It flashed briefly through my mind. “This could be split into two novels.”

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I’ve never liked sequels and I’ve always said that I (probably) would never write one.

But there the thought was. It could be done.

My third novel which I’m currently writing is unique in that it is set in two different time periods, 1945 and 2000.   Part I starts out in 2000 and then goes back in time to experience some pertinent episodes from the past. Then it is going back to 2000 and beyond to finish out the novel. Part I is about 17000 words (1/3 of the minimum novel length of 50,000) Part II, the 1945 part is already over 17000 with a couple chapters left to write.

I thought that, perhaps, I could expand the 1945 story, because it is quite engaging, into a full novel of its own and then make the 2000 story book II in (should I say it) a series.

The reason I think it could be done is that the material is very rich. There are lots of issues I could flesh out. I mentioned before that Ho Chi Minh shows up in 1945 and there are so many interesting dynamics concerning the French, Chinese, Viet Minh, Americans. But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t historical war fiction. It’s a love story wrapped around all the tragic and amazing circumstances of Vietnam 1945. It could be easily adapted into a full-length novel.

But should it be? If I do it, will it detract from what I am trying to do in my novel?

Yes, I think so. There is a very strong connection between the two stories which will somewhat be lost if they aren’t next to each other in the same book.

I haven’t made a final determination of what to do, but I think the evidence of success would have to be overwhelming for me to split them.

But I did find it interesting that I at least entertained the idea of having a Book 1 and Book 2 for the first time ever.

Progress or digression? I’m not sure.