I’m not sure why it is, but it is so rare to re-capture magic. Fool’s Gold came out last week, now to be fair, I haven’t seen it and it made a lot of money at the box office, but I absolutely loved How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, so to see these same actors in a movie again both thrills and scares me.
I want it to be good. I want to rush out and see it, but in my experience, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to recreate what happened in the first movie.
A lot try, box office success pretty much assures you there will be a sequel, or at least an attempt to team the same stars in another picture. Occasionally the second movie is good but more often it’s crap plain and simple.
While Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride didn’t fair so badly, movies like Grease and Two of a Kind are a perfect example, not to mention Grease 2.
Movies like The Thorn Birds and Gone with the Wind were so wonderful they never should have been messed with and what about Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile and War of the Roses. And Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail…Although in fairness, this is sort of an exception considering they did Joe Vs the Volcano first, but you understand where I’m going with this.
So what about books?
As a reader I adore a good series. Especially of the big family, each member finding their soul mate in each book and I absolutely marvel at writers like Lila Dubois and Catherine Anderson, JR Ward and Karen Marie Moning and so many others who build whole worlds with so many details to keep straight from one book to the next and create characters we can’t wait to go back to time and again.
As a writer, I find a sequel to be a lot of pressure. lol I’ve written two series deliberately and I get requests often from readers who love a supporting character in one of my stories and want me to give them their own story. It’s so wonderful to know as a writer I’ve created a character that connects that well with readers, but it’s a lot of pressure at the same time.
You want to due the character justice and recapture what the readers loved about him or her in the first place and as I said at the top of this post, it is so rare to re-capture magic. Bottom line though, single title or series, I know I’ll always write stories with the intention of tugging at hearts and reaching souls and hopefully create characters you’ll never forget and want to know more about.
So what about you? What movies, books or couples have you loved and what series lived up to or broke your hearts? I’d really love to know. 
Ho boy I have loved a lot. The X-Men trilogy. Each movie just kept getting better. Same with the Fantastic Four movies. The first one was great, but the sequel was even better. The Shrek’s keep getting better. The Lord Of The Rings movies were awesome. I know I’m in a minority, but I felt like the movies were better than the books. Reading the Rings series was downright painful. I felt like I was having root canal done on all my teeth at once.
I have a lot of book series I love. Anything by Christine Feehan totally rocks. The Tapestry and Dalakis series by NJ Walters. The Darkwing Chronicles by Savannah Russe, the Real Vampires series by Gerry Bartlett, the Aregeneau series by Lynsay Sands, the Warriors of Poseidon series by Alyssa Day, and many more. That was to just name a few.:-)
I think you have a point Kathy, I think in genres other then straight romance they do a much better job with their sequels. Maybe it’s because there is so much more story to tell, who knows. lol
I don’t read a lot of fantasy or paranormal to be entirely honest, but I did love the Rings movies and X-men. I only saw the first Shrek and Fantastic Four, so maybe I’ll give the sequels there a look. Thanks!
I love this topic and couldn’t help but drop by and comment after reading your MySpace blog!
Recently, I read Lora Leigh’s Dangerous Games. I’ve been so swamped that I haven’t been able to read the second book but tonight I will start Hidden Agendas. Finally!!!!
It is on my “agenda” and nothing (okay, well maybe something since it is Valentine’s Day) will postpone my intentions. I’ve waited for quite some time to find the perfect opportunity to read this book because I know once I pick it up, it will be a sprint to the finish.
The reason I’m excited about this series is because Lora Leigh is one of those authors who doesn’t let you down with a sequel. Sometimes, it’s hard to be “one of those authors” and I think writing a series can be hard for some and easier for others. However, I think it also depends on the book and the series just as much as the author.
There are some authors who will never let down their audience. For example, you Samantha. You are a phenomenal story teller. However, for me personally, I think that in order for a series to be truly successful the author needs to have a good idea of where he or she is going with it whether they do a lot of brainstorming or they choose to outline. That’s just my opinion.
With movies, I’ve been let down before (Grease 2 definitely comes to mind) but nothing quite as traumatic as a perfect story in the making suddenly ruined by bad writing. One of my favorite soap operas is teetering on this very thing as of this post. The writers can’t seem to get it together to put a potential super-couple together. They just don’t know how to bring it all together. Yes, for the General Hospital fans out there, I’m talking about Johnny and Lulu.
Samantha, I think you touched on an excellent point. As writers, a sequel can be a lot of pressure. I know you’re up for the challenge so I will be reading your series!
Hugs!
Destiny B.
Destiny!
Thanks so much for dropping by. I read your myspace blog about Johnny and Lulu so you know what I think there. lol How cool is it Sarah Brown is back though?
You know when I find a really great series, I hate to see the last book come out. I’ve bought the last book in a couple series, then left them on my shelf for months because I didn’t want it to end. lol
Ok so I’m putting Lora Leigh on my TBR list and thank you soooo much for your kind words about my writing and for stopping by today.
I have too many fav’s to mention but I’ll drop a couple of names that instantly jump to mind. Nora Roberts (was there any doubt?) Sandra Brown, Susan Mallery, Linda Lael Miller, Nicole Austin, Lora Leigh, NJ Walters, not enough room to mention all the great catagory romance writers. Plus I love the series where each book has a different author. That would take a lot of work co-ordinating.
Great topic and I could be here for hours talking about it.
Thanks for stopping by Rachel!
I have to admit, one of my first favorite authors was Sandra Brown, still love her!
I know I’m in the minority like poor Kathy, but Nora Roberts is hit and miss with me, but I love NJ Walters and I know I absolutely am going to have to check out Lora Leigh now after two such great recommendations.
Thanks again Rachel.
It’s the same way with me with Nora Roberts. I think she has been writing for so long and is so prolific that she has started to get repetitive. She was the one who introduced me to romance novels, and I have loved her for years, but I’m leary when it comes to her new series because some grab me, and some don’t. I loved her Key trilogy, but her Garden trilogy left me bored. Her Morrigan’s Cross series was great, but I don’t like her current trilogy. As you said, it’s kind of hit and miss.