the Author
January
13
11 Comments

State of the Author, January 2025 edition

Posted in Cast, Elantra, Essalieyan, writing.

I missed December, and apol­o­gize: I was writing. I’m still writing; Cast in Blood isn’t finished, and it may undergo a title change by the end. Also, I’m now in the “panic about how long this book is going to be” phase of the novel, but it is other­wise going well.

In advance: this will not be the last Barrani book. I am hoping to finish, with a reason­able arc, a book that is going to be followed by another Cast Barrani book. Just saying.

My entire house­hold succumbed to the stomach flu a week ago, and we have all mostly recov­ered, although I’m now in that state were, having eaten almost nothing for a week, my body assumes it is starving and wants to eat every­thing in sight. So, that’s been a bit less fun.

I have not gotten as far into the West copy-edits as I should have while recov­ering. I mean, I have an excuse – but it’s more in line with expla­na­tion than excuse. I won’t be working in the store again until the 27th of January, because Cast in Blood is due before that point, and January is a slow month for the book­store, so I asked if I could have those weeks off to actu­ally make the deadline.

So 2025 has not been full of great health – but as far as illnesses go, stomach flu is the least disrup­tive if it’s going to take down the whole household >.<.

When copy­edits are done and back to the copy­ed­itor (which should be by the end of January, knock wood), I can then put the book up for preorder, etc. And send the book to both proof­reader and Eva Wilhelm, the audio­book narrator. But… I’m not done yet, so I feel a bit like things are suspended.

I really hope you all had a good New Year’s Eve, and your dead­lines are less frenetic, and your fami­lies have not all got stomach flu.

11 Responses to State of the Author, January 2025 edition

  1. Krystal says:
    January 13, 2025 at 1:03 pm

    I’m glad you’re recov­ering now. Just tell your editor we don’t mind longer books than they think we do! LOL! I know I could always read more when I get the end of one of your books. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book. Take care. Krystina

  2. elissacares says:
    January 13, 2025 at 1:07 pm

    Glad to hear you are recov­ering! Bugs seem pretty normal this time of year :) we’ve got one in our house too. 2025 may have started via the Grego­rian calendar but we’ve got till the normal spring before our new year really starts ;)

  3. Aquilegia says:
    January 13, 2025 at 1:09 pm

    Glad to hear that you are feeling better. I won’t say stomach flu is the worst, there are clearly worse things out there. But it is certainly the worst of the common cold variety illnesses. It is espe­cially terrible when the whole family gets it at once

    We appre­ciate you, take care of yourself

  4. Nancy M Pyron says:
    January 13, 2025 at 1:14 pm

    Yay to longer books never scrimp on words! Please do treat your­self well; trying to focus while sick is never fun. Sending Posi­tive Thoughts your way!!!

  5. Lesa says:
    January 13, 2025 at 2:21 pm

    I’m so glad that you and your family are doing better. Don’t worry about dead­lines. You always come out with books, just on time! 🙂 Looking forward to the next one!

  6. Melanie A Allen says:
    January 13, 2025 at 3:40 pm

    Glad your family and you are feeling better; new year had my own taste of gall­bladder prob­lems, no fun there. Dead­lines suck

  7. Stephanie Comer says:
    January 14, 2025 at 5:55 am

    When is your next book in, The Emperors Wolves coming out? My favorite books.

  8. Joyce says:
    January 14, 2025 at 11:32 am

    I am so glad you’re all well. I hope the unusual cold didn’t affect you too harshly. I have pre-ordered the Acad­emia book but I am anxiously awaiting the next Cast book , too. It sounds like the story is drawing to a close? I think that is a good thing. I have been with you from the begin­ning and, not to put a fine point on it, I am getting old. I will be 79 this June and, while healthy and from a line of long-lived women, I want to read the end. Have a happy and healthy and stress free new year.

  9. Jb says:
    January 14, 2025 at 8:55 pm

    I hope you and your family are feeling better. I know when you feel bad all you can think about are getting you and your family better and it should be that way. Then thinking about the things you want to be doing and makes it harder 

    You are an amazing person and writer. You can do this. God will help you thru it and with your family there helping it will happen. Thank you and in my prayers. 

    Looking forward to more of your books. I read them over and over until the next one

  10. Brendan Morgan says:
    January 15, 2025 at 12:33 am

    I am glad you are doing better. I am intrigued by you warning us in advance that this isn’t the last Barrani book. Are we finding a reso­lu­tion for the Cohort? I am excited to find out.

  11. Lisa says:
    June 11, 2025 at 7:32 pm

    Just finished “Heir of light” !!! And the only thing i can say is  —  more, please ! The Elantra world is amazing, addicting and just so much fun. I am so thankful for your hard work to give readers like me such a fabu­lous escape from reality. Bless You Lisa

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