No Round Two

Posted on by Nathan

My PET scan showed no signs of continuing (or new) disease. I won’t need a round two of treatments.

I still have a lot of recovery to get through – eating normally, getting some muscle built back, and regaining my momentum. I still have a few rounds of specialist visits in my future, but I’m definitely on the mend.

Status

I’ve started hashing through the beginning of the first new Ishmael book. The basic bones of the story are there. It just needs a through-line to bring it all together. I think I’ve found it. Fingers crossed.

Wizard’s Cat? Yeah. Still no idea. I don’t think it’ll be my NaNoWriMo project this year. I’m not ready to do NaNo yet.

What Am I Reading?

Not as much as I had been, that’s for sure. I’m at 228 titles for the year but I didn’t break any records last month. Of course, I didn’t spend whole days just napping and reading, either. Progress but I digress.

I got back into space opera again this month after trying a few samples. Quite a few actually. Some low-stakes litRPG and a few off the wall suggestions from various fans. Some interesting stuff, but the one that caught my eye was Andrew van Ardvark’s Katie Kincaid series. I’m three books in and enjoying it immensely.

Katie’s a bit precocious, reminds me a bit of Lee Anderson in Mackey Chandler’s Family Law series. Or April from his April series for that matter. She’s a trouble magnet and has to cope with being an outsider in everything she does.

Puts me in mind of young Ishmael, now that I think of it. More action in van Ardvark’s books but still that “coming of age” feel across the first three volumes (which is as far as I’ve gotten).

But don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and see what you think.

Looking Forward

With the last of the diagnostics showing good news, I feel like I can actually breathe again. I’m not looking forward to the extra prodding from the ENT and GI specialists but it needs to be done.

I am looking forward to eating more normal food and getting back into writing. My brain is simmering on the Ishmael story and the cat is lurking around here somewhere. When I get enough focus, I suspect I’ll be stuck in good.

And I’m here for that.

Until next month, safe voyage.

33 thoughts on “No Round Two”

  3. Congratulations. I wish you a continued and speedy recovery.

    228 books is a fair bit of reading. I’m in the 80’s and am a fairly fast reader myself

  5. Sarcoma radiation/surgery patient here too.

    Glad to hear you’re over the hump. It does put a new perspective on the day doesn’t it?

  6. I’ve been lurking here, pulling for you. Tough diagnosis but GREAT progress. Sounds like your brain is working fine — over 200 books a year with the health burden you’ve been dealing with! Wow. You have a lot of friends out here that are sending positive energy your way! Keep plugging.

  7. Very glad to hear it!
    Working on something other than “work” is still work. Don’t forget to take vacations / long weekends / calming strolls / naps in hammocks as needed.
    Look forward to seeing you on the shelves again once you’ve rested your mind et al.

  8. The title of this blog post makes me think of you as boxer, your stoodb there in your shorts bloodied bruised looking down on your opponent MrCancer is still lying face down on the canvas and doesn’t appear to be getting up, the ref is still on his knees having just counted him out. You took a battering to get here but it’s a Win, time to celebrate, congratulations

    Very pleased for you

  9. Great news. I hope your health continues to improve and that you can get back to a normal life again.

  10. Very, very happy to be reading this.

    You are valued and appreciated.

    Wishing you and yours great, great good!

  13. Great news, glad to hear the treatments worked. Are there any plans for additional Smuggler’s Tales?It looks like that series is ripe for more adventures.
    Recover soon.

  14. I’m so so glad you won’t need more treatments. Take your time to recover, dear. We’ll still be here.

  15. Just finished another re-read of Ishmael’s stories and came here to check on you. So glad to hear your latest report- what fantastic news! Best wishes for continued healing and recuperation.

  16. That is terrific news Nathan. As a man “of a certain age” I truly can relate to the balance (and battle) between doing work you care about and trying to manage the passing of years. Bravo on your candor and honesty.
    I reread all the books in the Ishmael universe in the last month and for me at least, I find it a perfect example of a well crafted and written “day in the life” with characters I care about living their lives’ in a time and place that captures my imagination without becoming overwhelming.
    I hope you’re able to help us experience more Ishmael as he means a great deal to many of your readers. Thank you for bringing such an amazing universe to life for us and keep getting stronger.

  17. If you are looking for recommendations, try Rachel Aaron’s Nice Dragons Finish Last and Marie Brennan’s Natural History of Dragons. They both happen to be about Dragons, coincidentally, yet they are both fresh and leading the pack with new ideas and great writing. Good luck!

  18. i just read The Wizards butler and enjoyed it alot. thanks for reminding me that being of service in the right circumstance, can be self rewarding…as a cancer patient i am also glad to hear you wont need more treatments…chemo sucks… be well

  19. So glad to read the news. Get healthy, stay healthy, Skipper. The world needs what you have! Happy 70. Me too this year. It’s very odd…

  20. I’m late to the party, as they say, and only recently found your Ishmael series. Hoping there is someplace that I can purchase your books other than Amazon as I try not to shop there. Ever. Sending good hopes and wishes for a speedy and full recovery for both yourself and your family. It’s a rough road for everyone.

    1. Sadly, I’m bound by Amazon’s Golden Handcuffs and can’t afford to distribute my books widely.

      Except that the Tanyth Fairport series (Ravenwood, Zypheria’s Call, and The Hermit of Lammas Wood) is widely available in audio.

      Everything else is held thrall by the Wizard of Zon

      1. I was luckily able to get 4 of the first six Ishmael books online at Barnes & Noble. Although it leaves a sour taste, looks like I’ll make a rare Amazon exception to buy the rest but I really loath how they treat their workers as well as their authors. I’m grateful for the respite your books have given me of late. Thank you for that.

  21. So glad you’re starting to feel whole. Looking forward to your continued health. As a cancer survivor myself, the hardest part was dealing with radiation and chemo fallout, some of it permanent. You’ll get there.

  22. To hear you being optimistic about your health has done me a world of good. It indicates so many good things about your level of wellness!
    I wish you and your family safe, happy, and freakout-free holidays.

  25. That is wonderful news! Please continue to heal and don’t push too hard. Let your body and mind recover and then jump back in.

  26. We still have the original podcasts that you narrated; DH considers them the gold standard to compare other narrators against even though we bought all the other Solar Clipper books, hardcopy, e-books and audio. Take care of yourself, Cap’n; you’ve had some rough voyaging and if you need down time, do so. If Ish can take time off for self-care, so should his narrator be able!

  27. Just wondering if Salt will be released as an audiobook any time soon. Love all your stories and hope you continue to heal and recover your strength.

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