Ten years ago today I became a full-time author. When my day job lost its funding, I was left with being an unemployed academic or an author. At my age (59, at the time) I was a bit long in the tooth to try to begin a new academic career, so I trusted Lois. And all of you. I don’t regret a moment.
Status
The books are all on hold until my treatment is completed. I’m about 1/3rd of the way through. The side effects have been manageable up to now. We’ll deal with tomorrow when it comes.
When I get back to it, though, I’m going back to finish the next Ishmael trilogy. He’s calling me.
What Am I Reading?
Everything! I’m reading so many books. This month, I’m going to recommend a series one of you suggested to me. Drew Hayes – NPCs (Spells, Swords, Stealth Book 1). It’s a quirky take on litRPG that I found quite enjoyable. The basic set up releases a group of independent non-player characters loose in a gaming world where the connections are a little – shall we say – loose. It started a little slow for me but I when I got hooked, I blazed through the series.
I loved the characters – their flaws, their personalities. The way they worked together toward a greater good. The world building made me want to play the game, but the story made me think maybe I don’t want to play that particular game.
But, as always, don’t take my word for it. Maybe grab a sample and see what you think.
Looking Ahead
Not gonna lie. The next five weeks – through the end of July – are going to be hard. The early side effects aren’t crippling me. I’m tired a lot. Just eating is turning into a full time job. One I’d like better if I could enjoy it more.
Ah, well. My motto remains “Survive Today.” If I do it enough times, I’ll be able to get back to visit with Ishmael and the gang in a story that I really want to tell.
Until next month, safe voyage.
Mr. Lowell,
Good day sir. Glad to read the treatment is progressing and you are maintaining a positive attitude.
Thank you sir for creating a vibrant collection of books and stories for us to read. I for one look forward to reading your next book, whenever that may be.
It was nice to see that Ishmael is ‘calling to you.’ In all the books I have read his adventures are one of the few that I can go back and read over and over and still enjoy like it is my first read.
Best wishes and once again thank you for sharing your wonderful books and stories with us.
I can say (albeit selfishly) that I can’t help but be pleased that you lost your funding! Whilst you may have continued to write, we would no doubt have missed out on some fabulous stories.
Good luck with your treatments, we all have everything crossed for you, and hope that you continue to weather the storm well.
Looking forward to hearing more from Ishmael et al. X
Thanks for sharing the readings you like ! It has been so far a GREAT way to find out new books and authors.
Late but heatfelt wishes for full recovery.
I couldn’t agree more with Chris’ comments. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to the Trader Tales, Smuggler’s Tales and Seeker’s Tales.
I’ll be praying for you!
Dear Mr. Lowell,
I have recently discovered your books and wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying them. They bring me a great deal of peace, order, and optimism during difficult times and help me to re-center so that I too can make a difference in my small world and potentially across the universe.
Take care – there are many of us rooting for you.
Cap’n, do you have any particular wants that we can supply in the way of posts? Book recommendations, recipes, cat memes, or ??? Your crew would be delighted to get right on that, sar!
Thanks, but I can’t think of a thing at the moment.
Stuff changes hourly here. Like right now, I’m supposed to be eating breakfast 😀
Well, all I can say is “you’ve got this.” One day at a time, and think about the vacation you can take once these treatments are completed. Concentrate on YOU first, second, third….
Prayers sent your way!
Wow, 10 years passes quickly, I’ve been following along since podiobooks and Quarter Share. Happy anniversary. Thinking about you and hoping for the best.
Positive healing waves your way Captain My Captain
I still remember the day I discovered *Quarter Share* at Podiobooks (dot) com. I was starving for GOOD audio content to get me through a 2-hour commute to the campus I taught at, and you and your characters came to my rescue with GREAT audio content and a world and people I grew to love. I lost count of the number of times I listened to the entire series. A few days ago, a friend of mine mentioned she’d read a wonderful sci-fi series I might enjoy by a guy named Nathan Lowell. I nearly spit out a mouthful of perfectly brewed coffee when she said that, and I choked out “The Solar Clipper Books?!” We had a good laugh over the whole thing, and later that day, I fired up the original version of you narrating *Quarter Share* on my iPhone while following along in the Kindle eBook. What a welcome return to a wonderful series.
My thanks to you for sharing your work with the world way back when and for continuing to do so now, and as I enjoy returning to Ishmael’s universe, my thoughts and energy are with you as you fight the good fight and travel the road to recovery.
Best of luck with your treatments! Hoping for the best for you. Must admit I’m anxiously awaiting the sequel to The Wizard’s Butler. Most enjoyable book I’ve read in months.
