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In publishing, what is a continuity series?
A series of books that follow the same characters through a story
arc—but rather than being written by a single author, the books in a continuity
series are written by several authors. This is similar to the way Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys books were written, except that Nancy’s authors all used the name
Carolyn Keene and Frank and Joe’s authors used the name Franklin W. Dixon.
With so many authors stirring the typewriter keys, in a continuity series, how do
they keep from muddling facts about the characters and setting?
By constant updates from the series editor—she’s like the
conductor of an orchestra (or maybe a playground monitor). As manuscripts are
turned in, they’re edited in the order they’ll be published, and new or changed
details are updated in a multipage series guideline.
Can you give an example of a continuity series?
Why yes, I can. The Museum of Mysteries, from Annie’s
Fiction, is a good example. The series follows the adventures of archaeologist Scarlett
McCormick, new head curator of the world-renowned Reed Museum of Art and
Archaeology, located on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula in Crescent Harbor, California.
And guess what? I happen to have three copies of book four to give away. Here’s
a bit about book four, Out of the Picture, written by my alter ego, Margaret
Welch.
Scarlett McCormick, head curator of
the Reed Museum of Art and Archaeology, develops an idea for a reunion art
exhibit with Allie Preston, her best friend and manager of the museum coffee
shop. Based on a previous exhibit, the show will feature the same local artists
from Crescent Harbor, California. Now all they need to do is find them.
Scarlett is shocked to learn that
one of the artists perished in a fire at the Phoenix restaurant twelve years
ago. She’s even more shocked when she sees the photos Allie discovered from a
secondhand camera. A man with an uncanny resemblance to the artist appears in a
recent picture at the restaurant where he supposedly died.
As Scarlett and Allie search for
the remaining artists, they also investigate the puzzling case of the doppelgänger.
But their inquiries are met with hostility and threats, and they fear the truth
will never be exposed.
Someone will stop at nothing to
keep Scarlett and Allie from solving the mystery. Will the two friends succeed?
Or will they be permanently cut out of the picture?
Readers and writers, what’s the most unexpected or surprising
“photobomb” you’ve discovered in a picture you’ve taken? Three lucky commenters
will receive a copy of Out of the Picture (remember to leave your email
address). Comments open through noon CDT 5/3/22.
The Museum of Mysteries, and other continuity series from Annie’s Fiction, are available through subscription book clubs.
