I'm extremely fortunate as a writer not just because I make enough money to live on, but because my books receive increasingly positive reviews that most often end with; "now I just want to read more!" or "Where's the next one?"
While some people may see that as criticism, I see it as an invitation. The reviewers have paid for my work, read it and want another. That's an open door if I've ever seen one.
The good news is that I have ideas for all four of these titles, I even have ideas that are pretty much whole book outlines. The bad news is that it takes time to write, edit and get these to retailers, time which is absolutely finite. We're half way through the year now (roughly) and I've only managed to release one novella while I continue to work on Broadcast 10. Sure, there are at least two more books coming this year, but I know I'm not going to make my deadlines for Broadcasts 11 and 12 in 2016. There's still a chance Broadcast 11 will come out this year, but since I don't have any of that written yet, I can't make guarantees.
Looking over the history of this blog, I see a pattern. In January and February I always make some grand plans about how many books I'll be able to finish. Then, around June or July, I write a post about how I'm modifying my expectations and may make it through one or two books instead. This pattern comes up over and over, and I think I've finally learned my lesson. So, on to the good news and the annual adjustment of expectations...
In this year I can promise that Broadcast 10 will be released and it's going to be a large book with more than one story within. Broadcast 10 is really like two novels and a novella that are strung along one timeline and then trapped together in one book, that's one of the main reasons why Spinward Fringe novels take longer to write, but I know Broadcast 10 will be finished sooner rather than later.
Another Chaos Core novella called Cool Pursuit will be released this year, that's for sure. It's easier to write these shorter novellas with simpler story telling, so I can write Broadcast 10 and those at the same time for a while. Not forever, my brain needs some time to formulate new ideas, but for a few more weeks. Cool Pursuit will be in your faces sometime in 2016.
The Dark Arts sequel will make it's appearance this Halloween, or at least, I'm going to try my hardest to get that done. This isn't a guarantee. The first Dark Arts novel started with a simple plan, it was only going to be seven chapters, and then it got extremely complicated for a while before I got the story back under control. That's the tendency with these books, I'm sure, so who knows if I'll hit my deadline?
Regardless of whether or not I meet the deadline for Dark Arts II to come out at the end of October, I will be working on Broadcast 11 by the end of the year, probably at the beginning or end of September. Broadcast 11 will take less time to write than 10 because it will be a simpler novel that follows fewer characters and it won't be as long. In fact, I hope the days of writing long 140,000+ word novels are over for me for a few years because I find it's much more fun to write shorter works, and my finances take a massive hit if I don't release a book at least every six months.
In 2017 I'll be ready to write the second Brightwill novel, Broadcast 12 and another Chaos Core novella. the Brightwill and Chaos Core series' may end after three to four books each, that's the plan as it stands now. I would like to finish the Chaos Core series in 2017, and write another Dark Arts novel in addition to what I've already listed, but I'll have to see how it goes.
Overall, I'm really excited about the new, achievable plan, because I'll be bringing you more stuff overall, and I'll be writing different genres throughout the year. A quick recap is in order!
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground will come out this year (2016).
Cool Pursuit (Chaos Core Book 2) will also come out this year (2016).
Dark Arts II may come out this year if I finish the final draft in time for an October release.
Work on Spinward Fringe Broadcast 11 will start this year (2016).
If all goes well, more books will be released this year, but I believe I'll be busy enough with those aforementioned projects.
2017 looks like more Spinward Fringe, Brightwill, Chaos Core and maybe more Dark Arts.
I love writing this stuff, and I enjoy presenting it to you more than you know, so I truly want the same thing you want: more. What thrills me to no end is bringing you more and being able to make sure that it's more of the good stuff, not just another one like the last one, so that's what I concentrate on.
RL
