Technically....
It is release day here for Tigerland and my nails are already bitten down to the quick.
It's a worry, releasing a sequel to a book that people have told you they love - especially when they ask if there is ever going to be a second one. How can #2 live up to the first, especially when you always thought of it as a standalone book and the story as you envisioned it was told, done and dusted?
And I never ever ever thought there would be a Tigers sequel. I wasn't playing coy when I said so. Sure, I still had Simon in my head telling me stuff, but I thought he was just keeping me updated.
But here we are now, three and a half years later.
Tigerland was written because I desperately needed an escape from the real world. Things were pretty tough, and to tell you the truth it still feels that way. I started writing little reunions with Simon and Dec, clichè of clichès, feeling like I was catching up with old friends. It was comforting, being ensconced amongst the old gang and finding out what was happening to them. I thought maybe they would just be a few short stories, but before I knew it a novel was forming.
Both Tigers books were written in the aftermath of life changing events. Should there be a third, I hope its genesis is in lighter circumstances. Yes, Simon is still talking. But who knows what will come of it?
I just hope Tigerland lives up to it all.
It's a worry, releasing a sequel to a book that people have told you they love - especially when they ask if there is ever going to be a second one. How can #2 live up to the first, especially when you always thought of it as a standalone book and the story as you envisioned it was told, done and dusted?
And I never ever ever thought there would be a Tigers sequel. I wasn't playing coy when I said so. Sure, I still had Simon in my head telling me stuff, but I thought he was just keeping me updated.
But here we are now, three and a half years later.
Tigerland was written because I desperately needed an escape from the real world. Things were pretty tough, and to tell you the truth it still feels that way. I started writing little reunions with Simon and Dec, clichè of clichès, feeling like I was catching up with old friends. It was comforting, being ensconced amongst the old gang and finding out what was happening to them. I thought maybe they would just be a few short stories, but before I knew it a novel was forming.
Both Tigers books were written in the aftermath of life changing events. Should there be a third, I hope its genesis is in lighter circumstances. Yes, Simon is still talking. But who knows what will come of it?
I just hope Tigerland lives up to it all.