News from the Golden Age
Ridan has been watching your response to the announcement of getting the books in print and they’re floating the idea of putting out a special, hard cover, limited edition run. The price will be pretty high (I don’t know how high yet, but I’d guess around $30-$35) but we’re thinking something like running 100 of them and putting them up as signed, numbered, limited editions.
How many of you would want to buy one of those?
Three years ago this month — on January 12, 2007 — I sat down at my keyboard and started to write a novel. At the time, I had no idea if I could. I’d started often enough before in my life and never finished. I didn’t really know if I would finish that one, but I had a goal — Podiobooks.com.
In January, 2007, this podcasting thing was only a couple of years old. Most people had never heard of it, and the idea of a serialized audiobook — the podcast novel — was even more unknown. I found Podiobooks in 2006 and started listening to Earthcore, 7th Son: Descent, and Brave Men Run. I think I went through the whole catalog in a few weeks, and when I finished Nina Kimberly the Merciless, I knew I had to try it. These people were having just way too much fun and I wanted to have fun, too. When I sat down to write the book that you all know as Quarter Share, the goal was to finish the story, record it, and publish it on Podiobooks.
Ten days later, I had my first draft. By the end of January I started recording. Yes, I recorded it in a very poor format on a $20 headset mic in the front seat of my car. Evo helped me get it into the correct form and in February 18th, 2007, the first six episodes of Quarter Share went into the stream.
Since that time, you’ve been with me through 5 ‘Share books, a Shaman’s Tale, and, now, a full on fantasy novel with Ravenwood. You’ve pestered me for the next release, you’ve badgered me about paper copies, you’ve written to publishers on my behalf to get them to print my books. You’ve donated, and rated, and reviewed, and followed me on twitter. There’s a discussion group in a knitter’s community for me. (Hi, Ravelry!) You’ve humbled me with your support and with your enthusiastic embrace of my work.
Normally, I keep a pretty low profile, but this month marks more than one milestone, and I’d like to share them with you.
3 years.
7 Books.
800,000 words.
1,000,000 downloads.
and one book contract.
Earlier this month I signed with Ridan Publishing to produce Quarter Share in a trade paper edition that will be available soon – at least by the time BaltiCon rolls around at the end of May.
Thank you, all, for your inspiration, your reviews, your comments, and your heartfelt support of the stories over the last three years.
Happy birthday, Ishmael! And many happy returns.
