I am home. I have more or less recovered from the flight between Melbourne and Toronto (Michelle is not the world’s best traveler, for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is: when I get off the plane, the first thing I want to do is crawl into my own bed and sleep for a day.) I loved Melbourne, though. I got a lot of work done, there.
I have been working on Cast in Flame. My simple “Kaylin needs to find a new apartment plot” has kind of been hit hard by two unforeseen complications. Unforeseen because I had originally thought of doing this story before Kaylin went to the West March. After the West March has complications that arise naturally from Cast in Sorrow. (I am enough out of it that I actually typed out a chunk of the complications and then realized they would be spoilers…)
I have been working on War. I might have mentioned that I am very behind in War. I should probably now mention that the book on which I’m currently working is no longer called War. It’s now called Oracle. The book after Oracle is now War.
This might sound confusing. What it means, in the shorter factual version, is that the book is being split and will be two books, the first of which is Oracle and the last of which is War.
The forums I asked about last month are functional, but not prettified yet. They should be ready to go by the time Cast in Sorrow is out in the wilds, and there is a spoiler topic in place for that — but the forums are pretty flexible, and anyone can create discussion topics within the subforums.
Drey’s Book Blog is featuring me as the author of the month. And doing a give-away. The first piece posted was a Q&A interview.
And I am most of the way through the work that has to be done to upload The House War as an ebook series available to UK (and other) readers. They have different covers, and I’ll post those here as they go up. They won’t be going up on Smashwords, though. In order to use Smashwords, I have to retain all ebook rights, and I don’t with these books. So they’ll be available on amazon, and the iBook store; I have to look into Kobo as well.
Last: I will be attending the Worldcon in San Antonio this year. I’ll put up my schedule in a couple of days.
33 Responses to State of the Author, August 2013 edition
Ha! I’ve been telling Donna (my wife, who has yet to read any of this) that there’s no way you could fit everything you hinted at in one book. Neither a surprise nor a disappointment, looking forward to Oracle.
Look forward to seeing the new forums. [Smile]
Apartment? Does this mean that she won’t be living in the High Halls? :(
I knew it was unlikely, but still. :(
Although whatever does happen will still be fine, I’m sure. :)
Two more House War books? I think that many of us would have bet, our own money too, on that happening. :) I have faith that you can finish the series in two more, and it gives Jody Lee another cover to illustrate, so that’s a plus. :)
Q&A? Yay! :)
I realized I forgot to add links to the post, added links immediately, and discovered that people had already posted in response >.>.
Oddly enough, a number of people have been telling me that one book is a tad … optimistic. When a certain even occurred in Battle, my husband said, “You can’t do this if you really think you have any chance of finishing this in one book.”
And I said, “But, but, but — this is the House War!”.
If you refresh, you’ll see a link to the Q&A — I forgot to add it when I posted >.. Kaylin would enjoy living in the High Halls about as much as she enjoys living the Imperial Palace: not at all. She likes the idea that she can relax and let her figurative hair down when she gets home; the idea that she has to worry about her behavior (or her life) inside her own home is… difficult for her.
I’m looking forward to them, too :).
More Michelle books are always a good thing in my mind, even if it does mean a frazzled Michelle. ;)
Much thanks for the link!
I know she wouldn’t enjoy living there, but I *know* that I would enjoy reading it. (hee hee) Ah well, can I vote for a close involvement with the Human Caste Court as my second “it won’t happen but would be darn entertaining if it did” choice? Okay, okay, I’ll stop now.
It does mean an entirely frazzled Michelle. Someone recently asked me how I could get so much done (I laughed). I said, “it’s easy. You overestimate the amount of work you can actually get done, say yes to all of it, and then avoid the bits you don’t like by doing the work you do like, instead of avoiding work by doing housework. >.>
More House Wars books. No complaint here. I also just kept wondering how in the world is there really going to be only one more book in this series? Happy writing, remember to breath and to eat and to sleep and to play with your kids, we are all happy to wait.
ahh, those long international trips. Going there I can never fall asleep because I am excited. I can’t seem to stay awake on my way home I have also learned to take 1 – 2 days off after I land because I am useless.
Even though I don’t have Cast in Sorrow yet, I look forward to Cast in Flame. I wondered after even beyond these as yet, unknown complications, how could Kaylin find an apartment after Peril considering the requirements of the Dragon Court and her restricted funding situation. Unless other things happened while she was gone for 2 months. Oh look, I can start my year of speculation now.
However, yay on another House War book. I really did not think everything was going to be finished in one book.… unless it was 3x the size of your normal length. I seem to remember when the House War was 2 books, then became 4, and now.. 8? :) I am glad that the books are going to be available in the UK and beyond. I got my friend addicted to your books after seducing her with the Broken Crown. I had to bring the books when I went to visit NZ earlier this year. It will be much easier to just buy her an e‑copy and gift it.
On a random note, I am enforcing my elliptical time by using your books. It is amazing how I went from 30 minutes to an hour because I am not allowing myself to read unless I am on the machine. Thanks!
