I’ve always liked October and November. The cooler weather. The changing leaves. Pumpkin pies. Fresh apples and cider. It usually invigorates me. I can feel it ramping up as September rolls by.
Status
Shackleford House
Not as much progress as I’d hoped, but not as little as I feared. I’m slowly (very slowly) getting the rhythm back. Fingers crossed.
Everything Else
No changes here. Tanyth is still in limbo. Ishmael and company are off doing whatever they do when they’re not on the page. Tanan and Suketai are – presumably – riding off into the steppes and might make an appearance early next year. EJ has been making some inroads on it but I haven’t seen it yet.
What Am I Reading?
I spent most of the month catching up with old friends in various series. Sarah Painter’s, Unholy Island series, a follow on series to Crow Investigations, took up a solid chunk of the month. I had two Bob and Nikki’s to catch up on. Honour Rae’s next All the Skills book.
In all that I picked up Shannon Eichorn’s debut novel, Rights of Use. An interesting story of alien abduction, political intrigue, and galactic conquest in a wrapper made of consent – or lack thereof.
I’ve known Shannon for a while. We’ve crossed paths online and at various conventions over the last few years. I’ve looked forward to seeing her fiction get out into the world. This book didn’t let me down. A fast moving story with a lot of parts, some great characters, and the intriguing setting kept me turning pages. I’m looking forward to book 2.
But, as always, don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample of Rights of Use and see for yourself.
About the Newsletter
I’m still publishing them on the 15th of the month. They’re not all getting delivered but you don’t
need to subscribe to get a mid-month update from me. You can find them archived on my ConvertKit public page.
Looking Ahead
Car issues dominated my focus in September. One car needed to be replaced. The other has a broken window and only eBay has window glass for 30 year old Plymouth vans. I’ll find out tomorrow if the replacement part works.
In spite of that, I’ve written more Shackleford House this month than last. It’s coming along. It feels good but getting back into the groove is still a work in progress. I’m feeling good about this story and think it’ll be a worthy successor to Butler.
The Cat is a hoot to write. I should write more of him.
But until next month, safe voyage.
-N
Enjoy those changing leaves, Nathan!
Safe voyages and happy writing.
Hello,
I just finished “The Wizard’s Butler” and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! I couldn’t stop listening!
I was ready to use my next credit for the next book in the series.
Much to my surprise and disappointment there wasn’t a follow-up. I got upset with Audible for even recommending the book to me. Then I looked into when you published the book and now my disappointment and irritation are directed to you! 4 years… really?
“He Who Fights With Monsters” Series is a book or TWO every year!
“Dungeon Crawler Carl” Series is a book or TWO every year!
The “Harry Potter” Series was every year or two at most!
Look, I am not an author. I don’t know or understand what goes into writing a book or series. But, I do know that when you have an audience willing to throw money at you for your product and you drag your feet for over four years, that’s just pissing all over your fanbase.
I REALLY wish Audible hadn’t suggested your book… because I wouldn’t have to be disappointed now.
Yeah. I don’t blame you. I’m disappointed in me, too.
Losing a year to cancer really took it out of me and I over did it by publishing three novels in my main series so soon after chemo and radiation. It’s taken me another year to recover from that.
Sorry about that.
When ever it comes, I’ll be ready to read the sequel to The Wizard’s Butler.
SO glad to see you’re feeling better and back to work on Wizard! Woo hoo!!!
Also enjoy that you are feeling a little feisty. (Nothing sweeter than a gentle raspberry.)
Well done, Sir. Well done.
Adam, I’ll recommend the author’s Quarter Share. It’s the first in a lengthy series.
I am really looking forward to reading about the Wizard’s cat !
My hope is that it is a sequel and not a prequel….
I was grocery shopping outside our little country store and ran into a fan of yours. He recommended your website. Glad he did. Don’t know if we’re in the same neck of woods, but we’re in the same season. Sorry that I didn’t turn my apples into cider. I should get myself a real press. The shame of having spent so much money on a good one would shame me into making my own cider. What I really need is a root cellar.
Anyway, he said that you self-published and even called you an anti-marketer (but you have a minor in marketing). Unlike me, you didn’t waste your education. My own lack of marketing skills (or interest therein, let’s face it) amounts to anti-marketing. I have no one but myself to blame. Maybe that’s healthier than having others to blame.
I just started my third novel in my six novel fantasy series. I’m still sending my first novel round to agents. I was too old when online dating got started, but it’s the same. Finding an agent is like cooking dinner for two year olds. They don’t like this or they don’t like that, or the mood lighting isn’t right, or the third adjective in the second paragraph, sentence four, just ruined the query letter. *Ruined* it. But lucky for me, they offer a course in the writing of query letters. Will you be paying cash, check or charge? The favored form rejections all use the same language—Your project just doesn’t “fit” right now—but your cash would fit perfectly with one of our editors. May we recommend one? Will that be cash, check or charge? *American Express on accepted.
If I’ve gotten nowhere after a hundred agents, I’ll have to reassess. I may be coming to you for advice and tips.
Incidentally, my friend said that readers really like your stories, but complain that nothing ever happens in them. Curiously, that makes me want to read them. I love French cinema precisely because nothing happens in them—just French people drinking wine and arguing about sex. What else is there?