The Joy (and Struggle) of Writing Your Second Novel

Ah, the second novel—what a beautiful, chaotic beast! If you’ve been following along with my journey, you know that Embers of Fate has been a labor of love for over a decade. But now that I’m working on the sequel, I’m realizing just how tricky it can be to continue a story that’s wrapped around your heart like a favorite blanket.

I’m thrilled (and a bit terrified) to announce that I’ve officially finished the first chapter of book two! It’s exciting, but also, let’s be real—there’s a lot of pressure. While I do have a solid outline sketched out (which is a miracle in itself because I’m usually a “seat of my pants” kind of writer), I also have a million ideas swirling around for how I want to wrap up the story arcs of Gwen and Tyreal, who are so very dear to me. And, well, it’s a lot.

Think of it like trying to pack for an epic quest: you know you need the basics (food, water, a magical sword—obviously), but you also want to bring along the sentimental stuff. That’s where I am right now. My characters deserve the best endings, and I want to make sure I do their stories justice while also keeping things fresh and full of the fantasy romance that made us fall in love with them in the first place.

This reminds me of some other famous second novels in fantasy. Take George R.R. Martin, for example. In A Clash of Kings, he had to expand the world of Westeros, up the stakes, and dig deeper into the complex relationships of his already large cast. No pressure, right? Or look at Sarah J. Maas with Crown of Midnight. It’s the book where her characters really begin to step into their destinies, and the plot starts to twist in all the delicious ways we love about her writing. I guess you could say I’m in good (and slightly stressed) company.

While I’m deep in the drafting process, I’ll admit that the sequel feels a bit like herding dragons. There’s this balance between giving fans the continuation they’re craving while also surprising them in ways they didn’t expect. And then, of course, there’s my own desire to take the world of Embers of Fate even further—more magic, more romance, more danger. So yeah, no pressure at all.

But, that’s not all I’ve got going on! I may or may not have a secret project up my sleeve... You’ll have to stay tuned for more on that. I promise it’s something I’m incredibly excited about, but for now, I’ll keep my lips sealed. Just know that it’s brewing in the background, quietly adding to my never-ending to-do list.

For now, I’m off to continue wrestling with the next chapters of my sequel and pouring everything I can into this story. I can’t wait to share more updates with you soon!

Until next time, stay enchanted.

—Dani