Sequels & A Funny Thing

It seems these days if you write one book, you inevitably will write a sequel. What is this desire authors have with sequels, trilogies or even huge sagas? Is it really reader demand that fuels this phenomenon or are we authors just not ready to say goodbye to our characters?

I’m just as guilty as the rest as I’ve a romantic suspense series of which I am in the middle of writing the third installment and having more fun with these characters than ever before. Now I’ve started work on a sequel to my Inspirational, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding.

My motivations? Most often when I write a sequel it is because it has been requested. Readers and reviewers both have asked me to write a sequel to A Funny Thing. Just recently, a storyline came to me. The sequel starts two and a half years after the end of the first novel and it will focus on Alice Steele—the younger sister of the hero from A Funny Thing. Don’t worry Randy and Kari will show up too. Alice has now graduated from college and is ready to start her first reporting job even though her mother wants her to come home and find a husband. On her first assignment, she butts heads with Will Rand, a young reporter from a competing newspaper. And wouldn’t you know it—they find themselves competing over and over again. Little does she know that the greatest secrets to reveal come from Will himself.

Alice was a fun character to write in A Funny Thing. She became a sounding board for both my hero and heroine. She has a humorous sense of humorous and also a sensitive heart that is open and ready to listen, if not give advice.

Here is an excerpt of Alice with her brother, Randy, from A Funny Thing.

“Hey brother,” called Alice from the doorway. “You can’t waste away the night thinking about Kari.” She gave him one of her humorous grins.

Unfortunately, Randy was in no mood. He turned and looked at her with annoyance. “Does Mother need me to do…something? I need something to do.”

“What’s wrong with you, Randy? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this distracted. Didn’t your date with Kari go off well?”

“It went great; Kari was great.” He tried to maintain an easygoing expression, but irritability had slipped into his tone and he knew it. Alice walked in the room and reclined on his bed.

“Okay, now when are you going to tell me the truth,” she asked, her eyes sharply assessed his face.

Randy lay back on the bed next to her and took in a deep breath. “The date really did go well. We had a lot of fun together.”

“Did you kiss her?” she whispered in his ear.

“Alice!” he answered with surprise.

“You did. I can see it in your eyes…You love her!” Alice exclaimed, as she sat up. “So, what happened? Don’t tell me she doesn’t care for you? I’ll never believe it.”

Randy sat up, too. “You sure know how to jump to conclusions.”

His sister flashed him a knowing smile. “Okay, you’re right,” he finally admitted. “I did kiss

her, and I…I do love her. But when it came down to it the other night, I panicked and fled like a coward.

She must hate me now.”

“Randy, if she really is the one for you then she won’t hate you. She’s probably just confused and possibly mortified. You better let me take over from here on out.”

“Thanks, Alice, but I can handle this. Actually, there is something you can help me with.”

If you haven't read A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding, it is available at The Wild Rose Press. In e-book format, it is also at Fictionwise. Also available in print at Amazon & Barnes and Noble.

To read the entire 1^st chapter visit my website.

My short Inspirational story, Relationship Rescue, was recently reviewed by author, Victoria Pitts-Caine. To read the review, please stop by her website.

My First Experience with Romance.

When I say my first experience with romance, I’m referring to my exposure to the genre as a reader, of course. I’ve head tales from romance authors of the first romantic tales they began reading as girls—some of them quite scandalous too. ;) My experience was much tamer and sweeter as the first romance author I read was Grace Livingston Hill when I was in the fifth grade.

For those of you unfamiliar with this author, Grace was a Christian romance novelist of another age (called the Mother of Inspirational Romance). Her first book was published way back in 1877 and she continued writing books until her death in 1947—more than a hundred titles. She was incredibly popular in her lifetime and her books continue to be good sellers to this day. Within her romantic stories were plainly defined Christian messages, a clear cut delineation between good and evil, and an ending that brought resolution to problems both physical and/or spiritual.

She is an author I look up to and who still inspires me in my writing today. In fact, it was after reading one of her books back in 2003 that I decided to write my own for the first time. Three years later my first book was published. Authors are busy people. We get wrapped up in our writing and promotion. We attempt to make time for our families and try to accomplish some housework. It is very easy to loose track of what we really are doing.

As inspirational authors more than any other genre, we really have a responsibility to our readers. I never realized that until my first Inspirational, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding, released. I received so many emails from readers on how much this book touched them. Then they would give examples from the story on how this situation was similar to something they experienced or that character was just like them or their daughter. Some of their stories were incredibly emotional. I was moved by the response and even educated. I wasn’t just writing for me, I was writing for them and the impact I would make.

At the end of last year, I wrote another Inspirational story, Relationship Rescue. It’s just a short story but one with great emotional drive and a dollop of humor. It’s very hard for me to write without some form of humor. This story came from an idea of—what if a couple broke off their engagement because one still hadn’t figured out what love was all about. He still had some growing up to do both spiritually and emotionally. And what if friends of theirs saw the unhappiness of this broken up couple and decided to get them back together…well, at least talking again? What would happen then?? That is the premise behind this story. It releases this September from The Wild Rose Press. I’m happy to have another Inspirational story to add to my collection. I write in several genres because I just love them all, but Inspirational is close to my heart and no matter where I go or what I do I will remain an Inspirational reader and writer. I really must thank Grace Livingston Hill for that. She instilled the love of romance and even more the Christian romance into my heart and that is something which will stay with me to the end.

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Don't forget to check out my newest release, NovelTea Next Door (Romantic Suspense), just released from The Wild Rose Press. Visit my Website to read an excerpt.