Write a GREAT Book! 65 In Peter Falk’s classic TV series, the rumpled detec- tive Lieutenant Columbo always seemed to be letting the guilty party o昀昀 the hook at the end of an interrogation— but just as he was opening the door to leave, he’d always turn slowly around and speak the fateful words: “Just one more thing . . .” Of course, “one more thing” always broke the case wide open. You can break your book series wide open by gently seeding your reader’s thinking toward what comes next. Lay the groundwork for the continuity of your books. 吀栀is is something I learned from George Lucas’s biography. He wouldn’t write anything that he couldn’t sequel and pre- quel. Wow! 吀栀at concept dug deeply into my mind. I got it. What George did with Star Wars, I have done with my Chicken Soup for the Soul series, 吀栀e One Minute Mil- lionaire series, 吀栀e Richest Kids in America (which will become a series). Even the book you’re reading now will be followed by many Speed Write books—see the list at the front of this book. As you write your book, keep an inventory of your top ideas. 吀栀en save one of the very best for the last page of your 昀椀nished manuscript. 吀栀is can be designated as an epilogue, or it can just be part of your concluding chapter. But always leave the reader with a wow experience just before “吀栀e End.”