Terry, keep up the good work. Many may find the decay of infrastructure to be a boring topic, but it is important to talk about it. Otherwise, nothing will get done.
Thanks so much, Terry, for doing this substack. It's a goldmine for writers and it also enriches the reading experience by exploring issues you have addressed in your work. The need for something new, but recognizable as continuing the story that readers would look for in a sequel, is an interesting challenge. I think your approach in High Road -- adding to the issues addressed -- worked well because it captures the special appeal of these books, namely that they incorporate serious messages about politics in stories that are also funny, and fun to read. Hate to say it, but there are lots of additional issues, should you decide to go further in the sequel business. Like the fate of people who have no political experience but are drafted into leadership because parties think they are marketable. Or, you have also created memorable characters in these books and they could learn, develop and change irrespective of political issues. So, as a reader hoping for more, my message is: lots of sequels waiting to be born here.
i always enjoy your blogs but this one benefitted me greatly. i have read all your novels but i am currently trying to walk on a treadmill daily & i need something to occupy my mind while i walk. some podcasts are set to low to hear properly streaming through my hearing aids. when you reminded me that our podcast reading of your novels is still out there, my problem of finding interesting podcasts has been solved for a while. it is a different experience, listening instead of reading, but i think i might be getting more out of the novels,; one, because i have read them before, and two, I can't skim over bits because i tend to read too fast. thank you for all your books and all your podcasts
I enjoyed reading Angus so much in both BLP and HR, that a nascent, long snuffed out interest in politics was reawakened. Back in '71, when my Grade 9 class had travelled from the prairies by train, all the way to Parliament Hill, to tour and be addressed by an MP, I realized even at that young age that the MP carefully skirted any commitment when answering the question I had asked. To the contrary, Terry, in your novels Angus was so convincing, and his integrity so attractive, that fiction restored my hope that reality could follow suit! I also remember you posted in past that Angus actually did inspire someone in real life to enter politics himself. Presently, I'd actually like to send these two novels to a younger man I know who is currently entering political life on the prairies and say, "Read this! If you can embody some of the values portrayed, you may be so strong and so successful! and we will all be the better for it." Hmm, in this case, perhaps a future outcome of your Angus oeuvre could be some politician's well written memoirs written years from now.
Terry, I really resonated with your narration of the dilemma of writing a sequel that would make sense to an audience who had not read the original novel. When I wrote my novel, ‘The Treasure of Stella Bay’ I had no intention of writing a sequel, but, ‘due to popular demand’ I took up the challenge. I had a general idea of where the story would go and since I’m a seat of the pants author, I trusted that it would all work out. But, how to start it? Somehow I created a rather dramatic story line that hooked the previous book’s story-line and characters and then transitioned to the new story line. Once I had the hook the writing sort wrote itself and I was happy with it. Some were my beta readers, who also helped me with my blurb and recommendations. I’m happy with ‘Alex’ Choice’ as a sequel, though I had many other story-line problems to solve to bring it all together.
I hope no-one asks me to write a subsequent sequel.
Which book are you doing a sequel for. I see on Amazon you have two.. All right so far: Finding your way in the not so deep woods as well as Our side of the fence. Good luck.
Funny, I was just talking about the sophomore slump with someone (a non-writer) the other day. I never thought of it that way, but yes, you did indeed avoid it with "The High Road", didn't you?
It is so nice to learn the ‘behind the scenes’ thinking that went into planning and writing a sequel. I hadn’t thought about the two audiences but do appreciate when an author brings me up to speed quickly or (conversely) isn’t overly repetitive. I also appreciated how you made your messages explicit in your column. Please keep the column going! I have sent your column to a friend who is working on her first book—hope she is a subscriber.
I really enjoy Terry’s books as well, and am delighted to have two of his novels signed with personal messages.
I am about to release a sequel for an earlier book and I have wrestled with the same issue of “two audiences “. My audiences are much smaller than Terry’s, but new and previous readers are all important.
Having read all of your novels I must say your ongoing efforts with Angus gives me huge laughs every time. Your character development and plot twists are so Canadian but understandable to everyone. Having seen the huge spider at the entrance of the Canadian Art Museum in Ottawa I can understand how the structure on the cliff in Ottawa behind the Chateau Laurier had spider like legs. I could see the building structure in my mind and could only imagine how ugly it would be. Thank you for the ongoing efforts of Angus and I hope one day we can find out what is new in his outlandish life on the banks of the Ottawa River.
In 2010 did you ever think that your political satire would rival the hilarity (insanity?) of what’s currently being reported in the news today?
Love these books.