I’m new to your writings and I thoroughly enjoyed “The Wizard’s Butler”. I came to check when book 2 might be completed, and read the unfortunate news. Glad to hear the outlook is positive even though the intervening months will be a negative experience. Best wishes to you through your chemo.
Please do keep on top of your food intake, I hear that part is especially difficult. Have a few sizes of pants with cinch waistbands and some thrifted shirts available so you aren’t as uncomfortable with the weight loss. Any little measure helps when in a bad situation, so it’s not just another thing on your plate.
Good luck!
Katie
Thank you for hours and hours of enjoyment. I have read all of your books many times and I never tire of the stories. Life is always changing but the lessons you share are worth more than you know. In your own struggles, please know that you have people who are wishing you ” safe voyage”.
Thank you for sharing your gift! We appreciate it.
You have shared more with us than most people would, have been there with family and I am thinking of you. Your stories are a bright spot in my world, read and reread. Thank you, please be well.
Just finished the first three Ishmael books with my latest KU sub. Wanted to stop by and let you know I enjoyed them and catch up with the blog. Huh. Lot happened here in the last six months! Now I’ll send prayers for your speedy recovery. I’m glad you stuck with the author path. It’s been a rewarding one for us and hopefully for you.
I hope that today is a good day for you. I have a close friend going through treatments right now too. Cold food maybe tastes better? Things like ice cream, frozen fruit slushies and the like? Also never discount potatoes–be they baked, fried, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes or twice cooked. High value food, high fiber and they may taste good when nothing else does!
Hugs and prayers. Be well. Reach out if there is anything I can do to help.
I’ve spent the last week recovering from COVID. Nothing near what you’re doing; I was double vaxxed and double boosted (not having access to a med-tank) and it was no worse than a bad allergy attack for me, plus muscle aches like I was being worked over by someone named Guido. Being on enforced leave, I’ve been going though the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. October is a half-Fae working as a PI in San Francisco, and seems to be a lightning rod of hate; nothing is peaceful around her, and she gathers the strangest allies.
Best!
I have just discovered your books. As I write this the last chapter of The Wizard’s Butler is playing. It was the most refreshing book I’ve read (well listened to really) in quite some time!!! I was saddened to hear that you are battling with your own “cursed object” and was delighted to hear that it’s treatable and there is a good outlook on it!! I was hoping you would be up to answering a few questions about The Wizard’s Butler. Will the next book see the return of Joe and Rodger? Will we see more of Barbara? What happened or will happen with the amulet? Did it fade away without “talent” to feed off of? Will it become mundane and will Mulligan be able to take it off? The title of the sequel also has me wondering…how will the fairies and the pixies handle a cat? Will we see more mischief afoot? Alas I have many more questions, but I don’t want to take up any more of your time as you recover. Prayer and well wishes for a speedy recovery and the eradication of the cancer in your body.
Hope that helps 🙂
Thank you☺️ It definitely gives enough for my imagination to run wild with! I can’t wait to meet the cat! Having 4 of my own with such a wide range of personalities I can just imagine the mischievousness and laughter coming! I hope you’re feeling well. I know how draining this process is. Thankfully not from personal experience yet, but I’ve been there for many in my family. Stay strong and in good spirits!
I have many family members go thru the cancer thing.
The side effects of the treatments, frankly, suck but they are fortunately, transitory.
Soldier on thru and we all wish you the best and are confident in your future remission and recovery.
Best wishes
,
This week I found myself once again immersing myself in the Solar Clipper series. It brings me peace and hours of enjoyment in a time of stress. I wish I could reciprocate in some way during yours.
I bought the whole series on ebook and audiobook. My favorite are your original podiobooks. Your voice, the music, and the stories are like a warm blanket.
Hang in there.
Ish and all are calling me too. Read all of it for the second time during COVID. Probably come back again when I finish the book I am on now.
Good luck with your treatment, kick it’s butt, sar!
It’s getting near the end of July, and I hope the side effects are still not too horrible. Sending you love!
Just found your Clipper series a few weeks ago. Wish I had seen them earlier. Best stuff I’ve heard/read in many years. No heroes, just normies doing their best to get by in a very tough universe. I can relate to reflecting on one’s own time on this rock, been on my mind as well. Fair winds, Sar.
I just wanted to comment to say that I really enjoyed the solar clipper trader series. I used to play a lot of Eve Online, which I believe you did at one time as well, and I imagined the crew of my cargo hauler to have similar lives. Recently logging back into EVE for some nostalgia and it reminded me of the good times listening to you read your stories, so I decided to see if you had written any new ones. I’m a little late, but just started the seeker’s tale series on audible. I’m enjoying it so far 🙂
Good luck with your recovery and I hope to see more from you.
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