Author of ‘Fever’ novels says she didn’t write series to make more money December 12, 2009

Photo from Karen Marie Moning Web site.

Karen Marie Moning posted a long comment on her Facebook page today that addresses what must have been some troubling reader complaints/comments about the development of her FEVER series, including drawing out the series so readers would have to pay more for the story.  She explains why she is writing the series the way she is and even alludes to her battle with Lyme Disease. For those who haven’t read the novels, they are wonderful. The series tells the story of MacKayla Lane, who  travels to Ireland to track down her sister’s murderer, but is pulled into a  world filled with ancient secrets, vampires, the Fae,  other scary creatures and the sexy, mysterious Jericho Barrons. Fans are waiting for Book No. 5 — which Moning says will be the last book in the story.  Here’s her Facebook post:

There are many reasons the Fever series wasn’t released as one long book, the least of which is how difficult it would have been to hold at 2,000 pages. It certainly wasn’t so I, or my publisher could make more money. I find it easier to write romance novels and fewer people complain The point is: I write one book a year and I get paid for one book a year, no matter what genre I write in. Writing one romance a year not only would have made the same amount of money, it was easier and less stressful. Some say I should have deleted 1000 of those Fever 2000 pages and made it a trilogy but that’s not the story I’m telling and, in the final analysis I have to write my stories as I see them and, if I’m very blessed (as I have been with you all) I get to be surrounded by and involved with wonderful people who not only like what I write but become an amazing community unto themselves. Another reason it wasn’t published as one book is because you would have had no books from me for 5 years. I hope you would rather have had it this way.

I have the utmost appreciation, respect and love for you guys who’ve had to suffer along with Mac’s journey. I know it hasn’t been easy. When this series first came to me and I committed to it, it was before I knew I had just contracted a disease that was going to disable me. I believed I would be able to write them at the pace of two a year. I didn’t know what the future held for me (or I might have given up before it even started. Good thing we can’t see the future.) I was always thinking about the series and how it would be—after all five were out in paperback—and how much fun to gulp them down back to back for under $40.00. But…the best laid plans of mice and me…yeah, ‘nuff said.

Don’t think that I don’t appreciate what you all have suffered. I do. And don’t think I was trying to get more money for more books. I would have made the same amount of money no matter what I wrote. Besides, I’m not that kind of person. Like you, I want good health, good friends, a job I love, and the ability to pay my bills without too much stress. Ironically, I could have made more money writing a different series. This one has been the cause of many headaches. Nobody knew how to market it, sell it, brand it, and I could certainly have used my time more wisely than spending it, trying to explain over and over again what I’ve been writing.

Still, I will never regret having written Mac’s story, because along the way I’ve met all of you and become part of a cyber world of readers who are truly extraordinary, and have wowed me with their talent, made me laugh, made me feel connected in my isolation, given me hope, and made it all worthwhile.

I feel your pain as you suffer along with Mac. My heart is in Shadowfever. I think it will be all you guys hope for and more. I’m loving every single second I spend writing it. It’s intense stuff! But I bet you didn’t know that I, too, will be glad when it’s over.