Stephenie Meyer: Five Potential Follow-up Novels to Her Twilight Series

Let's face it, after the success of the Twilight series of books, author Stephenie Meyer could have written a half-hearted follow-up novel on the back of a napkin and still come up with a new best seller. It's a fact that she confirms with the release of the Eclipse novella, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, a book that does little to expand the unique universe created by Meyer's earlier efforts. With a plethora of more interesting characters and story lines to chose from, Meyer's could have afforded her legion of fans a better look into the hearts and minds of the vampires, werewolves, and half-breeds that inhabit her best selling series, by offering a different novel or novella altogether. Here then is a list of five potential stories that would have made for a better follow-up novel.

Alice and Jasper: Romance Foreseen

While we know from earlier novels how Alice and Jasper met prior to the two of them joining the Cullen clan, their journey from when they first meet to when they eventually find the Cullens is a story worth telling. And yes, the precognitive gift that Alice possesses goes a long ways towards foreshadowing the ending of this potential novel, but isn't the romance always in the details? The journey then could be a tribute to the romance between the quirky Alice and the charismatic Jasper.

Renesmee and Jacob: Freedom beyond Imprinting

Yes, we know that werewolf Jacob is "imprinted" to Renesmee, the half-breed child of Bella and Edward, however as the child grows and matures does she not have her own free will to exercise? Is she to find love and happiness with Jacob or will she move beyond him and explore love's possibilities with other humans, vampires or half-breeds? Beyond the romance, this potential story could explore the connections between free will and love. Does destiny determine Renesmee's romantic future, or will her own free will triumph?

Jane: A Prequel to Pain

For the most part, the world of the Volturi is still a mystery, so too is the life of Jane, the mentally sadistic member of the Volturi Guard. Along with expanding the reader's knowledge of the world in which the Volturi live, this story could shed considerable light on Jane herself. Who was she before she was turned? How come her gift of causing "illusions of pain" is such a cruel and sadistic one? Has she known love? Will there be redemption in her future? Aren't these all questions that need to be answered?

Joham and Nahvel: The Half-Breed Legacy

Though Joham and Nahvel are both side characters whose existence is to provide background information on half-breeds, their story too is full of potential. If Stephanie Meyer ever decides to write a fantasy romance with strong undertones of social commentary, this potential story could be her vehicle. Not only is half-breed Nahvel brought up in a single parent home by his aunt (whom he turned into a vampire), but he is also the byproduct of two different worlds, neither of which he fully fits into. The story could be one of trying to find love in the two worlds where a half-breed like Nahvel does not fit into.

Sam and Emily: Mates of the Soul

Taking a much needed excursion outside the vampire genre, Meyer's could turn to werewolf leader Sam and Emily for a different kind of love story. The potential plot that could be offered here is one in which the concept of "soul mates" is explored, since this is an "imprinted" couple that is still together despite the unfortunate incident that left Emily scarred for life. The story could include the confusing love triangle that Sam finds himself in when he imprints Emily while still dating Leah.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Twilight_characters

www.stepheniemeyer.com