by James M. Jackson
While searching for an agent for Niki Undercover, I had
to provide summary plots for the second and third books. The second book, NikiUnleashed, was easy; I was already working on its third draft. The request
occurred during Biden’s third year of presidency, and I decided Niki would fight
against a conspiracy to install a new president by decapitating much of the
line of succession.
Then Trump won the election and began reshaping the
executive branch. Prior to the October 2025 start of my story, DOGE employed
its flamethrower approach to firing “excess” employees, the President dismissed
well-respected military officers, and the FBI terminated agents tied to the
January 6th investigations. I could either use a fictional President X or
incorporate the real one into the story.
Because those events directly affected Niki’s world, using a
fictional presidency felt wrong. I won't include spoilers here, but I'll say
this: unlike the typical thriller "ripped from today's headlines,"
this year I've frequently found myself reading headlines ripped from my
story.
That wasn’t what made this novel my most difficult to write.
The emotional arc of a series tracks a character’s deep
psychological growth in multi-layered stages rather than in one book. Series
allow characters to keep growing, healing, or tragically falling short of their
promise. With a living series, it’s incremental and never complete.
Not so in a trilogy. The closing of the third novel must
leave readers believing that the author has fulfilled the emotional promises
made in book one. Readers may prefer a different ending but accept that the one
they read is fully justified. And best of all is if they are a bit sorry their
time with the main characters has come to (at least for now) an end.
Early Bookbub reviews captured what I hoped:
“I really didn't see the end coming. I know this is the end
of the trilogy of Niki but, I sure am hoping there will be more to the story!”
and
“I am so sad that this is the last book in the Niki Trilogy
but am hopeful that she may make appearances in future Seamus books. Fingers
crossed!”
Writers, how have you faced the challenges of completing a
series? Readers, what’s your reaction when a beloved series ends?
* * * * *
James M. Jackson writes justice-driven thrillers with brains and bite, including the Niki Undercover Thriller trilogy and the Seamus McCree series. To learn more information about Jim and his books, check out his website, https://jamesmjackson.com. You can sign up for his newsletter (and get to two free short stories featuring his protagonists).
I like series enders much better when it goes the way the author intended. Sadly in today's publishing world, that's not always the case with all the cancellations. Congratulations on your new novel!
ReplyDeleteYes, when publishers don't renew contracts for a series, it does often leave you hanging.
DeleteOne of the more distressing setbacks to my writing was when I had a novel that included an armed threat to an elementary school (in the book it remained a threat; the only one injured was my protagonist) but the release time was the week of the Sandy Hook school shooting. With people suffering such overwhelming grief, no way could I go forward with any publicity whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate timing indeed.
DeleteI chose to end the Haunted Library series I wrote as Allison Brook because the eighth book completed my protagonist's story arc. I was happy to start a new series with new characters. That said, I feel I could write a spinoff with the same characters some years older.
ReplyDeleteAnd I bet your fans would enjoy seeing how the characters changed and matured in the time -- and got into new troubles.
DeleteIf it is a series that has been going on for a long time, sometimes you know there is not much more that can be told. There have been some books that I have enjoyed but I will read the latest and something is missing either the story line or the characters no longer seem true to the earlier books.It seem as though someone else has taken over the writing to continue the series.
ReplyDeleteThere have been some whose authors are no longer around but their books are still being written, sometimes it works, other times…
I have been disappointed when I read a new author with the promise of more to come and they never do. I almost never find out whether it is the author or the publisher who is responsible.
There have also been stories that have ended and then suddenly, several years later, the author brings the characters back. Most of the time too much time has elapsed and it’s hard to go back
Of course, then there is Sherlock Holmes…
All good observations. I know of some readers who refuse to read a series until it has at least X number of novels published. Three is a popular number, but I met a reader at an event who insisted on at least five.
DeleteResponding as a reader, NOOOOOOOOOO. I always want more if it’s a series I have come to love, and I find I miss the characters when they ride off into the sunset. Curious to see where you take this, Jim.
ReplyDeleteThat makes two of us -- in time we'll both have answers!
DeleteI am not happy to see the series end, but I hope we’ll see Niki in some future Seamus books. My series ended with three books because my publisher quit publishing and my agent suddenly died. And with too many other things going on in my life, I just couldn’t face writing another book. But maybe someday that will change.
ReplyDeleteNiki could certainly appear in more Seamus books -- and I suppose it's possible she could appear in some kind of a prequel or other setting. Seriously Grace, if you wanted to end a series, you didn't have to kill both the publisher's business and your agent you could have just said you wanted to do something else -- oh wait, that could be an interesting plot twist for your next novel! I suspect if you want to take up your pen in the future, you will in due time.
DeleteTerrific plot suggestion!
DeleteI'm ending my series with three books. It's ending at a logical point, though I'll continue to write short stories about Jericho, Ohio.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of other ways -- and short stories are one of the best -- to keep beloved characters active and entertaining fans.
Delete