Writing Tools: Writing A Sequel/Event Book By Susan Hanniford Crowley

Vampire in the Basement is the sequel to When Love Survives, as it follows Gregor and Regina’s story after September 11th. One of the most fun topics to write about in romance is a wedding. You have the dynamics between families and friends, the particulars of how everything looks, the nerves of the bride and groom, or both. There is a lot going on with a wedding, in particular a paranormal wedding.

Book Blurb: (Write a book blurb as soon as you know your story in your mind. You may change it later but a book blurb is a good guide for the author as well as the reader.)

Regina and Gregor
They survived one of New York City’s greatest disasters, and on their wedding day in Maine walked into another. Gregor aims to destroy the intruder who claims his bride. Regina must save the man she loves from a deadly curse with her magic. But she doesn’t know magic.

Lorraine and Theo
Everything about Lorraine is broken. She shapeshifts and forgets her clothes. She’s divorced and doesn’t believe in love anymore. Tall, blond, and handsome, Theo, a vampire, and Arnhem Knight desires Lorraine, but is it more than lust? Would he give up the Arnhem Knights for her?

Love, furry handcuffs, and a pine tree.

You may be all on top of the wedding in your book but if it’s a sequel like this one, I advise you to read the first book over again. What characters from that first book will be invited.

Drama! There can be a lot of drama before and after a wedding. At some weddings, the drama comes in the middle. You are going for an effect that will move the plot forward and that forces the hero or heroine or both to take action.

You might use someone or something to disrupt the wedding. It could be a best friend in love with the groom, a previous wife no one knew about, or a sudden vicious storm. It didn’t use any of those to prevent spoiling the story for you. You are at the part where you build and build that tension, fear, fury, and

The hero or heroine must use their resources to defend themselves and stop what is pulling them apart. The critical part is how they do that.

Next is the next step in their lives. Are they apart or together? In romance, endings tend to be HFN or HEA (happy for now or happily ever after). You have to decide if the experiences they had during this event have changed their love for each other.

Here is an excerpt from Vampire in the Basement by Susan Hanniford Crowley. Gregor and Regina are camping in a cave for a little romance before she meets his family.

*

The brown bunny shifted into a naked woman and screamed.

Gregor sat up. “Lorraine!”

“Lorraine?” Regina shrunk down under the blanket.

“Yes, it’s my sister.” He sniffed the air. “Why do you smell like pine?”

“The better to sneak up on you, big brother?”

“Why are you here?” Gregor grumbled.

Regina looked up at the pretty dark-haired woman. She had the same blue sky eyes as Gregor.

“I could ask you the same question, Gree.” Lorraine did not morph on any clothes. “So this must be Regina. Mom and Dad can’t stop talking about your fiancee. When Mom tried to call you, Dad was using his GPS tracking device and realized you weren’t in New York anymore but around here, so he sent us all out to look for you.”

“Wonderful.” Gregor looked completely annoyed. “For God’s sake, Lorraine, put on some clothes. Aren’t you supposed to be home with your husband?”

At that, his sister burst into tears. Regina rushed out of the sleeping bag and hugged her. “What’s wrong?”

*

Vampire in the Basement is a fun example of a sequel/event book and is available on Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Basement-Vampires-Manhattan-Book-ebook/dp/B019978SIK/

Have a great Summer and remember to stay safe.

Truly,

Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley
https://susanhannifordcrowley.com is still under construction. Visit my author page on Amazon to see all my books:
https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Hanniford-Crowley/e/B004YXOGXG

EverNight for ages 13-113 is now available on Kindle and Amazon Paperback.
EverWarm for ages 13-113 is now available on Kindle and Amazon Paperback.
Lady Fallon’s Dragons for ages 13-113 is now available on Kindle and Amazon Paperback, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, BAM online bookstore sells the paperback, Scribd, and in paperback in the UK at Waterstones, also on Amazon around the world.
The Vampire with a Blanket of Stars, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 3 is available in Amazon Print and Kindle, Nook, Kobo,  Apple, Walmart ebooks & Smashwords.
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 now in Kindle and Print! Walmart Bookstore Online
Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available on Kindle.
Poseidon’s Catch(mythology romance) is available on Kindle.
Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) is available on Kindle.
A Vampire for Christmas, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available on Kindle.
The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 is available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, and iBooks (on Apple devices).

Now we wait
for the return of the princess.