The writing mo-jo seems to be sprouting again. My process has radically changed and I’m stumbling along but making progress. Slowly, but it’s progress.
Status
Shackleford House
The Wizard’s Cat is finally showing some promise. My days of throwing words against the page for hours appear to be behind me but the words that eventually make it feel better to me. Fingers crossed on this one.
Golden Age of the Solar Clipper
I expect I’ll get back here eventually. I’m not letting myself think too much about it until I get done with the Cat.
Tanyth Fairport Adventures
Her audiobooks got caught up in a fiasco when Spotify bought FindAaway Voices and placed onerous terms of service on those of us who use the service. I was unable to accept them so I’m having to find a new way to distribute the books. It’s in the works. A few people have asked about new stories for her and I haven’t forgotten. She seems out of reach at the moment but who knows what might come.
What Am I Reading?
I had a very space opera April with most of my reading being about adventures in space in one form or another.
At the moment I’m into book three of Rex Burkes’s Odyssey Earth. The series feels a bit like a cross between Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and perhaps some Terry Pratchett. Very British humor. Quite dry in places and often sarcastic. Very much fun.
As ever, it’s the characters that do drag me along. Jordan Booth, awakened ahead of schedule from his cryo-sleep, makes for a fun bumbler surrounded by a cast of wisecracking teens who would never have been onboard the ship at all had things gone as planned. That’s just the opener. After that it gets complicated.
Props to Burke who manages to take what might be a slapstick sketch and periodically tugs on heartstrings. Everything is not both hunky and dory aboard the Odyssey Earth. When they get to where their 17 year voyage takes them, things get a bit interesting. As they should.
But, also as ever, don’t take my word for it. Maybe grab a sample of Orphan Planet and start the voyage yourself.
Speaking of Newsletters
Delivery has become rather spotty. Between Google driven changes to what it accepts as valid email address, what some email providers are doing on their own, and just “the internet being the internet” some subscribers are not getting emails. They’re bouncing at the server level.
I’m still publishing them on the 15th of the month but if you don’t want to subscribe but still get a mid-month update from me, you can find them archived on my ConvertKit public page.
Looking Ahead
I still have work to do. Still trying to get back into walking after that whole thing derailed last fall. Still trying to nudge The Wizard’s Cat into shape. If I’m honest, still healing.
I haven’t given up. Haven’t retired. I still write every day, if only a little. I’m still baking bread. I’m still playing with fountain pens and eBay. Still trying to find a new process that I can trust to get the writing machine rumbling again. If, indeed, the new process is a machine instead of something more human.
One day at a time and tomorrow’s always another day.
Until next time, safe voyage.
-N
Really enjoying Hard Knocks on Audible, thanks for writing such enjoyable books!
Thank You for sharing your process, both the progress and the struggles. It’s been a true inspiration through my own health issues this past year.
I’ve read and re-read the Tanyth Fairgood stories many times lately. It feels like visiting an old friend each time I fall into her world. I would love to join The Hermit for a summer of goats and apple trees.
I found your work through the Wizard’s Butler (which I’ve now read 3 or 4 times), and I’ve just finished off Owner’s Share (I tore through the six books). I’m guessing In Ashes Born is my next port, but I may have to detour to read Rex Burke since you’ve invoked both Douglas Adams and Sir Terry. It’s an embarrassment of riches in the books to be read pile! Happy days indeed.
Hi Nathan.
Truly enjoyed Hard Knocks and the ending didn’t leave me scrambling for “when’s the next arc coming out?”. I feel like everything from Quarter Share, to Full Share, to Owner’s Share, to Home Run, to By Darkness Forged, and finally to Hard Knocks has been one huge arc and whenever I finished one audiobook, I couldn’t wait to start the next. I bought Quarter Share on the 6th. Of July 2016 on audible (according to my purchase history) and immediately bought Half Share the very same day, and since then, there hasn’t been a month where I haven’t listened to at least one book in the Solarclipper universe. I usually listen to audiobooks eight plus hours a day and I’m fairly certain that your books represents about 15-20 percent of my listening history since 2016.
All this is just to say thank you for producing an amazing series and I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us in the future.
Through my listens of the books, some questions has come to mind, which I hope you’ll take time to answer:
– Since the area, the story takes place in, is called The Western Annex, does that mean there are other annexes? And do they differ vastly from The Western Annex?
– During the Marva Collins arc, are ms. Sharps and Z still reporting to TIC? (Z might have been defence, but I can’t recall).
– When I was listening to the south coast books the first time, I was fairly tired during one of them and fell asleep. When I woke up, I felt like they were talking about The Wanderer, but since then, I haven’t been able to find it. Did I gaslight myself into thinking A Light In The Dark was tagged on to one of the audiobooks or was it removed in a later edition of them?
– During Owner’s Share, we learned about the existence of CPJCE (the exploration and terraforming department). Is there any chance for a one-off or an arc dealing with that? I realise it’s usually a bit of a nono to ask an author if they’re willing to write something, so if you don’t feel like answering it, please just ignore it.
Once again, thank you for an absolutely incredible work of art. I don’t have the words to describe how much enjoyment it has brought me.
Sincerely
Setesh
I’m glad you are still working. Looking forward to your next work whenever it is available!
The Audible book is great and hearing it has added to my enjoyment of the story.
I write a bit, and have a story combining “The Cat Who Walks Thru Walls, And the Cat. And the next adventure of Ishmael and Zoya ( and Bentley et al).
The Wizards Cat is in the wrong Universe. Ishmael needs a magical
Cat, who also has fairies that help
with the ship.
Also, with most of the crew working together all these years, they become a family.
Imagine the possibilities.
Oh there is a Mental Health fairy trained in Cognitive Therapy.
She whispers ideas in your ear when you are sleeping.
I have another 10 pages.
Two words I would love to see developed….
BAD…… PENNY……
talk about hidden in plain sight.
Thank you for the update. I just finished a reread of the first six books featuring Ishmael and then a new read of the most recent trilogy; I enjoyed them all. Sending many good wishes your way, Nathan.
Fantastic series under the Solar Clipper umbrella – Thank you !
juts finished hard knocks and would really like to see how the new ventures turn out and whether the crew members get to join in. I have really enjoyed all the books and have re-read most ! very entertaining – keep them coming please !
When you go through traumatic experiences often you change the way you do things. You are adapting to your changed life because trauma changes you, no matter how big or small and you’ve been through some major trauma dude! Do what you need to do the way you need to do it. We’re here for you, no matter what happens. I’m wishing you peace, happiness and healing. Hang in there, take the time you need, and when things get tough know that there are a lot of people thinking of you and wishing you nothing but goodness.
I loved the first in the series and am looking forward to the “Cat”. So glad there is progress!
Also enjoying all the Ishmael Wong stories!
Hi Nathan,
I have just finished another reread of the Tanyth trio. Those books are like a warm hug and I’m always sad to reach the last page. But, thank you so much for such beautiful stories that I can enjoy again and again.
Take care.
Nicole
I’m anxiously awaiting the next Wizard’s Butler book. I have the audiobook and have lost count to the number of times I’ve listened to it ❤️ Keep up the hard work!
I am very excited to hear that you are working on book 2 of the Butler’s Magician series. I enjoyed book 1 very much. I could not stop listening!