I have an interesting problem.

[rkvincent]

My publisher has asked me to write a short story prequel to my Soul Screamers books. They want to release this story as an e-short in July, so I’m in a bit of a time crunch and I’ve run across a couple of interesting problems. The first is a familiar dilemma (at least for me), but the second is something… else.

[My questions mostly pertain to other

Comments

[suelder]

that was my first thought as well - use a different POV. Sorry, I haven't read Soul Screamers, but if there's a mentor character, that's the one I'd choose for POV.

Suelder

[rkvincent]

Oops. I probably should have mentioned that the books aren't out yet. The first one, My Soul to Take, comes out August 1. ;-)

[suelder]

ROFL - I don't feel nearly so guilty then. I'll definitely be looking for them ;-)

[rkvincent]

Sorry! I forgot to mention that the books aren't out yet. The first comes out August 1.

As for writing the story as a flashback, I'm afraid that would still reveal spoilers from book 1 to the reader. ;-)

[barrieinca]

I have never had to do this. Thank goodness. ;) Although it sounds as though you've got it on the run.

In terms of wanting to change something in a book once it's been printed. Yup. Been there. You know what just happened to me though? I had to stop writing the 3rd book in the series to proof the galleys of the 2nd. And I actually changed a couple of details in the 2nd at that time. So that it all flows better for the 3rd book.

good luck.
~Barrie
http://barriesummy.blogspot.com

[greylady]

I hope that thoughts from a reader are okay on this...

How integrated to the story does your prequel have to be? Can you take a secondary character from the first book, and write background on them? Does Kaylee's ability come from a family member or an item? Can you focus on a grandparent or cousin or previous holder of the magic thingamajig or something else? (I.e. would an introduction to the world be acceptable, or do they want a direct tie in to the story?)

I always enjoy short stories that introduce me to the world, even if they aren't focused on the book's main character... sometime I even like them more - I get to see the secondary character or characters in a way that the story doesn't let me see, being focused on the protagonist.

[rkvincent]

Thoughts from a reader are more than okay. ;-)

Kaylee's ability does come from her family, but I don't want the readers to know what she can do yet either. ;-(

I've come up with something pretty interesting to solve it though. I think. Assuming it works... ;-)

[jer_bear711]

I did a prequel story for my Aspect of Crow series, for our publisher's online read program (I think that's the same thing you're talking about), but it was set several thousand years in the past (mid-21st century), so that probably doesn't help you at all.

I've also done origin stories for some of my vampire DJs, and I'm sure a detail in one of those is going to, uh, bite me in the you-know-what one of these days, plotwise. :-)

And YES, I have definitely wanted to take out a sentence here and there in previous books, especially world-building details that made later developments impossible.

So the lesson learned is never toss in any detail unless it's directly pertinent to the story.

[rkvincent]

Yeah, I wish I'd learned that just a little sooner. ;-)

[rkvincent]

Oh, I meant to say that I'm not sure if this is the same as the online read thing. They're going to have this one for download on the site for my series. I'll have to ask...