Welcome back to the Founder’s Day author commentary! SPOILER WARNING ahead and some insight into the challenges in putting together a series…
Wearing too many hats.
Writing a series can turn into an enormous mess sometimes. One would imagine when putting events together things would flow in a linear fashion. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. There are greater concerns tucked in the background of the writing process, unseen by the reader.
Which is probably where I should keep this blog but I prefer to share my troubles (and triumphs) when I can.
Founder’s Day had the unfortunate place in the series of wearing too many hats.
Instead of being the centerpiece of Pathways in the Dark, it was also the sequel to Resurrectionists.
Instead of offering a complete narrative, it also had to set up events to come in A Circle of Shadows.
Instead of being contained within Pathways in the Dark solely, it was also a free novella offered to readers and retailers.
And the story had to fill each of these needs; each of these roles.
Did it succeed?
I don’t think it did. I like the story. I enjoy the interplay between the characters and the mystery attempted to be solved. There are, in fact, a number of strong points in the tale:
The opening with the “dragon.”
Samantha Myers standing shoulder to shoulder with Loren.
The murders and subsequent mythology behind their deaths.
I enjoyed all the aspects of the story and putting them together was a treat.
Where did it fail then?
In standing on its own. There is a beginning, middle and end, sure. But when it comes to looking at Founder’s Day, there is no way to read it without some knowledge of the series.
I know that is the point of writing a series. Starting from book one and going, but for this to work as a free novella to draw in new readers Founder’s Day had to be its own thing. And it couldn’t because of the restrictions I had placed on it.
On the hats the tale was forced to wear.
It still works…
Reading through Pathways in the Dark, the tale still offers readers a great little story. It opens the door to A Circle of Shadows and pulls in the history offered by Signs of Portents and Resurrectionists.
On its own? As a free novella? As an entry point to the series?
I blew it on that front. I’ll be the first to admit it. I needed the story to do too much in too limited a space and then added the horrible idea of offering it as an entry point to the series.
Probably my biggest mistake of the series. And the fault is mine, not the narrative.
Lesson learned.
Next time!
Challenges Part 2 – Where the hell was Soriya? And what’s the deal with the title?
