Again, there has been a lack of posts from me, but I have a few days off work this week and will make it a mission to have some posts up and catch up with the great blog posts I know you’re writing out there!
Today’s post is courtesy of Mel Sherratt.
Ever since she can remember, Mel Sherratt has been a meddler of words. Right from those early childhood scribbles when she won her first and only writing competition at the age of 11, she was rarely without a pen in her hand or her nose in a book. Born and raised in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, Mel used her beloved city as a backdrop for her first novel, Taunting the Dead, and it went on to be a Kindle #1 best seller in three different categories.
Mel’s new series, The Estate, is set in the fictional place of Stockleigh because she wanted to create a sense of place on the estate itself. She also believes that the Mitchell Estate can be found a few miles from anywhere in any town or city…
Creating a series – character or place
For many, a series of crime novels usually involves one or two major characters plus a few minor characters that appear in every book. It’s good to read a series that sees a main character grow through every ‘episode’. But I’m also a huge fan of Jimmy McGovern and I really enjoy how he writes series’ such as The Street and Accused, by taking a different character’s story for each episode.
In my new series, THE ESTATE, I wanted the estate itself to be the major character. It’s the main reason why I chose to base it in a fictional place. I did panic a little because I know how I enjoy reading books based in areas that I am familiar with. But I wanted to give my readers a sense that the estate could be around the corner from anywhere. Indeed I’ve had a number of emails from readers saying they have an estate just like The Mitchell Estate around the corner from them, so it seems to be working.
Then I decided to have several minor characters in each book and focus the main plots and subplots around one or two major characters. For instance, in SOMEWHERE TO HIDE, the main character is Cathy Mason but you also hear a lot from housing officer, Josie Mellor. Josie then goes on to become the main character in BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. Gina Bradley, a, how-shall-I-put-it-politely, nasty tenant appears a little in book one and book two – as do members of her family – and then becomes one of the main characters in FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL, book three. In book four which is planned but not written, I’m going to bring the main characters from all three books together and also, if I can, bring in DS Allie Shenton from my crime thriller novel, TAUNTING THE DEAD. If a character has got under my skin in another author’s book, I often want to know more about them once the story is finished. So there will be chances to catch up with some of my characters again and see how their lives have changed since their story ended. So, in a sense, it’s one big family of characters I’m trying to create in one place.
And if there’s a valuable lesson I’ve learned when creating a series, it’s to write things down as I go along. It’s only now as I start to get the third one ready for release that I am making notes to ensure consistency. Also keep a note of names used, especially minor characters. I have so many characters that I find it hard to think of new names – plus they have to fit the age and background of the characters too, i.e. feel right – so I often use a book of baby names for inspiration!
You can get Mel’s new book Behind A Closed Door from Amazon
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Getting past names and facts straight are so important for a series.
Rebecca Bradley says
I’m finding that with only my first book, especially with the smaller part characters!
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – It’s good to ‘see’ you. 🙂 – Thanks for hosting Mel.
Mel – I’m intrigued with your idea of having characters who may be minor in one novel ‘star’ in others that you write. There’s so much potential when one writes that way because one can use different points of view and one can develop characters. And I like your idea of keeping notes on what you write; I have to do the same thing, too. It certainly keep things much more organised in my mind. I wish you much success!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you Margot! 🙂
Jane Isaac says
Hi Rebecca!
Thanks for hosting. Good to see you back:)
Hi Mel!
Great post on essential areas to consider when writing a series, and very poignant for me as I complete my 2nd novel of my crime series! I admit, I have made copious notes on my characters.
Your work sounds very interesting. I’m also a fan of Jimmy McGovern’s work. What a great idea to transform this idea into your own books. Thanks for sharing.
melsherratt says
Hi there, thanks for hosting me, Rebecca!
They certainly are, Alex. Even all minor characters are too.
HI, Margot. Yes, I wanted to cover different topics, and jobs, lives etc but in different books. For instance, in Fighting for Survival I think the overall theme is peer pressure and fitting in. But the sense of place is all happening in Stanley Avenue. So the first book was around one house, the second all across the estate and the third in a street. Book four is set a high-rise block of flats. And really, I’d like to revisit some of the characters – I often wonder what happens when we close the pages… and thank you!
Hi Jane – thank you! Good luck with your crime series, great that you are making notes now! Thank you – I do love my grit lit. Or misery lit, whatever you want to call it 🙂
joylene says
Mel, your stories sound very good. Your covers are intense, and I’d definitely picked them up off the shelf. Best success with sales. Thanks, Rebecca!
tara tyler says
i keep an excel file with all pertinent info like names, gadgets, new slang, etc. must write things down! great advice!
julierkendrick says
Jane, that was a great idea, hosting Mel, She is an interesting writer and I have just downloaded the first 2 Estate books.
Thanks again.
Julie 🙂