Terry, keep up the good work. Many may find the decay of infrastructure to be a boring topic, but it is important to talk about it. Otherwise, nothing will get done.
Thanks so much, Terry, for doing this substack. It's a goldmine for writers and it also enriches the reading experience by exploring issues you have addressed in your work. The need for something new, but recognizable as continuing the story that readers would look for in a sequel, is an interesting challenge. I think your approach in High Road -- adding to the issues addressed -- worked well because it captures the special appeal of these books, namely that they incorporate serious messages about politics in stories that are also funny, and fun to read. Hate to say it, but there are lots of additional issues, should you decide to go further in the sequel business. Like the fate of people who have no political experience but are drafted into leadership because parties think they are marketable. Or, you have also created memorable characters in these books and they could learn, develop and change irrespective of political issues. So, as a reader hoping for more, my message is: lots of sequels waiting to be born here.
i always enjoy your blogs but this one benefitted me greatly. i have read all your novels but i am currently trying to walk on a treadmill daily & i need something to occupy my mind while i walk. some podcasts are set to low to hear properly streaming through my hearing aids. when you reminded me that our podcast reading of your novels is still out there, my problem of finding interesting podcasts has been solved for a while. it is a different experience, listening instead of reading, but i think i might be getting more out of the novels,; one, because i have read them before, and two, I can't skim over bits because i tend to read too fast. thank you for all your books and all your podcasts
I enjoyed reading Angus so much in both BLP and HR, that a nascent, long snuffed out interest in politics was reawakened. Back in '71, when my Grade 9 class had travelled from the prairies by train, all the way to Parliament Hill, to tour and be addressed by an MP, I realized even at that young age that the MP carefully skirted any commitment when answering the question I had asked. To the contrary, Terry, in your novels Angus was so convincing, and his integrity so attractive, that fiction restored my hope that reality could follow suit! I also remember you posted in past that Angus actually did inspire someone in real life to enter politics himself. Presently, I'd actually like to send these two novels to a younger man I know who is currently entering political life on the prairies and say, "Read this! If you can embody some of the values portrayed, you may be so strong and so successful! and we will all be the better for it." Hmm, in this case, perhaps a future outcome of your Angus oeuvre could be some politician's well written memoirs written years from now.
Terry, I really resonated with your narration of the dilemma of writing a sequel that would make sense to an audience who had not read the original novel. When I wrote my novel, ‘The Treasure of Stella Bay’ I had no intention of writing a sequel, but, ‘due to popular demand’ I took up the challenge. I had a general idea of where the story would go and since I’m a seat of the pants author, I trusted that it would all work out. But, how to start it? Somehow I created a rather dramatic story line that hooked the previous book’s story-line and characters and then transitioned to the new story line. Once I had the hook the writing sort wrote itself and I was happy with it. Some were my beta readers, who also helped me with my blurb and recommendations. I’m happy with ‘Alex’ Choice’ as a sequel, though I had many other story-line problems to solve to bring it all together.
I hope no-one asks me to write a subsequent sequel.
Which book are you doing a sequel for. I see on Amazon you have two.. All right so far: Finding your way in the not so deep woods as well as Our side of the fence. Good luck.
Funny, I was just talking about the sophomore slump with someone (a non-writer) the other day. I never thought of it that way, but yes, you did indeed avoid it with "The High Road", didn't you?
Another great post, Terry!
I have all your novels and enjoyed reading them all and and I am looking forward to your next one. When will it be published? Thank you Bernie Snyder.
It is so nice to learn the ‘behind the scenes’ thinking that went into planning and writing a sequel. I hadn’t thought about the two audiences but do appreciate when an author brings me up to speed quickly or (conversely) isn’t overly repetitive. I also appreciated how you made your messages explicit in your column. Please keep the column going! I have sent your column to a friend who is working on her first book—hope she is a subscriber.
I really enjoy Terry’s books as well, and am delighted to have two of his novels signed with personal messages.
I am about to release a sequel for an earlier book and I have wrestled with the same issue of “two audiences “. My audiences are much smaller than Terry’s, but new and previous readers are all important.
Having read all of your novels I must say your ongoing efforts with Angus gives me huge laughs every time. Your character development and plot twists are so Canadian but understandable to everyone. Having seen the huge spider at the entrance of the Canadian Art Museum in Ottawa I can understand how the structure on the cliff in Ottawa behind the Chateau Laurier had spider like legs. I could see the building structure in my mind and could only imagine how ugly it would be. Thank you for the ongoing efforts of Angus and I hope one day we can find out what is new in his outlandish life on the banks of the Ottawa River.
Loved The High Road...will find the third. Thanks also for recommending The Librarianist...I am really enjoying it