So far, so good. The year keeps unfolding, day by day and I’m just trying to keep up with it. Succeeding. Mostly.
Status
The Wizard’s Cat
Finally got the proof marked up and the paperback released. It just went up this weekend so it may be a couple of days before it appears in your store. The audio pre-order (for those who celebrate) is already available and showing a nice pre-order price as of this writing, should you be interested.
The Wizard’s Next Thing
I’ve got something in mind. It’s still percolating but I think it’s the right path forward for everybody concerned. I’ll be trying out a few of the ideas over the next few weeks. You know. Just to see if the ideas have any legs. Stay tuned.
Everybody Else
Those pesky space-niks keep showing up in my imaginings. Ishmael and Zoya, in particular, but that trickster Pip, as well. In spite of that, I may have to go back to Korlay and see what’s happened with Tanyth and Frank now that change has come. There’s a lot of unfinished business there.
What Am I Reading?
I read a lot of space opera in January but almost exclusively fantasy in February. Lots of interesting stuff. Laurence Dahners has a series (Tales of Simple Magic) and S. D. McKittrick’s Homestead Crafter has an interesting take on progression fantasy. The one I keep thinking about is Michael Gnizak’s Devon Coal.
It starts out a little rough and shaky but Grizak settles in to the tale and by the end of the sample I was hooked. I breezed through all four volumes in a matter of a few days and looked around for more.
The set up, a young man with a bum leg leaves his small village in order to seek his fortune and win the winsome girl of his dreams. He navigates a circuitous and sometimes painful path on the way to fame and fortune.
He does get the girl in the end, but learns a lot about his absent mother, his true roots, and slowly builds a life for himself that he could never have imagined.
Rough in patches, but engaging in spite of it all.
Highly recommended but you should grab a sample before you buy to see for yourself.
About the Newsletter
I publish a newsletter every month on the 15th. You don’t need to subscribe to get the mid-month update. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.
Looking Forward
I’m still chugging along on my quest for 40 miles a month. The two out of three day pattern has proven out over the first two months of the year. I’m feeling stronger than I have for a while and taking a lot of satisfaction from it, even if too much of February was on the treadmill.
As I alluded to above, I’ve got the Wizard’s Next Thing open in my word processor. Just noodling around with some ideas. Seeing if they have legs. I’m not making much that you might consider progress but I’m liking what’s been happening so far this year and hope it continues.
In other news, we finally got a new cat. After losing our aged queen a few months ago, we postponed bringing in a new member until after the window work. That happened at the end of December but we weren’t ready to adopt until a couple weeks ago.
Seamus has joined the family. He’s rapidly making himself at home.
So, a new month begins. New challenges abound.
I’m looking forward to all of them.
Until next month, safe voyage.
Seamus is adorable! He looks very pleased in his new home.
Oh congrats on the new muse (cat). Wonderful! And also getting the proofs and audio! I just released my first audio book (Lori Barkin is the narrator). It’s only out on google play and kobo so far. Some venues take longer than others. I’m also getting into listening more since the journey to audio was so interesting. And far more demanding than I expected.
Looking forward to reading The Wizard’s Cat. I hadn’t checked in for a while, but a reader on my blog mentioned she is happily reading it so I came over right away to catch up with your news!
Hello Nathan, I’ve read The Wizard’s Cat and I’m eagerly waiting for the audiobook. I love to listen while knitting. I’ve listened to all the pesky space-nik stories many times. Tanyth is also a favorite (I’m of that age). Any chance of an audiobook for Salt? It’s another one that was read and enjoyed but I’d love to have it to listen to.
Not at the moment, Leah.
When we get more of the story told, perhaps.
The Wizard’s Cat was very enjoyable. Sounds like you’ve left room for more tales in this entertaining story. I’ve also enjoyed the Shaman’s Tales and the Solar Clipper stories, read ’em all. Nice change of pace from my usual Space Opera stories. Just once I’d like to read that story where it isn’t the best kid who makes it, but the luckiest who makes it thru the war unscathed. War is hell, and sometimes good luck is all that gets one thru, while the kid is head and shoulders above the rest gets taken out along with his entire ship in the first salvo.
What a wonderful update, Nathan! All good wishes to you and yours.
Hello Nathan,
Fellow Mainer here, you missed a cold winter with lots of snow this year! I just wanted to say that i discovered your wonderful novels with the Wizard’s Butler and have been rapidly reading and listening to them as i traverse New England for work. Your storytelling of normal people is a delight and I enjoy the detailed novels. My father was a coffee addicted airline pilot and your characters remind me of fond memories of him often when you speak about the coffee culture. I enjoy your blend of sailing and piloting from water to space, well done! Looking forward to the next novel!
Hello Mr. Lowell, I just finished The Wizard’s Butler. I enjoyed every chapter and I look forward to reading more of your talent. “Cozy” in the reviews was what caught my eye in deciding to read the book. Character development and fulfilling drama were the rewards you gave back to me. Thanks.
In the category of “Oh by the way” – you and I may have shared a small piece of geography in Feb. 1975, when my Navy P-3 based in Hawaii spent the night on Kodiak during a training flight that happened to go back to Oahu with a bomb-bay full of King Crabs. Thanks to your short bio, I got to resurrect those memories!
Nathan, you never mention your collaboration with EJ on The Barbarians. Can we hope for book 2 in that series? Or have you bowed out?
EJ and I still talk about it. Actual progress on it? That seems to be more difficult with both of us working on individual projects.
So delighted that a follow on to The Wizard’s Butler is now on its way to me. Thank you, sir.
(Also pleased that the audiobook narrator for The Wizard’s Cat will again be Mr. Taylorson.)
I know how hard it is to lose a long beloved cat, but handsome Seamus looks as though he is a steady gentleman and up to the task of making his own place in your hearts.
This has been a particularity difficult winter to log the miles, especially when walking outside is so much more healing than ‘the treadmill’. Kudos to you for keeping it up however you get it done. Have you tried a good audiobook on the treadmill? 😉
I am absolutely looking forward to the next Ishmael and friends book good Sir. I own every book in that particular series that features Ishmael and Zoya
Hi, I really enjoyed The Wizard’s Butler, and I’m currently on The Wizard’s Cat, which at first seemed just as good. However, Roger has now taken to calling Delia ‘mum’ instead of ’ma’am’, is there a reason? It might sound silly to you but it’s actually spoiling my enjoyment, I’m in the uk and so to me he’s calling her his mother, as that’s what we call them, our mums. Surely ma’am is a much more international term? The fact that my mum has advanced Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know who I am still doesn’t stop me calling her mum! But it’s just weird in the book, really not liking it.
Sorry about that.
I always heard him say “mum – with a shortened “a” sound. Didn’t realize I’d changed between the two books.
ETA: I’ve made sure it’s spelled “ma’am” in the next book. 🙂