I keep getting email asking for an update. It’s been a month since my last post here so here it is:
I got nothing. Believe me. If I had something, there’d be a post. If the book were available, you’d get a notice from my email list. You’d hear about it on twitter and probably Facebook. This resounding silence is, itself, the message. It’s what I got. Nada.
The situation is that Ridan still has Double Share. Robin left a comment on the last thread explaining where she’s been and what she’s been doing. She emailed me a couple of weeks ago but hasn’t sent me the edits yet. No, I’m not going to kick them to the curb because they’re late. I still believe we do better together than we can do individually and, as long as I believe that, the status will remain quo.
I am still working on the Ravenwood sequel — Zypheria’s Call — and I’m also adding the final act to a short story that I’ve had percolating for about five years now. It’s called “Divine Inspiration: A Blasphemy in Three Acts.” Highly speculative and some of you have heard parts of it. I’m just getting around to adding the last piece to my triptych.
So. That’s what I got.
I’m still planning on six books this year. I’ve got some other deals working including a “guest novella” for Scott Sigler’s GFL universe. There may be other news but the lawyers need to parse it before I can share it. (Yes, there are lawyers involved.)
In the meantime, did you know Deb Geary has a new book out? Great stuff. You should check it out.
Thank you for the update, Nathan. I support you and will stick around, no matter how long it takes.
Eric
You ain’t got nothing. You got us! :)
Captain, they are treating you with utter contempt, they feel they have you, one way or another. They feel you have no choice but to deal with them. IE, treat him like a mushroom, keep him in the dark, and feed him, well, to be polite, manure.
They can’t even post news to their news feeds, can’t keep your fans updated, can’t even keep their own site updated. Loyalty is one thing, but they are taking advantage of you.
Nathan,
Thanks for the update. I periodically check the Kindle store from Double Share; I’m looking forward to reading it and the books that follow. (I’m not much of an audiobook consumer.)
It’s nice to know what the status is to date, and I can be patient. ;=) Sometimes things just don’t go as smoothly as we’d all like.
So I’ll keep checking periodically, both on Kindle and here. Best wishes to you, and thanks for the books, I’m really enjoying them.
Sorry Nathan, but I am giving up. These delays are horrible for everybody. Your publisher should not make you lose potential (waiting) customers like me.
They are holding you back and costing you deserved revenue. Writing a book, especially a good one is hard, having others hold you back is nobody’s solution.
Good luck in the future, but I am done checking back for empty promises no matter who they come from.
I hate to say this,,but I am sure I am not the only one. Heck, I actually WANT to give you money, but can’t.
So long.
Thanks, Shawn.
And sorry, Paul. I know it’s frustrating. Thanks for hanging in as long as you did.
I have to say that I’m with Paul. I know that it’s not rational, but knowing that these books already exist and could be in our hands is more frustrating than waiting for an author to write a new book. And the disappointment of missed deadlines further taints the whole experience. It gets to the point where the joy of the book can’t offset the negative experience that leads up to it.
But I guess it depends on what you’re hoping to get out of these books. If it’s the act of creation, then you’ve already accomplished that and nothing else matters. But if you were hoping to maximize financial success (if only to support more creation), or were hoping to give as many readers as possible the wonderful experience these books can provide, then you’re failing at that. Impressively.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that – everybody fails. It’s whether we learn from our failures and make the necessary course changes that determines whether we will get as much as we can out of life. I hope that the course you’re on now will take you where you want to be, when you want to be there, or that you find a way to make the necessary changes.
Best of luck…
Ah, the impatience of youth.
I’m here by chance, and want to drop a word or two of gratitude to Nathan, I don’t think I’ve done that lately. Your ambitions for this year of 2012 are huge, Nathan, and I hope you never lose the desire to dig in. I know the ability to proceed will vary as Life Happens to you and your publishers.
I’ve been re-reading my Liaden Universe stories and marveling at how you took certain of their ideas and morphed them into ideas. It adds yet another level of enjoyment to the reading. Kind of like reverse Easter eggs.
I’ve been mildly to moderately impatient, waiting for Double Share, checking here and at Ridan Publishing. Well, finally there is word from Ridan about the delays, which affected more than just Mr. Lowell’s books. Apparently the death of the founder’s father in November sent everything into full stop mode there. IAC, books are starting to come out, and we can only hope that the Solar Clipper books will be out shortly.
OK, I have learned that Nathan will a) take the long view and b) stand by a friend in a rough patch. Good on ‘ya.
