1 – Why a Choose Your Own Adventure novel?
I’m not sure. Maybe for the same reason I wrote Man Oh Man: Writing Quality M/M Fiction. I saw a need and no one had done anything like it in this genre. I like to be first and I like to think out of the box.
Plus readers have been suggesting and asking for various scenarios for years, and they’re just not ever going to happen. So this was a way of giving readers a little bit of what they wanted without tampering with the actual series.
2 – How did you come up with all the different scenarios?
Some of them were obvious. Some of them were, as I said, suggested by readers. Some of them evolved from the storytelling — just as ideas result through the process of writing any book (example: the vampires were my idea, but my editor had a wish list for some of the details). Writing a story is an organic creative endeavor. And it was interesting that proved no different with this book.
3 – How difficult was it to write Stranger Things Have Happened?
On a scale of one to ten? Eight and a half. Maybe nine. It had nine-ish moments. It was very complicated. I had to keep the different story branches in my head — that’s just the way my brain works. On the other hand, it was also really fun. The core story is based on Fatal Shadows, so it was fascinating to go through the original book and see all the turning points, all the places where the plot could have really changed, and to take those left turns. And then to see where those left turns could have changed or moved up events that happen later in the series.
Also, I gave free rein to my (admittedly weird) sense of humor so in places the whole thing is just crazy.
4 – How did you come up with the idea of having it illustrated by Catherine Dair?
The idea for the book came to me two years ago while I was on sabbatical. I let it simmer for a while, partly because when I came back from sabbatical I had to get to work, seriously to work, and this definitely fell in the “pet project” range. Last year Catherine contacted me to show me some of the illustrations she had been inspired to create after reading the Adrien English series, and the minute I saw them, something clicked. Those old CYOA books do have illustrations, and Catherine’s work seemed perfect.
I think the illustrations add so much.
5 – Would you do this again, say for the Dangerous Ground series or the Holmes & Moriarity series?
Hmm. I don’t know. I think it works with the AE books because the series is so well known. It’s been around for over a decade. Fatal Shadows alone has sold well over 50K books by now. Readers know the trajectory of the characters and their story well enough to have fun with the deviations. The other series are all still mid-plot, so I don’t know if it would be as effective.
Also the idea of trying to do that again is terrifying. 😀
Sounds exciting! If Josh Lanyon wrote the text on twelve packs of ramen noodles, I would read it and treasure it. Of course, this sounds much better! Thank you.
What Urb said. Definitely a Fanyon. You write it, I’ll read it. That is all.
Damn. Urb. You gave it away! My next book IS on a package of Ramen noodles!!
I have had so much fun with this book! I’m still not through all the scenarios. It’s a book to savor, not rush. I pick it up at odd moments and just have so much fun. It’s always good for a laugh.
Thank you, Cody! That’s very kind.
It’s a really good book, with some wild consequences to some options and lots of humour. I do see it as a supplement or adjunct to Fatal Shadows: I don’t think you’d really get it if you’ve never read that book. But that’s as it should be – and a great excuse to re-read it just before embarking on the adventure.
Thank you for writing this amazing book. Josh. You deserve so much credit for being able to do it. As you know I am a slave to your humor, and this just blew me away! I never laughed so hard with what you put Adrien & Jake through. A real treat!
This book was so much fun! I loved the ability to make the story take different turns, and I loved the humor. I laughed a lot. It was just a delight and I’ll definitely read it again.