Authors take risks all the time. As I pointed out here, every story's been told many times over. Making characters unique, likable, credible - whether good or evil - and consistent throughout the story until something profoundly changes them - and even the outcome of the change has to be believable with that character- in all of these instances, the author takes a risk. Will readers like the character(s)? Will the character perform to the readers' expectations? Will the hero be too perfect? Will the heroine be too whiny? Will the bad guys be too stereotypical (how can they not)?
Having said all that, I confess to taking a major risk in my new novel. My hero in this story is not perfect, but he's close.
The blurb:
He's a recluse. She's seeking refuge.
He's eliminated almost everyone from his life except his friends from his military career cut short by injury and his family's occasional visits. He's converted a 3-bay garage into his self-contained unit where he mostly lives and conducts his cyber forensics businesses. He rarely uses his three bedroom home attached to this garage except for occasionally indulging his skills in the kitchen and enjoying a fire in his huge fireplace. Other than those things, he spends his time alone. Until one early morning hour his monitor above his terminals beeps and exposes someone from his camera on the porch pounding on his screen door.
I'm willing to make this hero . . . a real hero. I'm taking that risk.
Father, thank you for all the inspiration. Apart from you, I can do nothing. I got nothing. I am nothing. Always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.