Are the World of True North books considered canon?
Readers have asked if the World of True North books are to be considered canon. Here is what I can say about that…
When I was taught the word “canon” in high school, it meant a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council, or an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture. To my understanding, it’s now used in fan fic circles to indicate the author’s true work, or at least the authorized storyline, as opposed to loosely appended secondary ideas and storylines?
So that’s what I’ve been asked—will the World of True North books be absolutely consistent with the series? Or, if not, will they create a sort of spaghetti entanglement that’s not meant to be taken on the same level as the original 7 (soon to be 8) True North books.
Before I answer, I need to admit that I am not terribly knowledgeable about fan fic and its potential relationship to canon. Everything I know about it I learned from Rainbow Rowell’s FANGIRL, which is wonderful, and if you haven’t read that, I don’t know what you’re doing with your life.
I will also admit, although reluctantly, that I had to google the spelling “canon vs. cannon” before I wrote this blog post. You may realize at this point that the concept of canon (one N) and I are not that well acquainted.
This is a cannon, not a canon.
The truth is that I seem to have a good deal of trouble keeping my own books from contradicting one another. There’s a hero of mine who has two birthdays, for example. (In two different books, though. I’m not THAT loopy.)
Okay, fine, that’s happened twice, in different series. And then there’s the book where a character’s old phone number doesn’t work in one book, and then works again in the next. There are two drivers named Reggie, in different cities, too. And when I realized I had two publicists named Becky I decided to just always name the publicist Becky because when you’re in charge you can lean into your own eccentricities.
When people ask why these errors happen, I often say that my subconscious is an asshole. But sometimes it’s not even my fault. In an epilogue, I let the Brooklyn Bruisers to win the Stanley Cup Final in June of 2020. I just didn’t anticipate Covid, and the lack of June 2020 hockey.
In short, perfection is impossible. At least if you’re me. I have stacks of character sheets and carefully made series bibles (thank you Claudia) at my disposal, and I still screw it up from time to time. So imagine my horror at the expectation that 45 new World of True North books might occasionally trip over each others’ feet. But that doesn’t mean we’re not trying.
TL;DR I am finally ready to answer the danged question
The World of True North books are meant to stand proudly alongside the original series without messing anything up. The authors have taken care to consult me and each other. There are some wonderful synergies they’ve created. Even the four mini series cross each other delightfully. I’m so impressed with all the work these authors have done!
One of the things we’ve got going for us, though, is that the authors of these worlds are populating some spaces that haven’t been thoroughly litigated by the core series. For example, the Speakeasy bar that Alec and Griff and Otto and Lyle create in book five (Speakeasy) is never visited by the main characters after its opening date. So my authors were free to populate it with their own people.
Ditto the Moo U hockey team. While Dylan and Chastity give readers a thorough introduction to the quirks of Moo U in Heartland, the hockey team itself is brand new in this new series, launching first on February 15. And the Vino & Veritas bar that Roderick and Kieran visit in the epilogue of Roommate becomes a fresh setting for a new series, too.
But lets not forget that 45 people can’t share one brain. If you’re determine to find small inconsistencies, and you look hard, I’ll bet you’ll find a few. It won’t be intentional, and it won’t be for lack of trying.
We’ll do the best we can! We can’t guarantee perfection. But we will guarantee you a really good time.
All my best,
Sarina