Today I welcome back Francis Guenette, author of the Crater Lake series. She’s recently published Chasing Down the Night, the third book in the series. I loved each of the previous novels, Disappearing in Plain Sight and The Light Never Lies. I’m very pleased to turn over the reins of Author Wednesday to her capable hands.
Writing a Series of Stand Alone Novels
By Francis Guenette
Beware of the person of one book – Thomas Aquinas
I doubt Aquinas had authors of book series in mind when he penned these words but I seem to have derived my raison d’entre from this thought – at least when it comes to writing.
Many thanks to P.C. for inviting me to appear on her wonderful blog. My guest post will delve into a sticky issue. How stand-alone must each book in an ongoing series be?
First off, let us clear up one point. There is a distinct difference between books in a series and serialized books. Each book in a series must be somewhat stand-alone. The storylines introduced should be resolved by the last page – at least resolved enough so that if the author never again laid fingers to the keyboard to continue, all would be well. Not to say fans wouldn’t be sad but such is life.
Not so with a serial. These books can leave a reader dangling over the verge of a veritable cliff and the authors congratulate themselves on a job well done. The message is clear – buy the next book if you want to know what is going to happen as the train barrels down the track towards beautiful Mary tied to the tracks.
I suppose the most important part of this distinction is that readers know what they’re getting into before they start reading.
A series of novels can be loosely knit together or tightly woven. I see my books as falling close to the tightly woven side of things. Even so, I aim for stand-alone status. A good analogy would be to an ongoing TV series. Viewers coming in at season three or later will have to do a bit of guesswork but a well done TV show will provide enough backstory to keep all who watch in the loop.
Agreement on how much backstory is necessary is mixed.
After reading Chasing Down the Night, a reader said, “I didn’t have a clue who Tim and Marlene were.” Soon after these characters were mentioned, I included a line that went something like – no wonder Lisa-Marie loved boarding with them when she was in high school. A reader felt sidelined when Brigit comments that Izzy has a lovely daughter and Izzy thinks that she will let that comment slide. Going into book three without having read the second book in the series, Sophie’s parentage is left deliberately vague. This is true to who the characters are; that is the first imperative for the author. And this bit of tension results in a delicious eye-widening when the truth becomes obvious.
Wearing my reader hat, I have often jumped into a series partway through. I enjoy the guessing game tensions that ensue. My curiosity drives me to find out if my suspicions are right by buying and reading earlier volumes. Jamming my author hat on, I am profoundly thankful for reader feedback and take seriously the comments. The next time I’m back at Crater Lake writing book four, I may decide to add more clues.
To make sense of the third book in my series – Chasing Down the Night – is it necessary to have read the first two? No. My editor and I agree on one point – give only enough information to pique the reader’s interest but tell no more than is required to move this particular story forward. Is a finer understanding of the characters derived from reading all three books? Definitely.
I don’t guarantee that readers starting the Crater Lake Series after book one will enjoy an effortless read but the breadcrumbs laid out along the paths are there. I do promise a story worth the energy it takes to put the puzzle together.
About Francis: Francis Guenette has spent all of her life on the west coast of British Columbia. She lives with her husband and finds inspiration for writing in the beauty and drama of their off-grid, lakeshore cabin and garden. She has a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology. She has worked as an educator, trauma counsellor and researcher. Chasing Down the Night is her third novel in the Crater Lake Series.
Read other Author Wednesday features with Francis Guenette
My reviews
Purchase Links for Chasing Down the Night
P.C. ZICK 
25 responses to “AUTHOR WEDNESDAY – FRANCIS GUENETTE”
I found this an interesting post, especially as I am starting on a follow up to a novel and have been worrying about how much back story to include as not all readers will have read the first book. From what Francis says, I should get on with moving the story forward and not worry so much.
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It’s a bit like tightrope walking to figure out what to tell and what to hint at and what to simply leave out when it comes to subsequent novels in a series. I like the way you say get on with moving the story forward – the story at hand is most definitely what must come first.
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Yes. That’s so true. And you do that very well in the opening chapter.
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She knows. I’m reading her newest and third in this series, and she does an excellent job of moving forward with story without bogging down with the past. I’d read the Crater Lake series as a primer.
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Interesting post. Thanks for the introduction 🙂
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Glad you stopped by. It’s always a treat to appear on Author Wednesday.
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I think you’d enjoy her books, Christoph.
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Thanks for sharing this very interesting article, Francis/Pat! I’ve wondered how authors do series and it’s good to know what I would be dealing with should I ever choose to do one.
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You can learn from one of the best here, Sarah. Thanks for visiting.
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“A series of stand alone novels” – I like this! Of course that’s probably because I’ve written exactly that in my Em and Yves books.
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Yes, that’s true, Darlene. I’m sure you could relate.
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I’ll have to check those out, Darlene. It’s a delicate balance and I love to read how other authors handle it.
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Reblogged this on disappearinginplainsight and commented:
It was quite a treat to appear yesterday on P.C. Zick’s blog in her Author Wednesday feature. I guest post on the sticky issue of how stand-alone a book in an ongoing series must be. Read along and get in on the discussion.
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I’m very happy you wrote about this topic. Many authors have similar concerns, and your concise information helps us all!
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Always a good exercise – to explore a topic in writing. I often surprise myself when I discover what I really think. Thanks again for the opportunity to appear on your blog.
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Loved this: my books are the same, series but not serial … so some useful mutual areas to ponder! Thank you for talking about them 🙂 andlooking forward to another visit to Crater lake …
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I’m immersed so much in the story right now, I’m finding it difficult to get my own work done!
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I so know what you mean!
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I’m supposed to be packing but just read another chapter instead.
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And I’m so glad you enjoyed your time there, Mari 🙂
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Interesting. I totally agree that each of your Crater Lake stories could be read and enjoyed without having read their predecessors. However I don’t think I’d then particularly want to go back and read those, excellent though they are. I know about those characters and how they are going to pan out. In your shoes I’d be urging prospective readers to start with #1.
I can contrast your series with Tana French’s ‘Dublin Murder Squad’ series where each book is totally standalone, different protagonist, with only incidental reference to characters from before. Hardly a series really, just a continuing theme.
I think my two ‘Tess’ novels could be taken separately as it was only in the second book she took centre stage.
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I agree, Roy. I believe part of the enjoyment comes from slowly learning to love all the characters, even Beulah!
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Thanks for the tip, Roy. You might be right. What a fine line – if one does an adequate job of making a work stand-alone, why would someone go back? Always so much to think about.
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