News that Colm Tóibín was returning to the world of his New York Times bestseller Brooklyn – 15 years after its publication, and 20 years later in its characters’ lives – with Long Island was met with phenomenal excitement from readers worldwide.

Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu) made similar waves among Aotearoa New Zealand readers and beyond when she announced Kataraina – the follow-up to her award-sweeping Auē – which puts Aunty Kat at its centre.

David Nicholls was recently immersed back in his huge 2009 hit novel One Day on its major Netflix adaptation, with the novel itself inspired by his own 1980s student years.

What was the pull for these writers to revisit these milestone books? And what discoveries did they make about their work, characters – or indeed, themselves – in returning?

Noelle McCarthy finds out.