When Fiction Worlds Connect

A while back I was talking to my editor, who is also a good friend. She said something like, "I love the way all your series worlds and stories connect." Of course, I was happy she noticed because mostly they do connect. Readers probably won't notice, but there are hints.

I didn't plan my books that way. That almost all my stories connect to a larger world wasn't my conscious idea. I think my subconscious mind was working overtime.

That idea seems weird because I write fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and sometimes I throw in a gothic story here and there.

I realized this connection in strange and unexpected way. A time traveler showed up in my 1890 Los Angeles "League of the Daring" series. That character actually came from a novel I wrote and have never published.

And that is one of the reason why ideas are difficult to explain and see. I think writers bring all their life experiences and observations to their writing. That probably includes their ideas for stories and characters.

Have you ever noticed that your favorite writers have reoccurring themes? Or that similar characters appear in different books?

I didn't plan to connect my worlds. I didn't expect it. I didn't realize I created that connection idea until long after I did. My guess is that the idea was always in my subconscious waiting to come out.