Yes that's what I mean. Like it was a standalone or the series ended, but all of the sudden there is a new book on the series that tackles something completely new.

Ah, okay.

I always just figured it was an author who finally got over writer's block.... or who was revisiting an old series in an attempt to get over writer's block for some other project.... or maybe they just had life stuff going on and weren't able to write for a while....

But then, I'm so often coming across books decades after they were first written than the gaps between books are more of an academic point, noted in passing when looking at the copyright page, than a subjectively-felt experience of waiting....

So my perspective is likely skewed.

Unfortunately the author usually just goes for the money and easy audience. Or the publisher does and the author just goes with it.
It's sad that self-pub authors don't take proper care of their babies before publishing. You only make the first impression once and it should be as best as possible. They probably didn't want to pay for the editor and proofreading and all that. Or worse, they wanted to avoid them. The book is written, what's more to improve? I can edit and proofread it myself.
Oh, baby, no... No, baby... No.

I suppose I had not think much about it, just a pattern I had noticed.
But I've kinda assumed that trends change, and current trend may favour series.



@Rubie:
You got me thinking of GoT.
Which the author did not even end, but if he ever decides to write the last book I won't even be interested in it anymore.

That series is the first one I came across where it seemed like the country was the main character, and not the people.

Oh yes, I am my worse proofreader. I remember writing papers for school and I used to write at least two copies, then proofread, and still mess up. Now I don't care because no one is grading me right?
TBF I am in love with this one series that started out with the author self-publishing the first ones by himself. The way he writes the world is so well done that I'm not even mad he keeps writing more (with no characters) for it. (Well, I only read the origin prequel and not the first series written so who knows if his writing is just better know because he had gotten picked up by a publisher)

Oh yes, I don't keep up with GoT anymore. I feel like he'll die before he writes the last book. Hopefully he'll leave notes for an author to pick up like the Wheel of Time series.

Oooh, Rubie, what author is that? It sounds good!

Okay looking it up and I must confess I am confused again if he is still self-published or not. It looks like he might still be self-publishing because he has kickstarters for his new books? Anyway, the author is Micheal J. Sullivan. I'm waiting for the Rise and Fall series to be done to read it before jumping into the rest of his books. (I read the Legends of the First Empire)

Michael J Sullivan, I will look him up.

(Wait. Does he write in first person? I don't really have the patience to deal with first person fiction just now)

He does not! Well I truly hope none of the other series are, but I don't feel like he would write one series in 3rd person than switch to 1st for another. He does do different character narrators for chapters though.