Sarah Banne Belzoni Isn’t Finished Yet: The Story Behind My Next Exploress Adventure
Sometimes a character simply refuses to leave. That seems to be what happened with Sarah Banne Belzoni. When I began writing The Exploress and the Pillars of Eternity, I knew I was taking on an unusual story. Sarah Banne Belzoni was a real woman living a remarkable life in Egypt during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha, and bringing her into the world of historical fiction meant spending a great deal of time researching the people, places, politics, and customs of nineteenth-century Egypt.
Two years of research, writing, and editing later, The Exploress and the Pillars of Eternity was finally ready to meet its readers. And then something unexpected happened. I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Sarah. Apparently, she wasn't ready to say goodbye to me, either.
Sarah's Story Continues
I'm thrilled to announce that I'm working on the sequel: The Exploress and the Secrets of Infinity.
And yes, I already have the cover!
There's something especially exciting about seeing the cover of a book that is still being written. It makes the story feel suddenly real. Until now, The Exploress and the Secrets of Infinity has existed mostly in my head, my notes, and the ever-growing collection of research surrounding it.
Now it has a title. It has a cover. And, if everything goes according to plan, it will have a publication date, too. I'm aiming for a Spring Equinox 2027 release, following the same seasonal timing I used for The Exploress and the Pillars of Eternity. Of course, authors know better than to make promises about dates too early. Books have a curious habit of deciding for themselves how much work they're going to require. But that's the goal, and I'm excited to be working toward it.
Why a Sequel?
The simple answer is that I wanted more of Sarah's story. The slightly longer answer is that writing The Exploress and the Pillars of Eternity reminded me why I love historical fiction in the first place. I love discovering people from the past who don't necessarily fit neatly into the historical record. I love finding those little details that make a person feel real—their ambitions, frustrations, relationships, fears, and moments of courage.
And Sarah Banne Belzoni certainly gave me plenty to work with. She lived an extraordinary life and traveled through a world that was vastly different from our own. Yet the more I researched her, the more I found myself thinking about the woman behind the historical figure. What did she want? What did she fear? What did she make of the people around her?
And what happened when the adventures she'd already experienced led her into something entirely unexpected? Those questions are part of what inspired me to continue her story.
More Secrets. More History. More Sarah.
I don't want to reveal too much about The Exploress and the Secrets of Infinity just yet. There are still discoveries to be made, both by Sarah and by me. That's one of my favorite parts of writing historical fiction. Even after all the research I've done, there is always another document to uncover, another historical detail to investigate, another fascinating person to learn about, or another question that sends me down a completely unexpected research rabbit hole.
And sometimes those rabbit holes become stories. That's certainly what happened with Sarah. While The Exploress and the Pillars of Eternity introduced readers to her world, The Exploress and the Secrets of Infinity will take her into another chapter of her life—and, I hope, give readers another reason to become just as fascinated by this remarkable woman as I am.
A New Exploress Adventure Is Coming
For now, I'm going to keep writing, researching, questioning historical details, and occasionally wondering how one person can possibly generate so many research notes. But I'm also going to enjoy sharing a little of the journey with you. There will eventually be more glimpses into the story, more historical discoveries, and, of course, more news as the book gets closer to publication. For now, though, I'm simply delighted to be able to say: Sarah Banne Belzoni is coming back. The Exploress and the Secrets of Infinity is on its way. And if all goes according to plan, we'll be meeting Sarah again when spring arrives in 2027. I hope you'll join me for the next adventure. ❤️📚
Piper is the award-winning author of The Country Girl Empress series. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, and Goodreads
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