The Series I Never Planned
By Lindsay Woodward
With the fifth book in my Bird Series now in the planning stages, I’ve been reflecting on the journey that brought me here, and how I never expected a sequel, let alone a whole series. I’m Lindsay Woodward, a local author and one of the organisers of the Rugby Literary Festival, and this is the story of how it all unfolded.
How It All Began
Back in November 2016, my second novel was published. It was an exciting time, but it wasn’t the second book I had originally planned to write.
When I first wrote Bird, my debut novel, it was only ever intended to be a standalone story. That was the plan: one book, one complete narrative. But as I began writing, something unexpected happened. Beth and Simon, the two main characters, grew in ways I never anticipated. They developed depth, quirks, and a connection that took the story far beyond what I had outlined.
The Ending That Changed Everything
Even the ending of Bird didn’t turn out as I had imagined. The bond between Beth and Simon became so strong that my original plan no longer felt right. What ended up on the page felt inevitable, the only way their story could conclude at that moment.
Some readers thought I’d left them on a cliffhanger, but honestly, that wasn’t my intention. To me, it was just an ending that reflected who Beth truly was. I wanted readers to understand her strength and why her connection with Simon mattered so much. It was an extra layer of insight, not a deliberate teaser for another book.
When Readers Asked for More
It wasn’t until the book was out in the world and feedback started coming in that the idea of a sequel really began to take shape. Readers were invested. They wanted to know what happened next. And the truth is, so did I. That was when I realised there was so much more of Beth and Simon’s story left to tell.
Planning book two was exhilarating. The ideas came so thick and fast that the real challenge wasn’t what to include, it was how to fit it all into one book. The answer was obvious: I couldn’t. There was simply too much story for a single sequel. That’s when I knew this was going to be a trilogy.
The Trilogy Takes Shape
The Birds was released in late 2016, followed by Free as a Bird in April 2017. Looking back now, I still can’t believe how fast I wrote those books. It almost felt like the story was writing itself.
By the time I reached the final lines of Free as a Bird, I already knew I’d miss these characters. They weren’t just fictional anymore, they felt like family. I guess it was inevitable that before long new ideas began bubbling up in my mind, and I found myself wondering what would happen next.
A Series Is Born
Over time, the Bird Series has become one of my favourite projects. Bird remains one of my top-selling books, and the series as a whole isn’t far behind. I still hear from readers who say they couldn’t put the books down. One review even said: “Started reading the first book and got so engrossed in the story and the characters that after three days I got to the end of book 3 wanting more. Please!”
It was comments like that, along with my own attachment to Beth and Simon, that convinced me to keep writing. After all, I write because I love it. Why stop when the stories are still flowing?
What Comes Next
The fourth book (called The Dark Nest) took a much darker turn than I originally imagined. And, just like before, the plot grew too big for one book. So a fifth instalment became essential to give Beth and Simon the ending they deserve.
The fifth book will be the last. It ties up every thread and delivers a conclusion that feels final - even more so than I expected. Saying goodbye will be hard, though. These characters have been with me for so long, they feel like part of my life. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.
Want to Hear More?
If you’d like to know how I’ve kept a series going without losing the plot (literally!), join me for a free author talk at this year’s Rugby Literary Festival:
Writing a Series Without Losing the Plot
Date: Saturday 4th October
Time: 9.45am – 10.45am
Venue: Rugby Theatre Tea Bar
Cost: FREE
Audience: 18+
