I have a bit of a habit of creating stories and worlds the unfurl like a tablecloth down a long picnic table. It is lovely in the sense that it makes for so much room to play. However, it can seem daunting for some people if they find out they may be in for more books.
When I was writing “Big Beasts”, I set myself a single goal. Tell a satisfying single story. I wasn’t going to have a long arc for Kylie. I was going to keep the characters both focused and vital to the story. And for the most part, I did that and was proud of the results.
Close to the end of the editing process, my editor, Bryce Wilson, asked a very specific and funny question to me. Well, funny to me at the time. He said, “Do plan to keep this going?” After I told him the book was intended to be a stand-alone work, Bryce suggested, “I think this world is big enough that if you wanted to write more of these characters, you’ve got plenty to explore.”
The suggestion took me back, but I started thinking about where the story ended, what else I might want to say, and where I would need to start. After a few months of working on the concept in the background, I came up with some key things from “Big Beasts” that I deliberately avoided, knowing they would tempt me to write more books. With those hooks in me, I got to work on the sequel to “Big Beasts”.
More coming soon on that front. Check back to the blog to hear about the continuing adventures of Kylie, Jeys, Chatter, and many more.
Enjoy the Journey. We’re all on it together.