A series is born

Have you ever held tight to a long-running day-dream? Let time run its course? If so, then you can understand how a series might form in an author's head. Such is the case with what now I term my "Dancer" series - a story about a character on an alien world where both she and her culture come of age. In truth, Blade Dancer, my first novel, was simply the tip of a much larger story. One which spans a lifetime. Like a novel, a series can have a beginning, middle, and finally an end. The problem is in the telling.

My first challenge was one of common sense - a series is only as good as its pilot. So, I watched to see if Blade Dancer would be well received. Out the door, it became an EPPIE finalist, and did fine in e-book sales. People are still purchasing it. That was my green light to begin telling the entire story. Rogue Dancer is the next installment in the life of Mikial Haran - an angst-ridden young lady bound for greatness whether she is prepared or not.

A series must obviously deal with continuity in such a fashion as to lead the reader gracefully from one book to another. For me, this means a continuation of relationships begun in Blade Dancer. Mikial is now looked upon as a hero by some, and a threat by others. This becomes quite apparent as Rogue Dancer explores the wrenching birth of a savior, and the impact it has on a person's life as well as the lives around them. Mikial is not an island - not the stereotypical hero with no discernable past. She has friends and family, and they too will feel the burden Mikial endures.

Rogue Dancer also expands my perspective on our own human condition. We do not have to look too far back in our history to realize that we are the predators, and it is not a comfortable thing to admit to. It would be easy for another race to look at us with horror, and believe themselves morally superior. This attitude is established in Blade Dancer, and leads to a very bitter lesson in self-realization for my main character.

Like any good series, the reader should be taken deeper into the world, see new things, and solve fresh problems. They should expect the characters to evolve and mature, otherwise the book becomes a stale copy of its predecessor. As an individual book has a story arc, a series will also be held up by its own plot line. I think, from the cover art alone (thank you, Amanda Kesley) you can see that the venue is changing.

Rogue Dancer will be the second in what I expect to be four books. It was going to be a nicely rounded three-some, but the lives of my characters demanded more. As I said, continuity is important, and there are life events that cannot be rushed through quickly in narration. Readers tend to develop an affinity with characters, and would feel cheated if they missed out. Of course, the drama must still be there, but I've a ready group of adversaries - both home-grown and off planet, to provide action and pacing. So, another book was both called for and workable, and I am currently on its third revision.

So what is Rogue Dancer?

For those reading this blog, allow me to give you a special preview ahead of the grand opening of Rogue Dancer's web page in November. Click here. The book itself will be on sale in December.

Kerry