So, now I have to think about the future. Not only for the next series since we’re a month or two away from the hopeful release of Legends of Windemere: Path of the Traitors. That series will come to an end, so I don’t have to worry about that. I do have to think about Ichabod Brooks.
I have about 10-12 other short stories that didn’t get written for The Life & Times of Ichabod Brooks. People voted on what sounded interesting and I took the top 11. It didn’t mean the other ones were getting tossed aside though. I want to write them at some point. Maybe not next year, but eventually. 2018 still feels like it’s going to be an epic mess to me since I’ll have a new series to start up and it sounds like the natives consider the end of Legends of Windemere to be a sign that I should retire. So, I definitely have time for this.
Did I have something in mind? Yes, and I was curious what people thought of these future collections:
- Another collection of Ichabod Brooks stories.
- A collection of Mrs. Brooks stories. I’ll have introduced her at the end of the previous collection.
- A collection of Ichabod Brooks stories that all connect to a plot against his family and officially ends his tales.
- A collection of Morgan stories with an Ichabod Brooks cameo. Not certain about this one because I’m still considering giving her the lead in the trilogy/one-shot/collection that focuses on a band of cursed monster hunters.
So, what do people think? Should I even keep going with Ichabod? I figure I can only do so many Pulp-like adventures before he gets repetitive, which is why a second collection should probably lead to a change. Putting him in a larger work feels odd too. Kind of like to give him some closure instead of doing one book and letting him wave in the wind. So, feedback will always be welcomed in this arena.
🤔 1, then 2, closing with a larger work for Ichabod, or, 3. 🤔
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So you like the progression plan?
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Yep 👍😃
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Awesome. 😁
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If you feel you have the stories inside you for it, do them all. If you want my personal opinion though, I think you should do the collection that ends his tale at least, and it might be nice to let Mrs. Brooks tell her stories too.
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I have several stories that didn’t make the cut this time. So I was thinking of doing them and then the others. Felt I should do a series for the Mrs before ending it.
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I think that sounds like a great plan. 🙂
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Thanks. 😀
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We’ve already talked about this at length, but I like one and two. I’d also like to see the cursed monster hunters.
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So, no joint story with a connecting plot?
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Possibly. You have to make the ultimate decisions though.
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It really depends on how it’s done, I guess. I’d keep the short story format with each adventure having a slight connection that gets revealed in the final one.
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That works.
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Like everyone else, I’m going with 1 and 2. But I agree with Victoria that if you have the stories, why not do them all.
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Wait. Do people think these are choices and not a progression of collections? Seems everyone is vetoing a final book and Morgan spinoff if that’s the case.
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Yes, keep Ichabod. I like the idea of Mrs. Brooks. Not so keen on the family thing ending the series but you know best.
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Looks like most people don’t want #3. Guess I’ll write the others and only do more when ideas pile up.
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When you said ‘End the series,’ you got a thumbs down. Now you could do the family thing but promise not to end the series and I think you would get a different answer.
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That’s the thing. I plan on ending the Ichabod stuff at some point. Maybe I’ll add 1 or 2 more collections, but there would be a point where I retire him and start in on another side project. Having Ichabod go on forever runs the risk of him getting stale with his adventures, which I’d like to avoid considering how much people enjoy the character.
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You are the boss.
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I thought that was Bruce Springsteen.
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He with guitar. You with laptop.
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His guitar constantly breaks on him too? 😛
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Ha ha ha.
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I like your ideas, it’s a nice progression of events. Just remember that Sherlock Holmes had lots of stories and people are still writing them today, even though most of the modern stories are nowhere near as good as the original ones.
Write as many stories as you can, put the spares to the side and release them when you need something to publish and don’t have anything else quite ready.
No matter what you do, I’m sure you’ll do justice to Ichabod Brooks.
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Fully agree about the modern ones not being up to snuff. I should look at how many Conan had since pulp fiction was the inspiration. Although, Sherlock is more popular. Maybe Ichabod needs a British accent.
The spares being put to the side is a good plan. I’ll always have stuff to write and publish, but I can let his stuff build up until I have enough for a collection. Ichabod won’t be a yearly like Bedlam and Legends, so I’ve got time.
