Hey folks,
I've been radio silent for a while (unless you also read the latest update of my Xianxia LitRPG Series, Jade Phoenix) and figured I owed you an update. First, let me apologize for being incommunicado. I know that it's not cool reading a series you've (hopefully) been enjoying and having it suddenly stop. Sorry. But I do have updates which are, I hope, good news.
Why the delay? Well, I switched series for a while. JP was picked up by the publisher, Portal Books. It is in copy edit and should be published in both ebook and audio format in early May.
So here's the good news:
1. I'm back full-time on Invasion book 3. First step is to immerse myself back in Vic and Aria's characters and world by rereading books 1 and 2.
2. After that I'll be rewriting the first two volumes of book 1, which definitely need it. Volume 16 (Vic POV) especially needs help and rebalancing. I will be uploading those immediately upon completing the Volumes.
3. After that's done, I'll be writing completely new content and hopefully posting it after I have at least a dozen or two chapters backlogged. Why do I wait for backlogs? Read down to the bottom and you'll get an answer.
4. Timeline? Counting backwards, it means I should be able to upload chapters again in two weeks or so. That is NOT a promise, but a goal. I also can't speak to the release schedule for the chapters yet. Again, should know more in a few weeks.
5. What about release dates for book 3? Publishing a book is a lot of work so after the manuscript is done, it takes another one to two months to publish in ebook with the content edit, copy edit, cover, and all that jazz. Audio is a whole nother can of worms, especially when working with a production factory like Podium. Honestly, I may not release any more in audio unless they and I can come to an agreement on fixing what's been done to date. We'll see.
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6. I will provide more updates going forward and not be as out of the loop as I have been. Hopefully that's a good thing.
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So that's your update.
Some Q&A:
1. Will I do a patreon? The answer is, I don't know, but at this moment I'm leaning against. Here's are the considerations:
* I like money, but will it be enough to offset the work required?
* I like posting content for free. A lot of people can't afford books or KU and I feel like this is one of those things I should be doing. Reading is one of those things I want to encourage. I also receive free feedback in exchange. And because you all are awesome, the feedback is actually helpful. So thanks for that :-)
* The pressure of having to post isn't always condusive to the creative process. And if quality suffers, I would feel really crappy about my own work.
* Finally, it takes a crap ton of work and I don't know if can keep up. Sometimes I write 15K words in a sitting, and sometimes it takes a week to write 5K words. Writing WELL is not easy.
Next common question: (damn RR's list formatting) Am I abandoning XYZ series?
- Absolutely not! I can say that unequivicably. The only reason I would ever do that was if the product started to suck and the sales were so bad I was losing money on it.
Final common question: Why can't you just post something once a [fill in time period of your choosing]?
- Because, as stated above, writing quality content is hard. Most of the time at least. Occasionally it just flows and all is well with the world. But that's not often. Writing WELL is challenging and I would prefer to have some backlogged content before posting anything. That does two things. First, it allows me to change things in the past in case my characters end up surprising me. (Seriously. It happens.) Second, if I get sick, go on vacation, have an emergency, whathaveyou –I would hate to dissapear. And third, what if I have writer's block? This is a serious concern. I'm actually facing it right now with Invasion. Kind of stuck and need to punch through it, but it can take time.