Although I normally write by the seat of my pants, when I began the Templar Vampires I had a clear view of where I wanted this series to go. I might not have had all five books mapped out, but the ending had played out in my mind like a movie even before I wrote the first word. And then I got published with them and the Templars were no longer only mine. They belonged to my publishing house, my editor, and most importantly, to any readers who might find their way to my books. I rethought the series and in doing that, I found another pack of vampires – just as ferocious – only of the female persuasion. I thought, “perfect! I can use them in the Templars series.” All was right (and safe) in the universe.
It would all work out.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself, ignoring the nagging in the back of my mind that I was charting my writing by playing it safe. When the nagging became too much, I bounced my original idea off of some (very) trusted friends. They told me to go down the safe road, without saying those exact words. I was warned that readers are loyal to a series and its characters and you do not let them down by taking risks. I chewed on that for months, though it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I simply couldn’t believe readers wouldn’t want to read something different – something risky.
And then a few nights ago I told my editor about my original plan for the Templars. She thought it was risky as well, but it was a risk worth looking into. What I wanted to do made sense to her. It made sense for the series. We brainstormed and came up with something amazing and risky and wonderful.
When you write a single title book, what you do in it doesn’t directly affect future books. With a series, one word in the right place can set in motion events for the subsequent books that can either make or break a series. Especially if each book in the series is more or a less a continuation of the last book—only with a new hero and heroine. That’s the Templar Vampire series. Now do you see why I was afraid to take a chance? With five books to write, it would have been all too easy to put that one wrong word in the right place – or rather, that one wrong event that could make or break the series. But the risk needs to be taken. Why? Because it would be wrong of me not to take it. If I’m afraid to take a risk of with my writing today, what will I be afraid to to with my writing tomorrow?
~ Rene Lyons
Where the damned come to play
www.renelyons.net
It’s here! The day has finally come for Tempting Darkness to be 
