Does An Ending Have to End?

Call me old-fashioned. Traditional even. But I think every book should have an ending. I'm not saying every thread has to be tied up or even that the reader shouldn't be allowed to choose their own resolution. What I am talking about is series books where at the end of a book, the plot is left wide open in an attempt to ensure the reader doesn't stop at that point. To me, there's more marketing than storytelling in that.

Just before Christmas I finished The Keeper of the Grail, the first book in Michael Spradlin's (YA) The Youngest Templar series. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The writing is excellent, the action is fast, there's plenty of emotion and I already care enough about the hero to ensure that no matter how many books there are, I will be committed through to the end because I have to know what ultimately happens to Tristan.

But I have a problem with the ending of the first book. I won't ruin it for those who have yet to read it (and I think you should) but the end is literally left hanging with Tristan in a life and death situation. There's nothing to be gained from stretching out the 'will he live or die?' suspense at this point because I know he lives. Book 2: Trail of Fate is already published and the series is advertised as a trilogy. I feel a little manipulated. If a book is good enough, and this one is, I don't need the ending to try to encourage me to read on.Now I find I have to wait until I can purchase Book 2 before I feel any sense of story resolution. Where I live it's not as if I can walk into a local book store and buy it immediately, even if the constraints of life and the festive period weren't controlling how I spend my time for the next few weeks.

Perhaps it is a personal issue or something related to how I read. And even how I write. As the author of a series I have very definite views on this issue. And it could be that there is a difference in series endings dependent on reader age groups. My readers are young, generally 8-14. They don't necessarily choose where they begin and end their reading. It is not only decided by what is available to them in their libraries (and that applies to all of us) but also whether the adults around them are willing or able to buy books. So I always ensure each Samurai Kids story is a complete stand alone adventure. While one book follows another, each story is complete in itself.

I am not opposed to cliffhanger endings where the purpose is to encourage the reader to choose what they believe will happen based on the story to date and the characters they have come to know. I am all for reader latitude. But if it is a series book I am not happy about an ending that tries blatantly to dictate to me when and where I stop reading. What do others think?

5 Favourite Fiction Books About... Japan

In no particular order:

1 Silk by Alessandro Barricco. Exotic, erotic and beautiful. I can't believe I haven't blogged a review. It will follow later today ... and on that note, enough said.

2 The Plum Rain Scroll by Ruth Manley. CBCA Book of the Year in 1979. A wonderful blurring of fact and fantasy in a traditional style folk tale. My review here.

3 The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. This 17th century work on strategy, tactics, bushido and swordsmanship, by the greatest samurai warrior of all time (My opinion, yes, but most would agree) has been my constant ocmpanion duting the writing of the Samurai Kids series. It centres me - firmly in feudal Japan. Apparently Musashi looked awful and refused to take a bath. I guess if you are the best swordsman in the world you can do whatever you like when it comes to personal hygeine!

4 Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. And the other books in the Tales of the Otori series. This is fantasy Japan at it's best. And not such a big step away from history either.

5 Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast by Simon Higgins. And also the sequel in the Moonshadow series, Wrath of the Silver Wolf. These are wonderful books by an Australian author who truly lives and knows what he is writing about. Don't miss a visit to Simon's website

A Novel in My Lunch Hour

My friends and colleagues are often involved in writing challenges like NaNoWriMo where they write a novel in a month. The mind boggles in admiration - I have neither the time nor the ability to produce this mega output.

But recently I found that I have accidentally set myself a challenge after all. I have always believed that there is no such excuse as "I don't have time to write." While logistically there are always time constraints and it is very true some people have extremely small windows of spare time - the moment a person makes time, the moment they prioritise their writing - they have taken the first step towards becoming a writer. Even if it is only ten minutes at the bus stop.

I was speaking on a panel a few months ago and during the break, a woman approached me to say: "I have always wanted to write. I just don't have the time." I immediately dragged out my soapbox and explained: "You never will, until you make the time." After the break she said goodbye and started to leave. "Aren't you staying for the second half?" I asked. "No. I'm going home to write. I'm starting now." So either I inspired and motivated her or bored her so badly in the first half she was glad to have an excuse to get away. I hope it was the former.

Lately I have had to eat my words. Literally. For lunch. I have been so time poor with the demands of the holiday season and family issues. While I am lucky enough to have a full time writing schedule (two books a year), I'm too early in my career to be making even a part-time income and I need to juggle writing with a full-time job. With five books on the shelf, I not only have to find the time to write but to answer reader emails, run workshops, visit schools, manage two websites and follow up promotional opportunites.

Suddenly I am so tired. My 10pm - 1pm window has shrunk. And at 12pm I just can't think anymore. So what's left? Lunch hour. And that's what I am doing. I am writing a novel in my lunch hour. So far it's working well. I did the last few chapters of Fire Lizard (Samurai Kids 5) this way and the initial editorial feedback didn't include: This sounds like someone wrote it in their lunch break *grin*

Strangely enough, that hour in the middle of the day is a very productive one when it comes to spitting out 500 words. By lunchtime I've been rattling my ideas and thoughts around in my brain for hours. Some days now, I even know where the plot is going before I start typing!

I'm making time and the words are flowing faster than ever.