Since
the big, epic, life-changing announcement of a long-awaited second novel releasing this summer--no, not from Harper Lee, my second novel, The Adventures of Braxton Revere--I've heard one question
over and over: why isn't this a sequel to your first book, On the Backs of Dragons? OK, I've only heard it 5 or 6 times, but still, I have
to admit that the question has somewhat surprised me. Yes, some people claimed
they enjoyed OTBOD, as I call it. But I often have a tough time receiving and believing praise. I've always been that way. I try to be harder on myself than the rest of the world will be--it's good practice. I do love to hear compliments about the book, yet still I struggle, in part because I know others that couldn't even finish it. I try not to take it
personal--we all have different tastes. Some people like Star Wars, others Star Trek, and then there are freaks like me who can enjoy both.
That said, it seems clear that the people who liked
OTBOD have impeccable judgment. Those that didn't like it are most likely the type of people that like
Nickelback and getting parking tickets. Not much you can do about them.
As to the question: why isn't this a sequel? Well, it just isn't. There are many reasons
people sit down to write a novel, but for most I believe the overriding one is quite
simple: they have a story to tell. That doesn't mean I don't have a
sequel story to tell. I do. I even have a rough draft, and
while it is very rough (going from a rough draft to a novel you are happy to release is a long road), I am very pleased with it. I want to tell
that story. Maybe some day.
But not now. No, right now I wanted
to tell this story, about a guy who was willing to risk his neck to save those who had spent their lives harassing him. A story about a guy who would want to tell that story himself, which is why it
was written in first person. I'm really excited to tell that story.
Someday,
maybe I'll get to tell more of the story of Caroline, Jonas, Mouse,
Chupwah, Jomey, Akari, Eston, and the rest. But not yet.
