I know a couple of authors who write these series and haven't heard any complaints from the. However, I don't understand why if the publisher wants a specific series, they don't assign just to one author. As I think about it, I'm guessing that multiple authors brings in a larger fan base for the series.

I have read continuity series in the past. Like you, I think one author is always better, but that might be subjective.

I suppose with the deadlines publishers want for some series it wouldn't be possible for one author to write the entire series (and still have a life). I'm still amazed that some can complete a trilogy in a year--that's a lot of writing.
The only 'series' I've read done by more than one author is something like the Jason Bourne books where the original author has died (and frankly I didn't care for the subsequent publications--the 'tone' just wasn't quite right anymore).

I don't read every book in a continuity series unless I've read the author's previous books and loved them. Granted, it resulted in me skipping around the series, but overall, my read wasn't bad and I have no complaints.

My first encounter with a multiple author series was Crimson City created by Liz Maverick. I loved it, and the concept of the continuity series. Since that point on I've continuously looked for more work by the wonderful authors who participated: Liz, of course, Marjorie M Liu, Patti O'Shea, Carolyn Jewel, and Jade Lee. Terrific news is there is another book in the making. I can hardly wait.

Mmm I don't see it as a matter of fairness, at all.

I enjoy some writers' voices and not others', and it's simply a matter of taste. Some continuities work for me as a whole, and in other cases only a few of the installments do.

The cool thing about continuities for me is that I often start reading them for one of the authors and end up discovering other authors whose work I enjoy.

Back when I wrote for HQ, I wrote three books in a continuity series and really enjoyed it. Including the unexpected surprise of researching the locations with my editor, arriving in LA two days after the Northridge quake! Then, of course, there's the theme mini series, which aren't exactly the same, but all connected in some way. I did a lot of those. <p><br>

I was also invited to write a book in one series that crossed different HQ imprints, where I'd be including other writers' characters, including writing dialogue for them. Since I'm pretty possessive of my own characters, I turned that offer down.

I've gotten used to calling this type of book 'shared-world,' as that's what they tend to call it in fantasy/role-playing-games land. I've read many a book set in the same world (Liavek, Eberron, the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance -- my own novels are set in a RPG setting!), as well as novels set in the same media universe (I read a ton of the Star Wars Expanded Universe books as a teen). In all of those series, some authors 'got it' more than others -- got what the feel of the world was about, got how to be true to the characters, etc. Those were always the writers whose books I appreciated most.

The most recent shared-world series I've read (which I suppose is perhaps more of a continuity series) is the Immortals Series by Jennifer Ashley, Robin Popp, and Joy Nash. Each book features a different romantic couple as the feature, but several of the characters reappear in other works. I think it's quite well done, and get the sense that the authors are doing quite a bit of collaborating on the side!

I was one of the authors for the Coltons: Family First continuity mentioned here. I was tremendously honored to be asked to participate in the series and had a blast writing my book and working with the other authors.

I think Christine and azteclady hit the nail on the head as to why the publisher uses different authors within the series. First, to have the books come out back to back in consecutive months would be more writing than most authors could manage. And second, by using different authors in a series, the publisher wants to expose readers to authors they might not have otherwise read. The hope, of course, is that you'll find a new author to love and read.

Author generated series are also done (a la Suzanne Brockmann's Navy SEALs in the Intimate Moments line), but continuities are almost always multi-author, where the publisher invites the authors to participate.

As a reader myself, I love the opportunity to follow secondary characters from one book into another story of their own. Series are a lot of fun, and my TBR pile is towering as a result!!

I have read quite a few multiauthor series by Harlequin writers and in everyone there has been no problem with the story line. I really enjoy them. And I like the fact that they come out monthly instead of months apart as would be necessary if only one author were writing it. And I too have discovered new authors that way.

I won't read continuity series. I've had too many bad experiences with them. It annoys me when my favorite authors write for them because I don't read them and later wonder why!

I read continuity series but it generally from HQ. I sometimes don't know I picked on up. I've tried the Crimson series and it started out good but it lost my interest. I think I still have two more books to finish.

Well Barbara--this blog has me thinking--I'll let you know about different authors writing the series--haven't run into this too much myself.