Happy Anniversary!

There’s another anniversary coming up next week, but today marks one year of being a Ridan Publishing author.

All I can say is “Thank you.”

First, thanks to Michael J. Sullivan for the magnificent covers. He’s done about eight of them for me, and I loved the two we picked. And thanks, too, for letting me read The Crown Conspiracy. I learned a few things about plot and pace there.

Second, thanks to Robin for the editing. She helps me tell my stories more clearly in my own voice. I couldn’t ask for a more respectful editor and I hope I can do better at bringing her suggestions to the page as we go forward. I suspect she’s also the person behind the Trust Lois t-shirts and coffee mugs. Those are so cool.

Last, thanks to all of you who’ve bought the books, and t-shirts, and mugs. You, who after devouring the first one, chastise me for not having the second already out. All of you who have taken time to rate and review on Amazon. Even a 1-star review gets counted and I’m grateful for every one.

Because of all of you, when the funding for my job dried up this summer, I was able to fall back to writing and teaching part time and actually step up my creative output a bit. Because of all of you, I’m amazed to find that — in only one year — I’ve joined the ranks of the rarest of novelists — those who make a living from writing.

To all of you, thank you. I’m humbled by your outpouring of support.

And here’s to next year! Full Share, Double Share, and maybe even Ravenwood. Here’s to another year of ups and downs and stories told round the campfires, on earbuds and e-readers, on pages and screens.

Safe voyage, Crew, and may your shares get richer with each new journey.

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30 Responses to Happy Anniversary!

  1. Ross says:

    No thank you Nathan. You are a rare find; someone who can express their stories in such a way as to enliven the lives of others. I plan on reading your stories to my children, once I have some.

  2. Keith says:

    Congratulations! You do good work, I am glad you made it as a writer.

  3. Mike Scott says:

    The thanks go to you Nathan! You’re stories are wonderful, and being able to get them in print lets me spread them on to those that don’t listen to podcasts. I’m glad it’s worked out for you last year, and I hope this year finds you even more prosperous. Keep up the great work!

  4. James says:

    It’s pretty scary heading out into the deep dark. Being a family man, consistent and known are the qualtities that I have cultivated in terms of profession, even when more lucritive avenues presented themselves. You’ve parted from that staid and known path to embark on a voyage of your own making. You are to commended. It touches me that you refer to your listeners and readers as crew and I want you to know that it’s appreciated deeply.

    I keep a copy of this near me and often glance at it.

    TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
    And sorry I could not travel both
    And be one traveler, long I stood
    And looked down one as far as I could
    To where it bent in the undergrowth;

    Then took the other, as just as fair,
    And having perhaps the better claim,
    Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
    Though as for that the passing there
    Had worn them really about the same,

    And both that morning equally lay
    In leaves no step had trodden black.
    Oh, I kept the first for another day!
    Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
    I doubted if I should ever come back.

    I shall be telling this with a sigh
    Somewhere ages and ages hence:
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.

    Frost had the right of it.
    Everyone always keys up on the last part, but to me, the real message is a bit earlier.

    Oh, I kept the first for another day!
    Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
    I doubted if I should ever come back.

    This brings the immediacy of the day to bear. In light of the choices we all must make, our path is ever moving forward. May your path lead to green grass and distant horizons.

  5. Ignatz says:

    Sar, you honor us with your artistry. May this coming year bring you much good fortune and inspiration.

  6. Tabitha says:

    My husband and I enjoy listening to your podcast together, it’s become a wonderful tradition. I actually discovered your podcast back in August prior to a road trip, and we listened to your first three or four share books while on our Anniversary road trip! We both love your stories and have enjoyed Ish’s journey from Quarter to Owner share! Thanks to you for the great story.

    Looking forward to holding each of the books in my own hands as they come out!

  7. Todd says:

    Cheers Nate. Happy New Year. Lead on, MacDuff.

  8. Mellisande says:

    Nate, your novels have brought me nothing but incredible pleasure. Thank you for what you do. I know that we all love and appreciate your talents. When times are hard, I turn to your books and they remind me that life can be good and they help me to go on. Everytime I hear your voice or read your words I have a smile on my face. Thank you for what you do.

  9. Kenny says:

    ALL the Thanks goes to you Sar for giving us a world that I for one would rather be a part of. As others have said you and Ishmael are an inspiration to us all and as a transporter of goods from one place to another I can identify with Ishmael in some little ways! I just wish I had a ship and crew of my own! I would like to thank you also for the honor of being part of this crew and am happy to report my shares have never been better Sar! Thanks again

  10. Kenn Mackintosh says:

    Nate,
    Thank you for the joy you have given to each of us. As C.S. Lewis once wrote… “Further up and further in” Keep up the great work.
    Kenn
    Also on a side note, is there an email address I could contact you at? I would like to send you something, but would like to ask a couple of questions first. thanks in advance.

  11. The HellJack says:

    You’re welcome.

  12. BigMac says:

    The pleasure and gratitude should be all ours for being allowed to share the world you have created and even participate in some small way via the forums and interaction we have with you.
    It brings a warm feeling to me to think that the meagre efforts and contributions of your fans has helped in any way to support your doing what you clearly love and excel at.
    It honours me to think that you think of your fans as crew.
    From the many comments on the site I am sure you know that your work has touched many of us in a special way that very few other authors have managed to do.
    It has also perhaps caused some of us to become a little “fan”atical and obsessive, forgive us for that.
    I am glad that we could have shared the emotional rollercoaster with Ishmael and believe me, we have enjoyed the ride.

