One of the things that’s changed, over the decades I’ve been reading, is the way the Internet has opened up a space for authors to connect their readers with the kind of book-related tidbits that don’t make it into a finished novel. Almost every week, I find some piece of fun fiction (or pictures or playlist) connected to a beloved story. (It helps that I have many beloved stories.)

Whether it’s short stories for books like Jane Seville’s Zero at the Bone, or fan fic by a favorite published author (like DiscontentedWinter’s Sterek fiction), or an AO3 serial in the world of a favorite novel (like Taylor Fitzpatrick’s youcouldmakealife hockey fiction) there’s a wealth of supplemental content out there.

This is lovely and frustrating. Lovely, because it’s fun free stuff to find. Frustrating, for someone like me who is an author completist – when I love someone’s work I want to read all of it, but finding it has become tougher than a cruise down their book list. Even though I’m tied into the reading community, I still sometimes find out years later about stories connected to favorite reads that I’d missed. (And much as I love rereading the books… so many books, so little time.)

This is a topic that came to mind because after I finished book 6 of my Hidden Wolves – Undeniable Bonds – I kind of accidentally read a review (I’m lying – I read many of my reviews) that asked what was going on with the Book 1 characters – Simon and Paul – while the other MCs were off saving the world. And Simon leaped up in my head and decided to tell me. And I accidentally (true this time) wrote a 34K novella.

The question was then, what to do with my Unplanned Coda?

I thought about posting it on my website— the same way I have the little ficlet for Into Deep Waters posted. But 35K is a lot to read on a website. And I remember how frustrated I’ve sometimes been, finding a follow-up long after the fact, when the main story has begun to fade from memory. So I decided I’ll release this one, once it’s polished, and edited, and has a cover. (Probably at .99 so it can pay for the cover.)

What do you folks think? Do you like hunting down freebie material? Do you get frustrated finding out there was more good stuff you missed? Do you wish the short fiction was always purchasable, or downloadable? Do you go out of your way to download it or bookmark it for rereads?

And what was the addendum fiction that you were the most delighted to find? (I’d be hard pressed to answer that, but I just reread Song for a Viking by KJ Charles— the little coda to Think of England— and was really glad to have that tiny glimpse of Daniel and Archie, working things out.)

– Kaje Harper

July 2021