WordPress Daily Writing Prompt #2817 for July 9, 2026
A 40-Year Wait for a Sequel:
Today’s writing prompt posed this question: “What’s a book you think deserves a sequel?” On a writing prompt written two days ago, I lamented being unable to respond to a prompt like this with just one answer. I am happy to announce that this is no longer true! Today is the day I could choose one! Yay me!
The book I think deserves a sequel is Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams. I have been waiting 40 years hoping to learn what became of Fritti Tailchaser. Mr. Williams has a page on his official website called Thanks to That Imaginary Cat that discusses how the epic story of Fritti Tailchaser came to be. It is interesting to learn how a situation in the author’s life led to thoughts and ideas about how cats see the world. Largely thanks to a glorious ginger cat named Fever, a story started. A few years later, the story began to transform into a novel. The happy end result was Tailchaser’s Song, first published in 1985. This was also his very first book.
My Introduction to Fritti Tailchaser:
I first read the book in 1986, shortly after I arrived at my second duty station, Fort Hood, Texas. As a 20-year-old military police officer in the U.S. Army, I was completely enraptured by Tailchaser’s Song, and fell in love with Fritti Tailchaser. Having grown up loving animal-centered books like like The Call of the Wild, Wild Goose, Brother Goose, and Brighty of the Grand Canyon. Tailchaser’s Song was right up my alley
I will try to briefly summarize Tailchaser’s Song in a way that is informative, respectful, and factual. If you have not read the book, but wish to, stop here. Big spoiler alert!
What is Tailchaser’s Song About? [Spoilers Ahead]
The book follows the story of Fritti Tailchaser, a young ginger cat, on a quest to find his missing companion, Hushpad. After Hushpad’s disappearance, Fritti feels compelled to break away from his community to look for her. Fritti travels into the wild, befriending an energetic kitten named Pouncequick and a crazed cat named Eatbugs. They discover a subterranean lair ruled by Lord Hearteater, an evil cat deity enslaving felines. Fritti helps awaken Eatbugs, who reveals himself as the legendary cat god Firefoot and defeats Hearteater. Fritti finally finds his lost love, Hushpad, but discovers a heartbreaking truth. She is living a plump, comfortable, and domesticated life with humans, meaning she can no longer roam free with him. Fritti accepts this bittersweet reality and parts ways with her, choosing the exhilarating, untamed life of the wild over comfort.
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Cover art for Tailchaser’s Song. Image courtesy of DAW Books / Tad Williams.
I have so many questions!
What happened to Fritti? Where did he go, and did he ever fall in love again? Did Hushpad ever regret her decision to stay with humans?
Why did Firefoot disguise himself as the crazy Eatbugs? Where is Pouncequick now, and did he and Fritti remain friends? Did they go on any more adventures? Does Firefoot ever appear in their lives again?
What happened to the surviving members of The Wall Clan after their liberation from cruel enslavement at the Mound of Vastnir? Did they just go home? Did they settle somewhere else? Did any of them go with Fritti?
Mr. Williams, what happened to Fritti Tailchaser?
OVER TO YOU:
Do you have a favorite stand-alone book that left you begging for a sequel?
Let’s chat in the comments! Tell me:
- The title and author of the book.
- The one burning question you still have about the characters.
(Even if you don’t want to write a long reply, just drop the book title below—I am always looking for my next great read!)
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