In a few short days it’ll be the shortest day of the year. After that the real work begins.
During November I worked on the final book of the Tanyth Fairport trilogy and set up the model that I want to shoot for in 2014. Here’s the plan.
This month I’m going to finish recording and producing Zypheria’s Call for podcast.
Starting next month, I’m going to write a new book every other month. I’ve already done one book (Hermit Of Lammas Wood) and the next book will be the much awaited Cape Grace – Sarah Krugg’s story leading up to her departure for the spaceport and her new life on the Lois. This is going to be a tough one because it’s sandwiched between South Coast and Half Share.
I’ve also planned a three book series featuring Ishmael Wang in a new role. He’s no longer a ship captain, but has a new mission. The series is tentatively titled “Seeker’s Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper.” Those of you who’ve listened to Owner’s Share know he has some unfinished business to take care of.
Also a three book series featuring a new crew. The main character is Natalya Regyri and she’s a…well…she’s an asteroid miner. Sort of. She has some side jobs that she does for people now and again. This series is tentatively titled “Smuggler’s Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper.” The rationale for this series is that we haven’t really seen what’s under the surface of this universe. Natalya and her friend, Zoya Usoko, don’t work the bright and shiny space ways that Ishmael knows. They live where the corporations have little sway and where “Confederated Planets” is a curse. I’ve been planning this for a long time and I’m really pleased to begin unfolding it for you.
So that’s eight new titles on the table – the first of which – The Hermit of Lammas Wood – went to the editor today. Tentatively scheduled for a February delivery date, we’ll see how fast we can whip this into shape.
I’m working with a collection of editors to try to keep new stories coming even when one of them gets bogged down and buried by life. Right now, all the books I have finished are with editors — Owner’s Share, South Coast, and Hermit of Lammas Wood. As soon as any of those come back, I’ll get them published. I’ve got covers for all of them already and just need the books to put behind them.
In the off months, I’m planning to record, publish, and generally get caught up on the part of the work that you all depend on me for — getting the work out to you.
Can I do it? I really don’t know. I’m going to try and we’ll see how far I get before I collapse.
Stay tuned.
PS. YES! I am working on paperbacks and YES, I’m still planning on doing a hardcover set. No, I don’t know when that’ll all happen. Paperbacks are fill-in work. Hardcovers are well down the road.
I absolutely cannot wait; what great news!
It will be a great day when the paperbacks dock.
=
Awesome…can’t wait. Just finished re-reading the first five solar clipper tales in prep for #6 – so I’ll put a few more bucks in my book fund for these upcoming stories. Please don’t collapse before you finish :-)
Ambitious! Good luck; I love your work and it’ll be awesome to see more of it!
I have been checking back every few weeks hoping for more news about a release date for Owners Share. The news of a new series featuring Ishmael is good news indeed.
Fantastic! Thank you for working so hard to share your wonderful stories.
It’s really good to hear how all your work is getting on. I’m really looking forward to the new stories.
What a wonderful bit of Yule Tide news. Thank you for giving us such great stories to enjoy! I just went back and started Trader’s Tales in audio (again). It really keeps me hopping and I am so appreciative!
That is wonderful news! Glad to hear everything is on the mends. I look forward to listening to the books as they come out! Thank you for all of your hard work. It does not go unappreciated.
Hurrah! I love your books, Nathan, and can’t wait to meet old and new friends in 2014. Your timetable is impressive and ambitious so I’ll be on the touchline, cheering you on.
yay!
i’m very excited for the conclusion to the lammas wood trilogy
and! finally getting to see some not so bright and shiny, but perhaps still honorable folks working the trade lanes
Wow!
I’ll bet Evo is just glad you’re not going to do another Christmas Surprise Dump on PodioBooks to melt his servers down again. I think it would be rather awesome, myself, but it’s getting a bit tight on time.
Excellent. Looking forward to more epubs. I do not want paper books anymore.
Thanks for the update. My husband and I are looking forward to more Ishmael stories.
We will be looking for the audio books as it is too hard for me to read paper books now.
Just take your time and enjoy all the writing. It shows in your books.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
This is awesome news! Cape Grace should be interesting but I can’t wait for more in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper. 2014 should be a great year and I wish you all the luck in the world that everything works out. I will tell you that I will buy all your e-books as soon as they come out and I would probably buy a hardcover set if you made one as well. And that is saying something because I haven’t bought a hardcover book in well over a year, everything goes on the Kindle!! LOL!
I’m sitting here with a great big Solstice Grin – more from Tanyth! YAY!
Why not do a Kickstarter project? I would definitely invest at least the cost of a hardcover in your doing this. I donated for the first part of the Solar Clipper series but it seems like you could certainly get paid up front if you wanted.
Kickstarters are for people who need financing to get a project going. It’s not something I’m interested in doing. The amount of work it takes — and the effort in fulfillment on the other end — is better spent writing and producing books.
I have a hard time imagining any scenario where I’d use Kickstarter or any of the other crowdsource tools at this point.
Thank you for the update! I really enjoy reading your stories but I enjoy hearing you tell them in your own voice even more. I can’t wait to hear new ones and get them into the rotation. I think I have just about worn out the audio files for your current Podcasts. I may have to download new copies :)
I find that no matter how many times I listen to or read one of the Trader Tales books, I always find something that I missed before. I chock that up to the incredible detail you put into these tales (rather than my feeble memory, although there’s that too).
Thank you so much for sharing these journeys with us.
Looking forward to anything from your pen. The Solar Clipper additions sound like fun. Mr Maxwell’s suggested past implied some very nasty doings in the background of that universe.
A Good Yule/Solstice/Hogswatch to you and yours
Fantastic! Good luck with all that, Mr Lowell! I am looking forward to how Ishmael progresses and ms T gets on in Lammas wood. Happy new year to ya. greetings from Australia!
Any update on an ETA for Owner’s Share? I’m trying not to be overly impatient….
Dear Mr. Lowell,
As I knew I would – I cried in Owner’s Share. Not just a few tears, but as Ishmael finally cried for his love – I sobbed ridiculously. As I have just finished Ravenwood – I have come to a decision. You are not just someone that reads stories (there are many of them). You are a wonderful storyteller! You bring out emotions that no book ever has, so I can only deduce – it is you! Thank you for the journeys, the adventures, and the sharing of your wonderful imagination. I am speechless. And in anticipation of more to come.
Karen Phelps
Really looking forward to reading more of your stories, and eagerly awaiting the next audio books which I listen to with my husband. Wishing you a great and successful year.
Please do the “Seeker’s Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper.” first. I am dying to know who Ish gives the welkies to.