Thursday, July 29, 2010

Guest Author - Jeaniene Frost


I'm delighted to have one of my favourite urban fantasy writers, Jeaniene Frost here today for a return visit with a guest post and a giveaway to celebrate the launch of Eternal Kiss of Darkness. The book is the second in a new series of standalone novels set in the Night Huntress World. Jeaniene talks about why she decided to create a spin-off series in her special guest post...

Not only that, Jeaniene has also generously contributed a signed copy of Eternal Kiss of Darkness and a very special bonus prize for one lucky commenter. Jeaniene includes all the details on how to enter in her post.

You can read an extended excerpt of the book on the HarperCollins website here, visit her blog here or visit the wonderful Frost Cemetery fansite here.You'll also find the book trailer and back cover copy at the end of the post.

Welcome back Jeaniene!

 The Night Huntress World

First, thanks so much to Doug for having me back. I had a lot of fun with my last visit, even if I still have to repay Doug for getting me to confess about my shameful childhood underoos secret.

On Tuesday my novel, Eternal Kiss of Darkness, released into the wild. It’s the story of Mencheres, a very old Master vampire, and Kira, a Chicago private investigator who gets pulled into the middle of an eons-old feud after interrupting what she thinks is a regular mugging. I was able to indulge my inner wanna-be Egyptologist with Mencheres’s character and background, plus finally show readers of the Night Huntress series what lurks behind his oh-so-unfathomable mask. Kira was also one of my favorite characters to write. Though she’s a human thrust into a world where mortality is often considered a liability, she still holds her own when matching wits with creatures who are hundreds or thousands of years older than her. Eternal Kiss of Darkness is book two in Night Huntress World novels, but it’s a stand alone, so new readers don’t need to worry about being caught up on everything before picking it up.

I’m often asked why I chose to write spin-offs from my main series. Some of the questions ranged from “You already have a successful series; why risk writing something that might drag your sales record down?” or “Shouldn’t you finish all the Cat and Bones books before moving on to new characters?” For me, the reason why I wrote Eternal Kiss of Darkness (and its predecessor, First Drop of Crimson) was simple – I wanted to tell those stories. I might have initially started with only Cat and Bones in my head, but once I’d delved into their world and filled it with so many interesting side characters, more than Cat and Bones’s story started demanding to be told. I’ve jokingly compared writing to schizophrenia, with the exception that writers get to make the voices in their heads earn their keep. A story for me starts out with the inability to get certain characters out of my head, endlessly spinning more details about their history, fears, hopes, dreams, and regrets until I have a framework of a plot. Once I have that, I want to get it out of my head and onto the page.

That’s the “why” behind writing spin-offs instead of only sticking to one main series until it’s done. Yes, it was a risk because I knew I had more readers plugged into Cat and Bones than into my other side characters, and yes, some readers have grumbled about waiting longer for a Cat and Bones book because of the Night Huntress World novels. But if I ignored the very process that brought me Cat and Bones in the first place, then I’d worry that writing had become more of an assembly-line job than the outpouring of my imagination into a novel. I go where the stories lead me, and I hope that readers will enjoy taking that trip along with me, too.

Never fear, however, that Cat and Bones have gone quiet in my mind. Their next novel, This Side of the Grave, comes out Feb 22nd, and you can read the first chapter at the back of Eternal Kiss of Darkness. I’m also working on Cat and Bones book 6 right now, and as you might expect, it’s not about them chilling seaside while sipping blood-laced margaritas ;-).

But back to my latest novel. If you want a free sample of Eternal Kiss of Darkness, the first 20% is available here: http://tinyurl.com/24f7fh6. As a side note, I’m a big advocate of “try before you buy”, so I love that my publisher posts such a good chunk of their titles online.

And to celebrate its release, I’m offering a signed copy of Eternal Kiss of Darkness and a $25.00 gift card to either Borders, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chapters Indigo, or Powells, winner’s choice which. To enter the contest, simply leave a comment stating what you do like, or don’t like, about series that change main characters. Remember to leave your name because it’s hard to award a prize to “anonymous” :)
Contest is open until Midnight, Monday, August 9.

Note: This contest is open to international readers as well as US ones, but the gift card will be in US dollars only and I must be able to purchase it online through one of the above retailers. If the winner is in a country where I am unable to send the gift card online through one of those retailers, I will still send the signed book, but Doug will redraw another winner for the $25 gift card. Sorry, but some countries do not have an easy way for me to send an online book store gift card.

