Saturday, April 2, 2011

Spinward Fringe Update: Broadcast 7 + 1

The news is good. Work continues on Broadcast 7 - I'm into act 3 and enjoying it. Something came up along the way, however.

If I were under contract to write these books I'd be working closely with an editor to make big changes to the manuscript to accommodate a broader part of the story or to cut a huge part of the book out in a quest for simplification. Thankfully, I'm not under contract.

I found a story in this book that is too large to add to Broadcast 7, and it doesn't line up with the timeline well. There was an opportunity to make huge changes to accommodate it, but it could be so much more than just a few flashbacks, or a sudden plot line that seems jarring because of its manner of appearance.

So, I'm working even harder, finishing Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework and working on this new novella as well. Here are the details I can share so far:

The novella takes place during Broadcast 6 and Broadcast 7. It is about the recapture of the Sunspire (formerly known as the First Light), and other events closely tied to that action. There's a focus on Freeground and what the regular characters in the Spinward Fringe series left behind. A new group of characters are introduced but you will find a familiar face or two. I consider this book an opportunity I decided NOT to waste - it is a bit of important connective tissue that draws many parts of the series together while telling a story of its own with new characters.

Here's the best part - I'm half way finished the novella already. It'll be available for free here. It'll also be included with Broadcast 7 when it's released. [Edit / Correction: Since this post was written the novella has grown into a full blown novel, and will only be available seperately.]

This is going to be a good summer / fall for Spinward Fringe, and I'm enjoying the work more than ever.

RL

46 comments:

cmltow said...

Great news. Spinward Fringe is like crack. I need more! I've barely picked up the e-reader since I finished Broadcast 6. Excellent writing.

Idea Guy said...

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

kane said...

Cant wait for the next instalment im absolutly hooked keep up the good work

Anonymous said...

Excellent!
I've enjoyed your books and look forward to taking a trip back to Freeground.

Unknown said...

Randolph,

Your journey from blue collar to author is nothing short of spectacular.
The depth and character development is up thee with many a timeless novella... DO NOT STOP CREATING.
Your work is a bright spot in my otherwise bland fiction day......

Please let us know how we find closure in the quest for our own home.....

Thank you Randolph for following your muse..

Bob Alumbaugh
Reader

Randolph Lalonde said...

Thank you for turning up, showing your enthusiasm and sharing your opinions.

I'm very glad to see that everyone seems pretty happy about this development. The traditionalist / editor in me cringes at writing a novella right in the middle of a trilogy, but sometimes stories just tackle you to the ground and force you to write them.

Thank you for reading, more on this soon!

RL

Spike said...

I'm almost finished reading Triton and have enjoyed the series tremendously. There's nothing better than finding a new author with a number of books building on the same universe and story line. I'm a huge fan and wanted to thank you for your tireless dedication to your work and us readers. Incidentally, everything I've read from you has been via Kindle on an iPad.

Anonymous said...

totally imerssed in these books hurry up with the next one read everyone in 2 weeks and need more
alx

Anonymous said...

These books are amazing. I read the first light chronicles on the recommendation of my Dad ( we are both scifi junkies) and was hooked. Seriously can not wait for the broadcast seven to come out.

Anonymous said...

Great news! Just finished Broadcast 6 five minutes ago. NEED MORE!

"G" said...

One word Awesome came across this series by reading broadcast 0 and have read the lot since January cannot put it down amazing look forward to the rest and the links too!!!!! All I can say in addition is well done that man

Anonymous said...

It has been years since I've been so drawn into a story. It is fantastic. Of course now I'd like to see a game that would let me pull together my own team and try some privateering in the Spinward universe.

Anonymous said...

NO!! we are not turning this into a game! Do not ruin one of the few good things in my life

Anonymous said...

Nearly finish 6 and I'm very eager to continue the story. HURRY HURRY..........

Anonymous said...

If you want a game abit like spinward then try X3

Calvin said...

To those decrying the Anon who wished for a game, I don't believe he was talking about a computer or console game. He was probably wishing for an RPG so he can sit at a table with his friends and have adventures of his own in the Spinward Fringe universe. Personally, I'd like to have this as well.

Anonymous said...

I received a B&N Nook as a gift and decided to load the free Broadcast 0 as my “tester” to see if I wanted to keep this gift… I have not put my E-reader down since. I'm looking forward to 7 and on. Thank you for the excellent work and re-awakening my love of reading!

