Why Cliffhangers?

Most readers who have written to me seem to enjoy the cliffhangers at the end of each book. A typical response: "My friends and I always try to guess what's going to happen next. It's fun to see who's closest when we get the next book."

And that's one of the reasons I decided to structure the story this way. When I was a kid, the local theater showed serialized short movies before the feature. They were usually ten-minute clips of a western or a Robin Hood story or something like that. Each ended with the hero in some great danger, with no easy escape. Until the next episode, we imagined all sorts of ways he or she would get out of the trouble. Some of the ideas were wild and implausible ("Angels will come down and rescue him!"), others more believable ("Remember? He's got that lock-pick thing in his shoe!"). I hope the Dreamhouse Kings cliffhangers encourages conversations like this.

Another reason for writing the Dreamhouse books this way is that it's a big story. I just couldn't tell it in one book (or even two or three books). It seemed logical to me to give readers something exciting to look forward to.

Still, I know cliffhangers can be as frustrating as they are fun. I don't even watch television shows when they first air; I'm too impatient. I usually wait until the whole season is available on DVD or iTunes, then I'll watch all the episodes at once. Every now and then, however, I'll catch a show and can't help myself: I start that once-a-week ritual of planting myself in front of the TV, bowl of popcorn in hand, to catch the next show. I wish that Dreamhouse gives you that excited sense of anticipation.

So, what do you think about the cliffhangers? Take the poll below and let me know.

(This poll feature is new to me. If it doesn't work, or you want to tell me more about how you feel, send me an email.)

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