Questions About Descendant of the Crane

by Joan He (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (20)

Is this a standalone or part of a series?

Joan He Updating this on July 4, 2022, to a final, more comprehensive answer, as more people seem to be finding the book, which also means more people being l…moreUpdating this on July 4, 2022, to a final, more comprehensive answer, as more people seem to be finding the book, which also means more people being left in distress over this question. It's not my intention to leave you in distress without answers/explanations! So you'll have to forgive the length of this response. But I do hope it covers everything, and, if it doesn't give you comfort, I hope it at least paints the full picture I think readers deserve.

I'll open with the answer to this FAQ I have on my website, which I'll paste here for convenience: "DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE is a standalone in the sense that Hesina's story and character arc were always meant to be 80% wrapped up in one book; any future books would have been closer to companion novels. They’d follow the points of views of characters you haven’t yet met (while bringing in the old cast), and complete the bigger story that’s introduced in the epilogue of DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE."

E.g., in a perfect world, where I would have been able to get a 3 book contract from the get-go, I envisioned book 2 following a new character X Sanjing, and book 3 following a new character X Caiyan, all to complete the arc that's much bigger than Hesina's personal story (one of finding the truth of who killed her dad, and thereby also finding the truth of herself and dismantling the lies she grew up on).

As the answer on my website continues: "However, due to a number of factors, it’s simply not feasible for me right now financially, mentally, or emotionally to expand on that story. I know this is the worst news for a reader, and I’m really sorry to be delivering it. If it’s any small comfort, Hesina’s journey in DESCENDANT would have always ended the way that it did regardless of if I’d sold in a one book, two book, or three book deal. The art of the story would have trumped any contractual obligations, and I hope you’ll understand that I selfishly chose to be the “artist” for my debut. And I hope it’ll assuage your fears to know that I’ll dream more realistically from here on out :’)"

Truthfully, 2017 me, the person who sold DOTC in a 1 book deal to its original pub, was pretty idealistic. I genuinely hoped there would be a chance of preserving my original vision (3 total books) and selling companion books 2 and 3 to the same pub and continuing the story, if I could just prove that there was an audience for book 1. And while I'm no longer that naive, I don't regret the choice I made: to honor the structure of Hesina's tale choosing the ending most fitting *for the story*--Hesina's and the larger one--regardless of the future books not yet being a contractual reality.

However, while book 1 did very respectably when it released in 2019, it did not quite explode by publishing industry standards. I still held onto hope, but by 2020, I ran into legal issues with the original pub. That's a really long story that I legally cannot disclose here, but by the end of it, I'd managed to win back the rights to DOTC, and it essentially went out of print in the US.

Now, I'm lucky enough to say that my current pub, at the time of writing this, will be re-releasing DOTC as a paperback come September 27, 2022. But as you can tell, the book has been through the wringer, and as irrational as it is, it's been very hard for me to separate the story from the pub issues it went through. On top of that, almost 10 years have passed since I first conceived DOTC and its companion book universe. I’ve changed as a person/writer, and I know for a fact that I wouldn't be able to do justice to the original story I had in mind because of that gap in time and emotional-connectedness. Tldr; as much as I want to say "never say never", I know myself. And I don't want to string you along. It's highly, highly unlikely that I'll ever write those companion books.

I'm sorry. I know this is extremely sucky news, and I understand if it hurts. It hurt me too, for a long time, to a point that I found answering questions like this difficult that sometimes easier to avoid. But I've healed, and my hope is that when you can too from the ending of DOTC, you might consider following me to the other stories I have told and wish to tell ❤️ (less)

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I just finished reading this book. Can I expect a sequel ? Please tell me there will be a sequel please !!!!!! 😭😭😭

Joan He hi, so sorry if I'm seeing this after a huge delay! but I just answered this more comprehensively in reply to another question. pasting the answer her…morehi, so sorry if I'm seeing this after a huge delay! but I just answered this more comprehensively in reply to another question. pasting the answer here too:

Updating this on July 4, 2022, to a final, more comprehensive answer, as more people seem to be finding the book, which also means more people being left in distress over this question. It's not my intention to leave you in distress without answers/explanations! So you'll have to forgive the length of this response. But I do hope it covers everything, and, if it doesn't give you comfort, I hope it at least paints the full picture I think readers deserve.