Yep, I’m anxiously awaiting Double Share and now Zypheria’s Call, too. I can wait. Thanks again for the hours of enjoyment – and for your references, too, having now read and thoroughly enjoyed Debora Geary and Mur Lafferty.
Divine Inspiration -> Divine Comedy?
I am at a loss as to the repeated delays and missed publication dates. You podcasts must have been horribly written if they are still editing, or your editor and publisher must have more important authors. As an avid reader, buyer and recommender, I can’t justify making recomendations, or trying to follow the series’ without some clarity. You owe your readers a Publication date. This is unprofessional and damaging to what had appeared to be an author and a series to follow.
Nathan – Your books are the best I’ve read in a long time. I think standing by your publisher for a bit longer shows integrity that is rare in our society of greed and self-interest. I will wait it out no matter how long it takes because I love your characters, your universe and your story. Thank you for the hours of enjoyment you have already given me and thank you for the hours of enjoyment yet to come.
Sorry, Sue.
I’ve provided the best information I have from the publisher. The only thing I can do is start over on my own — or wait out the rough patch.
I don’t blame you for not wanting to recommend something that’s so uncertain. Please, you have to do what you need to do. Don’t think twice about it.
I think the problem is that we are waiting for Ridan, not you Nathan.
People would probably be more patient with the release of Double Share if past release dates were met. Looking at past entries, “Ridan pushed the release date” is a common theme on your blog.
You’re not the only author with Ridan that has had release dates pushed. Looking into the issue, that was common before Robin’s father was sick and passed. From what I understand, she does all the editing herself and has not taken on any help. If she could handle the workload and meet deadlines that would be fine. However, the only deadline she meets consistently is her husbands. Even his latest book, published and edited jointly with Orbit, met its January 2012 release date.
Obviously you have more information on this than we do. But from the outside looking in, Ridan isn’t doing you any favors. If Double Share had an initial release date of March or April 2012, then there would probably be less irritation about it’s release. Instead, we heard August, then September, then December, and now sometime in 2012.
I will still check in regularly for the release of Double Share, and I look forward to reading more of Tanyth Fairport in the meantime. I don’t mind waiting for an author I like. I’m mostly irritated that you’re getting the short end of the stick with this.
I would have to think that by now if you started Double Share on your own at the first wind of problems you would have already been able to release it and be getting the benefit of the revenue you deserve!
Its frustrating as a reader of your other books that this one is in an eternal state of limbo. Your readers are asking you to do something about this and it seems like you would rather lose your fan base rather then to do something about this lack of response from your publisher.
I appreciate you allowing us to vent to you our frustrations in regards this. I hope that you can see that a lot of your fan base that was quickly gained from your previous books are now going to be reduced significantly because of this fiasco.
I wish you well and hope that you can finally get this all resolved in a more timely matter but, at this point in time I am no longer going to be looking for updates on this series of books.
I understand, Jonathan.
Thanks for sticking around as long as you have, and thank you for the feedback.
I can understand the upset of the fans with Ridan, and I share it. However, I read the books of Nathan Lowell. I am as eager to read Double Share as anyone, BUT if I have to wait longer, so be it. Why should the delay possibly force me to desert you and deny myself the pleasures your books give? I simply cannot understand Anyone not being willing to wait.
I understand the frustration, Barry.
Knowing the books are done, that you COULD listen to them for free if you wanted to, but I won’t release them myself, even in the face of continued delays in getting them published … yeah. I understand that. I actually take it as high praise because people are soooo invested in what I’m doing that it elicits this kind of response. So, it’s a compliment, in a way.
And while I’m not George R.R. Martin .. this pretty much sums it up.
http://youtu.be/V6a1y1pc-GQ
Nathan, I have listened to everything, and as much as I enjoyed your voice, it’s not the same as reading. I read a great deal and have literally 100’s of books on tap. I simply chafe at the bit to put yours to the head of the pile.
So here we are toward the end of February, and still no Double Share. I can’t take it out on you Captain. You have done your part. You wrote the book.
Your publisher is certainly not doing you any favours, but I can’t say I’m giving up. I expect that the book will come out at SOME point, and when it does, I will buy it.
I have been waiting years for Richard Phillips third book to come out. I’ll wait for yours too.
Thanks, Barry and Charles.
