Hi! I’ve always wondered if authors write their first books with a sequel in mind- for example, when you’re writing the first book, do you plant seeds in it for a sequel, or do you plan your sequel after the first book is already written? Thanks!

I think it could happen both ways. It depends on if the author is a big planner, or if they discover the story as they go. 

I write very organically. For that reason, it’s harder for me to plan a sequel when I’m in the middle of writing the first book. I might have a few ideas that bloom while I’m drafting that I want to keep in mind for a follow up. But typically, I draft a book. And then I rewrite a great deal of it in edits. It takes me several rounds of revisions to truly unlock the heart of what I want my book to be, so it’s harder for me to plan a sequel in the process. 

BUT…this is all to say I might definitely try to plan out a book and its sequel before hand. It’s always comforting to have a plan together. But then sometimes imagination really just tosses all those plans out the window. ;)