Series vs Stand Alone

Hi!


As I was going through my books I wondered about the prevalence of series to stand-alone novels.


I prefer a great character whose adventures I can follow through a series. I also like series (like Christine Feehan's) where the books are set in a world and are stand-alone-but-connected with sometimes an appearance by characters revealed in previous books. I think a great series which sells well would enable the author to write full time. (Always a plus!) I don't read (or see) too many stand-alone books anymore, except in straight romance, horror and fiction. Is this a growing trend in paranormal romance & other genres?


What do you think?


And do you prefer series over stand-alone books?