Okay, before I begin to ramble about this and that, I want to point something out.
Exactly one year ago on this very blog, I posted the following under a blog post entitled How to be a Jobless Person Who Doesn’t Put on Pants:
Here’s a few things I plan on doing with my days as a full-time writer:
–grow a beard (shut up, it is going to look awesome, you don’t even know)
–adopt a dog (his name is going to be Breadbox and I will love him)
–blog once a week (because for some reason, people like my ramblings)
–write 5-10K words a day (I can totally do this)
–breathe for the first time in a long time (and my god, it’s going to feel so good)
Weird, right?
I’ve been a full-time writer for a whole fucking year.
I grew a beard (I looked like a mugshot). I got a dog (his name is Hendrix). I absolutely do not blog once a week (I am a lying liar who lies). I write 5-10K words a day (some of them are even good words). And I have breathed.
Thank you for letting me do this.
Clunky segue:
What’s even weirder to think is that blog was also posted a few days before the release of The Queen & the Homo Jock King. And here I am a year later, posting this blog a few days before the release of Until You, the third book in the same series. A sequel, if you will.
But what followed Queen in 2016 was a year of non-sequels. Each book I released after Queen had nothing to do with any book that had come before 2016, much to the chagrin of more than a few people, I’m sure. Five books in total, and four of the books were brand new stuff.
And now we’re in 2017.
I’m releasing five books again.
Four of which are sequels, with only one being something unrelated to any prior book.
I worry, sometimes, about sequels. If people really loved the original, can a sequel ever really measure up to it? Are sequels even necessary? Even if it doesn’t dilute the original, won’t a lot of it be a rehash of the book that came before?
And then there are those odd creatures, the romance readers who say they don’t like sequels that are about the same couples. The whole point, they say, is the getting together, and if the two (or three) (or seven) characters already have their happy ending, what else can possibly need to be said? It could positively ruin the happy ending and why, retched author, would you even want to do that?
I get it. I really do.
But sometimes, I say fuck that noise.
Look. When I start a book, I don’t try and think about what potential it could have for a series. A sequel is the furthest thing from my mind. I want to get through a story, have it be either funny or soul-destroying (sometimes both at the same time) and when I finish, I can step away from it and then think about the future could hold.
Bear, Otter and the Kid was supposed to be a standalone.
(Ahem.)
But I can understand the allure of sequels for an author, especially if it revolves around the same set of characters. There is a comfort, there, in writing again about this MC or that MC. When I started writing the final BOATK book, I was worried too much time had passed, and that I wouldn’t be able to find Bear’s voice again. After all, the last time I’d really written a book from his POV, was in 2012.
Same with Paul from Tell Me It’s Real. That book came out in 2013.
Years have passed. Sure, both of those characters had parts to play in follow up stories with other characters as a lead, but it’s not quite the same. We saw Bear through the Kid’s eyes in The Art of Breathing, and Paul through Sandy in Queen.
So imagine my surprise when I sat down to write the last BOATK book just how easy it was. And when I went back to Paul, it flowed.
Why? I don’t quite know.
It makes me wonder, sometimes, what it would be like to go back to other stories. To see what would happen if I wrote more.
What are Benji and Cal up to from Into This River I Drown?
What’s going on with Gus and Casey from How to Be a Normal Person?
Surely there are decades of stories in John & Jackie, right?
And I agonize over that. I’ve made no secret for my soft spot for Gustavo Tiberius. I love him, probably more than any other character I’ve written. And the Three Ironic Amigos! Surely they need their own stories told, right?
But as much as readers worry about sequels ruining what came before, so do authors. I am absolutely conscious of what could happen. Hell, I’ve read follow up books that sucked so bad, they left a bad taste in my mouth for the first book.
I could very easily go back to Abby, Oregon and Gus and Casey and probably churn out another story there. I could find out what happened after Benji allowed his grief for Big Eddie to fade and what Cal did as he found himself human for the first time.
But I stop myself, if ever those thoughts start to run through my head. Because I’ve told myself time and time again that some stories should just stay as they are. They don’t need to have more.
Which, then, is why 2017 is a big fat failure for me, because I didn’t necessarily follow my own advice sometimes.
Until You!
BOATK4!
Lightning2!
Lightning3!
And, in 2018, Lightning4!
Hell, even now, I’m writing the sequel to Wolfsong.
WHY AM I LIKE THIS.
Until You was supposed to be folded up into Corey/Kori’s story, but then I thought how awesome it would be to have Paul’s wedding from his own POV.
Failure #1.
The Art of Breathing could have been the end of the series, until I wrote that last chapter with the whole (spoilers) TWINS! MOM IS DEAD! LONG LOST SISTER IS HERE! (I swear, it’s not as soap-opery as it sounds)(mostly).
Failure # 2.
Lightning2 and 3 and 4?
Yes, well. Oops.
But! In my defense, these three books are most definitely not a rehash of the first one. In fact, I went in a completely different direction as possible to make fun of an entirely different trope (instead of the whole rescue prince(ss) from a dragon, I decided to fuck around with the whole chosen one idea). I also upped the stakes quite a bit. It’s always going to be a crack-ish comedy, but it has a higher emotional heft now. But we’ll talk more about that down the road.
But, I do have endgames in mind, which helps.
BOATK4 is it. No more. It’s done.
Lightning4 is it for Sam of Wilds.
There will be one more book after Until You for Corey/Kori, and that’s it. I hope to do their book for some point in 2018. I’m closing a lot of doors within the next year or two, and I’m happy-sad about it. Sad, because they will be done. Happy, because I have so many other ideas that I want to explore.
So! I hope you’re ready for this year.
Until You is February 27th.
My one standalone, Olive Juice, is out at the end of April.