Whoo-hoo! Another House War book! I pretty much figured there was no way you could fit Jewel’s visit to the oracle, and all the rest of the house war machinations into one book, but I don’t think any of us will be crying about it. Heh heh. More words!
Worldcon, YAY! I will be there (with a much smaller box of books :) ), working in the art show for Scott since he was kind enough to come work for me last year.
Cast in Sorrow comes out the day I have to start setting up — hope I can get out to buy a copy…
Sometimes even husbands are right… ;)
I have always hoped that there would be 2 – 4 more House War books due to all the other stories that are part of War. Can’t wait for Oracle.
In addition to the High Halls and the palace, don’t forget Castle Nightshade and the fief of Tiamaris other places she could live. Don’t forget Belladuso will want to live with her, so she will have lots of advice from friends and not-friends about where to live. It ought to be fun, can’t wait for it just like I am having a hard time waiting on Sorrow.
As all of the comments have said, no one thought you could fit all you want (need) to say in one book. We are not in the slightest bit upset to read more of your work!! Cast In Flame , huh? Could BellusDeo take over the Human run fife?
Rest, relax and leave us to speculate for awhile;)
I’m now kind of wondering if anyone but me thought that it was one more book…
Dear Michelle, I’m so glad we have these great news.We, your faithful followers, all knew that it was impossible for one more book to complete all the things Jewel must do in her travels (the list of pending matters was extensively discussed following Battle); plus I’m sure at least 1/3 of the new book must tell us what is going on with her faithful band left behind in Terafin. But believe me, it’s so hard to wait for all these events, battles, conquests, adventures, magic, new characters, etc.Some comments, however, made me think that some of us have forgotten that after these two forthcoming books, you promised us another series. We know that with you a series may be 4 books going on 7.Michelle, although I’m a relatively new reader (3 years), two days ago I turned 74; I would like to be able to read all of them (3 or 4 times). (No pressure though).Friends and family are becoming addicted too. Not rushing.…..
Following some previous comments, I think that either Nightshade, who created so many complications by selling people; or the Emperor who needs Bellusdeo to be happy, should “buy” a spanking apartment for both of them and the familiar who hopefully will have his/her name. I’m also still looking forward to
Kaylin going to Nightshade’s fief to visit the heart of the Castle, as he asked her before the Barrani bomb.
Sorry, forgot to mention. Won’t it be a good idea for either Bellusdeo or Kaylin to take over another fief? I forget how many are supposed to be, but we don’t know anything about them, except in one early book Nightshade mentioned a woman fieflord (fieflady?), which I always thought it could be Kailyn’s real mother. So many Cast books with people going and coming from two fiefs into or from Elantra, and there is never any other fief citizen causing problems.
Hello Ms Sagara, I couldn’t find another way to contact you directly, but I wanted to make you aware that there is a video and link on youtube to download the ebook of Cast in Peril for free. I have the link and will send it to you if you wish but obviously didn’t want to post it publicly.
Michelle, my only fear is that, as a half generation or so older than you, I won;t live to see the end of the House series.
And I may not see Kaylin marry the Dragon Emperor.
Kaylin is going to marry the dragon emperor? I think i am still behind a book and need to get caught up because i think i missed something.
You really did not miss anything that would lead to that conclusion >.
Wow!!!! I am so looking forward to August 27. It’s my welcome back to school to me, even with students. :)I don’t know how I am going to read that whole book and get up and see kids the next day. :) :)
I guess sacrifices will have to be made. The kids can wait.
Yayyy!!! Another book in House War series! (dancing with joy)
You were here? Bother. I didn’t realize.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I spent a YEAR in Toronto and never thought to go to one of your events.
Michelle, we love you but when you tell us one more book we hear three, maybe four.
It’s one of the best things about your work.
My little joke. He hasn’t even met her yet. I trust that doesn’t turn into a spoiler — it was the most ridiculous thing I could say.
Received my SORROW. I has been sitting in the mail box since noon, I guess about the time the mailman comes. My son found it when he came from work. I was expecting it tomorrow. What a great evening.
Michelle, where do we go if we have comments. I know you mentioned something new, but I went to your main page and couldn’t find anything for Sorrow.
Hilda, you can comment on the Forums if you wish. Just click forums in the upper right of the screen. I think you have to register again to post, but there is a topic there for the Sagara novels. You can also start a topic if you like. Michelle is out of town at Worldcon this week, I think.
Yay for Cast in Sorrow on Kindle, since my paper copy hasn’t arrived yet! :-D
The forums actually are? Wow. Awesome.
OK, I just found you and your series ‘Chronicles of Elantra’. You are now on my favorite author list along with Jean Auel, Dean Koontz and JK Rowling, you’re an incredible writer, thank you. I’ve just finished ‘Sorrow’ and wanted to tell you to write faster, please:) I just started reading this series about 2 weeks ago and I don’t know if I can wait another year for ‘Fire’, it was wonderful reading them one after the other. Guess I’ll have to starting re-reading them, I will also check out your other series, they seem to have high marks also. And for my 2 cents, it’s Kaylin and Severn with children maybe living in Tiamaris. How ever it works out, just keep them coming. I am recommending you to everyone I know.