Alexandra Quick: Book Three

[inverarity]

I'm posting this so I (hopefully) won't have to answer a bunch of emails asking "When is Book Three going to be done?"

Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended by people asking. It's flattering, in fact. But if I keep you all updated here, then I can just answer emails with, "See my LiveJournal."

So, Book Three is in the works. My goal is to finish it by the end of the year, and maybe sooner. Which, some of you may remember, is pretty much what I said about Book Two. I usually get a fair amount of writing done over the summer, but I'm not going to make any promises or announce any firm deadlines, because, you know, life happens and sometimes I have time to write, sometimes I don't.

What I can promise is that there will be a Book Three, barring of course me being hit by that proverbial (or literal) bus.

In fact, I have an entire series planned out for Alexandra: a seven book series. And like Rowling, I already know how it's all going to end. Can I promise that you'll actually get to read all seven books? Well, no, because life and buses do get in the way. But I'm quite serious about my plan.

Here's the deal: I'm not going to post every time I finish a chapter of AQ3, but I will periodically post updates to let you know that I'm still working on it and haven't been hit by a bus. As it gets closer to completion, I'll let you know. And in the meantime, maybe I'll subject you to some more of my cheesy Poser illustrations, which may include some sneak peeks at Book Three.

Oh look, here's Darla! You didn't think you'd seen the last of her, did you?




(This was actually a first draft render for Chapter 21: "The Obol")

What is the title of AQ3?

I have chosen a title, but I'm only about 90% certain that I will keep it, so I'm not announcing it yet, sorry.

You killed Max, you bastard!

I know a lot of you really liked Max. I liked him, too. And I know it seemed pretty brutal to introduce him, establish a relationship with Alexandra, and then kill him off in one book. Believe me, I didn't do it casually or just to generate gratuitous angst. It was planned, and it will have long-lasting repercussions. In fact, Alexandra's reaction to Max's death will be a major driving force in AQ3.

So, feel free to comment here, ask me questions, pick at my plot holes, or dissect my characters. (Just not my character. :ρ )

And for those of you who've been asking about a sequel to Hogwarts Houses Divided: yes, I've decided to do one. Right now, I'm thinking that I will probably write the HHD sequel between AQ3 and AQ4.

Comments

[lonely-lycanth.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading your series, and though I didn't comment properly, I wanted to let you know that I really liked it. Original female protagonists going to American schools isn't normally something I'd choose to read, but you pulled it off really well. I'm glad to see you're writing more, and intimidated by the fact that you have the patience to write the whole thing without showing anyone. I am impatient and have a short attention span, so it would be a major accomplishment for me to do the same.

Two more things before I go to bed: I really, really wanted Max to survive and come back, but at the same time, I'm not sure I want you to bring him back. It was a good death for him, so be sure not to cave to peer pressure just because he's awesome and your fans are persistent. Second, will Alex ever re-join JROC? I really liked the idea of her excelling there, and will be sad if she avoids it from now on.

Best luck to you!

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

The question of whether or not Max comes back is quite firmly settled in my mind; if fans get their wish, it will only be because that's what I already planned to do, and if they don't, I hope they are satisfied with the story anyway.

Alexandra was pretty certain that she's done with JROC. But things do have a way of not going the way she planned...