Ideas are easy. It’s the execution that’s often hard. I’ve found that, the more I write, the more ideas I have. I think that’s probably true with most any writer—or really any creative person, no matter what their medium.
Right now I’m on book three of the Monster Haven series. Initially, it was supposed to end at three, but my editor poked at me a little, and I realized I’d been building up to a much bigger arc. When book three ends, things shift into high gear. My editor even pointed to a scene way back in the middle of book one where I’d done some foreshadowing without even realizing it.
So, including the book I’m working on right now, that’s four more books in the series. In addition, I have a second series, a spinoff of the first, that encompasses three more books. Now we’re up to seven books I have yet to write.
Then what?
Well, before I ever started the Monster Haven series, I’d started a book called Bargain Basement. I loved the story. I still do. But I wasn’t ready to write it yet. It’s about an inter-dimensional basement that’s been sold as part of several houses across the country. Each new homeowner only finds out they’re sharing their basement with several other families after they’ve moved in. It gets complicated from there and involves doorknobs programmed to the owner’s DNA, people getting trapped in the basement, a second door down there opening into other dimensions, a shady real estate guy who actually owns the house with the real basement in it. It’s complex. I wasn’t ready. After I’ve written all nine Zoey and Kam books, I think I’ll be able to tackle it.
But wait, there’s more!
I’m also letting a book called The Psychedelic Peacock marinate while it waits its turn. This one’s about a floating business in its own pocket universe. It shows up in a town for a few days or a week as a café, a beauty salon, a bar, a bookstore—whatever. The employees are all the same, but they take on whatever character is necessary for each “show.” People who are invited are given whatever they need, whether it’s justice or help. Kind of like Fantasy Island, I guess, but much darker and sometimes people don’t make it home after their adventure. And the story itself revolves around the employees, not the visitors.
I’m definitely not ready to write that one yet, but it’s stewing.
At two books a year, with nine more books in me at the moment, that covers the next four-and-a-half years. I’ve got plenty of time for new ideas to bubble to the surface before the well runs dry.
If nothing new comes to me in all that time, I’ll be hitting you up for inspiration.
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