Writing the Sequel, By Melissa W. Hunter

When my first novel was published in October of 2019, it was a dream come true.  Ever since I had discovered a love of writing in the 8th-grade, I wanted nothing more than to one day see my name on the cover of a book.  After so many years, this desire became a reality.  My novel, What She Lost, was a physical book I could hold in my hands, published by a traditional publisher.  And it wasn’t just any book.  Here, in print, was a story I had been wanting to tell for over twenty years . . . My grandmother’s story.

I have said in other interviews how close I was to my grandmother.  Growing up, she was a staple in my life.  We shared a unique connection, a close relationship.  She was a Holocaust survivor, and she shared her experiences with me in a way that made the hardships she endured come to life.  I was also able to witness for myself the joy and relative peace she found in later years.  We loved to shop together and go out to eat.  She joined my family on vacations to the beach and to Disney Land.  She danced at my Bat Mitzvah.  She walked down the aisle at my wedding.  She held my daughter, her first great-grandchild, in her arms.  What She Lost is my tribute to her life.  

In the year since its release, I’ve had quite a journey.  Before the world shut down last March, I was able to partake in many events aspiring authors only dream of: I had book signings at some of my favorite bookstores and participated in large book events and conferences.  I had speaking engagements with readers at different venues, including synagogues, book clubs, and classrooms.        

One of the questions I’m asked most frequently (and perhaps one of the biggest criticisms of the novel), is . . . What happens next?  Many readers have told me they became attached to the characters in What She Lost, characters based on my own family members, but the ending leaves them wondering where they end up and what their fate is.  My answer is always the same.  Stay tuned for the sequel.  

It was always my intention to follow up What She Lost with a second novel.  I felt there was just too much family history to put into one book, and there are many different themes I wish to address.  While What She Lost describes the horrors of the Holocaust and the journey the survivors took after liberation, my second novel will focus on the immigrant experience, and the post-traumatic stress the survivors lived with throughout their lives.  I’m happy to say I’m working on this sequel now.

But sometimes, that’s easier said than done!

For me, the process isn’t the same from one day to the next.  I set goals for myself, like how many words to write in a day, how many chapters to complete in a month, and when to have a finished first draft.  There are some days when that’s easy to accomplish, when inspiration runs through my blood and the words seem to flow on their own.  It is an amazing feeling!  A high of sorts!  Then, there are the days when I stare at a blank screen and nothing happens.  “Just write,” I tell myself. “It doesn’t have to be perfect.  That’s what editing and rewrites are for.”  But still, nothing.  I’m lucky if I end the day with a few new sentences.  

And then there are the demands that come from working at home:  Emptying the dishwasher or flipping the laundry or picking up groceries or making appointments for my family.  I’m often amazed by how fast a day can fly and I haven’t had a chance to sit down at the computer.  Finally, the ultimate roadblock to my creativity occurred this year . . . COVID-19. 

This past spring, I was glued to the TV like everyone else, fearfully listening to all the news reports.  Life was turned upside down.  When I could finally drag myself to my computer, I couldn’t write a single word.  Considering the impact the pandemic was having on the entire world, my endeavor seemed trivial.  I couldn’t focus on writing about the past when I was so concerned about what was going to happen in the future.  

Over time, that initial, paralyzing panic and anxiety mellowed, particularly during the summer months when the days were long and warm.  I spent many hours outside in the sun, enjoying nature, appreciating the beauty in each day and the fact that my family was healthy.  Slowly, as we all adjusted to our new “normal,” inspiration returned.   

I began again.  I started writing the second book with the hope that perhaps the process would be easier this time around.  I now knew what it took to create a finished manuscript.  Unfortunately, having been published once didn’t magically erase the old insecurities that plagued me.  The same nagging thoughts were still there (Is this good enough?  Will readers like what I’ve written?), along with new ones (Will this book stand up to the first?  Will it take me too long to write?  Will readers lose interest by the time it’s released?).  One of the things that keeps me going is the memory of standing beside my grandmother’s bed in the hospital, placing What She Lost on her bedside table only weeks before she passed away.  There is more to her story, and I can’t wait to tell it.

So, fellow readers, hang in there with me!  I’m ready to dive in!  Although I’m discovering the process of writing a sequel isn’t easy, I promise it will not take twenty more years.  Stay tuned!   

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Follow Melissa on Twitter https://twitter.com/authormelissa

Find out more about her on her website https://www.melissawhunter.com/

WHAT SHE LOST, Melissa W. Hunter

Is it possible to resurrect a life—and find love—from the ruins? Or will Sarah be forever haunted by the memories of what she lost?
For thirteen-year-old Sarah Waldman, life in the small Polish town of Olkusz is idyllic, grounded in her loving, close-knit family and the traditions of their Jewish faith.

But in 1939, as the Nazis come to power, a storm is gathering—a relentless, unforgiving storm that will sweep Sarah and her family into years of turmoil in the ghetto and concentration camps, tearing them apart. Will Sarah’s strong will and determination be enough for her to survive when everything she loves is taken from her?

Part memoir, part fiction, What She Lost is the reimagined true-life story of the author’s grandmother growing into a woman amid the anguish of the Holocaust. It is a tale of resilience, of rebuilding a life, and of rediscovering love.

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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