-Jeaniene Frost






Posted by at 12:01 AM
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101 comments:

  1. Doug- I didn't mention earlier, but I'm really glad that your back! I hope all is well now. :D

    Jeaniene- I for one am not questioning to your why. LOL I love that authors give us the chance to explore their supporting characters. Sometimes I even want to know more about one of these characters than the actual heroine and hero. ;) As to if I love or hate novels that switch characters- before ever reading one; I actually did write them off as books I prolly wouldn't like, but than I read the BDB and fell in love with the different style. It's kind of bitter sweet, because in some instances I want to keep reading about the same characters, but then I'm also glad we're given the chance to explore others.
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  2. I love series that follow different characters. While I may fall in love with one character, I know that after a while, they will probably get on my nerves. It might take me a few books to get there, but if I'm given a distraction (such as... a book in that series featuring another character), I'm so thankful to return to the original one. Well that.. and some side characters are just so amazing they deserve their own book and story!
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  3. I like it when a series gets a spin off or changes characters. As much as I love some series and their main characters I get a bit frustrated by the drawing out of romantic entanglements and forever ongoing love triangles and such.
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  4. The only thing I don't like about a series is if the character change is completely out of the left field. Ex. Charlaine Harris' Alcide-kind of a rebound guy but becomes totally unlikeable in the pit where the new leader is determined. It wasn't a scene I liked, and it was just so...unlikable. I do like characters that progess naturally and don't have their heads up their bums. Ex. Patricia Brigg's Mercy who has a life changing event happen in IK, and unlike in several other series it's not blown over in a few pages, Adam takes it seriously. It's a phase so she can heal and doesn't automatically lead to various intimate scenes that just don't fit. I like a series that isn't just focusing on one couple. Briggs and Kelley Armstrong are the strongest I've read yet and best part we get a peek at previous characters briefly throughout the series.
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  5. What i like about a series is being able to see a character grow and how everything around them impacts that growth.

    Thanks for the giveaway! Looking forward to read EKOD :)
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  6. Well, I prefer a balance in characters. I like continuity but I need to see side characters developing their own stories, too. On the other hand, without the familiar main character reappearing every so often, I will usually lose interest in the series eventually.

    For instance, while I dearly used to love C. Feehan's "Dark" series, her choice of always introducing 2 new main characters finally ended my enthusiasm for all of it. Thus far, the Cat & Bones series offers the right combination of following through with its main characters while letting secondary ones also have their shot at center stage, too. I love reading Denise and Spaade's romance, and was glad to learn more about what made them tick.
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  7. I more like having a series with the same characters but a definite plus with switching narrators is having a HEA faster. I do like to see past characters show up with the new ones as long as it makes sense and the old ones aren't just there because the readers really demanded it.
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  8. Thaks for such a great guest post Jeaniene! I love the idea for the spin-offs it just gives more depth to the main series in my opinion! =)

    Please count me in for the giveaway =)

    larissa@larissaslife.com

    {I live in Brazil but I buy my books at amazon.com, and I have received their gift card before. Just thought I'd let you know}

    best!
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  9. Thanks for the inetersting post and the great giveaway Jeaniene!

    Usually I like it when it is the same narrator through the whole series, it makes the series more unfirom, and I love to see a development, groth of the character. It adds another dimension to the series.

    However, one of my favourite series (Women of the Otherworld yb Kelley Armstrong) is told through different characters, and it is so interesting to see how the same event is percieved differently by the different characters.

    So I guess I'm open to both approach :-)

    Thanks again for the great giveaway and wishing you the best for the future! :-)
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  10. Sometimes, a series has a strong protagonist or a strong lead couple, and while I may enjoy their friends, family, acquaintances, those characters are often in a supporting role for a reason. When the author then gives them their own story/book, you can just feel that they are not up to the job of holding up a book. It's as if they lack just that extra spark of charisma that the original main leads possessed.

    This isn't always the case, of course, but I've been disappointed before.

    BTW, your comment, A story for me starts out with the inability to get certain characters out of my head, endlessly spinning more details about their history, fears, hopes, dreams, and regrets until I have a framework of a plot, made me realize that part of my problem when writing a novel is that I often start without knowing everything about my leads. I often have a more vague idea of them, hoping that I'll cement it as I go along. Perhaps I should give them far more room and far more time to talk in my head before putting their story on the page. Thanks for the food-for-thought.
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  11. Hi Doug - thank you SO much for hosting a Jeaniene interview/giveaway!