Anonymous said...

Hi. I discovered the first one for free on the kindle and since then I've just been downloading the whole lot. Great writing. I'm fully hooked and can't wait for 7. Probably better to keep your tangent as a novella rather than diluting the main series. Question? why on the Kindle is control deck always written in another font?

Leonard Wickens said...

great series, keep up the good work I have read up to broadcast 6 in the last 10 days of air travel. I like the style of storytelling.

Unknown said...

I've only just finished reading broadcast 0 and immediately downloaded all the other book in the series!! Keep up the good work.

Mirella Banfi said...

Hi, you've got a reader in Italy too. I've finished book 6 and I'm looking forward for 7. How I like that Canadians use the metric system! I finished reading a series by a U.S. author and I had to continuously mentally convert. Mirella.

Anonymous said...

Found your Sprinward Fringe on Amazon kindle and started with the fist one for free. Wow...I haven't been able to put my kindle down for weeks while I've read the entire series up to date. Great work, it's been a loooonnngggg time since i've been drawn into a story that keeps me thinking, wishing and even sometimes crying. Can't wait for the next book. I do hope you send out updates so we know when it will be available. Until then can't wait!

Anonymous said...

Love the books. After finishing Fragments I am having a hard time reading anything else. I need my Spinward fix!! Please release the The First Light Chronicles for the kindle.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I mean Wow! I am a big fiction reader, but last december my wife bought me a nook color. I have been reading some other authers I like, but decided to look into some free books. I found your first book. Once I read it, I knew I had to have the Rest! I have not put my nook down for Days! I am a fan for life. Your books are some off the best I have read in years. All I can say is thank you.

Anonymous said...

SSSSHHHHHHH


Silence - Quiet


Let him fihish. No distraction.


Big Thanks to your imagination.

Joshua said...

OMG Randolph, You have taken my life away! I blew through books 0-6 in three weeks while working 50 hours a week. Your writing is like a drug, all I do is work, read your books, and sleep. I eat too but am reading while I chew. I'm a very avid reader but have rarely found a story as engaging as the Fringe. Thank you for remaining am independent author, I believe that is the secret for your success.

Anonymous said...

Great reading. Read all in 2 wks, and like most others, it started with the free amazon e-issue. Can't wait for more.

You're not going to leave out the Zarrix on Yuelle Varr and his Edxi species, are ya?

Can see many more exciting books to come...

Keep at it, I'm hooked!

Bender said...

You should make a movie for this awesome series it would be the best movie ever!!!!!!!! i could never stop reading.

Randolph Lalonde said...

"You should make a movie for this awesome series it would be the best movie ever!!!!!!!! i could never stop reading."

Thank you for the compliment! If you know someone in hollywood or Vancouver who can make that movie happen, don't hold back!

RL

Anonymous said...

I think it would make an excellent series for the Scifi channel or one of those channels. There's way too much to be put into just 1 movie.

Anonymous said...

Great work! Just like everyone else I can't wait for the next books. I just hope we can get one battle in where Jacob and his ship's crew just annihilates the other side! I know battles need to be tense and I love the battles so far, but I wanna relate to the winning side now and then, not just the surviving side :)

Don't make us wait too long!

A big fan - Mitch

DominionX said...

I absolutely love these books. The detail and character development are great. I do have to agree with one of the other posters who commented that he would like to see Jacob and his crew actually win a battle for once and not just survive. We are lead to believe that the Triton is an awesome ship capable of great things but in every encounter so far she has been nearly destroyed. I'm looking forward to Broadcast 7 and hope to see Jacob and company get the upper-hand for once.

MrNutsy said...

Mr. Lalonde,

I applaud the series of the Spinward Fringe. I stumbled across the Origin as I was getting to know my first iPhone. It was free, so I downloaded the book and read it. Devoured would be more accurate!

I have gone through the books and suddenly came a hard stop!

I am pleased with the progression of the series and the twists and turns. I can see this going on for a several more books.

I can honestly say that over my 50 years, I have not found a series as enjoyable - except maybe the middle earth series. Mmmm.... Then again......

Keep up the great work!

Mark Bellows

Anonymous said...

Randolph, spinward fringe was the first book I downloaded onto my Kindle. Hooked.. loved the characters and stories you wove into your universe. Im on my second read of all the novelsin the Spinward series through now and trying to read more slowly so I can take more time to digest :-)

My wife will even let me call our next child Ayan if that happens.. Hope that doesn't sound too stalkish lol..

