Here is a response directly from Terry.
Quote:
I understand the trepidation of starting a new “series.” I have always been wary because I, too, hate cliff-hangers and I hate being put in the position of having to get the next book, and then the next, in order to find out how events turn out. This has always been a primary concern and helped form my own approach to writing my own series. I wanted to do something different. In fact the first book, especially, was meant to stand alone and not be the typical hook to pull people into a protracted series. I have always wanted my readers to trust that I don’t play those kinds of games or tricks just to sell the next book. I don’t like feeling that way myself and I don’t want to do to my readers what I don’t like done to me. This is at the core of why my books are self-contained novels. Writing a series in this manner is more difficult, but I also found it to be a fun challenge to do it this way.
WIZARD’S FIRST RULE may start the Sword of Truth series and it does have a place in the eventual over-arching story of that series, but it is first and foremost a novel that stands alone. It has a complete plot with a beginning, a middle, and an end. When you reach the end of this first book there is no cliff-hanger, no trickery to try to get you to read the next book. It has a satisfying and complete ending. (The only exception to my series style of independent novels is that I felt it was necessary to create an epic, sweeping conclusion to the whole series and that conclusion was too large to fit into a single book so the end story is a trilogy, but the rest of the books in the series, especially the first, are stand alone novels.)
I want readers to chose to read following books because they had a good time and they like my style of story, not because they feel trapped. It’s as simple as that. If you read WIZARD’S FIRST RULE you will be reading a novel, period. The rest of the books are more or less the same way. They are a continuation of the lives of the characters, but much like the first book each is a conflict unto itself and has a conclusion to that conflict.
As for the other books in the series becoming available as e-books, it is my desire to have them all available in this format. However, I am not in control of all of those rights, so when and if that will happen I can’t say, but I can say that I want it to happen and if the first book is successful in this format It will help toward that end.
In the meantime, WIZARD’S FIRST RULE is a wonderful story that stands on its own. You need not fear being sucked into something and left hanging. I hope you will give the book a try. I believe you will discover some of the most remarkable and interesting characters you have ever encountered and you will be happy to have taken the journey.
All best wishes,
Terry
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