Throughout my traditional writing career (40+ years), most series were three books long. In fact, back in the 1980s, instead of calling them a series, they were called a trilogy. Most authors wrote three books and moved on to something else.
There were exceptions, of course. Sue Grafton with her alphabet books. Harry Potter. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels.
But things really changed in the last decade as indie authors wrote longer series and readers gobbled them up.
When I came up with the idea for my British Are Coming series, there were three books. Each book would feature a British character (Sebastian, his sister Amanda, and his friend Roger) who would then each find love with an American character on or near a ranch called Eden’s Gate.
In January 2023, I shared the story of how a novella set in England, To Enchant a Lady’s Heart, was added to the mix and why it took more than a decade for the series to begin to be written. You can read that blog post at https://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/a-long-and-winding-road/.
Anyway, the last of the original three books (To Reveal a Reckless Love) is now ready for the editor to do her final magic. However, the series isn’t going to end with that book. It is continuing to grow.
Soon after the publication of To Marry an English Lord, I began hearing from readers, wondering if they were going to get William’s story. William is the rancher who owns Eden’s Gate. The requests increased after the publication of To Capture a Mountain Man.
Thankfully, the perfect woman for William rushed into my imagination. She’s an Irish housemaid who escapes from trouble in England and finds herself in William’s employ. And so I began to write To Find Where She Belongs. The story is coming along, and I’m having great fun watching these two fall for each other. God willing and the creeks don’t rise, the book will release in February or March of 2026.
But wait! In To Reveal a Reckless Love, Reverend Truman Blankenship, a fixture in all the books set in America, was hoping to find love but didn’t. I found myself feeling sorry for him. I mean, he’s a nice guy. He’s eligible. He ought to find a good woman with whom to share his ministry and life. And so, he is going to get his own story. Once again, the perfect heroine marched (yes, she is the sort who would march, determined and head held high) into my mind. I think I know the title but haven’t decided absolutely. The story will have a Christmas setting, and I plan for it to release in the third quarter of 2026.
And so, a series that began with only three books has grown to six. Who knows if there might be another resident of Eden’s Gate Ranch or the town of Gibeon, Idaho who needs a little help from this romantic writer. Time will tell.
One side note: I write all of my books to stand alone, even if they are part of a series. Naturally I hope readers will want to read all the books in a series, but I make sure no one feels lost if they pick up book #4 without reading the first three.
Do you enjoy reading series books (especially ones that stand alone)? Or do you prefer single title releases?
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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In answer to your question, I do love series books–especially if they can stand alone–as long as the author still feels the passion for the stories as much on the later books as he/she did for the earlier ones. I’ve never read one of your series books that didn’t feel as fresh at the end as it did at the beginning but that hasn’t been the case with some others in my long reading life!
Thanks so much, Colleen. I can’t imagine writing any book without feeling passion for the story, and I’m delighted that the freshness comes through in my books.
Series for sure!
Yea!
I do enjoy reading a series. Often times I can’t find the order they come in.
Judie, I have a page on my website that has my series books in the order they were written/published/should be read. Hope that helps. https://robinleehatcher.com/complete-series-listing/
I like both series and standalones, but find I now prefer series that can be read as standalones so I don’t have to remember for a year between books where we are in the story! I’m loving The British are Coming series, so it makes me happy to know there will be more!
Oh, D’Ann. You hit upon something I relate to. I often remember loving a book without remembering the details. So it’s great when I can read a sequel without missing a beat. And so glad you’re loving my current series. I know I’m enjoying writing the books.
This is fabulous! I love that you had the creative freedom to grow a series from 3 to 6.
I agree, Becky. The freedom is a huge plus.
I enjoy reading series where they all connect somehow.
Yes!
I enjoy both series and stand alone books. The key is keeping the interest. I recently finished the 13th book in a series. I have the first three and am looking forward to the continuation.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the series!