I’ve been writing a lot recently about the way my characters stories continue in my imagination even after the book is finished and published. Sometimes readers have been kind enough to ask me to tell these stories in a sequel but I have always resisted.
I’ve resisted for two reasons, the first is that for me, when a written story is finished, it is finished; I’m afraid of it losing its impact if it carries on beyond what I hope is a satisfactory conclusion. I fear that maybe the next part would not be exciting, interesting or intriguing even if it does answer the question “…and what became of them?” I could I guess work hard to make their ongoing story exciting, interesting and intriguing, but then I think, why not use that plot for a whole new story?
The second reason is that a sequel would undoubtedly have to give away some of the mystery of the first novel, the who-dunnit, the surprise ending when two unlikely people come together, the ‘goodie’ who was really a ‘baddie’ and vice-versa. If someone read the second one first the surprise would be lost.
And then… and then it occurred to me, that if I am writing their stories anyway, if their stories are there on paper, and if I published it on Kindle with a clear warning that this new book might contain spoilers for a previous one, it would be completely up to my kind readers to choose to read it or not. Publishing on Kindle costs nothing except hard work, very hard work, but I don’t mind that. I’ve dreamed all my life of being a writer and now I am, so what is there to lose?
What do you think?
Maybe Michael and Deke and Sean’s story could be told?
What happens to Tyche and Luka?
Does Beulah resolve the conundrum at the heart of her life?
Lois Elsden 