Series Trilogies – Which Character Comes First and Why
A reader asked me, how do I decide which character will come first in a trilogy? Interesting question! In the Serendipity series, I’ve had to make that choice twice. First, with the Barron brothers, it was easy. The entire town and series was brand new. Readers hadn’t yet been introduced to any of the characters, so I could choose at random. Yet not.
Because the main gist of the first series was a thread that ran through all three books. Ethan Barron was the bad boy of the family and ultimately he left his brothers to foster care after their parents died. Ethan’s actions caused everything that happened afterwards, each decision Nash and Dare made … and the guilt and subsequent anger that followed. So to me, it made perfect sense to have Ethan go first, return home to make amends, and discover (rightfully), his brothers weren’t about to make his life easy. Then there were the secrets Nash and Dare kept … those had to have a slow reveal, in the correct order. In this case, the overall thread was planned ahead. In minute detail? Not so much because I write by the seat of my pants, let the characters define themselves, and pray I can pull it all together in the end. Scary stuff for a writer, but when it works? It’s a huge thrill for me – and I hope for my readers.
In the next set of Serendipity books, Serendipity’s Finest, Mike Marsden is my first hero. This may seem odd to people, since they met Sam already, in Karma. He was Dare Barron’s best friend. Readers also met Cara in Karma, as Sam’s partner on the police force. Aha, you’re thinking – it was Cara who you decided to write about first. Not so fast …
I’d already decided to write Mike’s story long before I knew that Cara would be his heroine. Why write about a hero you’ve never met in a series where I could plug a familiar name? Good question. One I still don’t have the answer to except, Mike called to me. (Told you I wrote by the seat of my pants!)
The one thing I had in mind for Serendipity’s Finest was the idea of the PERFECT family – that wasn’t so perfect after all. Why not start with the first son? The oldest? The one who thought he couldn’t live up to the family name. Then came the question, why did Mike feel inferior to the rest of the Marsden clan?
And PERFECT FIT was born. I’m thrilled to say that Mike’s story came out exactly how I envisioned it … and now I’m on to Erin and her hero Cole Sanders in PERFECT FLING (8/13) and
Finally Sam Marsden in PERFECT TOGETHER (2/14). By then, I am hoping readers are chomping at the bit for Sam and his happily ever after.
Do you ever wish you could change the order of an author’s choice of hero/heroine in a story? Or are you happy to let things play out as the writer envisions?
Carly Phillips has written over 35 romance novels with contemporary characters and small town settings that today’s readers identify with and enjoy. She’s currently focused on the New York Times bestselling Serendipity series set in the small fictional town in upstate, New York. Carly is a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom to two daughters (16 and 20!) and two crazy dogs (a 1 year old Havanese named Brady and a 5 year old wheaten terrier named Bailey). In addition, she’s a Twitter, Facebook and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. Carly lives in Purchase, New York and would love for you to like and follow her on the web.
Find Carly:
Carly’s Website – www.carlyphillips.com
Carly on Twitter – www.twitter.com/carlyphillips
Carly on Facebook – www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage
Carly on Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips
Giveaway Alert: We’re giving away one of Carly’s previous Serendipity books – Serendipity, Karma or Destiny – to one lucky winner. Leave a comment on this post answering Carly’s question from above for a chance to win! US only. Please note: you must include a valid email address with your comment to be eligible. Contest ends 1/20/13 @ 11:59pm.
I’m happy to let the writer choose the order. I especially enjoy series where the original characters come back in the next books. It’s like visiting old friends! I’m always a bit sad when a book I love ends, but it’s wonderful to read a series and know that it continues. Really good writers, like Carly, are able to form a bond between their characters and readers and I just love that!
I am usually ok with the author choosing the order…unless there is that one character everyone wants to read about and they make you wait 12 books for…and you read it and get disappointed. Not pointing any fingers, but more than one author has done this!
I am happy with the author’s choice of order. If there is a character I especially like I really look forward to reading their story.
crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
I’m fine with allowing things to play out as the author envisions. It’s amazing how often the most interesting couple is usually in the final book.
penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
The author’s story is a gift to me. I’m happy to let her choose how to tell her vision.
Don’t enter me in the contest–I’ve already read Carly’s previous Serendipity books and look forward to reading Perfect Fit. Thanks.
I’m happy to let the author pick the order. In the end, I want all of the story lines make sense. I like reading books in a series since I get to see the continuing story of the earlier characters.
peki0101[at]hotmail[dot]com
Thanks for the great post and giveaway! I’m dying to read Carly’s series 🙂 Eh… I’m happy to let the story flow as the author intended 🙂
I am generally happy to let things play out as the writer envisions. Every writer has their own unique way of telling a story and I like to see how they put their own personal touches on it.
Thanks for the giveaway!
alyssaxchen14 (at) gmail (dot) com
Never thought about changing it.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I’m usually happy to let things play out as the writer envisions, but once in a while I’ll enjoy a secondary character so much, I can’t wait to see them have their story told, even though the author has a different plan.
Congrats on the new release. Perfect Fit sounds like a great addition to the Serendipity series. Can’t wait to read it. I don’t have a problem with whatever way aa author chooses to let things play out. I just go with the flow.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I am fine with letting things play out the way the author writes the series. I just don’t like it when I have to wait for the next book in the series to come out.
thompsonem3 at aol dot com
I am mostly fine with watching it play out as intended. Cliffhangers though can really annoy me if it messes with the HEA
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I constantly want to switch the characters they choose to write about. I usually happy with the authors choice but there’s always a character I want to read about more.
danni0113@gmail.com