Well, it’s coming up on mid-January and in honor of Friday the Thirteenth, this is probably a good time to tell you what’s happening.
In a nutshell, nothing.
The edits for Double Share are still with the publisher. I haven’t heard from her for over two weeks so I’m operating in the dark. I know you want me to say, “That’s it, I’m going it alone.” I’m not going to. At least not yet.
Last year was a year of huge transitions — for me, for Ridan, for the industry. I’m still willing to give Ridan a chance to get their act together because, quite frankly, I like what they do. The results we’ve achieved so far would not have been possible without their help and it seems a bit short-sighted of me to yank the rug out at this point.
I am taking steps to get more of my work out on my own. I published Ravenwood last October and the sequel is almost done. I’ll publish it as soon as it’s ready. I’ve already got the cover art and only need to finish writing the story and get it through some editing before publishing it in print, ebook, and podcast. South Coast and its sequel, Cape Grace, will probably be self-pubs as well. I’m holding them for the moment – first because the sequel isn’t written yet, and second because I want to see if Ridan can get things together.
What will happen in the future? I don’t know. I do have remedies. My contract with Ridan allows me to send a letter and get all my rights back with 30 days’ notice. I’d have to re-do the covers and re-issue them in my own name, but it’s possible to do. I know how it’s done. It’s not a *long* process, but it’s time that takes away from this year’s goals. When will enough be enough? I don’t know. Sorry. I can’t predict that kind of stuff reliably.
I can’t remember if I wrote about this here or not and I’m too lazy to go look but the goals for 2012 are:
1. Six new novel length works – a new Ishmael Wang trilogy, two more books in the Tanyth Fairport universe, and Cape Grace.
2. Podcast all my work and do a couple extra books besides.
3. Get some writing classes behind me to know better which rules I’m breaking and to learn some new ones to flout.
4. BaltiCon, WorldCon, MileHiCon, and COSine.
5. A novella in Scott Sigler’s GFL universe. A novella in Tee and Pip’s Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences universe. At least one more novella from Odin’s Outpost.
It’ll be a full year … and that’s besides getting the last three share books out in print and ebook formats.
Wish me luck. I’m going in.
All my books will be released on Podiobooks.
The next books about Ishmael won’t be “Share” books per se. I’m not sure what I’ll call them yet.
I need to write a couple of ’em I think :)
Condolences, Robin. But with all due respect, I think the Double Share delays started long before your father’s health went downhill in November.
I don’t presume to speak for anyone else but I hope I’m not alone in saying that, as I said before, I’m happy to wait.
I don’t think there’s any point in people trying to put pressure on or demanding the next book or threatening to take their dollar elsewhere. I can see where they are coming from, I guess, and I want to see the books on my shelf too but that day will come when it comes. Who am I to make demands of you or ridan?
I’m happy to take a ‘when it’s done approach’. I’m sure I’m not alone in this and as a long term fan let me just say I’m not going anywhere and you’ll always have my full support.
Robin, I’m very sorry to hear about your dad.
as someone who recently came to your stories, i am very grateful that i discovered your wonderful books. i read voraciously so to hold my attention is uncommon. i have read all your books that are available on my kindle(because i have no patience for listening). thank you for spinning such amazing stories
jd
ps: i’m very sorry for your loss robin, vaya con dios
Your books are wonderful and although I am excited to keep reading, I am okay waiting until everythings works out for you. Now if I can just figure out how to get the stories out of my head.