It’s Canadian Thanksgiving today — American Thanksgiving is in November. But, as I’m Canadian, we celebrate in October in these parts :)
In between my last report and this one, I finished the page proofs for TOUCH, which is scheduled for January, 2014, in hardcover. I will have a cover to post very shortly, and will change the book on the front page at that time.
I am now over half way through Cast in Flame, although I’m now wondering about the title, given the complications that have arisen from the events at the end of Cast in Sorrow.
I am now over halfway (with luck!) through Oracle, which is the new title for the second last book in the House War series.
So writing has actually been going well – but there’s a bit of the usual deadline panic, which makes things more fraught. A word of advice: If you seriously blow a deadline for one book, it eats months and months of time out of every other book, so plan for that. Not that we ever plan to blow a deadline, and not certainly that we plan to throw out three large chunks of writing to start books all over again.
So — the writing part of this update is fairly simple: Working on Cast in Flame, working on Oracle. Neither are quite finished yet.
I now have covers & text for the UK ebooks for House War, because I promised I would release War, which is now Oracle and War, at the same time in the UK as it is released in the US. I need to format and upload — and for me, this is actually time consuming. Even the short stories were time-consuming, which is most of the reason the rest of them linger in limbo; the novels are…longer. But the first three books should go live within the month, followed by the fourth and fifth. Book six isn’t finished yet.
The last thing I wanted to talk about a bit is the forums.
In another thread (on the web-site), a reader said:
I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I feel readers used to write much more when they could do it on these pages following the books releases than in the Forum. I have to say that for me Forum is more complicated but I’m learning to navigate it better.
I know Sorrow is a more complex book and I expected the many readers that are normally on these comments sections, even without spoilers. In any event, Part of the joy of reading these amazing books, is also sharing details with other readers. I’ll wait for the next book with Jewel and see what other readers like best. Comment here or in Forum.
I said, when I opened the forums, that I’m generally agnostic when it comes to the methods by which people have discussions. This is true. I personally find – for longer discussions – that forums are easier to use — but the key word is personally. In as much as I post on the web-site, I’m active here in all posts except the spoiler posts.
I had hoped to be more active in the forums – but I am behind enough that I haven’t been able to do that – and in any case, the discussions about books I’ve written are not discussions I join, because it can often be all kinds of awkward.
I am, if people find it easier, or in any way more welcoming, perfectly happy to continue with Spoiler posts on the main web-site. So, let me know what you think here.
31 Responses to State of the Author, Thanksgiving edition & a question about Forums
Happy Thanksgiving! Glad to hear you’re making progress on all fronts. Last time, you sounded down and frustrated.
Progress always makes me feel less frustrated – largely because I feel less incompetent.
Happy Thanksgiving. I am very excited that you are working on the next Cast book. Really looking forward to seeing what comes next.
THANKS!!
Take care.
While I can’t speak for others (of course I can, but it’s rude :) ) I’ve tried to follow along with one rule in mind. And that is to take as little time away from your writing as I can. That said I’ve always enjoyed conversations with you whenever and wherever they occur so I’m of two minds over my own approach! Do you suppose you could quickly clone yourself? One could be busy writing and the other busy interacting with readers? They could trade off as need be in order to rest :) Of course if you can manage this trick, then you could create the necessary troops to handle the writing load. Speaking of writing, is there a betting pool as to when Oracle will be split in twain? You are one of the few writers that (bad metaphor alert) given a piece of wood to split for the fire stack, upon doing so is left with two larger pieces than at the start. The good news for fans and readers is that there is more to read — a “failing” to which I applaud at the same time know the frustration it brings you and the polite horror it represents to your editors. So seriously what would I recommend? Do as much of what you enjoy as you can and have a happy thanksgiving :)
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m glad things are going better for you on the writing front. Looking forward to all the new books and have already started bugging the Barnes N Nobles in the area about Touch.
In regards to your question…I’m open to whatever is easiest for you. I will have to say on the subject of the forums though that sometimes it takes a while to get them going — people like to lurk for a long time and/or they may not be used to posting on a forum and be slightly self-conscious. The first forum I was a member of I didn’t post anything for over a year and then I wasn’t ‘active’ for another two…by that time though I had ended up getting roped into running a different one so I was used to responding.
The forum is great for breaking things up into topics/different books and I love it for that. It’s slightly more user friendly to post on imo because you can separate things up easier. At the same time though some people find forums absolutely daunting so that always takes time.
Also the layout on this forum is different from any I am familiar with so it is taking some time to figure it out.
I’ve also noticed around the fall through the holidays people get busy adjusting to the end of summer (and then preparing for the holidays) so they get a little quieter.
