HP Preview
Here are the
covers for the newest Harry Potter. This should be a good summer for HP—a movie and a new, albeit last, novel.
Which makes me think about writing series books and what happens when you’ve used up all your ideas and/or just gotten tired of the characters and want to stop. I’m at the beginning of the Anna Strong books and every idea I get can be adapted to her life and times. But at some point, am I going to say that’s it? I’m tired of the San Diego beach life and the sexy vampire existence and want to hang up the fangs. Then what?
Then. What.
I attended a Sue Grafton signing and a fan asked her what she was going to do when she finished the “Z” novel. She laughed and said she’d be eighty and she damn well planned to do nothing. On the other side of the coin, there’s Robert B. Parker who has the Spenser series, the Jessee Stone series, the Sunny Randall series, numerous stand-alones and now, a YA book just released. He doesn’t plan to EVER stop writing. He always implies it’s because he needs the money, but somehow, I think he’d be all right if he stopped right now. Course, I don’t know what kind of shopping budget Joan has. I have a feeling she’s very high maintenance.
Anyway, writing is more than a career or job for most of us. It’s ingrained in our psyches, as much a part of our physical existence as breathing. When I can’t or don’t write, I actually feel guilty about it. Like I’ve let myself down. Like there’s nothing more important I should or could be doing. Is that a blessing or a curse? I’m not sure but I imagine Sue Grafton will find something else to write about in spite of what she says now.
Well, I’ve just signed on for two more Anna Strong novels. For me, the point is moot.
A small aside, May’s issue of RT Book Review magazine contains an article about Urban Fantasy. I was lucky enough to be included as one of the new authors in the genre. If you get the chance, check it out.