Going Somewhere
The behind-the-scenes works of a master of none
After Lawson City: Disintegration came out, aka, Lawson City 2: City Go Boom! I instantly wanted to never write again. Playing with all the characters I’ve amassed in my writing career, putting them all together into one story, was cathartic to say the absolute least. And though I was done, I knew that writing was something I HAVE to do, and that the ideas would eventually flow again. But, they didn’t.
I finished Disintegration shortly before we moved back to New Hampshire from Tennessee. I Designed all the artwork, the packaging, and then put it out there. There was a glitch with the launch, that took about a week to figure out, something you learn can happen when you’re not paying other folks to do it for you. Sure, a small hiccup didn’t kill the launch. No, and LC2 is still my favorite work so far.
I thought about how I could go back into this world I created. Did I want to do it directly after Disintegration, or did I want to try something different?
You see, all five of my novels take place in the same fictional city during different times. If you want to follow along: Lawson City, the original, is where it started, two or so years later, the events of Falling Home occur, with The One You’ll Need picking up three years after that, and The Peppercorn Files: The Number Killer, is what I consider a supplemental novel that is weaving through each of these books. Finally, Lawson City: Disintegration comes to you six years after Falling Home, and two years since the events of TPF: The Number Killer. So, all the characters are established, they all have their separate stories and lives, and LC2 brought them all back together in the backdrop of a terrorist attack.
What also made Lawson City: Disintegration (we will now refer to as LCD so there’s no confusion) so much fun, is seeing how each character approaches the attacks, and what they’re doing about it. Pulling from a vast and expansive timeline for each character, and having them interact with each other, was so incredibly challenging, but a true pleasure. And, among the many old characters, I got to introduce new ones, and some, who haven’t made themselves known yet for various reasons I can’t speak on, got to quietly debut in this book with little question of why they were there in the first place. Like it made sense already: familiar.
One could argue that makes me a genius, but I won’t ever call myself that. Well… not on here. My kid calls me smart all the time, and that’s all that matters to me.
So, what’s going? What’s the purpose of this all? Am I done writing for good or what?
Short answer: No.
Then, what the hell are you working on?
A script. Or two. As well as the “fill in the cracks” side stories that connect LCD to the rest of the Lawson City series, as well as adding a new layer of storytelling.
I liken it to one of my favorite movies of all time: It’s Kind of A Funny Story. Yes! This movie was great, and not only that, developed my crush for Emma Roberts, which, to this day, is unwavering. But the book, with the same name, the movie is based on has so much more backstory to these characters than you see on screen. Suddenly, the smaller parts are the big parts when it comes to the book, and the man behind it: Ned Vizzini.
A side note, the movie is about clinical depression, and the main character thinking he might kill himself, so he checks himself into a adult mental facility for a week and we get to see/read how the main character of Craig, works through his brain map. Vizzini actually DID check himself into a mental hospital, but, on that rare occasion where life DOESN’T imitate art, unfortunately, Vizzini jumped to his death on December 19, 2013.
This is important to note, because I want to write a follow-up to It’s Kind of A Funny Story, delving deep into the effects of suicide and show where some of these characters are now. Hey, whoever owns the rights and wants to do that, hit me up! I would love to put words to paper as a loving tribute to a man that was responsible for reworking MY brain map during a bout with crippling depression.
But that’s all to say, just so I can set up what I’m working on next. Lawson City: Shorts. These are chapters that fill in the spaces, answers questions, and connects the dots with all the stories leading up to, and after, LCD. Side-stories about places and events mentioned in the story and so much more. I’ve been quietly compiling them on my phone; as soon as an idea pops into my head, I feverishly type away into my phone, making folks think I’m in some kind of longwinded text argument with someone.
These ideas pop up on various drives through my brain map, unlocking a memory or idea I had while writing LCD. Several of these stories were deliberately left out of the final product, either through advanced editing, or the cutting room floor of actual editing. And no, I don’t have those cut ideas written down somewhere, I don’t function like that, it’s all in my brain. So, if I forgot to tell a story later, I subconsciously don’t think it’s worth telling. Basically.
It’s been an interesting journey already. I have found myself sitting around, and, out of nowhere, I think: Hold up! What kind of day was Tony Fowlerino having just before the plane crash, and does it add or subtract from his storyline and his character? Or, should we dig a little deeper on Alex and Charlotte’s story before and after the plane crash? All three of these characters know each other and have interacted in previous novels. Should I explain why Alex is healed by eating sugary candy? Yes, yes. and yes. Oh yeah.. Yes.
So, that’s what I’m working on right now. And the only way to get ahold of them first is through joining my newsletter through Substack. So… get on it! I look forward to putting this puzzle together for fans of the Lawson City series.
But for now, you should get caught up on the original stories. And yes, Falling Home will be re-released this year. So excited for that one. As well as bringing TPF: The Number Killer BACK to physical book form.
The Peppercorn Files: The Number Killer
Lots of stuff in the works this year, party people. Hope you’ll come along for the ride.
Tyler Foran
PS: There is also a Reese S Peppercorn Files Trilogy in the works.
One day.