Serialized Novels Anyone???

I have a confession ... I love a good serialized novel.  If I am hooked by a book, I will read and read until it is finished, often reading through the night (I speed read too).  Serialized novels prevent that, so my enjoyment of a novel lasts longer.  I could, of course, simply read more slowly or force myself to stop reading after a while.  But I am too weak!  I enjoy knowing that a new installment will be available in the near future and I love it when I turn on my kindle and it is there, as if by magic!  

Admittedly, they are hard to find - I have experienced more that are not so good, than I have quality serials.  And some seem to go on for ages and when you add up the cost ... oops!  Mine was intended as a 5 or 6 part series but I am trying to shorten it to 4 parts by making parts 3 and 4 longer (the whole novel will be the equivalent to two full size novels approximately).  This is delaying the release of part 3 a little.  I had originally planned to publish it this week but it will probably be next week before it is done.  (Sorry to all those of you who have been contacting me to ask when you can get your next fix of sexy Lucas!  I won't make you wait any longer than I have to!!)

I decided to write Orion the Hunter as a serialized novel because I thought that lots of others enjoyed them as I do and because it is so challenging for a writer.  Once an installment is complete, it is published.  Then you write the next, publish and so on.  There are no opportunities for changing your mind as there are when writing a complete novel ... you can't go back and amend because it has been published.  If you forget to insert something - tough!  I have so many new ideas now that I am part way through and it is frustrating that I can't revise what I've already written.

I find editing as you go along extremely difficult.  Obviously, you usually write the whole thing and then spend almost as long editing and redrafting.  Not with a serialized novel.  Of course, I have the option to edit the whole thing and release as a single novel at the end so I may yet have the opportunity to edit the whole novel.

Parts one and two are selling more than I could have hoped for (both consistently in Amazon.co.uk's top 20 erotica bestseller ranking since their release on Kindle) and I am so thankful to my lovely readers for their support, their generous ratings and, for some, taking the time to write reviews.  I appreciate it more than you know.

However, I have come to realize just how many readers are not fans of serialized novels, although some of you are buying mine!  Thank you!  I understand now that not everyone likes to be kept waiting for the next installment.  I have been requested to publish the novel as a single book when I've finished.  It wasn't my original intention but I am now considering it.

I know I can't please all of the people, all of the time but I do listen to readers' feedback and I do try to be accommodating to requests.  In the words of Dr. Frasier Crane, I'm listening ...


J.D.C.