What to do when you're waiting for the sequel

I think we all know the times when we are happily reading a new found book series and finish all the books we have in a day.  Naturally the next step is to get the next book.  Except the next book has yet to come out.  Of course you're freaking out, your mind is racing with the plot, you NEED to know what happens but the book hasn't come out!  My natural response tends to be:

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 That's when a reader's dilemma happens(I am going to call it the EW dilemma, the Eternal Wait dilemma), you want to keep reading so you don't sit and theorize what will happen all day, but if you start another series then you'll get hooked on that one and won't have time to read the new book when it comes out, or worse:  you'll forget about the new book coming out.  I have had this dilemma many times, so I have decided to solve the problem.  But I'm not always good at that, so I have recruited Ally to help with the problem solving.  Together we have made a list of things to do when you are having this EW dilemma.

1. Cry.  And let your fellow book drunkards know about your issue.  We are here for you.  We understand

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2. Reread the series.  I often do this while waiting not only because it refreshes my memory, but I also tend to catch little details that I didn't the first time.  

3. Find another series by the same author.  You can read that and have a new plot to think about, but you'll still be in the same area as the other book, and you'll know when it comes out.  

4. Read a standalone book.  One that isn't too long so you can still enjoy reading but you won't forget about your book series when the new book comes out.  Here's a list of some that Ally and I have made:

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Ella Enchanted

Where the Red Fern Grows

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

Awakening Foster Kelly by Cara Rosalie Olsen

And when your book finally comes out:  Hide somewhere where no one will find you with chocolate and a kleenex box just in case it's a sad ending and have a fellow geek of the same book on speed dial so you can freak out together afterward.  Good luck.