Thomas Locke

On Writing Books in a Series

Behind the Mind of author, Thomas LockeRecruits is book 1 in a three-book sci-fi series for young adults. Readers often ask me how I come up with the storylines for the second and third books.

Before I begin writing the second or third book in any series, I ask myself two questions that twine together like braids:

  1. How do I raise the stakes?
  2. How do I deepen the reader’s bond to the central characters?

So, how do I raise the stakes when the hero essentially saves the world?

I’m not telling. No way. I just finished writing the second story in the Recruits series, and my editor says it’s even better than the first one. And that’s all I’m going to reveal… until next year.

But I will say how I got there. I started by looking at the twins.

By the end of book 1, Sean and Dillon have become really good friends. They are growing up. Becoming young men, and facing all the mysteries that come with trying to decide what to do with life and talent and energy and the gift of the coming new day. So I listened to them let them tell me what they wanted to do.

Pre-Order Recruits

Recruits releases February 14, 2017. Click here to pre-order your copy from your favorite online bookseller.

Recruits by Thomas Locke

2 Responses to “On Writing Books in a Series”

  1. Reply ADRIANN

    I WOULD LIKE TO BUY ACOPY OF CAPTIVE. IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE AS AN EBOOK. I ENJOY HOLIND THE BOOK IN MY HAND, TURNING THE PAGES AND THE SMELL OF THE INK. I HAVE LOW VISION AND BEING ON A CIMPUTER /BLUE LIGHT FOR LING PERIODS OF TIME DOESN’T HELP MY SIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY HAVE REAL BOOKS AVAILABE, ESPECIALLY IN LARGE PRINT?

    HAVE A JESUS KINDA DAY!

  2. Reply Reuben Smitsdorff

    I absolutely love the Recruits book series. I’ve read the first two books over countless time and I stay amazed at the story. When will you be releasing the third book? I can’t wait for it to be published.
    God bless you and stay safe during this difficult time.

Leave a Comment