    Hi Jeaniene! I don't mind series that switch characters, as long as past characters are still involved in the story and the story and world progress. Some of my favorite series do this (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Dark-Hunters, Lords of the Underworld) and I think it works beautifully. It lets you you see a much bigger overview of the world because you see it from many different perspectives. And you learn so much about the specific person when they are telling the story.

    Thanks for this giveaway. I haven't bought EKOD yet but I do look forward to reading Mencheress story. And, I do hope to see Vlad's story in the future. :)

    -Smash
    SmashAttackReads at gmail dot com
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  12. I don't have a favorite way for an author to handle their characters. I love the series that have separate books for each character and I love the ones that don't. I like the way you are doing it, main series with spin-offs. I love the "voices in my head earn their keep" . See you on Aug. 5 in NC
    Sharon
    Supernatural Underground
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  13. I like a series that changes the main character. Kelley Armstrong writes a fabulous series that does that. It lets you get to know more characters and get inside their heads after seeing them on the side for awhile.

    But I still like a main character that remains the same because then we get to REALLY know that one character. Really it just depends on the quality of the writing behind the character. New characters are great but so are repeated ones.

    I like that Jeaniene has this as a new series, where we can see all the side characters from the Night Huntress series starring in their own book. Now if we could only have one for Ian. ;)
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  14. I don't mind character changes in a series. If I read the series it's because I like the writing. Once I start reading a particular author I tend to read anything they write, no matter what. :-)

    zita(at)dal(dot)ca
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  15. Congrats on your new release and am looking forward to reading it. Great contest btw.
    I think if your writing a series about the same characters ie cat and bones that they have to change or it would become stagnant. I love your series cause they do keep evolving and you do explore other portions of their world other than just the two of them. Any hints on who else you'll have been for maybe Cat human partner she had.
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  16. What don't I love about the books. They are exciting and funny and just plain wonderful. Plus the guys are really hot --I've never had a crush on a literary character -- but Bones is my 1st.

    I love these offshoots since I have always been a fan of secondary characters and always want to know more about them
    contestmom AT hotmail DOT com
    mountie9
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  17. sorry I meant books not been. I need to preview or quit being in such a hurry lol.
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  18. I like series that have different main characters in each book in series but have those same characters in some way in each book.

    For example, a series where there is a house full of vampires and each book centers on one of them but they are all (or most) talked about, interact together etc in each book.

    Dena
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  19. Hi Jeaniene!

    I'm also a fan off giving spinoff character their own story. I find that it's fun to get a fresh take every once in awhile without having to leave the setting of a favorite series. It keeps things exciting! ;-)
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  20. I like spin-offs because you can explore secondary characters while still having the main series focus on the oringinal characters. I'm not crazy about series that feature a different main character for each book.
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  21. I like that we finally get THEIR story! Those side/supporting characters.
    I have a complete love for series where the main characters are always the same, but it's nice to read the spinoffs!
    Thanks so much for the giveaway!
    I can't wait to read this one :D
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  22. Please enter me in the giveaway!
    Best wishes
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  23. Hi Jeaniene,

    I love when a series lets us get to know the secondary characters. The strong ones tweek our curiosity and we want to know more about them.
    I guess the thing I hate most is when characters just change for no reason. Change is ongoing but when they do something out of the norm for no reason that goes against their character gripes me.
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  24. I don't mind when authors change the lead characters of their novels or write spinoffs. More often than not I love supporting characters in a novel and its great seeing them get their own HEAs.

    Thanks for the giveaway! I love your books Jeaniene!
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  25. Thanks for the interview, it was interesting to learn the motivations for the spin off. I enjoy further reading about worlds that I am into even when the original series may not yet be complete.
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  26. I feel like there is nothing better than being able to read about the secondary characters. I mean they are what make a story flow. However I like when the main characters of a series are at least still apart of the story. I dont want them to be forgotten. Jeaniene makes her series work on all levels. I mean I love her secondary characters but Bones has to at least make a phone call in the books because I love to hear his voice!!

    aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
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  27. Great interview! I love spin offs because its often the secondary characters that help shape the main characters into the vamps that they are today. Nobody could overshadow Bones but other people in his world are interesting too.

