As I write the second Brandon Blake mystery, working title PORT CITY BLACK AND WHITE, I keep asking myself something. But maybe I should be asking you all.
Brandon’s back story and the events of the first book (not to spoil it for those who haven’t read it, but Brandon is called upon to do some pretty difficult things, the kind that have a lasting impact.) So he came away changed by that experience, as we all are shaped by experience. But here’s the question: should we include an excerpt from PORT CITY SHAKEDOWN in the second book? How much of the back story should I explain? Do I refer back to the bad guys in the first book?
This hasn’t been as much of an issue in the McMorrow novels, which exist pretty much independently. McMorrow goes from adventure to adventure, emerges hardened but not drastically changed. I think that’s because he was pretty calloused before we even met. Brandon Blake, on the other hand, is young and still malleable. He’s growing up before my eyes.
What do you think? I’m interested in your thoughts. And thanks for listening to a writer thinking aloud.
My Maine stops are still coming. In the next week I’ll speak at the Camden Public Library (9-9-10, 6:30 p.m.) Portland Public Library (9-15-1-, noon), and Bangor Public Library (9-18-10, 2 p.m.) Come by and say hi. I’ll be talking Brandon and Jack, whatever else comes to mind.
In PORT CITY SHAKEDOWN, the first Brandon Blake novel, Brandon gets a full dose of bad guys. A brawl in a funeral home introduces him to Joel Fuller, a sociopathic hustler. Fuller is fresh out of jail and determined to take Brandon out—after Fuller and his sidekick Kelvin shake him down.
Rocky isn’t a tough guy. He’s a skinny little kid with crooked glasses, and he shouldn’t be homeless in Portland, Maine. When McMorrow and Roxanne pluck him from under the stomping feet of a gang of street kids, Rocky latches onto McMorrow–and drags him into a world of murder, both old and new. Why is McMorrow protecting Rocky? The cops want to know. Why is Rocky on the run? McMorrow wants to know. Why does death follow in Rocky’s wake? Jack and Roxanne need to find out before they’re added to the list. 
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I think callbacks, rather than whole quoted sections, work better. Maybe not all at once either, but if you parsed out the info in stages as the new narrative progressed, might add some suspense to the game. My two cents..
ps: write faster, please.
I agree with Patrick, although the term “callbacks” is new to me outside of theater. I like it! But honestly, whenever an author refers to material from the previous book, I scan it. I have seen it done smoothly before, but most of the time I find myself pulled out of the sense of being “in” the book, and become very aware that I’m reading…”Oh, the author is filling us in on the last book.” But if you sprinkle the details in throughout the book, it’s not quite as much of an interruption. It’s an interesting question! I like Tolkein’s solution, and also Stephen King’s in the Gunslinger series, where they started out with a synopsis of the last novel
But I don’t think that’s standard. What do the other professionals say?
Can’t wait to read it!
All good and helpful thoughts. Many thanks. I’ll continue to mull this one. One issue is that some people many read Brandon Blake #2 before #1. How much to reveal? Hmmmm.
Gerry,
I “discovered” this blog and I really, really like it. Some of the entries are short and not great, but the longer ones are fantastic. Scroll down and read the one about Lady Lazarus. Really interesting. The contributors to the website are all writers. I think you would like it.
http://whatever.scalzi.com/