Good News, Bad News

Posted on by Nathan

I’m late on purpose. I had a meeting with my doctor scheduled for this morning so I waited until I knew what he was going to say.

The bad news: It’s cancer.

The good news: It’s treatable.

The next few months are probably going to suck, but I should recover.

Status:

The Wizard’s Cat
I have had a few epiphanies about that story. Why it’s so hard for me to find the story. What the story is about. All that. Fingers crossed that the Good News will free my brain a little so I can actually – you know – write a bit.

New Ishmael
He’s still in the wings. This long hiatus has given that whole new series time to mellow in my melon. I’m really happy with what I’m thinking.

Audio
I don’t think Audible has fixed the chapter 15 problem. Anybody who’s seen it on Chirp or the other platforms? I might be corrected there.

What Am I Reading?

I’m still reading a ton. This last week has been Michael Chatfield’s Ten Realms series. I talked about it on my morning walk a few times already. It’s Cultivation GameLit (like Tao Wong’s Thousand Li) but with two ex-GIs/ex-mercenary soldiers who are whisked away to a strange land of stats, dantians, and mana cultivation. It’s not quite wuxia but maybe wuxia-adjacent.

I’m liking it because it has a different take on the genre with the two characters – Erik and Rugrat – working to improve themselves but also the village of Alva. I can’t say more without spoiling it, but it’s a fun read.

Maybe grab a sample and see what you think.

Last Words

For the last couple of months that heading carried a lot of freight. I wondered if – in fact – those might be my last words. The latest rounds of doctor visits, diagnostic processes, and health assessments show that it should be a while yet before I get to the actual last words. My future holds surgery, radiation, chemo. Maybe immuno-therapy. They’ll work it out between the various doctors and specialists.

But I’ll have a future beyond the treatments as long as I don’t get hit by a truck or something.

Safe voyage.

43 thoughts on “Good News, Bad News”

  1. Shit. Please, do get better. I do love your books and keep waiting for the next one.

    I have a suspicious mole, and have been postponing going to the doc to check it. Maybe I should just go. It also happens to us.

    Best wishes.
    Pedro Nobre Correia

  2. Long time reader, first time commenter. I’ll be hoping and praying that all goes well

  3. I’ve been listening to the walks, holding my breath, fearing this.

    But it’s treatable.

    If you’ll allow a little GRRM…
    “What do we say to the god of death? ‘Not today.'”

  4. Oh Nathan. We don’t want to lose you. You’re important to so many people. Ishmael and company have kept my mental health manageable for so many years. Often, I ask myself “what would Al do or say?”

    I wish I could do more to help during these stressful and painful times. But that’s all I got…

    Big hugs.
    Lucie

  5. I’m thankful to read the “good news” part. And the last word section feels pretty hopeful. Be as well as possible, friend.

    1. Hey Mr. Lowell, It took me a bit to get use to the Non-pew*pew- shoot ’em up style… The subtle interpersonal actions and communications of your books… Now I have all the audibles..I get to enjoy the stories as I toil in manual labor. Jeffrey Kafer us a excellent narrator.
      So, in the words of one wiser then me… “Live long and prosper.”

  7. I hope that the treatment plan goes well and that you are able to update us in the future with a statement of “cancer free!”

  8. Hope the treatments go well! We all look forward to hearing from you for years to come.

  9. The next few months will no doubt be hell. No getting around that. But keep up your sprits. I am sure that everything will turn out for the best. Live long and prosper.

  10. Best wishes in this rough journey ahead. Thank you for writing tales of not just survival but of adventurers that not just survive but make the most of the journeys of life.

  12. Nathan,
    Thanks so much for your books. The crew of the Lois McKendrick and the people that Ishmael surrounds himself with seem like old friends to me and I make it a point to visit them every year or so. The same holds true for Tanyth. You have given us that.

    Hang in there and take care of yourself.

  14. Hi Nathan,
    That sucks, but thoughts and prayers etc. Also, be like my maternal grandmother – tough, single minded & cantankerous to the end at 101 1/2.

  15. Not much to add that others haven’t said better, but glad to hear the good news part of it. Love your books and your humble personality outside of them, and wishing you the best in a hard time.

  17. another long time reader who is very hopeful on your behalf. as they say, keep fighting the good fight.

  18. Your books have been with me a very long time….. I started the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper when you were on Podiobools…. Do what you need to make a full recovery!!! For you are not in this alone, you have a while universe of characters we all need to hear the continuing stories of….. stay safe in the dark Sar.