    In FDOC I wanted to know more about Spade, Bones best friend from way back and I was surprised to learn that he was a far gentler vamp despite his horrible past. Well, gentle with Denise:)

    I'm hoping that Vlad and Ian get books of their own too! Ian is proving to be one of the best secondary characters to date and although he can be irritating, I think he would be a brilliant main character. Any woman that captures his heart would have to be...I cannot even imagine it!

    Anna
    vampchixreadbooks@gmail.com
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  28. I personally consider the series that create the world and then continue to explore that world from the viewpoints of different characters much more compelling in theory than milking the same character(s) over and over again. However in the end it all depends on the authors ability to carry the story and both concepts are potentially hits or misses.
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  29. I know she has been mentioned several times already, but Kelley Armstrong does a fantastic job of switching narrators while still world building and keeping all the characters connected.
    I've tried various spin-offs, but haven't quite found one I like. I'm excited to find out about this one! I can't wait to give it a try.

    sleepingaurora at gmail dot com
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  30. Welcome back SciFi...

    Series character change does not bother me.. it is about diversity. I mean if the series is going to run along family lines, then it should change... Even for the True Blood series, I loved Sookie, but it was done in a way that brought everyone to the forefront.
    Thanks for the chance!
    alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com
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  31. I really dont mind when a series changes the main characters. As much as I fall in love with the characters in one book I am always wondering about the secondaries that make an impression. And I love when we get the chance to find out more about them too.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com
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  32. mcdonaldrenee

    mcdonaldrenee1@gmail.com

    This was a great post, especially since I admit to being one of the "grumblers" about waiting longer for more Cat & Bones before I read FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON. I prefer series that follow one set of main characters, because I feel like I can grow with them, and especially is there is any kind of romance/sexual tension involved, I don't feel like their love story was rushed to fit in 300 pages. Although, if a side character is really interesting (eg: VLAD!!!) I like hearing their story too.
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  33. First of all, I love the Night Huntress series! I'm sure this new endeavor will be great too.
    As for POV, as long as something is organized and written well it doesn't matter to me. And while I love having lots of characters, I think an author has to be careful not to throw too many new character at the reader at one time. I just read a book that was terrible on many levels, but the one thing that bothered me the most was that the POV switched between the two main characters at random. Even mid-paragraph. But I think many good authors have pulled it off successfully; many people have mentioned Kelley Armstrong already. But at the end of the day, everyone is going to have their personal preferences and favorite and not-so-favorite characters.
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  34. I like series that change main characters, because I don't get bored. Some series are wayyyy too long and have the same character and make me feel like they are drawn out. But I also like sometimes when I finish a book I want more of the character's story, so I guess I also like series that keep the same character. But I can't do series that are like 8 or more books and keep the same character. It's mildly monotonous.-pwnic78-Paige
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  35. I love your series, I like to keep guessing on whats coming next to characters. I do like watching them grow. Right now from all I've read I had this vision that each book links to major story of war. You keep adding other powerful resources (um demons) for Cat to add to her family army.. ?

    Thanks for the contest.

    V. Swanson
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  36. Being a fan of Anya Bast's Elemental Witches series and Pamela Palmer's Feral Warriors series, I have really grown to love a series where each book is about a different character. Don't get me wrong, I love many series that are from one POV (the Night Huntress series being my fav). The Night Huntress World books are great for a few reasons: (1) we get to get a glimpse inside the vampire's head for a change, (2) we get a more in depth look at the vampire world from a vampire's perspective [including super hot sex] and (3) we get to know some new characters while still enjoying characters what we know and love. I gotta say you did something I never thought would happen in a million years. Not only did you make me like Mencheres, you made me feel sympathy for him and anger towards Bones for being a dick. That never would have happened in the Cat and Bones world. Being inside Mencheres' head gave me much more respect for him and I see him differently now. It actually made me feel like apologizing to him for thinking he was an egotistical prick. That is great writing. I'm really hoping you'll get to go the Patricia Brigg's route and have a spin-off series based on one person because Vlad needs a series of his own. Thank you so much for sharing your world with us, Jeaniene!!!!
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  37. In a main series (ex: the actual NH...C&B series), changing main characters (rather than just changing POVs ...like Jocelynn Drake did in Pray for Dawn) is something I am not a big fan of. If you have a series with certain characters as hero/heroine, then it's nice to stick with them until their story is complete. Before someone throws something at me, I do NOT think this is what Jeaniene has done w/NH World books. She's said before that FDOC and EKOD are stand alones (though I think it's helpful to have read C&B first, since you'll meet these characters there, first). I love FDOC and EKOD and am hoping she gets contracted to do more NH World books (in addition to C&B :D). These give us a great insight to some of our fave "minor" characters from the main series. Perfect way to compliment the main series, IMHO.

