Award-winning author Donnell
Ann Bell leaves the international thrillers to world travelers, preferring to concentrate on "suspense to close to
home"--books that could take place in her own neck of the woods. All of
her books have been e-book
bestsellers. Her fourth release, Buried Agendas, is due out in the fall of 2014. Donnell is also
one of the authors featured in Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice
on Love and Writing. Learn more
about Donnell and her books at her website.
All right, a very bad pun, but I’m coming down from a deadline, and it’s
Friday. On Friday, we talk about anything on Lois’s blog, so I thought we might
discuss how people feel about Series vs. Single Title. I’m curious because I
just completed my fourth single-title for Bell Bridge Books, and, as I do every
time I finish one, I lament saying goodbye to my characters. I’m actually
jealous of authors who get to commune with their characters longer.
Recently, though, I had a nice review that stated I’m glad this is a
single title instead of a series. For
obvious reasons I liked the review. However, I am also working on book one of a
series. Quite frankly, I’m nervous.
I admit to writing single title because the characters called to me and wanted
me to tell “their” story. Single
title gives me the freedom to research different topics, go different places,
and spend time with different characters. I never get bored writing single
title.
However, I’ve received some reviews that say readers want to see more of
these characters from my single title books. What’s a writer to do?
I admit that I get so lonely for these characters after they’re gone,
that I want to continue their saga. And I do have some planned.
I talked to a friend about series vs. single title and asked her
opinion. She said both. “Series
allows me to reconnect with characters I know I love and continue on with their
story. However, I think some authors continue it too far, going into book 21
when they should have stopped at something like book 8.”
About single title, she said, “If you get hold of a good single title,
it’s a lot like Christmas. You open the package, and you’re not sure what
you’re going to get. You may be
happy with it, or you may want to take it back. But nothing makes me happier
than reading an outstanding single title.”
She makes valid points, don’t you think? I love both series and single title. I’m hoping there’s room
enough in this world for both. In
the meantime, Buried Agendas is off
to copyediting, and I’m still missing these characters. I hope that’s a good sign, and, if you
like romantic suspense, I hope you’ll stay tuned. The log line for Buried
Agendas is, “A devastating secret drove her from the man she loved. Will a
secret equally as deadly lead her back to him?”
So, what about you? Are you
series all the way? Or do you like single title?
Betrayed
A woman
betrayed and a child stolen, bound by the invisible ties of blood.
When Oklahoma City resident, Irene Turner learns the
incomprehensible, that the stillborn baby she delivered 28-years earlier is
alive, she takes the evidence to where her daughter now lives—Denver
Colorado. Detective Nate Paxton can’t believe what Irene’s evidence shows
him. Kinsey Masters, a world-class athlete, raised by a prominent Denver
family, an unattainable woman he’s known and loved for years, was stolen at
birth.
Irene Turner, Nate Paxton, and Kinsey Masters are united in
a sordid conspiracy. But, it’s who the conspirators turn out to be that
will leave the trio shaken and in disbelief. Irene’s foundation of trust
will be ripped from its core, as kidnapping, murder, and a thirst for revenge
lead her to learn she’s been betrayed.
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