While Jackson believes it should be three-six months and Brown says " I personality hate the wait for follow-up books and believe the wait should be approximately four months."
When writing series reader's will like for authors to keep in mind that for a series to be a hit and for reader's to remain excited about their next release they must "keep true to the original storyline and remain focus on those characters that made the story stand out" Sims says. Brown states the release of the following book should be within a certain time frame or readers will forget all about the first book. And to also give a complete explanation as to what took place in the first book so readers will not be lost and memories are refreshed. And to have a series be successful Jackson says a author should stay true the characters they creates and to keep many twist in their novels, its all about excitement.
With so many novels now turning series you can't help but to wonder which do reader's prefer a stand alone novel or a series? well lets ask the experts. " I fall in love with characters so a series is defiantly for me" Jackson proudly states. And being the book lover that she is Sims tells My Urban Books "Either is fine with me. As long as the book grabs my attention, keeps it and makes all my emotions come alive." But on this question Brown sided with Jackson and said she loves her series it gives her something to look forward too. With all the hype series has stirred are stand alone books a thing of the past? will we start to see less and less stand alone and more series? "no not at all" Brown says. Sims voiced her opinion by saying "No I still think stand alone books still hold an important position in the literary world. A lot of times stand alone books are better (in my opinion). You get to read the beginning of the story and there's no waiting for a conclusion. You get the whole kit and caboodle in one reading! lol!."
Urban Fiction authors comes with fire when they write series so when reader's were asked what series they believe should be crowned the best of urban fiction these ladies told me The Cartel series by Ashley & Jaquavis books, The Thug series by Wahida Clark and they couldn't forget Nikki Turner and Nisa Santiago series of books. And how could a disagree? these authors are vicious with a pen.
