What’s Coming Next?
That’s a question that’s been coming up a lot lately –both from myself and readers. With Harper and Pietr’s story coming to an end (at least, where they’re the main focus), it’s time for me to shift gears and start thinking about what the next main project is going to be. And…well, there are a lot of them that have been percolating.
So, I’d love to hear from you all what you’d like to see in the nearer future… Here’s what’s in the pot:
In the Dark Little Town spin-off realm, is what began as a spin-off series called “Alphabet City Apartments”, which was going to focus on singular characters from around the apartment building, beginning with Mora (because duh), as well as Marcus getting his own book. I think it would be lovely if I could give Dani some attention, but her future forever just hasn’t popped into my head yet. I also, literally just this week, had two characters from Real Talk pop back into my head…
Do you remember when Dylan went to the Addicts Anonymous meeting and there was the woman who worked at the library and the gentleman that worked at the local garage? Well, apparently they’ve got some things to say (and do) to each other… Again, it would be a single stand-alone (…I hope!), and maybe on the shorter side…
I also wrote the beginnings of some Pandemic Tales in Alphabet City, where everyone is bubbling together and…well. Polyamory, eh?
While all of my novels take place in the same universe, more on the Puck and Pen realm if things, there are two projects that are begging for attention. I have already started a novel that would take place in Wisconsin, featuring one of Harper’s friends from high school. Skyler is also non-binary, works as a librarian, and has been working on a new building project (…oh, hmm, wonder where I got all that from!*). In waltzes Eben Kemp, a local celebrity who has been a star player for the MN Northern Lights –and he needs internet access after his parent’s dropped theirs (…Skyler showed them how to hotspot from their phones and they “travel so much”!)
(*If you don’t know me IRL, I am also a non-binary librarian who has been working toward getting a new library for the last several years!)
There is also an idea that came around while working on Final Score, which would feature Olivia (…did I ever give her an actual last name?!) and Isobel Smythe house-share Harper and Pietr’s place in Valhalla with a couple of young hockey players. …That’s it. That’s the idea. It still needs to percolate a bit, I know.
Outside of the realm of “Sam’s NYC” (…apparently), I have a couple of specific projects that have…quite a bit of work already into them.
First is a fantasy novel set in Istoria. Istoria is a world that I originally created for an RPG setting (which is another thing I may also be trying to distribute!) but when I had the idea after seeing “Ireland’s favorite painting”, Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Frederic William Burton –I fell in love with the story of Hellelil and Hildebrand and could NOT find any kind of a modern take on it. So…while my take has gone down a bit of a brighter path for Hedda and Wilhelm, I have still really enjoyed it and am excited to breathe life into more historical inspired fantasy world, and it would lend itself to further exploration –what with her having 7 brothers and all. It is also my first book that would mostly appear to be cisgender and heterosexual Main Characters. Wild, I know –but don’t worry. There are still plenty of diverse characters to be found!
Second is a sci-fi series which I am playing with writing very episodically. Originally, I had published a couple of “episodes” on Kindle Vella under my “secret name”. Then that went away, which is fine (because Amazon is terrible). Instead, I am shooting to write roughly 10 “episodes” for a “season” (or volume). I am currently calling it “Way Station at the End of the Known Universe”, and my original idea was a gas station attendant-like job on a lonely planet outpost, from the furthest reaches of explored space. It’s been developing, will also have some polyamory representation in it, as well as a lovely reptilian man with 2 penises…
Because that is the only way I could imagine making a man who could compete with the wonderfulness that is Heath Gibson or the sweet, golden retriever Pietr Ivanov…
Oh, and I can’t forget the Wednesday “Dnes” Thomas book. I had the idea for her and her not-a-love-triangle-because-why-choose-between-lovers Dr. Erik Hassenkamp (Medical Examiner) and Detective Alexander “Lex” Aarden while catching up on the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Dnes (the D is silent) is a crime scene cleaner who stumbles on the body of a hoarder that she was helping. It quickly becomes clear that the death wasn’t an accident and after Dnes’s business is vandalized, there is a concern for her safety. But no worries because she’s been on-again-off-again with the county Medical Examiner her whole life, and Detective Aarden would love an excuse to get to know her better… While this sounds like a mystery/thriller, it is 100% romance as the focus is on Dnes (she tells the story!) and NOT inserting herself into the investigation. Because I don’t have those kinds of skills. I hope people will enjoy it anyway!
There are a few other things, including 2 shifter/fated mates type of stories that I’ve dabbled with. Lots of small, short stories that have been collected over time. Unfinished beginnings that will probably never see the light of day (…unless?) For now, my main focus is Hedda & Wilhelm, the Way Station, and (obviously?) Dnes Thomas.
…Needless to say, I am not out of ideas and I am open to exploring some new territory –as well as returning to what has been fun for me in the past. I hope you’ll stick around for these new adventures and characters.
Sam LaRose, Author 