So yeah, about that ending. In the last four months I've put out five books and made it clear that this first part would be six books. And I think it's safe to say that everyone knows that book six will be out before the end of this month.
Yeah, it's a bit of a cliff hanger, sorry, but that's just the way it worked out. I find it a litle strange tht the people who have read the last FIVE books think I did it because I feel I need to get them to buy the next book? Honestly, I figured that if you've bought the first five, you're going to buy number six. It really wasn't any attempt to get people to buy the next book.
Yes, I guess I -could- have cut that last chapter out and started the next book with it, but then it wouldn't quite play the way I wanted it to, if that makes any sense to you at all. I do think a lot about endings and layout and the rest of that. A story is more than just a tale. You can't just end it anywhere, you have to end it in just the right place.
I know some people are upset with it, and I know some are mad at me for it, but sometimes as an author, as a writer, sometimes you have to go there. I have my reasons for why I ended #5 where I ended it, and no, it wasn't to make people mad or 'force' them into buying the next book. As a rule I don't like cliff hangers and avoid them. But really, one out of six isn't something I would have thought people would have gotten so upset with.
And yeah, I really did think about it, because one of my pre-readers also gave me some grief over it. But that was just the way it had to go.
I'll do what I can to get the next one out ASAP. So you're all not left hanging for long.
As much as I don't like cliff hangers I thought the end of book five was pretty good I know Sean will live and it felt natural when you stated constantly the 5 & 6 were pretty much 1 book split in 2. And I feel this is better than say books 4 & 5 of game of thrones where you follow only a select few chars over the same time period.
ReplyDeleteyep i hate cliff hangers, but many of my favorite writers have done this to me. Elizabeth moons' Deads of Paksenarian book 2 got ripped apart be me. book 3 made it worth my angre. A writers job is to make us feel something not always something we want to feel. they create a world and let us visit, if you don't like the trip dont buy anymore books. we should never be mad because the do there jobs and the time to bitch about how well a person did there job is when it is finished. looking forward to book six to wash the taste of the book 5 ending out of my mouth.
ReplyDeleteI agree on that book though imo he paksenarrion book 2 was the weakest of the 3 though in the beginning with the dungeon delve I felt like I was in a dnd campaign.
DeleteI'm not a fan of cliff hangers either, but I felt that if you would have continued a bit more before ending the book it would have felt a bit forced. I thought it ended perfectly.
DeleteYou stopped at a good place, if you tried to resolve it right there, it would have felt a bit flat. I love that your books are on kindle unlimited, god bless you for that.
ReplyDeleteAs far as cliffhangers go, the ending of When It Falls is nothing to get worked up over to me. Yeah, I dislike heavy cliffhangers but this one is no big deal as it ends the book in a logical place as Sean has just stopped the big attack and all were waiting for is to discover what effects his actions have on him, not if hell survive or not. Authors who intentionally write a frustrating cliffhanger and then leave it for a long time before you get the next book are the ones that really irritate me and Ive only read a few that I didnt mind that much. The aforementioned book 2 of The Deed of Paksenarrion being one as it was a big cliffhanger, but a logical ending.
ReplyDeleteThe way I read that battle, he did not stop the attack.
DeleteHe maybe temporarily disabled a 100 enemy werewolves. The enemy werewolves don't know about his crusade. They don't know that he just removed their silver kill switches. Therefore, they will keep fighting. They will keep following the orders of the mages.
And lets not forget the mages. They are still alive, still fighting. And Sean is now down.
I expect that Sean's lion will do the "mystical shit" and then cavalry will arrive. Obviously the whole thing about Sacramento werewolves grabbing their combat gear against the original plan was put into the book for a reason.
Like I wrote in a comment in a previous blog post, this cliffhanger was not necessary. Could of just started the next book with the whole storming the Vesti compound scene and go from there. However, I don't feel like I am being held hostage. I have bought all five books, I will buy the next book, and I will keep buying them as long as you spin a good story. I did not like this cliffhanger, but it is not a deal breaker for me.
A good place to end - left me hanging for the next book. Now just need to get it written and out the door.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a warning to your readers that this is part 1 of 2 or mention in the description that it will be a cliffhanger. If readers are forewarned they are less likely to give you poor reviews or be angry. Those who really hate cliffhangers can then wait until the next book is out and just buy them both then.
ReplyDeleteI admit, I might have said a few choice words at the end LOL but not mad at you. You have written an amazing story, and I look forward to seeing how much grief he takes from the girls on this one :D
ReplyDeleteAh don't let them get you down, you do great work with your stories. Don't let the haters speak for the rest of us. Keep doing what you feel is right and the fans will follow
ReplyDeleteCliffhangers are not nearly as much a problem when authors are on a monthly release schedule. Cliffhangers a real problem when it's two and three years between book releases.
ReplyDeleteFor me, this series is about as good as I've read. It has an excellent balance of sex and violence, and who doesn't like that? I've attempted to write a fantasy novel, let's say that you have no competition from me. But in making that attempt, I came to understand the difficulty in maintaining each character as an individual. I for one, could not keep things straight, as far as who was who and how would so-and-so react to this situation. I think you developed the characters well, with possibly the exception of Roberta, so far she seems pretty flat, but maybe you've got plans to flesh that out in the future arc. I hope that all the beautiful work you've done in this series continues and maybe Sean will end up with a Beijing lioness in the pride?
ReplyDeleteRoberte didnt have much chance to develop jet i think she only appered tow times so far
DeleteWhen the next book is following very closely after the current book is one of the very few instances where a cliffhanger doesn't suck.
ReplyDeleteFor most serious readers/fans the problem with cliffhangers is the wait for content - not the cost per word/content.
I love all your books, your the Author write it how you want it written end it how you want it ended, as fast as you are putting these books out and as good a quality as the story has been keep doing what your doing
ReplyDelete