Joely Sue Burkhart

Will Harry Potter die in the last book? 

Will Rand al’Thor die in the Last Battle?

Will any of the Starks still be alive (after that bloody wedding, they were nearly all dead at the end of book 3 of the Fire and Ice series)?

Will Anita Blake finally die in a spectacular orgasm–or will Edward just shoot her?

How will the series end? 

A troubling question for those of us writing longer series.  PBW has questioned when to end the StarDoc series.  Stephen King has ended his Dark Tower series and was quoted as saying “tough titty” to the readers who were dissatisfied.  How many people were bewildered or dissatisfied with the ending of The Sopranos this year?

It’s a tricky balance to end the series with enough excitement and emotion that people will read that far–but also not disappoint them.  When people have invested that much time in your series, they will understandably grieve.  They won’t want it to end.  They certainly don’t want the characters they’ve loved and cried for and worried about for years to die.

I’ve known for years how the My Beloved “Blood” trilogy would end, and if you’re not bawling like a baby, then I haven’t done my job.  But there is so much joy and happiness, too, that I hope you won’t be too ticked at me. 

Series writers:  how do you plan to end your series?