As some of you may be aware, one of my novels, Beltrunner, is soon to become an audiobook. Because of this, my publisher and I have arranged for a little "reward" to be given out to anyone who submits his or her email in advance of the audiobook's publication.
We decided on an exclusive story featuring Captain Collier South and his trusty computer sidekick Sancho as the reward. If you don't know, those two are the main characters from Beltrunner, and I had a thoroughly enjoyable time writing them in the novel.
So now I am returning to them, and I am finding them just as fun as they were when I penned the novel years ago. I think I finally get why writers (and I suppose actors) return to characters in sequels and such--these characters are people, and if we enjoyed their company in a novel, why not return to them?
In this case, I'm writing a prequel--partially because I don't want listeners of the "secret story" to know anything about what transpires in Beltrunner, and partially because I didn't have an idea. At least, not an idea for a short story.
The prequel obviously brings up problems--I can't have anything of so much consequence happen that won't align with the events in Beltrunner, for example. I remember watching and reading prequels of other stories and wondering why these events weren't mentioned in the main story, and I am determined not to fall victim to that.
On the other hand, though, something has to happen: the story can't be so devoid of incident as to be dull.
I have hit upon what I think is a good idea, and I am almost done. It was very pleasurable returning to these two. So much so, that I am contemplating something I never thought I would...
A sequel to Beltrunner. We'll see.
Be seeing you!
We decided on an exclusive story featuring Captain Collier South and his trusty computer sidekick Sancho as the reward. If you don't know, those two are the main characters from Beltrunner, and I had a thoroughly enjoyable time writing them in the novel.
So now I am returning to them, and I am finding them just as fun as they were when I penned the novel years ago. I think I finally get why writers (and I suppose actors) return to characters in sequels and such--these characters are people, and if we enjoyed their company in a novel, why not return to them?
In this case, I'm writing a prequel--partially because I don't want listeners of the "secret story" to know anything about what transpires in Beltrunner, and partially because I didn't have an idea. At least, not an idea for a short story.
The prequel obviously brings up problems--I can't have anything of so much consequence happen that won't align with the events in Beltrunner, for example. I remember watching and reading prequels of other stories and wondering why these events weren't mentioned in the main story, and I am determined not to fall victim to that.
On the other hand, though, something has to happen: the story can't be so devoid of incident as to be dull.
I have hit upon what I think is a good idea, and I am almost done. It was very pleasurable returning to these two. So much so, that I am contemplating something I never thought I would...
A sequel to Beltrunner. We'll see.
Be seeing you!
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