An Unexpected Sequel

On 19th November, my second novel was published. It’s a very exciting time but it’s not the second novel I planned on publishing.

When I wrote Bird, my first book, it was only ever meant to be one story. My blog “My Fantasy World” tells you more about how I came up with the idea. There are parts of the story that echo my own life (not the bits with the feather, though, you’ll be pleased to hear!) but as I starting writing, the two main characters, Beth and Simon, developed in ways I never thought they would. As with all characters, they took on a life of their own and they led me in a direction I hadn’t seen coming.

The way Bird ended wasn’t as I originally intended. Beth and Simon developed a much stronger connection than I’d expected and it became apparent as the story went on that Beth had traits I hadn’t envisioned when I wrote her profile. I could see far more to their story than my notes had prepared me for. However, even at this stage, I still hadn’t considered a sequel.

When I did settle on the ending, it was never meant to be a cliffhanger, I just didn’t see it that way. I saw it more as the only way the book could end. Beth had to have more to her and I wanted to give readers some insight into why she had such a strong connection with Simon and why she’d managed to deal with everything in the way that she had. But it was meant to be an extra detail that readers could then make their own minds up about, not a sudden tangent that would lead to a new novel.

It was only when people starting reading the novel and I was getting feedback, that the idea of a sequel first entered my mind. I knew I had a lot more story to tell and I loved the way that readers had started to care so much about Beth and Simon and were eager to find out more. So I decided it was only right to myself, Beth, Simon and my readers that I continue their story.

Planning for the second book was easy. I knew exactly what was going to happen, it just felt
completely inevitable. Then, as I wrote book 2, the story seemed massive. I knew there was a third book that had to be written; a third part to Beth and Simon’s story that would naturally finish their adventure.

So The Birds is the sequel and the final book in the trilogy, which is already well under way, will be released in 2017. Then I’m back to the other story that I’d already started to work on before Beth and Simon opened up my world. So hopefully there will be a brand new story coming out in 2017 as well.

I’d be more than happy to answer any questions about my books, please just send me a Tweet @l_d_woodward using #birdnovel and I’ll get back to you.

The A to Z of Me

As my blog is still fairly new, I thought it might be nice to introduce myself properly. So I’ve put together an A to Z poem all about me.

I’m going to start this poem with a fear,

So aeroplane has to be my A.

I really don’t like flying

But I do love my holidays.

B is for my love of movies,

I would call myself a film buff.

Comedy, drama, thriller, romance,

I just can’t watch enough.

C is for Cadbury’s chocolate,

It really is divine.

My biggest weakness comes, though

During Cadbury’s Crème Egg time.

Speaking of obsessions,

D has to be for Dune shoes.

I particularly like my stilettoes;

Pink, brown, silver, grey and blue.

E is for efficiency,

Or ‘control freak’ as it’s sometimes called.

And F is for my family,

I love them so much, one and all.

G is for stinky garlic

That’s used so much in cooking.

I wish that I did like it

But I find it quite disgusting.

H is for a special man,

My husband, my true love.

He’s so supportive of all I do,

Though he loses me when I write a book.

I is for Italian food

My favourite cuisine in the land.

Spaghetti Bolognaise is my weakness

(the garlic bread for my husband).

June is my birth month for J.

I wish spring could last all year long.

K is for karaoke,

How I do love a good old sing-song.

L is for my friends

Who live such a long distance away.

I love you all very much

And I miss you every day.

Musicals is my letter M.

Singing and dancing and magic.

I enjoy going to the West End

And I used to do amateur dramatics.

N is for my love of the night;

A night owl is definitely me.

I’m totally useless in the morning,

Although better after my cup of tea.

O is for the Oscars.

The Academy Awards are my dream.

I have this secret longing

To see my winning script on the screen.

There’s no question about my P:

Pink is my favourite colour.

Whereas Q is for the word quiet;

I can’t stand it I’m more of a talker.

R has to be for romance,

I have such a soppy side.

S is for my cat Sparkle,

The cuddliest thing in my life.

T is for my two books written.

I really couldn’t be prouder.

U is for my utopia:

Florence, my husband, Prosecco and pasta.

V is for Back to the Future

And my vast knowledge of the trilogy.

I must have seen it all thousands of times.

One is my favourite, then two, then three.

W has to be for words

And how much I love to write.

X is how excitable I am

(it’s the best I could do, all right!)

Y is reserved for yuletide,

My second favourite time of the year.

I love the festive season,

It really does bring good cheer.

Finally we have Z.

Zones 1 – 6 it stands for.

London is my favourite place,

I’m a city girl, that’s for sure.

That was twenty-six things about me,

A little bit of insight.

I hope you enjoyed my poem,

It certainly was fun to write.