Speaking of Dick Francis (and we were, weren't we?): he had only one series character. I learned from his autobiography that even that one was somewhat accidental. The first Sid Halley novel was made into a movie for British TV, which was very popular and increased Mr. Francis' sales more than somewhat. So then he wrote another one, and later a couple more.
The problem was that the first one had a more or less happy ending in which Sid took over the detective agency he was working for, making it the Radnor-Halley Agency. Wait, that's not the problem, or it was just one for Mr. Francis. To start another novel, it was necessary to get Sid loose again; otherwise, he would just be sitting in an office sending other detectives out. And the PROBLEM is that Francis had written ten or more novels in between, in at least two of which the prestige of the Radnor-Halley Agency is mentioned. Unfortunately, in the second Halley novel, it isn't implied but outright said that before the Radnor-Halley Agency ever got started, an unexpected heir turned up and wrested Radnor's away from Sid. Oops! Oh well; I guess I'm the only one reading his back catalogue anyway. Still funny though.
I seem to be bucking up a little bit, and feeling better and healthier every day. It may be safe to take me out in public any day now!
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