It’ll be here eventually. :)
Captain, I have little complaint with you, other than I think you are perhaps too loyal to someone that is treating you with utter contempt. They feel they have you, and you have no other choices for publication. They have pushed back you date of publication, and have not communicated to you, or your fans, as they should.
I am a serious reader. not a podcast listner. I want to read the books on my kindle.
There just is no excuse for their treatment of you, or their treatment of your fans. The very least they could have done is to post an explanation of the delays, apologizing to you, and your fans, but they did not even do that.
I have the highest regards for you talent, I love your stories, but as a fan, I am mad at how I, and you, have been treated by this company.
I wish you the best of luck, and am looking forward to anything you publish in the future. Thanks, Jeff
I have to say we are spoiled. Nath-the capt-… This guy is one of the fastest quality writers I have come across. Beside Mr. Lowell, my favorite author is Patrick Rothfuss, now there is a wait. These books, available in audio form for the addicts among us, are in a process that calls for more input than just the authors. His is the lions( mated with a elephant)’s share but editors do play a part. I find it funny that we are upset about not getting book series that started with the death of Ish’s mother but we are unsympathetic to the death of a real person. Business is people at their vocation but still people. Maybe Mr. Lowell does leave Ridan that’s fine I have no dog in this horse race. But I struggle to see how pressuring him with our loyalty helps him make a reasonable choice instead of an emotional one. Here’s to our literary future, where maybe nose in our device follows after our heart in our chest.
Agreed Duncan.
I also keep chuckling as I read these comments. People are yearning for more Ish stories. They complain and gripe and tell the Captain to abandon a friend going through a rough patch. The funny thing is, I can’t imagine much that is less Ish-like than constantly complaining, unless it is abandoning a friend in need!
Captain, we feel for you. We understand this must be rough on you. We completely understand no matter what you do. But, I think you’ll find most of your fans also really appreciate the character you’ve showed by NOT publicly griping or jumping ship at the first sign of trouble. Thank you for giving us more faith in your characters by knowing that some of their best qualities are also found in their creator.
The air might be contaminated, but most of us are willing to work through it with you. There may be some disorientation and a headache or two, but eventually the scrubbers will be back at full strength. If a few crewman want to jump into an escape pod and abandon ship, so be it.
Thanks for the update. With all of the work in progress I hope to enjoy more of your stories soon. Thanks for feeding my escapism, but mostly for the insight into human nature. -kls
Hi Nathan,
I check from time to time, even put you in a special twitter list to make sure I don’t miss anything. I love your books and see where Ish gets his integrity. You made an agreement and you’ll do everything you can to honor that agreement. That makes you a class act even though it may be hurting you in the short term. As for me, I’ve given up on the hardback editions of the book but will continue to buy the kindle versions. If that means I have to wait another 6 months, so be it. I have a plethora of books on my kindle now that I haven’t gotten around to. Those will keep me busy until your next release. I do hope the others will come back and I do understand their frustration. At any rate, I admire your willingness to honor your word.
I was getting ready to post the George R.R. Martin video myself just to lighten the mood.
I thought that I won’t look the audiobooks, but if you haven’t tried them give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised.
Also, leave Nathan a donation while you’re there ;-).
People are a source of mystery. Why would anyone give up the opportunity for enjoyment purely because of delay? Delay of gratification is a sign of maturity. Your works are worth the wait. And, I must say that listening to the podcast versions is always a delight, even for a “serious reader” like me. (That reference grated on my nerves. Does it imply listening to words is less valid than seeing word on a page?)
Being a member of the 21st century means having choices we’ve never had before. Often, we get what we want more quickly than we could have in the past. Likewise, we have become accustomed to an increasingly personalized world. However, being a member of today’s world does not mean we deserve to get exactly what we want when we want it.
Your loyalty is admirable, however I hope that contractually they have to compensate you in some way for the delay and associated revenue loss. I’ll wait – heck the books are good and I devour them too quickly to mind a month or two. However if they are taking an industry standard 52% or so royalty for the service they’ve provided you are getting the wrong end of the stick compared to outsourcing the editing on a one time basis and publishing them yourself and keeping 70% (on Kindle at least).
Keep up the good writing and I hope to be reading Double Share soon !
Jillian, if you prefer podcasts, that is your preference, I just prefer to read the words. No judgement of validity, just my personal preference.
Either choice is not a measure of maturity.
Though I’m not happy with the delays I can wait it out I follow several ST series and thats with Simon and Schuster with an average gap between books is 2 years.
