What Do You Put In Your Bonus Epilogues?

How I, Personally, Keep my Romance Readers Hooked After The End

What Should I Put in My Bonus Epilogue?

Oh, my gosh, I’ve gotten this question SO many times, and honestly, the answer feels deeply personal.

For example, while telling an author friend about my Bonus Epilogue strategy, she mentioned hearing advice about not calling it a Bonus Epilogue to avoid making readers feel like you’ve left something out of the book.

But here’s my hot take—without diving too deep into Author Godsnake Theory (Lesson 16 of Bestseller Magic, my Universal Fantasy™ Course, currently on discount until Butter Beginnings launches!), I personally don’t believe in leaving my readers completely satisfied at the end of a book.

In my super-personal, me-only opinion:

• My readers should be upset about the cliffhanger. If they’re not shaking their fists and leaving me at least a few spitting-mad one-star reviews, then I didn’t drop-kick them off that cliff hard enough.
  

• My readers should want more from me at the end of the book.

  • They should want to know what happens next with the Future Release Couple I planted in this couple’s book.

  • They should want to revisit the Backlist Couple I always, always cameo in my frontlist books.

  • And they should ABSOLUTELY feel like they’re missing out on something I didn’t add to the main book if they don’t sign up for my newsletter—and then, sometimes, to my Patreon—for the Bonus-Bonus Epilogue.

I love my readers. I’m also in a Big D, little s Relationship with them.

Control dynamics are very important to me. I want my readers to feel the way I want them to feel about my characters, gnash their teeth when I edge them with a cliffhanger, and absolutely join my mailing list when they reach The End of a series standalone or the last book in a duet.

So not only do I love a bonus epilogue, but there’s a particular kind of romance bonus epilogue that I particularly prefer above all others.

HEADS UP: I know I have some clean/sweet writers in my subscriber base. Gentle friends, the rest of this Substack isn’t for you.

That all warned, my absolutely favorite way to serve a Bonus Epilogue is with a Sexilogue.

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My Favorite Bonus Epilogue Style: The Sexilogue

A Sexilogue is exactly what it sounds like—an epilogue that adds some extra spice.

Here are a few ways I love to approach it:

1. New Positions:

   • Have your characters try something they haven’t done before. This works especially well for Why Chooses, where you can give readers a little something extra from all the love interests. (All them holes ain’t going to fill themselves.)

My favorite Bonus Epilogue of 2024 came from Lyonne Riley, the author of My Minotaur Husband . Thanks to her back cover blurb, it’s no spoiler to tell you that the book’s plot revolves around whether or not the minotaur will fit inside a certain hole. Her genius Patreon-Exclusive Bonus Epilogues involves another hole.

2. Sex Interrupted:

   • I like to let the couple enjoy one orgasm and start building toward a second when—BAM!—they’re interrupted. The interruption could be:

     • A knock on the door from a backlist or Future Release Character, dropping an Intriguing Reveal.

     • A call from a Future Release Character announcing they’re in trouble (what kind?) or just got married (to whom?!).
       

3. Day-to-Day Sex and Power Dynamics:

   • This one is perfect for my dark romances that end with the couple achieving a happy family. It shows my readers how wickedly good the relationship still is while reassuring them that the heroine isn’t suffering—despite marrying her bully, bosshole, stalker, and/or borderline psychopath. To pull this off, I especially love…

     • Morning Sex Followed by Bucolic Bliss: This is a naughty morning sex scene followed by some idyllic event, like a wholesome found-family breakfast. It’s a chance to show how the couple gets down on the regular and then goes about their day-to-day lives before—BAM!—a Future Release Character reveals something dramatic.

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Your Turn

This is how I handle Bonus Epilogues. But I’d love to hear how you approach them! Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Want to Write Better Epilogues (and Stories) Readers Can’t Get Enough Of?

If you’re interested in more of my thoughts on crafting unforgettable scenes (including the Butter of sex scenes), check out my book The Universal Fantasy™ List: Romance.

And if you’re ready to elevate your storytelling across the board, here are some great resources:

• Bestseller Magic (Universal Fantasy™ Course): On sale through January. Learn how to create characters and situations that addict readers and make them clamor for more.

• Butter Blurb Master Class: Craft irresistible book descriptions that make readers one-click without hesitation.

• Butter Beginnings Master Class (Coming Feb 2025): Pre-sale now for $47. Craft Before Pictures that hook and compel readers to read until The End.