What Readers Want - Series or Standalone?

Welcome to the Supernatural Underground!

In this post, I'm exploring what readers want in their Fantasy Fiction, series or standalone. Some say it boils down to things like mood, attention span, ability to commit... time constraints. I think it is more about personal taste in literary style and favorite authors. Still, we can't always explain why we love the color blue over red but we feel the truth of it just the same.

How about you?

Is it a standalone novel you reach for first? A complete story from beginning to end in one volume? There are some fantastic ones out there. 

Sarah Beth Durst is a master at this subgenre, as is V. E. Schwab, Holly Black, Garth Nix, Tanith Lee, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood...so many more.

Or do you prefer a series with a much longer story arc divided into multiple books? Are you willing to wait the year or more between instalments in order to experience such an epic tail?

Maybe it's novel serials you love, a collection of books with the same main characters but read, more or less, in any order. Seen often in Urban Fantasy, each book has its own unique beginning and satisfying conclusion as in the works of Charlene Harris, Patricia Briggs and Jim Butcher.

NOTE: There is also a subcategory of the series, immensely popular in the 1800s and not unlike online streaming platforms are these days. Enter the serialized novel. Here the story is delivered over a period of time in bite-size chunks, usually marked by cliffhangers at every mini-conclusion. 

Care to weigh in? I'll post the results near the end of the month!

I'd love to hear more in the comments! 

xxKim

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Kim Falconer, currently writing as A K Wilder, has just released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows coming out in 2022.

Kim can be found on  AKWilder Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Throw the bones, read your horoscopes or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site or have a listen to the audio version on the right.

Preorders - Life or Death to a Book

Books you can preorder now. See links below.

Hi everyone!

I am so excited to share the cover reveal for Curse of Shadows with you! The release date is TBC but I'll have that to you as soon as I am told. 

Unearth the bones is the thrilling sequel to AK Wilder’s sweeping and romantic fantasy, sure to delight readers with epic magic and adventure. The weight of the world tips as the once-heir, a young sailor and the recorder who loves them both are forced to make choices that may sunder them forever… but maybe, just maybe, save the world...

There are preorder links up, (Book Depository best for Aus and NZ) but before you check those out, I want to share something about why pre-orders matter. 

Why Preorders Matter to the Reader

Preorder Curse of Shadows

The preorder process involves signing up to buy a book before it is released. The advantages for readers are:

1) not missing out on a fav author's next title
2) getting a 'preorder deal' of a lower price
3) possibly receiving a signed bookplate, bookmark or other swag
4) supporting your favorite authors.

Why Pre-orders Matter to Authors

Art by Inoue Phantomotive

For authors, preorders make the difference between being on bestsellers lists, (including Amazon and the NY Times) or not, and between landing their next book deal or being passed over by their publisher. 

Preorders affect the 'lay-down' of physical books requested from retailers (how many of the author's books are shipped to how many bookstores across the country) and the ranking on websites like amazon, apple and Goodreads, which determines whether a book is seen, or not.

They are that important.

So, today, perhaps you will do one or two of your favorite authors a solid. Go to Goodreads and see what they have next on offer, and preorder a copy in your favorite format, from your favorite book store.

Where can you Preorder Books?

Most likely you can preorder any book through your B&N, Dymocks, Target, Booktopia, Fish Pond, and of course these big three:

Amazon.com
Amazon.com.au
Book Depository International

Or, your fav independent bookshop like the amazingly wonderful Mysterious Galaxy. 

Authors often have a link on their website where you can preorder their next book and doing so will really make a difference to the life of their book, and their career.

* * *

Art on Zero Chan by Ajkk

With that in mind, if you have a chance, please put Curse of Shadows on your Goodreads TBR and, if so inclined, preorder now.

If you have any fav authors with books coming up, let me know. Here are some I've preordered already!

Under the Milky Way by Vanessa Barneveld

Steelstriker by Marie Lu

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Charm by Tracy Wolff

Grace and Glory by Jeniffer L. Armentrout

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Million Dollar Demon by Kim Harrison

Chat any time in the comments!

xxKim

* * * 

Kim Falconer, currently writing as A K Wilder, has just released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy.

Kim can be found on  AKWilder Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Throw the bones, read your horoscopes or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site or have a listen to the audio version on the right.