    Another way to handle it is how Richelle Mead or Kelley Armstrong are doing things. Richelle is completing her story about Rose (VA series) but her next YA will feature some of the minor characters in VA as the main characters. Kelley did a trilogy featuring certain characters, and once their story was completed, will keep that world as well, and introduce us readers to some new characters. All 3 are good ways to handle the issue if you want to actually bring a minor character into a major role, and NOT just change POV from one main character to another.
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  38. Hi Jeaniene. I like it when supporting characters get their own books. The only thing I don't like is if the story is convoluted and not on the same caliber as the previous series/books. Thank you for the awesome giveaway.
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  39. Sometimes having one of the minor characters get the spotlight is a great thing, and other times it's really bad. I think the outcome depends on the author and character's personality. If I don't like a character, then I don't care about what they have to say and what happens to them. Most of the time though, I really enjoy getting a closer looks at background characters, especially in the spin-offs of the Night Huntress series. I loved Spade from what we saw of him and I was really glad to have gotten his story.

    Jeaniene, of course I LOVED going on the trip with you through the Night Huntress World. I am so glad you followed your creative side and your heart and wrote spin-off books! I would love to have had more of Cat and Bones in 2010, but at least they make some appearances in the spin-offs, and I am really looking forward to learning more about Mencheres so I can't get to sad about the lack of Cat and Bones!

    As much as I wish that Cat and Bones will eventually have enough peace and quiet to sip margaritas and have some lovin' (although they always have time for that don't they? ;]) I have complete faith in you and I'm sure you'll do an amazing job on books 5 and 6. =D
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  40. Thanks for the guest post Jeaniene. I love your books. Thanks.
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  41. i love series that follow different characters!! each book introduces us to new characters and new stories to enjoy reading about.
    thanks for the awesome contest!

    mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com
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  42. I love that you've decided to write about some of the secondary characters. I remember reading through the original Night Huntress books wanting more from some of these characters, and I got my wish!! So, in general, I think there are several reasons why I like either spinoff series (when done well) or series that switch POV and have different main characters in different books (e.g., Melissa Marr's Faery Courts series). 1) It gives the readers an opportunity to delve into well-loved but not main characters, 2) it adds to the main story because the reader can better understand all the characters, not just the mains, 3) it keeps the reader from getting bored with the mains, and 4) it just keeps things fresh. I don't like when spinoffs completely exclude the mains from another story, mostly because I get attached. So, if the mains can be woven as secondary characters in the spinoffs (like you do quite well!), I absolutely love reading about secondary characters!

    Can't wait until my EKOD copy gets here tomorrow!
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  43. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    I like series because it's like i visit my best friends again and again.
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  44. At first I didn't like that Cat's best friend Denise hubby was killed off but then with the spin-off series I like that she found a happy ending with Spade. So a dislike turned to a like.

    usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom
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  45. I love the series. If i had to change anything it would be that Vlad and Ian had their own books. And That we didn't have to wait till Feb 2011 to get the next cat and bones book. LOL
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  46. I love series that "spin off" from the main characters. It gives you a different aspect on the whole story. It also let's you experience new elements and other personalities. Jeaniene does it amazingly with mencheres and spade, they both definitely needed their own stories. Although the main characters cat and bones will always remain my favorites.
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  47. I enjoy series involving multiple characters, mostly when each book concentrates on a different character, but all the other characters are still involved. Kelley Armstrong does a great job, as does JR Ward.
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  48. I think making side stories gives readers insight into the other characters and what makes them say and do, whatever they do. It also may somehow give insights into the story of the mmain series, like the NH Series with Cat and Bones.
    It also shows the Main characters from the main series in a different light, and how they are percieved.
    I think Spin-Offs are great, and even if you have to wait for a book form the main series, you actually get other great stories.
    Amazing interview Jeanine, btw. (:
    Can't wait to read EKOD, and I know it is going to be awesome. Even if I am getting it around September... /: :D
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  49. I can't tell you how much I have anticipated this book! Ironically, I have not read your Cat & Bones series yet. I started with First Drop of Crimson. Thanks for blogging.
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  50. I love both type of series reading. In the Christine Feehan dark series different characters allow some characters that you didn't think were out there like Ivory in Dark Slayer.
    Tonya Aberle
    taberlebooks@gmail.com
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  51. I like series that have spin-offs as long as the spin-off has a great story and wasn't just written to make a profit.
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  52. I like both. The benefit of a series staying with one character is we get to see the growth of that character. But it is fun to read about different characters in the same world.
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  53. Jeaniene,

    I downloaded EKOD and didn't go to bed before finishing it. I have enjoyed all of your books but Cat and Bones still remain my favorites characters. The new series is fun and I expect a ghoul war may be coming!

