"Characters are Welcome"

Last night I finished A Match of Wits by Jen Turano. Her new twist on series writing has captivated me over the past several months. I use to read series collections because I would fall in love with the characters and did not want to lose them. You know what I mean, the characters become apart of your family or friend circle that you want to visit with daily. This also happens with TV shows like my favorite NCIS or movie franchises like Marvel and The Hunger Games (which originated in print form before becoming big screen productions). Even the television network USA uses the slogan "Characters are Welcome."

As humans, we are social beings. We want to make connections with others. Television, movies, and books provide for us more opportunities to make these connections and explore exotic locations, past experiences, and creative circumstances that we cannot always experiences ourselves.

Back to the printed word. For me, series reading became more of a "requirement"; I would pick up a new book and sigh, "Not another series… Now I have to buy 2, 3, 4, etc. more books." Instantly, I was less excited about reading, the excitement was replaced with a felling of obligation. But what I enjoy about Turano, is she writes her stories with individuality of plot with characters that are connected from book to book, just like real life situations, but if I want, I could put down a book, not finish the 'series' and still have a feeling of satisfaction. While I'm sure she would appreciate readers reading her stories in chronological order, I've proven that it's not a requirement. Back in October, I picked up her second book in the 'series', A Most Peculiar Circumstance, and fell in love with the era, progressive women, chivalrous men, and dangerous situations around every corner. I continued with A Talent for Trouble and A Match of Wits. (I missed the short novella ebook Gentleman of Her Dreams and first novel A Change in Fortune, but am just as excited to read those!) It's the characters that keep me returning.

Shortly, I'll finish the last two books in this 'series' and I'll need to put my characters back on my shelf. But the best part about reading… I can pick them back up in a few months, re-acquaint myself with Arabella, Theodore, Eliza, Hamilton, Agatha, Zayne, Felica and Grayson, and relive their experiences all over again.

What characters are you hiding on your shelves? Have you visited with them recently? Make every character welcome!