Feb
Planning A Series
Earlier in the week, when I asked what topics RI readers would like to see discussed in my blogs, one of the answers that came back concerned the seeming prevalence of connected books and series in bookstores today. I was asked how one goes about planning a series. Basically, what goes into the thought process?
I’m only in the midst of my first series, surrounding Templar Knights on the run as the entire Brotherhood faces mass arrest and charges of heresy. I can’t speak for all authors who pen connected books; however, I can give you some insights into the process of creating this series, as it worked for me.
To be honest, I didn’t intend to write a series at all when this all started. I was simply mulling over ideas for my next book (I was getting ready to finish my second two-book contract), and a scene from what became the first book of the Templar Knights series swept through my mind. It was of a knight, worn out and exhausted, stumbling into England…returning to the home there that he hadn’t seen in more than five years. At that point I had no idea what battles he’d been fighting, why he was so drained of spirit and body, or what awaited him upon his return home - but the image of him falling to his knees on the ground of his homeland struck a powerful chord with me.
From there, it wasn’t long before I was doing some research-type reading (which I do every now and again, just to keep the creative juices flowing), and I happened across a bit about the mass arrests of the Templars in France. It was a bold, dramatic scenario, almost cinematic in my mind…a powerful king (Philip the Fair of France) tries to access some of the famed treasure of the Templars by joining the Order, is rejected, and so decides to play upon some of the popular resentments toward the Templars at that time (they paid no taxes and were autonomous, since they answered only to the pope, and so they were suspect in many ways in the medieval mind; many accused them of unholy practices, since their meetings were held in strict secrecy, etc).
He prepares secret missives and sends them to his sheriffs and seneschals in all corners of France, with strict orders that they not be opened until the break of dawn on Friday, October 13, 1307. Those orders charge the Brotherhood of Templars with heresy and command that ALL Templars within the borders of France be placed under immediate arrest.
By nightfall of October 13, 1307, thousands of Templars, knights, sergeants, and priests are in chains awaiting trial and judgement all across France.
According to documents from the time, approximately 20 managed to escape the country on that day of infamy.
And that’s when it hit like a thunderbolt: my knight, stumbling across the border of his estate in England and sinking to the ground in relief and despair, was one of that handful of Templar Knights - members of the most elite fighting unit in the world at that time - who had eluded capture in France on that Black Friday the 13th.
It wasn’t long afterward that the series began to come together. I imagined four men (Templars didn’t travel alone) who were fleeing France together, and each man would have a story. The Prologue of BEYOND TEMPTATION details that desperate night of escape; if you’re interested, you can read it at the beginning of the excerpt for that book, posted at my website http://www.maryreedmccall.com (A note: what began as a four book series will likely only be a trilogy. The fourth Templar is leaning more and more toward becoming a priest. *g*)
As far as how much I plotted or planned out about each man in the series, the first hero (Sir Richard de Cantor…who had appeared in my earlier book THE CRIMSON LADY…you can read the “Story Behind the Story” for BEYOND TEMPTATION to see how that came about) and his heroine got a full-blown synopsis right from the get-go. Their story was to be my next book, and so I needed to do what I would with any book I pitch to my editor: flesh it out with a developed plot, character outlines, and details about how I saw the romance and action resolving.
But because this was to be a series, I submitted that full-blown synopsis, under the umbrella of a one paragraph series outline (the set-up of the escaping Templars and what their lives are like in the months and years following the mass arrests, as they are forced to alternately hide, confront their accusers, and of course fall in love), and then I gave a few paragraphs to each of the heroes whose stories would come after, briefly describing what kind of tale I envisioned for each of them and how the stories would intersect with each other. Finally, I wrote a paragraph about how I intended to conclude the series…tying up the threads that had connected it all from the start.
That’s how I developed my series The Templar Knights. It’s been a more enjoyable experience than I’d even imagined it would be…which I suppose shouldn’t have surprised me, since I’ve always enjoyed the idea of revisiting characters in other authors’ series. My only problem is that, now that I’m working on the third and final book, I’m finding myself writing more slowly than usual - perhaps because subconsciously, I’m sad to say goodbye to the series and these honorable, scrappy, dangerous, sexy, and powerful Templar Knights!
And now for the question of the day: What are the first names of the other three Templar Knights from my series, who escape from France with Richard on the day of the mass arrests? (the answer can be found in the excerpt from BEYOND TEMPTATION, posted on my website).
–MRM
I still don’t know if I’m doing this correctly or not.
Mary…love hearing about how the Templar books came about. I am waiting impatiently for the next one.
My answer: John de Clifton and the brothers Damien and Alex de Ashby
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:33 amDorothy,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your participation in the contest. Yes, you’re doing fine answering the the questions even if they’re a day late.