    Watching Cat's mom change has been so interesting and I would love to see you do a book about her! Seeing her get vengence for her murdered lover could be a plus too.
    Thanks for the fun reading.
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  54. i think kelley armstrong's women of the otherworld is a perfect exampleof a series with different main characters from time to time that i love (and it looks like several others here do as well.)

    i do love series in general becausei like seeing how characters grow and change over time.

    meaghan_koci (at) yahoo (dot) COM
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  55. I like it when authors change their main characters to those of side characters because we get to know more about them and see their HEA, especially if they captured my attention in the original series. Love your book Jeaniene!
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  56. I love these books, each and every one:)Jeanienes books started my love of a good spin off. I really enjoy reading about the other characters. It's like filling in pieces of the puzzle. Some times books have characters you just personally love. Many of these characters deserve a book, and its exciting to see it told.
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  57. I like staying with the same character. When I pick up the next book in a series, I look forward to going back and reading about more adventures with a character I've come to know really well. It's also cool to see the progress the main character makes and see how far they've come since the beginning of the series.
    But I still really enjoy spin-offs about other characters. It's fun to learn more about the secondary characteres in a story.
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  58. Welcome back Doug and glad to see you are feeling better!

    Hi Jeaniene,

    I love your books and congrats on your new book release!

    I love series that explore their supporting characters because sometimes I rather learn more about them then the main hero/heroine.

    Thanks for the great giveaway!
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  59. I like series that change main characters. Look at the Kresley Cole Immortals After Dark Series, or Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling Series... fabulous! I love when authors bring back recurring characters too. It's great!
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  60. When you really get into a book series, you become attached to ALL the characters. You become curious about them and their story. Some authors cover that history in short stories and novellas. Jeaniene Frost takes that further by creating books for them and I love that!! Thanks, Jeaniene! Can't wait to read it!!
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  61. Jeaniene, I am officially addicted to your writing, all of it. I adore Cat & Bones, they are my favorite series ever (and I ready over 300 books a year) but the Night Huntress World is right up there at the top. It's like a softer journey into the universe that holds my attention long after the books are finished.

    I have to confess that I couldn't wait for the book to arrive so I pre-ordered for my Kindle so that I could get it at 3 AM my time. (I've been trying to recover from that the rest of this week :) ) Now I'm in need for my bookcase copy and my pass it on to an unsuspecting future fan copy.

    I for one will never grumble about what you happen to be writing...as long as you continue to do so.

    Thank you.
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  62. What I like about a series is the the plot and the angst of the main character. I like to see the growth of the main character and their vulnerability. What I dislike is when perhaps a sub plot is dragged or not resolved. I can appreciatte a cliff hanger but when it ongoing and not resolved I lose interest in the direction to where the series is going.