Then it’s Lightning and BOATK and more Lightning.
It should be a wild ride.
See you next month!
PS: Also, pre-order Until You:
(But no, seriously, think about it: what if Gus and Casey OPEN A BED AND BREAKFAST AND THERE ARE SHENANIGANS AND I FINALLY TELL EVERYONE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WE THREE QUEENS IS THAT THEY ARE—)
Sorry, but I love sequels, and I always want to know what my friends have been up to! I miss Bear, Otter, Paul, Sandy, Gary…I could go on forever! Thank you for creating these beautiful friends.
I love series about the same couple. I’ve found I am more often disappointed in a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th or…) book in a series when the focus has changed and it is about a different couple or set of characters. Because whatever I loved in the previous book(s) is not there or I don’t like the new characters as much.
I am excited about the series continuation you have planned. But, when will we get the sequel to Burn? I loved that book, but it really left the end hanging.
He did say there would be no Burn sequel… http://www.tjklunebooks.com/new-blog/2016/8/25/announcement-on-the-future-of-burn-and-sequels-to-withered-sere
I hadn’t seen that, so thanks for sharing, Xander. Disappointing…I’m going to have to get better about not reading books that end with cliffhangers until the follow-up is out. 🙁
It’s become my life mission to have everyone I know read How To Be A Normal Person and as much as I floveing adore that story, I am actually ok with there not being a sequel. Though the We Three Queens… that is a question that is dying for an answer ❤
Gus and Casey are my favourite characters too. I have reread that book at least 4 times and now have the audio to enjoy. While I would love another book for them, I totally understand your position on it. It is a beauty on its own, and there when I need it (need it today). Sequel’s are not always brilliant, but I think you’ve nailed the art so far.
Until you is available on pre order on kobo.com too (yes it’s done)
As long as you don’t do what Mickie B. Ashling did to Cutting Cords you’ll be fine.
I am happy to read sequels but I am also happy to enjoy stand alone books. I really enjoyed Into this river I drown, How to be a normal person and Murmuration. I think The Lightning-Struck Heart will make a great series and I can’t wait to read it. Of course I really want to find out how Paul’s wedding goes down! <3
I will love read about it!! Please 🙏 let us know what happen with them… How to be a normal person is one of my favorites. I love Gus too. He earned my heart since the very first line of his book. And of course I want to know what’s going on with Gus <3 and his cute AF hipster Casey, and THE big question of the book: The we three queens!!!! Sister/roommates/lesbians/lovers :3
I don’t know why I just can’t get into Lightning Struck. I must be one of the odd ones. I’ve tried to read it several times and have clicked to another book every time. But I love you! I love your books. I’m so upset that I just can’t embrace Lightning when I cackle with delight at every other book you’ve published, funny or total angst. *Sigh* I’ll just have to try again. It’s the only way I’ll get my TJ fix for most of the next year!
Aw, Lightning is my one of my favourites, it was SO funny. The characters are just completely lovable. Please try again, it is really worth it, especially the audiobook!
I am really excited for these books this year! I am a sequel junkie – love ’em. Also just a side note I ordered an embarassing amount of girl scout cookies this year and put them under the name Gustavo Tiberius because I didnt want to 17 boxes of cookies linked to my name.
I couldn’t agree more with you TJ!! Keep it fresh, I love your new shit!!
Tessa I love that Gus has an addiction to cookies! 😂
I am a sequel girl and love listening to your books on long car trips T.J!
I totally understand your point of view on sequels and though I may be completely partial since you’re my favourite author, I think you’re doing it right. As much as I adored How to Be a Normal Person, it is a perfect standalone and I didn’t finish it longing for a continuation of the story. On the other hand, I fell in love with the characters of Wolfsong early in the story and I knew I had to know more about them (I, in fact, NEED the sequels for that one and I’m not above locking you in my basement and having you continue writing their stories until I’m satisfied!). Ehm. So, yeah, my literary 2017 is basically going to be me waiting to be hit by an avalanche of your books, sooo thank you for writing these wonders, boo!
Don’t think of them as sequels, more as the next parts of the story – and the story is finished, when it’s finished.
More adventures of Sam, Tiggy and Gary? Can’t wait! More Paul and Vince? So can’t wait! And something new to explore? Ooooo, certainly can’t wait.
I CAN’T wait until Ravensong! Wolfsong was everything in a book for me! Normal person was very satisfactory, so i don’t need any sequel, but, how is it going with the movie?? 😀
Esther.
Whoa whoa whoa! Are you saying there isn’t a sequel to How to be a Normal Person? Because I delisted/reread that book every few months and can barely contain myself, trying to imagine the next book. Omg we really don’t get to know the three queens relationship status??
But really, I love your writing and am a huge fan. I’m happy as long as you just keep writing.
I will pre-order the F out of ANY of the books above. Gustavo specifically please, please, please….. I am in need of a good day xxx
Please don’t tease about another Guys book. Seriously. NO TEASE. It’s absurd how much I want it. 🙂
I loved this until the last sentence. SERIOUSLY you did that to us AGAIN? After all that talk about not rehashing the first book?!! There better be a HTBANP sequel…
Depending on the way the world is constructed I’m rather fond of more than one book with the same couple. I really think it depends on what the author wants to convey. So yeah, you are the author of your books (makes sense, doesn’t it?) and your books should be the way you feel is right. You cannot please everyone.
I have to admit I only read one of your books so far, but it’s already one of my favourites and will probably not be the last book I read by you 🙂
I love subsequent books about the same couple. I really enjoy stories about “how people STAY in a relationship, and progress in their lives”. But if I were you I wouldn’t go back to writing the next book about any of your people until a really good story about them comes up in your head.
Seqel or stand alone, I love your books. 2017 will be a good year!