Anyone have experience releasing series/parts?

[JT Woody]

I originally set myself the publication date for Part 1 of May 1st (and Part 2 possibly in August, and the last one in the fall)

The editor who edited the first book suggested publishing next year and releasing them all either together in a box-set or rapid releasing them with no more than a month between.

I have some doubts, but i also dont want to be argumentative or "difficult", so i didnt say anything about it.....

So i was just wondering if any of you had experiences or insight into this?

 

[Homer Potvin]

No experience, but as a consumer, I'm going to be more likely to buy more books in a series if they're there for purchasing in the immediate than I am to remember to check back later when the sequels are released. I'd imagine too that somebody who's into series will be more likely to choose one of those than a stand alone novel, all other things being equal.

Beyond that? No clue. I feel like I'd release them all together if I had them written, though.

 

[Set2Stun]

This is tricky! I do see the appeal of having that 1+2+3 option when a consumer is making a purchase on Amazon, but if it's a debut by an unknown, I feel like most buyers who take a chance on it will start with 1 alone and see how it goes. If they like it, then yeah, having the next two available is ideal.

Another thought is that a rapid release might not work so well when it comes to reviews. They are so very important, and if you only have a handful after the first month for 1, and then release 2, there's not a lot of momentum. A lot of readers don't read quickly as well. Yet also, plenty of them binge read. Tricky, like I said.

My own experiences won't be helpful I'm afraid. I feel like most novels of a series should be able to be read as a standalone. And I wouldn't write a second or third unless the first sold decently - but I know this is a different situation.

I feel like there simply has to be some sales data on this somewhere. One fellow indie author on Twitter I know wrote a trilogy and did fairly well with it. The first worked well as a standalone, and the second was released 11 months later, and the third 11 months after that.

 

[Stuart Dren]

Speaking as a reader,

I could see being hesitant to start reading Part 1 from a new author if it's unclear how long until the sequels arrive. Will it be one year, five years, The Winds of Winter? That's the most important thought going through my mind, personally.

So if metered out, I would make sure it's clear that they're coming soon. In fact, if there's a way you can have them as wish list items with solid release dates it would ensure readers know when to look forward to it and will get a notification when they come out.

Or you could just skip all that and release them in one go.