Let me know if you have any questions. I had a pet medical emergency so I haven’t been online that much.
I must return later to comment on today’s topic. This applies to me very much.
Thanks,
February 22nd, 2006 at 1:36 pmIsabel
Wow, Mary, these topics are cool. I can’t wait too get my hands on your books! This note is especially timely, as I am in Book 1 of a series of my own!
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:17 pmThe interlinked synopsis is a really intriguing idea. I’ve never heard of that before. Thanks!
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:09 pmThanks very much, Mary.
Ever since I read my first historical romance ever, “Whitney, My Love” ages ago, I’ve wondered how series come about. I remember re-reading Whitney three times before I went out to get my second JM novel. I was desperate to know if Stephen the hero’s brother would get his own story. And he did. So I wondered if JM knew she was going to revisit characters from Whitney. If so how did it come about did she plan it or did the characters by the end of book “demand” their own story. LOL
That’s from my reader’s point of view. I personally gravitate towards books in series.
As an aspiring writer, I’m just as facisnated with the process of plotting a series. It’s overwhelming. My current WIP is already turning out to be a two-book series. I have an idea(s) of what’s going to happen to the H/H of book #2.
Mary, I very much like your idea of a combined synopsis. I’ll give it a try.
Interesting point about research/reading to keep your ideas and your imagination active. I’ve gotten a few ideas after reading history books too, but haven’t really developed them yet.
“What began as a four book series will likely only be a trilogy. The fourth Templar is leaning more and more toward becoming a priest”
Which made me think of the other night while discussing my critique partner’s story, we both agreed about how a certain secondary had her very own defining moment in the WIP (actually is now a completed book). We realized how what had began as a stand alone book had turned into a series early on in the first book.
Mary, what did your editor say when you told him/her that you were only writing a trilogy instead?
Thanks,
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:30 pmIsabel
Hello everyone,
Interesting blog again Mary.
I love books that are connected in a series and some of my favorite authors write them.
Victoria Alexander’s Effingtons
Christina Dodd’s Governess Series and Lost Princesses Series
Stephanie Laurens’ Cynsters
Karen Hawkins Talisman Ring Series
Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons
Lisa Kleypas’Wallflower series
From a readers point of view; I like revisiting some of my favorite characters and their families from one story and seeing how they interact or share adventures with the characters in the new story. I always look forward to the next story in the series and will definitely buy it.
To answer Mary’s question~
John and Damien and Alex were the first names of the other three Templar Knights that escaped with Richard.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:06 amMary, this is really interesting.
I wonder, do you find it difficult to remember details from what has happened in previous stories once you get into the next one a bit? Do you ever have to go back and re-read parts to make sure you remember what happened to the current book’s hero in previous parts?
I love series books, whether they be tied closely or loose. Sometimes I’ve read books in a series out of order before realising that they’re a series *lol* But once I do I always get the rest of them since I love seeing the characters at different stages (sometimes after they’re happily married, sometimes seeing them as single before meeting ‘the one’).
My first MS had a hero with three sisters, and shortly after I started planning I realised that his sisters were great characters and needed their own love stories (and I immediately had a pretty good idea of what they’d be as well). But the stories will only really be tied by the fact that they’re all siblings.
Good luck on your final Templar Knights book. It must feel sad to say good bye, I can well imagine…
Emily
February 23rd, 2006 at 3:14 amThanks again for your comments, everyone, and for dropping by RI, for those who aren’t “regulars”. I’m glad my blogs are proving useful or perhaps a little interesting for you.
To answer your questions:
My editor’s reaction to the decision to have three instead of four books was fine, Isabel, because it was sort of a mutual decision. If the Templar Knights series had really taken off and sales were going through the roof (no such luck unfortunately), she might have wanted me to work around things and write another book. But as it stands, it wasn’t an issue.
And as far as remembering details from book to book in a series, emmie - so far it hasn’t been a problem for me. I have a pretty detailed memory, I guess *g*, and besides, my books aren’t taking place simultaneously, but rather each book picks up a month after the epilogue of the last one. All I need to remember is what I had happen to each character in the course of the previous book, and since it’s usually not the focus of anything, it’s simple enough to recall (i.e. where they are and what they’ve been doing).
Richard, the hero from BEYOND TEMPTATION (Book One) makes a nice appearance in SINFUL PLEASURES (Damien’s story -Book Two), and it was a lot of fun to revisit him. In the book I’m working on now (Book Three, Alexander’s book), all the men will be involved at some point, and not just in the epilogue, where I’ll need to wrap everything up.
Thanks for the questions - I’m really enjoying myself on the blog this week!
–MRM
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