My Trilogy Balancing Act

 

Last Monday I finished the first draft of Book 2 of the Dark Caravan Cycle (BLOOD PASSAGE). I was absolutely terrified to write this book for many reasons but mostly because it intimidated the hell out of me. We’ve all heard of the Sophomore Slump, the Saggy Middle, the Bad Second Book. I have read way too many trilogies were I loved the first book and by the end of the second book had lost my starry-eyed wonder for the world, the characters, and the story. I’m not going to name names. The thing is, a lot of these second books are huge series and the authors were lucky that readers stuck with them, trusting that the third book was going to pay off. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. There is nothing more frustrating than giving your time and heart to a series and feeling like you got ripped off. There are lots of reasons why second books have problems: crazy publishing schedules, pressure to create a trilogy when the story doesn’t require three installments, a disproportionate focus on the first and third books. I’d hate to think it was laziness, so let’s just assume it’s not. YA writers love their readers and it would make me really sad to think a writer valued their craft and their readership so little as to phone it in. I shall remain optimistic!

 

I have been very, very aware of the problem with second books. It is, perhaps, the thing I’ve been most concerned since selling my trilogy. I have given…