Authors Zoe Archer, Tessa Dare, Monica McCarty, Christy Reece, and Stefanie Sloane all know what releasing a trilogy of books can do for a career (launch a debut author, facilitate a change in direction, or take it to the next level), and they were kind enough to share it. Some highlights:

1. • Trilogies are a way to get an author’s name out faster. They also keep books in the stores longer.

2. •Readers like discovering more about characters from previous books in linked series.
   

3. •One challenge to writing linked series books is the gap between the initial sale and the later books, since the author’s enthusiasm can lag and that will color the writing.
   

4. •As the series progresses, the time to work on the books shrinks when you add in revisions, copyedits, and page proofs. Build in a couple of months onto the last book to accommodate this.
   

5. •A second contract might be harder to get because numbers won’t have arrived from the first contract’s sales yet.
   

6. •Promo can be simplified because the promo can be contiguous. It’s also more cost-effective.
   

7. •Keep writing! You’ll want the cushion later.