So I can’t wait for the share series to be done either by ridan, or by Nathan.(I know how the share series ends I think I’ve listen to podcast a couple dozen times now}. But until the books are released the story is in limbo for Ish & Pip and the whole gang
Double Share has been delayed even before november, and while as a widow I certainly understand about needing time to mourn a deceased family member, I think it’s strange to have the entire business on hold for two whole months. (And for the record: I have been back at work the day after my husbands burial, ten days after his completely unexpected death!) I think there should have been some sort of emergency contingency to get at least a little bit of business going without Robin. Also, delaying everyone’s books but those from one’s own husband does not show a good sense of business ethics either. I don’t really feel like giving this company any more of my money, but since it’s apparently the only way I’ll be able to read the rest of the series, I’ll have to take the sour grapes. I’d far more prefer to pay you, Nathan, for the kindle version directly. I won’t ever get the paper version anyway, the shipping cost to Germany is ridiculous in the age of ebook readers.
Bummer! I, as everyone else, was hoping for better news. But I don’t understand readers just giving up, saying they aren’t going to read Double Share now. I’ll keep waiting. I have a short list of authors I keep checking back on for new books every so often, and Nathan, you are one of them. Hopefully in a few months things will change for the better!
How about this for an update… from the front page of the Ridan Publishing site…
POSTED SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2012 08:58 AM EST
Ridan Update
Here at Ridan, we realize that we are behind on a number of highly anticipated releases, including the next installment in the Solar Clipper Series, Erik Knapp’s Cluck, the debut release from Jackson Archer and the final three books in the StarBridge series. We apologize for these delays, a recent heart attack and subsequent death of our founder’s father has consumed 100% of Robin Sullivan’s time for a large part of November 2011 – January 2012. Being a small organization, with a passion for quality this recent family emergency had put a full stop to these titles. We are happy to say that production has resumed and we anticipate a timely release to the delayed products. Again we apologize for the delays and are looking forward to bringing these and many new exciting titles that are currently being signed.
Well, we all know that we are going to read Double Share whenever it finally does come out so all of the people that say they are giving up and not waiting any longer are kidding themselves. The fact that we keep checking this site to see if maybe just mabye the book will be released soon is evindence of our desire to read the book. Obviously, people are just looking for a way to express there displeasure. Here is what I plan to do and urge you all to join in. Am anxiously awaiting Double Share and Nathan’s other books and will read them whenever they arrive but I WILL NEVER BUY OR READ ANYTHING ELSE FROM RIDAN PUBLISHING!!!!!!!
I am a recent convert to your work, Nathan. I will await the release of Double Share along with the release of a large stack or so of upcoming books by authors whose writing I enjoy.
I sympathize with the desire of avid readers to pounce upon and consume the newest work of a favourite author. And yet, authors and their publishers are human beings with lives outside of the wondrous stories they write and publish for our pouncing and consumption. George R.R. Martin’s name has been brought up; I would direct the impatient to the works of Robin McKinley, a favoured author of mine since her first book was published in 1977. Ms. McKinley’s writing pace is (ahem) positively glacial but always worth the often several years between books. In the interim, I read her blog with great enjoyment.
Be merry and wise! And keep on writing and editing and publishing!
Stephen , it was a good update, but that update was only made in respose to pressure from fans. It should have been made earlier, with no pressure from fans, it should have been made as a courtesy to Nathan, with no prompting or reminders. It should have been done right away, just because it was the right thing to do.
If I can wait for Dance with Dragons I can wait for the print version of Double Share.
I would rather wait for a high quality product than have one rushed out half baked and be saddled with it forever.
-George
Capt-
Like everyone else I am anxious for the other books to come out, and I can appreciate the effort to stick by a friend in tough times. That said, like another reader I went back and reviewed some past posts and it does seem that posts about delays and inability to contact / get information from Ridan are a tad common.
I am a Soldier and I understand loyalty; however tardiness is disrespectful, and repeated failure by Ridan to meet their share of the mission load on this book (and others) shows a lack of respect for you and to me, as a customer. I have put several books back down in the store when I saw they were the publisher, I am not going to start another series handled by them… if you show you cant get the cargo into port on time why am I going to risk it?
I would love to recommend your work to others, but until you get a publisher that can meet their part of the obligations with some regularity…not gonna happen.
Good Luck
Understood, Dwayne, and I can’t blame you.
Something will change in the next 45 days.
“I’m still planning on six books this year.” Woo hoo!