Here’s a recent email that touches on a painful subject. So I set aside for a couple of weeks before answering.
Dear Sir,
I hope you are doing well. I am a 13 year old and a huge fan of your EXIT 13 MOTEL series. I just simply love it. I have been waiting for books 3 and 4, but I didn’t see it out there. I just wanted to ask if it was coming soon, I would be waiting for it. I know you would get some hundreds of fan mail, but if you would be able to spare a few minutes, do reply back. It would mean the world to me. It’s my first time writing a fan mail so I would like to apologise for any mistakes I make.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
–
–
I replied . . .
–
–
Aakriti,
–
My apologies for taking nearly a month getting back to you.
–
I could say that I’m busy, that I’ve had things to do. And while that’s generally accurate, the truth is that you hit a nerve. A sore spot. A place of disappointment and pain.
–
As far as I know, there will not be another book in the EXIT 13 series.
–
It just didn’t sell fast enough. And publishing has increasingly become a business of “instant” success or failure. If something doesn’t hit big, right away, then the publishing world moves on to the next thing.
It just didn’t sell fast enough. And publishing has increasingly become a business of “instant” success or failure. If something doesn’t hit big, right away, then the publishing world moves on to the next thing.
–
There is always a next thing.
–
At different times, a series like EXIT 13 might be considered a slow grower. A series that needs to find its audience. Three books, four books. Time for word of mouth to spread. Time to occupy shelf space in bookstores.
–
That’s not the world we live in anymore.
–
R.L. Stine once said that his GOOSEBUMPS series didn’t take off until the 4th book. So even something as stunningly popular as GOOSEBUMPS took time to develop.
–
Oh well!
–
Here’s more of an explanation for you . . .
–
–
Thank you so much for your letter.
–
Starting the series, part of the challenge was to have enough “story” for it to go 4 books, 6 books, 8 books long. A deep, involved mystery. –
I wish I could have wrapped it up for readers with at least one final book. Got the McGinns out of the motel, at least. Explained some of the business with the animals and woods and the aliens.
–
Thank you for reading the books and, most especially, for reaching out.
–
I appreciate you . . .
–
James Preller
–
–
–
–
Discover more from James Preller's Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply