The Sequel (The Book Series, #2)

by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Hello to everyone who has joined me here for a sequel I never imagined I’d write! If I had, if I’d considered it even a possibility, I’d have scattered many more clues in THE PLOT to work with when I returned to these characters. But maybe having less to work with made me do more with what I did manage to embed in that novel: a certain piece of furniture, a collection of — shall we say — less than gifted writers, and yet another lost manuscript that refuses to stay lost. THE SEQUEL is a what-happens-next story about a character who truly comes into focus only at the end of THE PLOT, but it’s also some form of a “prequel” that attempts to explain how we all got here in the first place. A few notes before you set off. First, if you haven’t read THE PLOT… stop right now. Can you read THE SEQUEL as a so-called “standalone”? Of course you can — you can do whatever you like. But why would you want to? You’ll have way more fun if you’re up to speed on what’s already happened. So stop, go back, and I’ll wait for you right here. (Pay no attention to me, I’m just going to hum the “Jeopardy” theme song a few thousand times…No, it won’t be boring at all. No, I have nothing else to do, it’s all right!) What? You’re back? Delighted to hear it! Ok…off you go with THE SEQUEL. But wait! One final piece of advice: pay attention to the chapter titles. They’re kind of important.