  19. I can offer a small bright spot; after reading your Solar Clipper tales on Kindle Unlimited, I’ve gone back and bought the Trader Tales. Robb White, A. Bertram Chandler, & CS Forester I have in hard copy; Howard Pease–looong out of print–is out of reach, but now I can revisit Ishmael & company at will.

    Dan “Don’t Lend Your Books!” Gallery would no doubt approve.

    Best wishes.

  20. So sorry to hear of your misfortune but so glad the prognosis is good! Thank you for what you do. The Tanyth Fairport series and the Wizard’s Butler have been a great comfort to me the past year.

  22. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. The Deep Dark would be far less interesting without the creator of Ish and Tanyth and the Wizard’s Butler et. al.

  23. Sar,
    Keep fighting. Not much to add except been there, doing that. You will survive and be stronger. (Survivor by 2WEI featuring Edda Hayes) (Uplifting Song)

    Longtime listener/reader and probably have read all your books more than a few times. We all know this is not the last word from you!

    As for Erik and Rugrat, In the sixth dimension with them.
    Bob and Nikki would say, “Don’t Give up the Shop” (#24).

    Fight, survive, recover, and don’t forget to laugh.

  24. Be well, shipmate.

    I was a USCG cook aboard USCGC Sundew (WLB-404), so a lot of Ish’s galley experiences ring true to me.

    Just finished Quarter Share, and looking forward to diving into Half Share.

    PO3 Gary G Miles, USCG, 1988-1993
    SEMPER PARATUS

  26. Glad to hear it’s treatable, sorry to hear you need to go through this. Your wonderful audio book, “The Wizard’s Butler” has been such a joy to listen to. I hope you feel better soon so you can add to the series…and move on with your life.

    I will content myself in the meantime with your other interesting books. I wish you healing and few side effects and hope you get to ring the bell at the end of your treatment fairly soon!

  27. Oh Nathan. As you fight this, know your readers are right beside you with healing thoughts and moral support. We are with you.

  28. I am one of your new readers. Please take care. Here’s hoping for only more good news and that the treatments go well!

  29. Sar,

    I know cancer can put you through the wringer but know you have many sponges ready, willing and able to help and lift you up if you need it. May your recovery be quicker than Pip goes through a six pack of Clipper Ship.

  31. Sorry to hear you got the big C.

    Came on here, primarily to share my good news from New Zealand. I finally managed to get my local library to order it’s first Nathan Lowell book: Ravenwood. Happy to be the first to borrow it 🙂

  32. Had lung cancer. Don’t have it anymore- or one lobe of my lung. I am 76 and I was diagnosed ten years ago. So you can beat this. (I don’t say survive- its too wussy a term for what you will go through. You have a tough time ahead.) But family, friends and readers are all thinking of you and sending their most positive thoughts. Everyone hopes for your speedy recovery. Get well and put this in your past.

  33. Nathan We at the inside flap call your narratives of personal and fictional we care about The character who created but more importantly we also care about the wonderful person who created them hang in there and take it a day at a time there’s a lot of us pulling for you Andrew Dave and Laura from The Inside Flap

  34. Oh, no.
    That it’s treatable is great news.

    I was turned on the the Ishmael books by a coworker and have scarfed up almost all your fiction on Kindle. Thank you for regular people in spaaaace… and fantasy.

    Wishing you strength, light, and healing.

  35. I found your books a little over two years ago and read one after another, straight through. Your work struck a cord in my inner soul. You are a survivor and your tales reflect this part of you. I can’t see how someone who writes with as much humanity as you do can be anything but a person worth knowing. I feel, from your writing, as though I know you and I value this connection. I pray you’ll do well and continue to write. I guess that makes me selfish as I want to continue to read whatever you write. Nathan, God bless and get well.

  36. I remember my first read of ‘Quarter Share’. I was an early enough follower that there came I time when I had to wait for additional Clipper Tales. The wait was terrible. Then there was a long wait before Seeker and Smugglers Tales. I can’t remember how many times I re-read Clipper Tales while I waited. I’ve read the other series and love them but Ishmael and Pip and company are the best!!!

    I’ll keep re-reading and re-reading until the next round is published. I would rather suffer the pain of anticipation than the idea that there would never be anymore. Sorry about the cancer! Keep fighting! We’ll all be here waiting when you’re able.

  37. Hope you are recovering from the treatments. But I imagine you still feel punky.

  38. You are our strength. Your words and imagination we use every day to survive the insanity of our daily lives. As we have leant on you, for all these years, you now lean on us, in your time of need. We are here for you unconditionally as you’ve been here for us. Thank you for the beauty of your talent you’ve chosen to share with us all. Now it is our time to give back to you. Just do not forget that you are not alone and that we are here as support. Franciska

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