I'll open with the answer to this FAQ I have on my website, which I'll paste here for convenience: "DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE is a standalone in the sense that Hesina's story and character arc were always meant to be 80% wrapped up in one book; any future books would have been closer to companion novels. They’d follow the points of views of characters you haven’t yet met (while bringing in the old cast), and complete the bigger story that’s introduced in the epilogue of DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE."

E.g., in a perfect world, where I would have been able to get a 3 book contract from the get-go, I envisioned book 2 following a new character X Sanjing, and book 3 following a new character X Caiyan, all to complete the arc that's much bigger than Hesina's personal story (one of finding the truth of who killed her dad, and thereby also finding the truth of herself and dismantling the lies she grew up on).

As the answer on my website continues: "However, due to a number of factors, it’s simply not feasible for me right now financially, mentally, or emotionally to expand on that story. I know this is the worst news for a reader, and I’m really sorry to be delivering it. If it’s any small comfort, Hesina’s journey in DESCENDANT would have always ended the way that it did regardless of if I’d sold in a one book, two book, or three book deal. The art of the story would have trumped any contractual obligations, and I hope you’ll understand that I selfishly chose to be the “artist” for my debut. And I hope it’ll assuage your fears to know that I’ll dream more realistically from here on out :’)"

Truthfully, 2017 me, the person who sold DOTC in a 1 book deal to its original pub, was pretty idealistic. I genuinely hoped there would be a chance of preserving my original vision (3 total companion books) and selling books 2 and 3 to the same pub and continuing the story, if I could just prove that there was an audience for book 1. And while I'm no longer that naive, I don't regret the choice I made: to honor the structure of Hesina's tale choosing the ending most fitting *for the story*--Hesina's and the larger one--regardless of the future books not yet being a contractual reality.

However, while book 1 did very respectably when it released in 2019, it did not quite explode by publishing industry standards. I still held onto hope, but by 2020, I ran into legal issues with the original pub. That's a really long story that I legally cannot disclose here, but by the end of it, I'd managed to win back the rights to DOTC, and it essentially went out of print in the US.

Now, I'm lucky enough to say that my current pub, at the time of writing this, will be re-releasing DOTC as a paperback come September 27, 2022. But as you can tell, the book has been through the wringer, and as irrational as it is, it's been very hard for me to separate the story from the pub issues it went through. On top of that, almost 10 years have passed since I first conceived DOTC and its companion book universe. I’ve changed as a person/writer, and I know for a fact that I wouldn't be able to do justice to the original story I had in mind because of that gap in time and emotional-connectedness. Tldr; as much as I want to say "never say never", I know myself. And I don't want to string you along. It's highly, highly unlikely that I'll ever write those companion books.

I'm sorry. I know this is extremely sucky news, and I understand if it hurts. It hurt me too, for a long time, to a point that I found answering questions like this difficult that sometimes easier to avoid. But I've healed, and my hope is that when you can too from the ending of DOTC, you might consider following me to the other stories I have told, and wish to tell ❤️(less)

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What's your favorite part of writing? Setting? Character? Conflict? Romance?

Joan He I'd have to say the interaction of character and plot! I love reading a unique plot, and brewing up twists and turns in my own, but what I love most i…moreI'd have to say the interaction of character and plot! I love reading a unique plot, and brewing up twists and turns in my own, but what I love most is designing each beat of the story to maximize character PAIN (and occasionally happiness :) ).(less)

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Is there romance in this book?

Joan He A tiny bit, but it's far from the focus of the plot. The main character is way too preoccupied with more important things to get in touch with her rom…moreA tiny bit, but it's far from the focus of the plot. The main character is way too preoccupied with more important things to get in touch with her romantic feelings, and so for both her and the reader, the romance serves mainly as a light and sweet de-stressor. (less)

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How is this a standalone? For me, the conflict is not resolved and too many questions remain unanswered? I enjoyed the book, but I want to see the story through to its completion.