My next book, which anyone paying attention knows will be the fourth and final book in the More Love in Andauk series, has a complete draft. It still needs work before it’s ready for release. Between editing and formatting and all those other necessities, I need to give more serious thought to what I’ll write next. Who wants to know some of the wonderful and maybe not-so-wonderful ideas I’ve floated so far?
1) Sabbatical. That’s not a title, it’s the absence of titles. Since I haven’t felt pulled towards a specific project, I wondered if I should give myself a break to refresh. But my lack of direction has more to do with too many ideas. I should work on something.
2) Fairy Tales. Lots of people have done modern versions of classic tales. It’s difficult to get a good balance between changing enough to make it unique and changing so much that it’s unrecognizable. I can’t imagine getting this right for everyone. And yet… I still like the idea of something that isn’t a full retelling (a possibly futile attempt to sidestep that difficulty) but is instead a modern story with nods to fairy tale elements like Prince Charming, especially Prince Charming. Some version of him would need to show up in each story.
3) Aging Wisherton. No, I wouldn’t give it that horrendous name. I have, however, given a bit of thought to a sequel series with my current characters old enough to have some love stories. Just because they’re children doesn’t mean I haven’t already picked some characters who could be well-matched in the future. What kind of romance author would I be if I didn’t look for romance? I still have a few ideas for that series though, and I have to finish it before I start a sequel. Maybe another Wisherton book should be my next project.
4) More of the same. I could invent another small town with a small cast of characters and come up with amusing stories about how some of them fall in love. I have some experience in this area. And at least I know it’s something I’d want to read.
5) Bible stories. Along the same line as fairy tales, I wouldn’t retell stories I couldn’t possibly improve. I do like the idea of a Bible theme to a series, that anyone who knows to look might spot shades of Goliath or Esther in the characters or maybe a burning bush. I see potential for laughs about unexplained fire or weirdly multiplying food.
6) Something completely different that’s actually more of the same only combined. I also had an idea about starting a series of fantasy romance. It wouldn’t be anything paranormal, just a fictional world where I could create customs and freeze technology. The books could stay evergreen without the bother of researching some historical period. No, that’s not being lazy. Inventing a setting takes as much brain power as learning about one. If I’m honest, I’m not sure world-building is my forte. I think I’d like the opportunity to grow that skill.
What will be my next book?
Simon’s Mother. Remember,
I already said I’m finishing More Love in Andauk. But what will be the next next
book? I don’t know. I probably need more ideas.