So what should I write next?
I know there are plenty of people who want to see a
second series involving Martil, Karia and Merren from The Dragon Sword
Histories. Their journey had taken them to a certain point but there were still
unanswered questions, especially around Barrett, the magician.
If I did write that series, I hope the first book’s title
would be The Bitter Mage.
But I am not ready to write that one yet. Maybe next time
…
For this new series, I am tossing up a couple of ideas.
There’s two ways I can go.
I would really appreciate some feedback on this – after
all, you are the ones that I hope will be looking forward to reading them!
Ultimately, of course, I will be guided by what
HarperCollins is interested in!
The first series feels like two books, but if I dig
deeper into the planning, it may well come out to be a trilogy.
Loosely – very loosely – based on the Japanese tale of
The 47 Warriors, it asks the question of just what is a man prepared to do, how
far will he take revenge. And is honour, and revenge, more important than
family? When the two collide, what will win out?
This series will take you to the land of Nippon, where
the Elfarans first landed and thrived, then took ship from to arrive in Vales.
When a man’s friend and lord is betrayed and killed, a
lord he swore an oath to protect with his life, he must go to extreme lengths
to gain revenge and expose the evil festering in the land of Nippon. But what
if it costs him his family. What if he has to give up everything he is,
everything he loves to fulfil his oath …
The second series – and one that I have been thinking
about for a while – is definitely a trilogy.
You may well be aware that I like to take a fantasy
cliché on and twist it around, send it up slightly. The first series was a
gentle send-up of the whole magic sword cliché. Empire Of Bones sends up the
elves in fantasy cliché.
This series would have a little play with the whole
supernatural creatures trope.
People are disappearing. Boats return empty, even whole
villages are vanishing. The King and the Church are claiming it must be demons
or something equally sinister. But one man believes there is a far more human
explanation.
And when his wife is one of the ones taken, he starts a
journey that will tear down a kingdom and expose a foulness buried deep in his
land that is darker and more revolting than the Church’s claims of a plague of
demons.
But a revolution will be merely the beginning of his
troubles …
Let me know what you think!
Hmm....I like them both, they both have potential. What if...and this might be too complicated, but something I have toyed with (in my case it blew up spectacularly and become way too complicated), somehow combining the two?
ReplyDeleteAfraid they are going to have to stay apart ... have to say, am leaning towards the second option!
DeletePersonally I like the idea of seeing how far someone will go to achieve their desire; even though it's quite dark. It makes me wonder if the main character is even the good one at all. Although, if you do go down that road, I just hope you don't fall into the cliche of the main character realising at the end 'oh, revenge isn't the way to go, I'm saved, the end' or just as over used 'Revenge isn't the way, oh, it's the guy who I wanted to kill trying to kill me. I have killed him, but didn't do it for revenge, the end.'
ReplyDeleteRegardless, I do look forward to your next best seller :D
Thanks very much for taking the time to comment - and for looking forwards to the next one!
DeleteI am leaning towards the second option, however - although ultimately it is up to the publisher!
Hi Duncan, I lean toward the second one - it sounds ace. I love the 'quest' feel to it, and the mystery in the premise :)
ReplyDeleteAshley