  13. Nate says:

    @kenn – there’s a contact form on the side bar. Drop me a line :D

  14. Karen Critchfield says:

    I have now listened to the series twice and am ordering the books for my husband to read. It has been wonderful watching Ishmael grow up. Where can I get a mug or a t-shirt? Or possibly some Ishmael Wang coffee? Thank you so much and congratulations on your success.

  15. Nate says:

    I think there are still some of the christmas mugs left at http://www.ridanpublishing.com/Quarter_share_Mug.html but there are only a couple of t’s left.

    I have a solar clipper shop at Cafe Press — http://cafepress.com/solarclipper — i probably should update some of that merch. :D

  16. Sean says:

    Nate,

    You have earned your status as a full time author by being something grand and rare… a storyteller!

    Thank YOU, for the wonderful tales, the imagination, and the interaction on this website.

  17. john andersen says:

    I feel silly for asking this .but is it tic.a second or minute ? I’m assuming a stand,is an hour ?.just trying to get a handle on the timeframe. in quarter share it seems to work for both .really enjoying the book ..tx

  18. Nate says:

    A tick standardizes over the course of the books to be a minute.

    In the beginning the term is frequently used in the same way we’d use “just a second” to mean anything from a second to several minutes. As the stories go along, that ambiguity resolved. “tick” is slang for “minute” and you don’t see the word minute used very often.

    A “stan” is slang for “standard hour.”
    A “stanyer” is slang for “standard year.”

    In many formal situations, the full phrase gets wheeled out.

    There’s always a debate about “standay” — like .. the day before “ollieday” or something. the problem with using that term is that “day” is context sensitive and depends on where you are at the moment. Ships use a standard day of 24/60 minute hours by default. Planets and orbitals use the local day (that is) based on the rotation of the planet where appropriate. Margary is an exception and there are others that have no planet. In all cases, when you say “tomorrow” everybody knows what you mean based on where you’re standing. It only gets confusing when shifting from local to standard and back, and that happens VERY rarely.

    Hope that helps.

  19. john says:

    That helps a lot, thank you for the clarification .

  20. Josh L says:

    You’ve written a great series so far and Its been a pleasure to listen to. If i could afford to I would get the hard covers for all of them. For now i’ll have to settle for the paperbacks. :D Keep up the good work, can’t wait for the next Shaman’s Tale. :D

  21. Lars E says:

    Ok nate…safe me one of those nice mugs….i need something for my coffee.*sigh* well hope its some left by the time i get my salary :P
    Love your stories btw and i hope you will create other in same universe (maybe some with ish as well).I am sooo tired of all those space battle’s and i like this way better.Wish it was more of it.

  22. John says:

    Bravo sir! I have in one marathon session just listened to the first four books of the Solar Clipper series. I bought the available titles for my Kindle and loved them! I made sure my reviews at Amazon were glowing! But, they did not have them all, so i found ‘PodioBooks’ and started over from book one .
    The last time i was so enthralled by a book was more than twenty years ago when i read Robert Jordan for the first time. I think i was even more enamored of you’re reading of the book than mine, you are a wonderful story teller which is a skill entirely separate from writing.
    I will happily pay for the books that did not come from Amazon, in truth they were worth more to me in audio than the Kindle version! Very well done, indeed.

  23. Watcher says:

    Nate – I’m curious to know if you based the Chief Engineer’s speech patterns after anybody in particular. I keep hearing some of Garrison Keillor’s old Norwegians whenever the Chief talks…

  24. Nate says:

    @john – thanks. It’s been a great deal of fun to write, then produce, and now publish in text.

    @watcher – he’s modeled after one of the old guys I knew back in maine. a bit more garrulous but not by much and I’m trying to keep the Maine accent off him – altho that’s difficult. The trick is to keep him from getting to far into Jar Jar Binks country :)

  25. Jamming (AKA Jim) says:

    I wish you continued success in your efforts to keep this story available and in forms of publication which more than one person can enjoy. I have bought the Kindle, contributed to podiobooks and site, and I to had that marathon experience hearing several books together. It is rare for books to effect me that way any longer. I was enchanted with the “everyman” approach to the professional merchant marine rating then officer. I will be buying the books as soon as I clear a space on my shelves. Thanks for creating such a story and thanks to Ridan Publishing for recognizing the appeal of that story.

  26. malcolm says:

    hi nate, really loving owners share. have been looking forward to listening to the final book but also sad that it could be the last we see of ish.
    also would you know when amazon.uk will be releasing half share?
    keep up the good work sar

  27. Nate says:

    It’s the last of the Shares, but may not be the last of Ishmael Wang. We’ll have to see.

  28. Greg says:

    I’m really enjoying this one too Nate. As Mr. Hill’s father I enjoyed letting him know he was in the book very early. Brandon is more patient than I am and is waiting for more episodes so I’m having to be careful not to reveal anything other than his own fiery death in episode #2 ;) Really tragic.

  29. Andrew says:

    I know it’s good when I check multiple times every night to see if the next episode has downloaded. thank you for writing these, it’s wonderful that you have updated horatio hornblower for our times. this is a study in human nature, in personal growth, in learning fundamental business principles and a wonderful example of the golden rule throughout. i find your stories at once an escape and a backdrop to frame some of the issues that I face in my own work. cheers to you mr. lowell.

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