Monday, April 29, 2013

What to write next...


I wasn't anticipating that I'd make another post this month, but a question has come up for which I'd love to have input from all of you.

Apologies in advance, this post is a bit raw. I didn't ask Katie to edit it for me, so the odd typo or two might slip by me.

It's starting to feel to me like the book I write in May will be a Dark Reflections novel. There are some things coming up in the next few Reflections novels after Riven that need the storyline from Dark Reflections to be fully appreciated.

The artist in me is saying 'full speed ahead,' but the business person in me is a little nervous about writing this Dark Reflections novel.

I've only sold about 1/3rd as many copies of Trapped as of Forsaken over the last four months, so it would appear that people are much less interested in stories that aren't part of the central Alec and Adri arc.

Given that I need to write several standalone books that will focus primarily on Rachel, Jess, and Jasmin, I'm potentially setting myself up to do a lot of work that not very many people will be interested in reading (especially when you add in Geoffrey's books, which also haven't been as well received).

Being an indie writer means that I have to balance the art against the business, so I'm curious what you all think.  Would you be interested in a Dark Reflections novel where Alec and Adri don't know each other yet? Alec's dad is still alive, as is Adri's dad and sister and Alec and Adri don't know each other yet.

Please let me know what you think in the comments.

Thanks,

Dean

8 comments:

  1. Adrian and Alex please?! More and more and more!!!
    Really LOVE reading All the Dark Reflection stuff as long as the
    Original pack is involved:)

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  2. Hi, Jnurse.

    I've gone ahead and started the Dark Reflections novel and I'm about 20% of the way in. Most...of the original pack is involved. There are a few characters that went a different route in Dark Reflections, so we'll have to see how things develop for them :)

    I'm hoping you'll all enjoy this one once it's done.

    Dean

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  3. I'd love to read them, it's really interesting to get the full point of view and others intentions etc. Perhaps you could do a novella with all the bits in it? It'd be one book then but with the different stories. I've just finished reading a series with a novella as a side and it was a really good idea. Just a thought.. I've downloaded all the books to do with the series and absolutely love them, they brought me to tears a few times and I have a hugely irrational crush on Alec, lol. Keep up the good work I cannot wait to read more about adri and alec and all the other characters. d happily buy all separate books too in the series. Ps a book about Alecs dad would be awesome, I'd love to read about him. Hope you go with the plan :)

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  4. Hi, Hannah.

    I'll have to think about that idea of doing a novella. I've got a few bits and pieces that don't really fit into any of the novels that I'm planning out right now, so that might be a good way to get them into a form that people can still read.

    I'm really glad to hear that you've enjoyed the series so far-we're kindred spirits. Writing the series brought me to tears a few times :)

    You're timing is great because I just finished the book I was working on so I'm surfacing and getting e-mails and the like caught back up :)

    I'll be excited to hear what you think of Riven when it comes out on July 1st!

    Dean

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  5. I think you should definitly write about before adri and alec met; it will be interesting to know what happened, and even how and when the pack came together. Would you write about both sides of the story, like the story with adri then alecs? It will be interesting to hear the story about adris dad and sisters car accident and the story between alec, his sister and his parents. I definitly think it wll be a great idea :D

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  6. I also enjoyed ash's story and the girl he met, so I think it will be interesting to read about what happens next for those two, and also the rest of the pack, but my favourite characters are definitly alec, adri, rachael and dominic

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  7. I don't know if this is the good platform to ask, but I really wanna know if Alec and adri end up together and in what book. Thanks

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  8. Hi, Unknown.

    The better spot to ask questions is over at WWW.DeanWrites.com--I don't check over here very ofter anymore.

    That being said, I'm not sure how to answer your question without giving away the end of the series other than to say that I will try to make the conclusion to the series as satisfying as possible and that the books between the start and the end will be worth reading. :)

    Sorry to be so vague... :)

    Dean

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