However if you wanted to bring back spoilers to the main website that would work for me too :)
I’m like Hugh. If doing the forum takes away time for writing, DO THE WRITING. By the way Happy Thanksgiving! I’m enjoying this day off because it’s Columbus Day. Keep writing!!! I’m looking forward to the next Cast book. :)
Happy Thanksgiving! I agree, do the writing. And, I like complex and looong stories, if they are good, and yours are very good!
It’s amazing! Your name pops up in my email and my heart starts racing! Having that said, I perfer the posts on the website. Looking forward to all the upcoming books, and Happy Thanksgiving. (Wondering now what are the traditional foods for a Canadian Thanksgiving)!!
Happy Thanksgiving, and I wish you well. Given your marathon writing pace — for which I’m very grateful! — participate in the way that’s easiest for you. If it’s the comment page, that’s cool.
I think the foods are pretty similar — Turkey, stuffing (sometimes called dressing); pumpkin pie (I can’t eat any of the squash family without breaking out into large hives, so I watch that from a distance), although also other pies (apple, etc.). I don’t know if there are any vegetables that are considered specifically Thanksgiving fare, though.
Happy Thanksgiving and yay for new info about books to come.
Happy Thanksgiving for sure, and thank you for all your hard writing work. I am thoroughly enjoying your Cast series and while I technically understand your investment in other books, I selfishly wish you would concentrate on Cast. I can’t wait to find out — hopefully a couple of books later — how it all comes out.
Hope your Thanksgiving holiday is/was lovely. I am thankful for the great books that you continue to write.
You can add in green beans and mashed potatoes to that menu. And often large family gatherings although intimate, nuclear family dinners are more acceptable than in the U.S.
P.S. Loving Sorrow right now
The Cast series are wonderful. House are as exciting. Two deferent writtings . House War series is like being on a wave . While Cast seems to be hurried. Do continue with the wonderful writtings. I have reread each serie at lease four times. The Sun series were about the best writing I have ever read. Please keep it up. Thank you for such pleasure Merie Roberts
And yes — you’re right: green beans & mashed potatoes were also served :). And thank you :)
Love mashed potatoes, and love green beans, but I combine mine with bacon and onions :)
Have a great Canadian Thanksgiving from the other side of the pond :)
Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for the updates on the status of the upcoming books. Looking forward to reading all of them. Personally I find forums a little more trouble, but can deal- so whatever works for you and takes away the least from the important stuff.
I am eagerly awaiting Oracle and War, as well as Flame(?) — I actually have been reading your stories since the Oath duology and very much enjoy the continuation of story threads here and there. I enjoy the characters of Sanabelis and Illaraphaniel very much. I am eagerly waiting for the Sleepers to awaken.
Must resist spoiler, must resist spoiler, must resist…
Resistance is futile — pass all spoilers on to me!
No, no, let the sleeping secrets sleep…
Oh all right — I can read Touch in the meantime.
So I rarely find a series that I can read more than once. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to have found the Elantra series. There is nothing better than getting a chance to stretch out after a long day and check in with your favorite characters. Thank you so much for the opportunity to do so!
cs
I’m so glad to hear that you are making progress on “Cast in Flame”! I was terrified after reading “Cast in Sorrow” that it was going to be the last book, what with the comment that the “End of her journey is only the beginning”. I look forward to that series more than any other book series that I have ever followed. In fact, I only was on your website today to double check that “Cast in Sorrow” wasn’t going to be the last book in the series or that there would be a follow up series to it. Happy Thanksgiving and Thanks so Much!
As most have said I also am very very very glad you are making progress on flame, really enjoying your books, I now have them in both paper and electronic form (apart from silence which for some reason doesn’t want to be sold in uk amazon :( .. ) I have read and reread the cast series many times and eagerly look forward to the next one. All I want to say is thank you for all your hard work so far :D
I enjoy your Cast series, glad to see another one coming soon. Am on pins and needles hoping that Severn and Kaylin resolve their issues. Love learning about all the other races, too! By all means, do not let other stuff distract you from writing your books! Keep up the great work! ;-)
Michelle, thanks for the information and comments on the Forum; I can see I wasn’t the only one wondering how to use it. I’m becoming more familiar with it, but prefer this one. Since you said you will not visit that particular Forum, you may not know that fans are wondering about the forthcoming books. The next in the House or War series is Oracle. A year ago Battle came out around December ( I think???). I know that Touch is in the middle, and there were those unexpected delays. But, should we expect a Christmas present? Do you have any tentative day for Oracle, or at least when we will be able to order it?
I’m also looking forward to Flames. I love this column! Soon we will say Happy American Thanksgiving!
You do remember that when the Sleepers awaken it’s supposed to be practically the end of the world? We need many more books on the War/House series. Let Sleepers sleep.