When Your Favorite Author Writes Too Slow

by Stephanie Suesan Smith In for Bea Tifton

Don't you hate it when an author you love puts out a new book and you read it all in one day?  I love the J.D. Robb books, and this happens to me every February and November.  Bonded in Death, the 60th book in this series, came out in February.  Even though I tried to read it slowly, the book was gone overnight (literally; I  stayed up reading it way past my bedtime).  Even though I consider the In Death books romances, they are a little gory for a lot of romance fans.  Of course, J.D. Robb is really a pseudonym for Nora Roberts.

Ms. Roberts writes fast but is now wealthy enough that she puts out four books a year.  Two In Death books, one standalone book, and one book in her current series.  She published Inheritance in November, 2023.  

The next book didn't come out for a whole year.  It came out in November, 2024.

The final book comes out in November, 2025.  I have learned from experience to reread the first two books in the trilogy before reading the last one.  Okay, so maybe a week's worth of reading this time.  I guess I should be grateful that Ms. Roberts delivers a new book every quarter between the two names she publishes under, but I wish she put out more books a year.  She used to when she was younger and hungrier, but now she has the luxury of working less.

In between Ms. Roberts' books, I mostly read nonfiction books.  I will read anything but horror (I have enough nightmares, thank you very much).  Occasionally, I will stumble on a nice series that has multiple books out, and I binge-read them.

How do you handle the space between the publication of books by your favorite author?  How do you find new authors to read?

 

 

Anticipation

 Stephanie Suesan Smith writing for Caroline Clemmons

It is fall in Texas and the temperatures are starting to drop enough to go outside during the day.  I am eagerly waiting for November.  I have a birthday then.  More importantly, a book comes out I want to read.  

Amazon Link

The Mirror, the second book in the Lost Brides Trilogy, by Nora Roberts comes out November 19, 2024.  I read the first book in the series, Inheritance, when it came out in the spring.  I also read Nora Roberts series In Death that she writes as J.D. Robb.  They come out in February and September.

I eagerly drop whatever book I am reading when a new In Death comes out and read it.  I usually finish it in two or three days.  Then I have book regret.  I have to wait six months for the next one.  Do you ever have problems with book regret?

As authors, having readers so excited about reading your books must be wonderful.  I usually write nonfiction articles and I don't know of anyone watering with baited breath to read my next gardening text.  

Of course, I have lots of books in the to-be-read pile to fill in the time between the publication of another book in the series I am reading.  

I had to switch to collecting ebooks when I moved from a house to an apartment, so the stacks ar metephorical.  I am always adding to it, but I miss real books.  I had a full room just for my books.  Somehow, it isn't the same to curl up with my phone to read them.  Do you prefer ebooks or physical books?  I still have some physical reference texts, but just don't have room for my library anymore.

What series do you rush to read?  Many of Caroline Clemmons' books are now in audiobook format, great for listening to while driving back and forth to work or on errands, or cleaning the house.