Epilogues are typically the length of a short chapter, lasting five to ten pages or fewer. Avoid a lengthy epilogue that tries to cover a lot of ground. Leave just enough for the reader to be pleased. Epilogues can be used to set up future books in a series, but they can also serve other purposes such as tying up plot threads or setting the stage for future stories. After I published my first book, a friend told me that the epilogue was one of her favorite parts of the story. This surprised me because I didn't think there was much I could add to the end of my novel that would interest readers again. But she had some great ideas about how to improve it so I took her advice and now include an epilogue in every book I write.