    In respects to adding other character or spin offs I love it. Sometimes I might dislike the new characters that are being introduced. But that is art of the writer to get a reaction from the reader which is great.
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  63. I think it's wonderful that you are choosing to let readers see through another characters eyes. I've been reading a couple of authors' works (like Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr & O. R. Melling) who have been doing that with their books. It has been fun and interesting to see the story continue but from another character's perspective. They do a terrific job of keeping the main characters story from previous books intermingled with the current book and a lot of unanswered questions end up answered... or more insight has been given.
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  64. I actually like both having the same characters in each book as well as books with different main characters. I find it really depends on the author. But I will admit that I have been getting bored with books that have a HEA and the characters spend way too much time in the bedroom. I'm looking for a little more story, which is one of the reasons I love Cat and Bones and all the secondary characters. Can't wait to read the new book. I've already sold it to some of my regular customers at the Chapters/Indigo book store that I work in.
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  65. I agree Lynette. It appears a lot of authors are going the same route as tv and movies. Like the story itself is not enough to carry the series, you have to have steamy scenes in the bedroom. But authors like Marr, Chen-Headley, Armstrong, Melling, Bray, Ruthfuss, Riordan and Rodriguez-Wallach have all found ways to captivate readers without having to go there or spend a chunk of the storyline in the bedroom. There is romance, but it's not the center of the plot. There are sexy scenes in some of the books, but never takes away from the story.
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  66. I usually like when a series branches into new characters, the new point of view adds to the world and usually provides new insight into all the characters, including the original main character.
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  67. Jeaniene-Loved your Cat/Bones series and was excited to hear that a spin off series was to start.I'll be honest that when I found out that Spade would be the first one to get the spin off, I was a little taken back. I liked Spade from the others books but I didn't get a feel for who he was. After reading his book, I knew how wrong I was. Great book but sometimes that's the draw back to reading a spin off characters. Sometimes you just want to read the one's you love already(Vlad) and lose interest other stories.To me, that is the draw back.Thanks for creating such strong characters that they can survive in their own books.
    cherie_mlln@yahoo.ca
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  68. Hi Everyone,

    Jeaniene will drop in to comment as soon as she can. She has been at RWA without Net access and is now starting her book tour by train, BUT she will be here.

    Thanks for all the tremendous posts so...
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  69. Not only do I love reading about the hero/heroine of the story, but I also like the side characters. It's nice to see the emotional growth of the background characters.

    Skk25@aol.com
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  70. I love it when authors change the main characters to supporting characters as it not only fleshes out the world they created more, but basically now I know about the side characters in their life!

    the only time where I don't like it is when the relatives or children of the main characters of previous books are the main characters. It just bugs me because now my main characters are old or the children are better than them... and such.
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  71. I love it when authors change the main characters to supporting characters as it not only fleshes out the world they created more, but basically now I know about the side characters in their life!

    the only time where I don't like it is when the relatives or children of the main characters of previous books are the main characters. It just bugs me because now my main characters are old or the children are better than them... and such.
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  72. I like when series change the main characters as long as they are secondary characters in the other books...like the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. I think it helps to keep the story from getting stale and getting bored with the same character.

    Raelena
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com
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  73. I love the "world" of Cat & Bones and I'm glad that you decided to do a spin-off from this series. I have seen several authors do this and it is such a awesome way to keep the series fresh and on-going(on-going being the KEY word). When I've been following a series for years and it ends, I mourn for it much the way you would a lost friend so I salute you and others who have been unable to get the characters out of your head as as readers we don't want them to end.

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")
    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
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  74. It's tough to know if I'll like it when a series switches characters. On one hand I hate to see my prior favorites shunted to the background, but on the other hand it's nice to get a different perspective on the action. I think it depends on how well it's written. The Women of the Otherworld has half a dozen narrators so far and I love every one of them. But I've read another series (I'll forbear to name it *grin*) where it seemed the author was only writing the spinoffs to please someone else and hadn't put her heart into them like she did with the main series.
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  75. I really enjoy it when authors write about the supporting characters. But I think it is the style of writing and the way you still managed to include the main characters while keeping their personalities in tact even down to their sense of humor. I feel closer to the main characters as well and have no problem transitioning when a "main character" book comes out. Keep them coming. SPerriello@optonline.net
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  76. I don't mind a changeup at all. It keeps the series fresh and intriguing, especially when the characters are extra dark and fab.

    VWinship at aol dot com
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  77. What else is there to say? I LOVE the spin-off's because I want to know more about the characters.<3 Spade! Think about the later books when we understand the characters so deeply. The only thing that might get confusing is when to read in order. At our local bookstore I could only find 1st Drop of Crimson after "listening" to book 1. I wasn't sure when to read it. I asked friends who had read all 4 and figured I should wait until after 4 to read it. Luckily, from now on- no worries. I just read what comes out.
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  78. I love series that the characters stay the same, like Cat and Bones, but I also love series that change the main characters each book. Sounds like a cop out answer but I really do love both. Now, what I DON'T love is no follow up at all on characters. For instance, though J.R. Ward has a different HEA per book we still get details of the others as the series goes on-- same with Gena Showalter.

    As far as books, series or not, my only "must have" is humor...it can be the end of world dammit, but I want some witty banter!
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  79. In general, I prefer series that stick with the same main characters. I like the in-depth characterizations and character growth in those. At the same time, if the author wants to explore some other characters in the middle of the series that's okay with me as long as the main characters will be back in later books.

