Sun Ce, Sun Jian, Sun Quan
One difficult thing with writing series is that it’s really hard to let characters go. I dread the end of Legends of Windemere because I’ll feel a little lost without Luke, Nyx, and the others. They’ll be done and usable only as cameos until the grand finale of everything. Even it might not be the same.
I have pondered an answer to the dreaded melancholy for a few series. This is where Footsteps came from. I’m still not sure if I’m doing this, but the concept was to show what happens with the kids of my heroes. You have to figure that they’ll have a lot to live up to or be targeted. It also gives some closure to a few loose ends that might be around. I really can’t go into full details with this because it would reveal who lives and who dies at the end of the series.
I had planned to do something similar for Darwin, Sin, and the Elysium Saga. Those might change only because situations have been altered. Darwin has 2 series and I can’t see him having kids. Not incapable, but no matter what I can’t really get him to understand the concept of procreation. The original story for the Footsteps: Sin idea became one of his books and I don’t think I want to torment him any more than I will in his series. The Elysium Saga might still get one, but Legends of Windemere is the one where this started.
The truth is that I’m simply not sure what to do here. There will be 9 kids coming out of the Legends of Windemere characters. One story with all of them wouldn’t work and peppering these books throughout my career might reek of not letting go. There is a plan that would undo the plot ideas for them. Also, I have some of them appearing in the other series and working with those heroes, so maybe that’s enough.
So, fellow authors, do you think writing a series with the kids of heroes is something to work for or is it better to use them in other series? Should I just carry on and see if something pops up when my back is turned?
Legends of Windemere 
As a reader, I enjoy the series where the children continue the story. My current favorite series by Ken Follett is doing ijust this, and I love where its going. I think in fantasy writing you can’t go wrong either way. We’re loyal followers. 🙂
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Thanks. I think I need to make sure there’s a worthwhile story behind the characters too.
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What did Raymond E. Feist do with Pug the Magician and Co.?
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I’m not sure. Unfamiliar with those stories.
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I think they were somewhat successful. Might be a worthy reference for you given the genre. I thought the initial four books were very good. http://www.crydee.coma
I believe he had offshoot series with the kids of his first works.
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I’ll give it a look. Thanks.
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I always loved the Star Wars extended universe books, where they explore what happens to the gang after episode 6, including the stories of their kids. My favorite character actually became one of Han and Leia’s children … so I’d say, if you have an interesting story in mind for them, go for it!
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I read a few of the comics, which were interesting. I wonder if any of that will end up in the new movies.
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What you see as not letting go, your readers might see as continuity. Just as, for one example, Anne McCaffrey had F’lar and Lessa’s son, F’lessan, become a leading character in her later Pern novels, along with Mirrim, Menolly, Piemur, and other characters who were introduced as teens (or younger, in Piemur’s case). Fans who follow your universe will love the continuity.
Trust your muse to lead you toward the perfect story.
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Good points. I’ll have to wait and see if an actual story is created. So far, many of the kids show up in other series as supporting characters.
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I was just about to bring up Star Wars, so I’m glad someone else did. I see nothing wrong with continuing a series through the second generation. If you have a fully realized world, why stop at just a few books?
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True. I have every one of my series taking place in Windemere too, so it will be flushed out. The Footsteps project might stay on the back burner until a great plot idea comes up.
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