Thanks for the response to my questions about Solitaire. I see your point about not wanting to come out with a disappointing sequel, as they so often are. I think Tolkien is probably the only one whose sequels were as good as the initial novel, and you could argue that they aren’t sequels at all but one huge novel parceled into publishable units. At the same time, Solitaire was such a great book that it would be nice to continue it, and hope that literary lightning strikes the same place twice. I liked your idea re: Jackal/Snow/Scully, assuming the novel is not simply an exploration of Jackal’s melancholy and adjustment. Will she conquer Ko? The world? herself?
Thanks for the favorite books – I am not familiar with them, but am always happy to hear about quality writing.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing the next novel, whatever it might be.
Julia
Hi, Julia.
Yes, I’m looking forward to the next novel too. I confess that one of my favorite parts of writing is “having written,” if you know what I mean – it’s nice when it’s done and I can just pat it happily and then go have a beer. It’s not my only favorite part, thought: I’ve learned the hard way that I have to enjoy writing as well as having written.
I’ve read the first chapter of the new book (working title Hollow) twice, to very different audiences (a high school student/faculty audience in New Hampshire, and a group of science fiction readers at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle). Both readings got a great response, which gives me confidence that I’ve made a good start. Now I just have to not fuck it up.
Hollow is not Solitaire, but it’s already clear to me that I’m exploring some similar questions and concerns. And some different ones, as well – it’s not a retread. At least I sincerely hope not. I do not want to be a writer who writes one book over and over and over. Makes me think of a fly trapped between a window and the screen, batting itself around trying to find its way out.
I console myself with thinking about how different the book after Hollow will be (I already have some ideas….) But, you know, I bet that someone who has read Solitaire and Hollow will see immediate connections with that one, no matter how “different” I think it is. I’m starting to see my writing as a highway system: a small town might be pretty different from a big city, but the same road can run through both.