“Ever thought of doing a sequel?” This question is music to an author’s ears. So many of you wonderful readers (that possess exquisite taste, I might add) have been asking me what my plans are for future novels. Naturally the word sequel has been bandied about quite a bit. This is a tremendous compliment because it means you really enjoyed a book. As I a reader myself, I always love a good series and being able to revisit a world and characters that I grew attached to. Writing a sequel would be an interesting challenge, and I’m sure I’ll explore that possibility eventually. However, the next book coming out is another stand-alone story, and I thought you might like to hear about it. Here’s the summary:
“John Grey is dead… and that’s just the beginning.
Purgatory should have been a safe haven for souls that belong neither in Heaven nor Hell, but instead John finds himself in a corrupt prison, one bereft of freedom or pleasure. Along with his decedent friend Dante, John makes a brave escape, only to fall straight down to Hell and into the arms of Rimmon, a handsome incubus. John is soon recruited as Hell’s ambassador, visiting the afterlife realms of other cultures to enlist an army strong enough to stand against Heaven. As interesting as his new job is, John’s mind keeps returning to Purgatory and the souls still trapped there. Somehow John must stop a war he doesn’t believe in and liberate Purgatory, all while desperately trying to attract the attention of an incubus whose heart belongs to another.”
The working title for this project is “Purgatory.” To be honest, I already know the proper title, but I’m keeping it a secret. My best friend came up with it, and it’s so terribly clever that I’m scared unsavory sorts will steal it away before I have a chance to use it.
Purgatory is an interesting novel in that it defies genre. There are some aspects that feel very much like fantasy, since the story draws from the mythology and religion of many different cultures. And yet, the main characters are from modern times, and some of the settings are completely contemporary. Perhaps the best way to describe this book is as an adventure… and a crazy one at that. I’ve been polishing this sucker every single day, and feel confident that I can get it out by late summer or early fall. Past this novel, I have a few more surprises, but we’ll cross that bridge once we’ve already made it through Heaven and Hell.