    What I'm not as much of a fan of is when the main couple changes in every book in the series. PNR tends to do this, whereas UF tends to stick with the same protagonists throughout the series. That's probably why I prefer UF to PNR.
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  80. I like series that switch narrators because it gives you a chance to see what other characters are thinking and feeling, and it gives you a nice change in perspective. I can't say that series that switch narrators are my favorite, but I do enjoy them.

    -Lume n' Dreams
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  81. I like spin-offs too, because with a good book, chances are, you're interested in about what's going on in the other characters' head.

    A spin-off being set up after a series is also good so it means I don't have to leave that world just yet.

    Drawing out of romance frustrates me, and I continue on if there's good sexual tension and potential romance that will make me feel that they're worth the wait (but not in a course of say, over 4 books).
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  82. I enjoy series that switch the main characters when the previous book ends with a sense of closure. I like getting to know secondary characters even better in spin-offs/companions/sequels, but I always hope for cameos from previous main characters.
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  83. I thik changing main characters works best in series where each book is a HEA romance like Nalini Singh's Psy Changeling books. It can, however work in a more UF setting (ie Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld)though I this is a tougher sell for me as a reader.
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  84. I don't mind a series changing characters. I think it can keep a series fresh if it's done right, and I think you do it right :P

    As long as there is more Bones to come, I am a happy person.
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  85. I enjoy when an author writes a book with a new main character. Usually I've gotten to read quite a few books by an author and have been introduced to a lot of other characters. Many times I want to see things from their perspective. I like seeing the main characters from the original books from someone else's perspective as well.
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  86. I much prefer a series that sticks with the main characters such as Cat and Bones. I do read the spin offs but I just like it when I get to follow the main characters and see how they evolve.
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  87. I am definitely not a fan of main characters changing. Because, usually, I never like the new character introduced and I always want to go back to the first one.
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  88. I usually don't mind when the main character changes throughout a series, unless I fall in love with the character> but it's because I'm a stubborn person, and I usuallu get over it if the series is good enough.
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  89. Changing main characters in a series doesn't really bother me a whole lot unless the main character's storyline is really incomplete. But there are times, like with Vlad, when I really want to know more about a secondary character, and this is a perfect way to do it.
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  90. I've never read one of her books but everyone seems to really love her. This can go either way for me, with Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, all of the characters are really strong so I don't mind it and she did it early on but if a character is too likeable or changed several books in I usually resent the newer character for some reason.
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  92. Hello! I like when a series changes main characters because you get to see their side of the story. On the other hand, I find it easy to become attached to a main character and when it switches, it's almost like a betrayal by the author--how can they be so unfaithful to such a wonderful character?
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  93. I just adore this series, and would love to get the next book.
    This is a great giveaway. Thanks!
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  94. I love the variety that the series offers! Without them how would we get to enjoy so much of your great imagination! Thanks for doing such a great job on your books!! Love them!
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  95. I am always very hesitant when the main characters change - I get so involved with one set of main characters that my inner reader rebels and pouts and sits apathetically by, allowing the next book to collect dust on my shelf until my Type - A personality smashes it down, picks up the book and reads it. And I have to say that in all cases (the most recent being The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan) I have really enjoyed the new perspective!

    This series is intriguing and I can't wait to get my hands on it! :D
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  96. I really think it depends on how the series is set up. If the series follows just one character, I think it should be consistent. If the author wants to write about a side character, I think Ms. Frost did it the right way by starting a new series.

    If it's a series where each book is dedicated to a different character, then I prefer it to stay like that. I don't want to old characters to take lead roles in future books, cause their story has already been told.
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  97. I love UF and PNR series. I love watching characters grow and change with the things thrown at them.
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  98. I enjoy reading series which change their main characters in each book. The couple make a brief appearance in book 1 and is the main focus in book 3. I like seeing the same characters throughout a series.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com
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  99. The nice thing about having different leads every book is it gives you a chance to learn more about the world and people who inhabit it, but at the same time you end up getting attached too the characters and leaving them behind can, well, suck to be honest.

    Tdubwow@gmail.com
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  100. Well, I usually like side characters more than main characters, and if series has several interesting side characters it is quite likely that some of them get really little page time in a series that doesn't change its main characters. On the other hand, following same main characters for many books allows more growth for them than just one book would.

    Mervi
    musmekipi at gmail dot com
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  101. How do we know who won? o.O
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