Looking back at 2021, I didn’t do a lot of things I wanted to do. Most of my goals fell far short of my intentions. Rather than getting depressed about the things I didn’t do and laying out grand plans for making it right in 2022, I thought I’d talk about what I did manage to pull out of my hat.
First, I wrote 413,367 words. That’s four novels worth of stories in the pipeline. Three Ishmael books that need second draft editing and third draft polish. It’s over 100,000 words toward a first draft of The Wizard’s Cat. I need to move some of these projects along but I’ve got a basketful of stories going into the year.
Second, I read a lot – 200 books according to my Kindle reading insights. That’s almost four books a week. My reading goal for the year was 90. My streak counters say I’ve read 179 weeks and 266 days in a row. Reading is a necessary key to writing for me. Over the years I’ve learned that if I’m not writing, I’m probably not reading.
Third, I walked and talked a 109 days. That’s not a great number. Fewer than 1 day in 3. Still, it’s 218 miles. I can do better and I really need to. My mind and body both need it.
Fourth, I survived. With everything happening around all of us, I could easily fall into despair. It’s hard to see a path out but I’m going to keep taking one day at a time to see where I end up.
Reading in Review
So many books. Looking back over the list of titles, a few items pop out.
First, Jerry Boyd’s Bob & Nicki series – 21 titles. When I picked up the first one, I had no idea what kind of wild ride I’d be taking. Fun stories filled with heart and running gags. In a universe filled with strange alien races, Jerry Boyd manages to find the best in humanity without sugar-coating the darker impulses.
Then there’s Mackey Chandler’s April and Family Law. A fan suggested these books in response to a silly question in my newsletter. Each series follows a plucky hero on her journey to a better tomorrow. A great deal of fun wrapped in 18 novels.
I also read a huge swath of LitRPG and GameLit, stories that take place because the main characters get stuck in some kind of game world and need to navigate the perils and pitfalls in order to escape. Or at least survive. GameLit is a strange little corner in speculative fiction. The genre started out with the usual kinds of role-playing games. Sword and sorcery. Leveling up the character’s skills. It’s growing into new kinds of games and I’ve been fascinated by the stories that come from it.
I also read M C Burnell’s The Foreign Sorcerer. It’s a four-book series that just keeps coming back to me. I’ve promoted it here before and I’m still thinking about it. Of all the fantasy I’ve read this year, it’s really the stand out for me.
Final Words
I’m running out of time, but then we all are, aren’t we? It’s just part of being human. The older I get, the less I think that having time matters as much as using it while we have it.
My hope for the new year is that I use my remaining time well. We’ll have to see what that looks like together.
Happy New Year, one and all.
Happy new year.
Looking forward to Ishmael again.
Always looking forward to Ish stories. I’ve about worn out my devices with rereading and re-listening.
Equally excited for another Wizard offering. My Wizard’s Butler is pretty tattered too. Not to mention a few others…
Thanks for the audio versions as well as print. Your stories make the best repeated listening, which is good. If I can’t put down the book, I can’t get anything else done.
Thanks for brightening my winter, again.
Happy New Year’s!
Any word about the last 2 Tanyth Fairport Audiobooks?
I have them. I just need to get them loaded up.
Great. I’ve been holding off on a re-read of the series in the hope that the audio books would be available. And I know it’s been a struggle, so I’m trying to be patient. š
Thanks Nathan for all you are doing. I wish you all the best health and happiness in the coming year. You may not think you accomplished all you wanted in 2021, but it sounds like a lot of hard work to me. We are of course our worst critic so i get how you see it differently.
Happy New Year. Safe voyage Captain.
M Krug
Iām 68 in 2 days, and a psychologist thinking about not retiring, but doing something different too.
Iāve been writing some short stories in Ismaelās universe.
One is about a cooking contest on the ship, and the other is about Chris Craft about to graduate from the Academy with Ish, Natalya and Phoenix Freight figuring out how to help her and several others to work on excellent ships, v duplicating their lousy experiences when they were Third Mates.
Christine Maloney is involved of course.
She is interested in a Steward training program for her fast packet trade.
In my third story, Christine, and Stacey come on board the Chernyakova when Melanie Sharps takes a 6 month break.
A great time is had for all.
I have spent the last 4 months reading/audio listening to your books and I want to say, Thank you! My new friends Ishmail, Pip, Natalya, Zoya, Otto, Kondur, Zachary, and the really intriguing Chief Stevens have been there with me through recent sad family health events. It was so enthralling and ultimately comforting to visit your universe. Your books have brought a ton of reading enjoyment to me. Keep at it! You’re writing is such a gift.
Have you read any of Tom Larcombe?
And more Ismail is always welcomed.
Yes! I loved Light Online!
Thank you, Nathan, Sir. I have been a great fan of your books. Thanks for the update on future books.
I too have read many books in the last few years. So many books and stories that send my mind sailing across the Grand Universe. Thank you, again.
Happy New Year, and congratulations on making it through another stressful year.
One more thing Nathan.
The lack of productivity seems to encompass everyone I know in my field ( Iām a Clinical Psychologist). Books and classes arenāt happening, a program to teach Psychological First Aid widely didnāt happen because the people planning it just lost focus ( Two Psychology graduate schools, a variety of private providers, and the 2 Congresspeople who offered to sponsor a bill) in part because everything seems in chaos.
Iāve been working on two stories in Ishmaelās universe that I mentioned earlier. Consider the crew who would make great officers but donāt have Ishmaelās private trading skills or Alys Giggone to push them forward.
With DST, Phoenixās Board of Directors, and Zoya and Natalya involved, there are enough ships to take good Third Mates.
Perhaps Ishmael and his officers could rotate ratings through Environmental, Steward, and Systems ( kind of like Ishmaelās journey) to give them a taste of other paths other than Deck.
It means a lot more mentors too.
Plus there is enough money between Sifu Newmar, Zoya and Ishmael to pay for the Academy for promising ratings. At least interest free loans.
So thatās what Iām thinking about.
Maybe someone else can add to such ideas.
Maybe I will.
Hello Nathan, Iāve read everything of yours that I could find on Kindle. I can hardly wait for the new Ishmael stories. Is there a projected timeline for when they might be released? Are there any plans for Shamanās Tales (Sara)?
Iāve only been able to find 3 Tanyth Fairport stories was wondering if there were more, or any in the works?
Lastly is The Wizards Cat connected to The Wizards Butler?
Yes. Yes, it is.
I’m failing pretty hard at my goal of bringing blogging back in 2022, but glad I came to this post as late as I am. You’ve always been an inspiration for me, with your many career reinventions and your drive and your willingness to share so generously.
Thank you for writing this. May 2022 bring joy for all of us.
I googled you to see if memory served that The Wizard’s Cat was going to be published in March 2022 but I see I need to manage my expectations. Maybe I’ll bribe myself with yarn to make it through the tax season this year.
Neither happy belated birthday or happy new year sound especially appropriate. Milestone birthdays are fraught and who knows what this year will bring. I sure didn’t expect 2020 and 2021 to be as, ah, interesting as they’ve turned out to be.
I just re-read the Ishmael series so cannot wait for the next one!
These books have helped keep me sane. Itās been difficult not being able to travel, or even go out like ānormalā, so being able to travel with Ishmael and Nats & Zee through the deep dark is a good outlet until I can get back to it. Keep plugging away at those drafts!!!