Randolph Lalonde said...

Happy to hear you're enjoying the books! Thanks for your support.

As for Ayan, the name, I chose it for that character based on the Somali definition of "bright" and other definitions that include virtues such as 'shepherd". I love names that stand up on their own and suit characters, which is why I don't like making up alien names much.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the books as much or more than you did the first. I'm hard at work on two more!

RL

Anonymous said...

Hi Ralph. Hooked on the Spinward series, unfortunately I have finished broadcast 5. I popped to amazon to get the next instalment and apparently 'fragments' has been removed. Any plans of it going back on?

Randolph Lalonde said...

Hello Flowerbottom, I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the series!

The answer to your question can be found here: http://randolphlalonde.blogspot.com/2011/08/editing-week-i-knew-it-was-coming.html

Thank you for your support,

RL

P.S.

Ralph is never a short form or nickname for Randolph in any language or local dialect.

Anonymous said...

Oh my! Imagine me blushing. I can't believe I wrote that. I'm very sorry. I also have an unusual name and it drives me nuts some of the variations I get. I messaged you on amazon and managed to get it right there! I must have had a brain freeze. I do apologise wholeheartedly. Thank you for your response. xx

PS my name is Chriscella, please feel free to butcher it...everyone else, back away :)

Randolph Lalonde said...

" I do apologise wholeheartedly."

Thank you for the apology, I overreacted, really. It is something that's happening more and more though, which is unfortunate since being called 'Ralph' and Polka music are my only two real pet peeves.

Thank you very much for your support, and for posting here.

RL

P.S.
I think your name (Chriscella) is lovely!

Anonymous said...

Lol, I just youtubed Polka music, kind of missing being ignorant to it now. Thanks for that ;) Just d/l Fragments from Smashworld as I am too impatient to wait for Amazon. Hope you are close to finishing 7 :D

Marcus Whitnell said...

Mr Lalonde - simply superb! My family and friends have come to refer to me as 'the odd book hermit' who rarely emerges from his dreamlike state to interact with others as a result of your offerings. However, I now face the uncomfortable prospect of reintergration into society if your next book isnt imminent!
Should you require another proof reader - i would happily offer my services to avoid such an eventuality.
If not ... pray for me...!
Fondest regards.
Marcus Whitnell

Cliff fm TN said...

Sir, do you have a preference on which media one downloads your work? After finishing all the e-book titles on Amazon, I find myself longing for Broadcast 7: Framework ... will it be published in electronic format along with the Hardcover? Thanks, Cliff

Randolph Lalonde said...

Thank you for all your comments!

To answer Zeke's question: The Spinward Fringe books are actually an eBook series first. Some hard copies are available, but most of the time paper editions are months, if not years behind the electronic edition.

The primary reason for that is because the Spinward Fringe series is actually written for the electronic medium, and very few print editions are sold. There is little interest in Spinward Fringe paperback editions for some reason.

Having said that, there is a re-edit of several of the books under way, and paperback editions will be released as we finish working on each book.

Thank you for your question, for a roadmap to the release of Broadcast 7, please take a look at this blog post:

http://randolphlalonde.blogspot.ca/2012/03/road-to-broadcast-7.html?showComment=1334263578272

Thanks for your support!

RL

Hewey said...

Hate you Randolph!

I don't get half as much sleep as I used to,..... I just can't put your books down!! A genuine riveting read!

As for the film idea, it would make a very good film series, along the line of the Star Trek films. No idea how you'd make the break though! Spinward Fringe needs to go viral somehow, it needs a push in facebook maybe...?

Hewey said...

Hate you Randolph!

I don't get half as much sleep as I used to,..... I just can't put your books down!! A genuine riveting read!

As for the film idea, it would make a very good film series, along the line of the Star Trek films. No idea how you'd make the break though! Spinward Fringe needs to go viral somehow, it needs a push in facebook maybe...?

Randolph Lalonde said...

It's official! Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework has been released early thanks to the hard work of editors and the EBook formatter working on the project.

Here are the links so far!

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/256369

Amazon (US): amzn.to/SXETIQ
Amazon (UK): amzn.to/TaKorj
Amazon (FR): amzn.to/TaKmzD

There's much more info in the podcast: http://crewcastradio.com/2012/11/18/the-spinward-fringe-podcast-framework-release-special/