Cast auditions

As I write this I am (still) waiting on tender hooks to hear back from the lovely people on the interested publisher’s editing board, on whether they think my book is a worthwhile investment. Whilst I do this (and continue with the ongoing editing process – I finished the re-read just before the weekend. Really stoked about completing the edit now) I’ve been giving some more thought to the next instalment of the story.

One of the more difficult questions I face (and one I would welcome your thoughts on) concerns the cast:

I’m basically faced with two options. To continue the narrative through the experiential eyes of those who held our hand through the first book; those of Rivan and Caitlin, Marcus, Timo and Kirigama, and of course Ikari. Or, do I ask a new group to take centre stage? I’m torn, personally. The arty type in me wants to do something clever with the story, that will (potentially) enhance it. But the romantic rails against neglecting the lives of those who’ve taken us this far.

Not that the above named would in any way vanish. No, they’ve become far too integral to the story to do that. But when you met them again it would be through a stranger’s eyes, with a stranger’s judgement placed between you and them.

I realise as I pose these questions that with a (very few) exceptions, most people reading this will have no basis for subjective opinion in this instance, my work as it is remaining unpublished at this point. So I guess what I’m trying for here is a kind of ‘talk yourself through the problem’ self-counselling’ (where’s that wig?). And for any readers who feel like contributing, think on what you’ve read and enjoyed.

At the end of the day, my greatest hope is to create something true, something memorable. Its just a question of how best to let it play out…