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It sounds like you have a good plan. It never hurts to have something to fall back on just in case you get stuck or need a break from what you’re working on.
A British accent is a good idea, old chap, pip now.
(Yes, most of my British slang comes from the old movie Royal Wedding.)
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The break is a good idea that I’ve used many times. Having a smaller project gives me a break from the big one. Then I can just go into editing when the side one is done.
Yeah. She does more curse words and the those with an Unamerican ‘u’ in them. She’s a cunning warlord after all. Old chap would just be odd.
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I have not read the stories yet Charles but it is on my buying list for the next Amazon run. I have put in the blogger daily and I am already featuring the latest review from John Howell in tomorrow’s cafe update. I have however noticed that my short story collections do well. I think partly because readers have busy lives and spend 10 to 15 minutes reading at the end of the day. They love a complete story. It is a bonus to have the same character throughout the collection as they come to love them. I think 1 and 2 would be your best option and by the time you write about Mrs Brooks they will have already embraced her.
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Thank you. I really appreciate it. The collection did a decent jump at the end of July. It was a nice surprise after a rough month. Mrs. Brooks is going to be interesting. So far, she’s only appeared in conversations and not even been named. Trying to build mystery around her before she makes her grand debut. 😁
By the way, even though the next book of my fantasy series isn’t out until September, I’m trying to gather guest posts for the big December finale. Legends of Windemere will come to an end and another author pointed out that I need to do it with a bang. Would I be able to write a guest post about something for your blog?
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Of course Charles.. you are very welcome. x
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Thanks. Now I just need to think of a good topic. 😊
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You never seem to have a problem with that Charles…x
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What about writing about the series ending, but the world continuing?
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Sounds good.. see how you feel nearer the time.. x
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I’ll keep it in mind. I was going to start working on them next week since I’m losing my laptop next Friday again. 😦
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I will store safely until you need it posted..x
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Thanks. I might not send it until December in order to add sale links. Glad to know I can send it along if an emergency happens though. 😀
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I’m really curious about the Mrs. She sounds like she’s a force to be reckoned with. But I’d also like to see more Ichabod. Would it be possible to have a book that has a combo of her stories and his? I want my cake and to eat it, too. Sorry.
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I was thinking of that after she gets a solo. It’s tough to figure out since I want to debut her in an Ichabod book first. I was even thinking of doing one collection that has all the adventures that led up to their union.
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That would be interesting. It would be fun at some point if you did a post where they both remember the same event from two different perspectives. I see hilarity.
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I was actually thinking of making the joint book have a story like that. Or put small asides in where they debate events.
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I love it when two strong characters recall and event together.
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It opens up for a lot of humor, which is a favorite of mine. Having them just be tough and serious wouldn’t work out well.
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I find that especially in fantasy, being too serious gets boring.
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It seems to be what people expect too. Maybe I missed the memo about fiction having to be taken so seriously.
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I don’t get the current rules of fantasy. Death and sex. Sex and death. With dragons.
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The genre is fucked in a way. It wasn’t this bad when I was a kid. Now it’s everyone demanding the same thing as the top series while complaining that all the new stuff is copying the top series.
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That’s the part I don’t get. No one seems to want anything that isn’t heavily political.
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Even then, it has to be their politics to get attention. Not many want to escape reality with a book these days. Why should fiction be as miserable as reality?
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I keep asking that when it comes to romances and people get upset over the characters not having safe sex. Is it really exciting to discuss contraception and disease during a romantic scene? I get the reality bit, but when I read that it takes me out of the moment.
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It could work if the characters talking about it makes sense or you just show one of them buying a condom during a scene. I guess. Doesn’t seem like it would retain the mood if you spend a paragraph describing the guy putting it on. Heck, people seem to get upset about sex in fiction in general.
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It always amazes me when someone buys a steamy romance and then complains about there being too much sex.
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Or flips out over erotic content and you find is was a few kissing scenes. Is there any other species on Earth that gets so upset about the act of procreation?
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Is there any other species that reviews books?
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Dogs can. It’s entirely based on taste though.
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