Monday, November 14, 2016

When Should a Series End?



That’s a really good question. I’ve thought and thought about the Bogey Man Mysteries, and I think it’s about time to end the series.

Why?
 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Caps%2C352&crid=GO5NV63PFVHL

In all honesty, I’m running out of ideas for stories and for the characters. I’m currently working on the last Bogey Man mystery. I just started this one, so it'll be awhile. These are special characters with ties to the 1940s due to the fact that Chris Cross looks very much like Humphrey Bogart, and he tends to emulate the movie star. He walks the walk and talks the talk. In the latest story, How Now Purple Cow, the Crosses retired from amateur sleuthing. They’re coming out of retirement for one last case which, interestingly, involves the Black Butterfly. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait to find out what or who the Black Butterfly is.

While there is a following for this series, I can’t entertain readers if I run out of ideas. At least for the moment, I believe I’m out of Bogey inspiration.

I know from comments that a few people are tired of the forties slang used in the books. I have to admit, I’m not tired of it at all. It’s certainly more fun than some of today’s slang, and less offensive. However, that’s life.

Realistically, there are younger readers who can’t relate to the Bogey Man character. That’s a shame because the “old days” were fun in their own way. On the other hand, there are some older readers who love this series because they can relate to the stories and the time periods involved.
 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Caps%2C352&crid=GO5NV63PFVHL

 The Sandi Webster series is another matter. Readers keep asking for more. I’ll oblige because so far the ideas related to Sandi and Pete (her husband and partner) keep coming. They’ve handled some old-time cases, but they have a different take on things than the Crosses.

Both series sometimes involve working on cold cases, but that’s not always the issue. They become involved in current cases, too.

I can honestly say there are a few (very few) series that I got tired of reading. Sometimes an author can’t quite come up with a new and unique idea. The stories start sounding too much alike – repetitious. I don’t want that to happen with either of my series.

Of course, there’s always room for standalone books. I’ve done two of those and truly enjoyed doing something different for a change.

Overall, these are simply some random thoughts about continuing or discontinuing a series. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll come up with an idea for a third series. Stranger things have happened.

In the meantime, there are series I read that I never get tired of because the authors manage to come up with something new and out of the box time after time.

I’ll miss the Bogey Man, his wife Pamela and their son, Mikey (aka Ace), but it is what it is – time to move on.

Thank you all for stopping in today and letting me share my thoughts.

Now I’ve got to get back to the Black Butterfly.

Until next time, have a great week and read an installment from your favorite series.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website
CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

I mentioned two standalone books, so here they are:


https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Caps%2C352&crid=GO5NV63PFVHL                 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Caps%2C352&crid=GO5NV63PFVHL

12 comments:

  1. I know exactly how you feel, Marja. I sent my fifth (and last) Malone mystery to my publisher in late August and he's promised to do his best to release it in January. A good part of working with a publisher is playing The Waiting Game. But, while I wait, I've started a standalone, something all together different from my series but, of course, it's still a mystery.
    And I have mixed emotions about leaving the Malone family and their friends. I've spent years getting to know them and I already miss them. But, it's time to move on.

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    1. I'll miss the Malone family, too, Pat, but there's something inside of us that tells us when it's time to move on. Maybe one day you'll decide to do another series book, but if not, that's the way it goes. Can't wait for your last Malone book and the standalone.

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  2. I understand your feelings completely, Marja. That's why I made my Human Zoo novels a trilogy (The Pig Farm, The Pool Lizards, The Groundhog Lounge). I thought I had finished with Pam and Avery but after living here in a retirement environment I have ideas for Pam and am thinking about letting Avery die a natural death and Pam adjusting to senior living with a mysterious death or two occurring. The tentative/working title is "Pam's Epilogue". I also have a lot of other series percolating in my mind but I wonder if I'll live long enough to write them. ;)

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    1. It's a tough decision, Pat, but like you, I found I had one more story for the series. I look forward to "Pam's Epilogue" and I hope you follow through on it.

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  3. Maybe the characters just need a little vacation. I love your Bogey stories and I'm sure others do, too. Nothing wrong with taking a breather and giving other characters a chance. Just remember, Doyle couldn't get rid of Holmes--even after Moriarty 'killed' him. New ideas sometimes come after a hiatus.

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    1. I like your point of view, John. You never know what the future might bring. Doyle and Holmes are a good example. Thank you!

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  4. It appears that you, Pat and I are all ending our series' at around the same time. I wanted my latest to be the last in the Charlotte Ross series, but my editor thinks I need one more. I may write another book in that series, but right now, I want to start a new one. Sorry to see The Bogey Man series end, I can relate to it, probably because I love to watch old movies. Love your two stand-alone novels.

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    1. Thank you, Evelyn! I don't want to see your series end either, but we do what we need to. I hope my Black Butterfly book will give the Crosses a good sendoff.

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  5. Well, I'll have to treat your next Bogey novel as very special. Maybe like John said, they just need a vacation?

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    1. We'll see, Madeline. Sometimes inspiration strikes when we least expect it. At least there will be the Black Butterfly, but that's a ways off. : )

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  6. I never get tired of Ace & his dogs. Looking forward to your next book in series.

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    1. It may be the last in the series, Jake. I haven't made up my mind yet. : ) Thank you for stopping in!

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