When One Sequel Became Two Books
I didn’t originally sit down and announce, “I’m going to create a trilogy.”
That would imply considerably more planning than what actually happened.
I knew I wanted to continue The Opposite Sex. I knew where the characters needed to go, and I had a larger story in mind.
Then the thing kept growing.
The Problem With Characters Who Won’t Cooperate
Stories have a way of expanding once characters start interacting.
A scene that exists only to get everyone from Point A to Point B suddenly becomes important. A relationship that seemed straightforward develops complications. A supporting character does something interesting and now you want to follow that thread.
Before long, the sequel had become a much bigger story than I’d anticipated.
Trying to force all of it into one book would have meant cutting things I didn’t want to lose or producing one enormous volume.
Neither option felt right.
So the sequel became two books: Opposite Again and Opposite Still.
The Natural Breaking Point
Fortunately, the story gave me a place to divide it.
Opposite Again deals with the aftermath of the original story and the realization that Michael’s situation may not be as settled as everyone hoped.
The Pack is preparing for the next stage of their lives, including an upcoming HBCU tour, while Michael faces a much more immediate problem.
Then Opposite Still takes everybody out on the road.
The HBCU tour is in full swing, relationships are changing, tensions are building, and Michael’s condition is becoming harder to contain.
What begins as a trip to explore the future becomes something none of them expected.
Three Books, One Story
Even though the books have different personalities, I still see them as one long journey.
Book One introduces Michael and the Pack.
Book Two asks what happens when everyone thinks the worst is behind them.
Book Three asks what happens when they discover it isn’t.
That’s the trilogy.
It just took me a little longer than expected to figure out how many covers it needed.
