Request Time at Radio Rolanni

[rolanni]

mbarker asks:

Sometime when you want to shed some more light on the glamorous innards
of collaborative writing, maybe you could explain who adds those
cliffhangers at the end? My impression is that several of your works have
the and-they-all-lived-happily-ever-after moment interrupted by a figure
in leathers carrying a message which is hard to explain, or something
similar. And here I am as a reader wondering when I might find out what
that was all about. I really enjoy it, but I was wondering if I should
thank you, your partner in words, or perhaps the cats? Bullwinkle Moose
and Flying Squirrel, or Dudley Doowrite?

Um. Cliffhangers aren't added so much as happen. I'm not very good at endings, so I tend to end books the way I end chapters, on the theory that one should always leave 'em wanting more.

That said, you have kinzel to thank for the ending of Plan B. When I declared it done, it was one chapter shorter than the published version.

I Dare was also one chapter shorter in original, but in that case thanks for the epilogue are due to Stephe Pagel, who wanted "something that would tell people that there were still more stories."

Comments

[chappysmom2.livejournal.com]

Just . . . laughing. I'd say that the ending of "I Dare" DEFINITELY says that there's more story coming!

[noiseinmyhead.livejournal.com]

Yes, the ending of I Dare makes such a teasing promise that I want to know when it wil be fullfilled. It made me want to kiddnap ya'll and hold you hostage until you did write more for me to read but having kids got in my way but now that they are getting big enough to fend without me watch out ;)

[saruby.livejournal.com]

So, any idea WHEN we find out what comes next? I sense a new generation of adventures coming.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

So, any idea WHEN we find out what comes next?

Alas, I don't. We've got some things to work out first.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation. I should make one thing clear. If this is not being good at endings, I wish more writers would learn how to be not so good. In other words, I really like your endings. Also beginnings, and the middles are pretty good too.

Still more stories -- I can hardly wait!