If you're worried that the book description contains movie spoilers: it might be accurate. Then again, it might not. It was written months ago, before Jennifer and I even started working on the book. I'd avoid reading too much into it.
But for those of you wondering what to expect, here's what I will confirm:
• The books picks up just a few months after the events of the movie, but the movie is not designed as a cliffhanger. If you want to know what happens next after the movie, the book will tell you that. But you won't need to read the book to get closure. The film -- which I wrote before I ever knew there would be novels -- is able to stand alone. That said...
• The books will exist in the same official "universe" as the series and film. Sometimes, novels that build on the events of television shows or films are isolated spin-off stories, or adventures that seem to take place in some forgettable parallel universe. This is not one of those times. The Thousand Dollar Tan Line is the actual next chapter in Veronica's life.
• The book will still be official, even if we make more movies. I've said that I'd like to make more movies, if this one does well, and that's still true. If (or when) we get that chance, one of two things will happen: we'll either (1) adapt the novel, and use it as the basis for the next movie, or (2) have the movie pick up after the events of the books take place. I'm not sure which it will be; we'll figure it out when the time comes. But we won't ignore the book, or pretend it never happened.
• The book's mystery is based on the original idea for the movie. When I started talking about making a Veronica Mars movie, just after the show's cancellation, I had a specific story that I wanted to tell. But last year, when I finally began writing the script, I realized that we'd need to tell a different story first: one that brought our characters back together after years apart. As a follow-up to the movie, the book gave me the chance to pursue my original idea again.
• The book will feature the return of another important figure from Veronica's past -- someone you already know from the show -- who didn't return for the movie. And I promise, this isn't a cheap ploy to get you interested. I'm not talking about a cameo from a minor character. This character is important to Veronica, and has a significant role in the book.
And for those of you excited about following Veronica's continued adventures, more good news: We're already working on the second book.
As soon as we finished editing and proofing The Thousand Dollar Tan Line, we got to work on the second novel. In fact, at the end of January, I spent a productive week in Austin with my co-author, Jennifer Graham, breaking the entire story.
Our plan is to publish the second book before the end of this year.