Not that there’s any surprise in October but more that I’m surprised it’s October already. Sheesh.
So I got the Lois McKendrick Omnibus (Trader’s Tales 1-3) out but haven’t gotten anything else done.
By Darkness Forged is in the word processor but it hasn’t gelled yet. I’m still noodling.
My goal for the month is to get this off the dime and rolling. I’ve had two releases this year and wanted four. I have time to get a third one out but only if I can get this story flowing.
Stay tuned.
Hi Nathan,
Always celebrate the small achievements, they have a way of growing on each other. It’s great to read that the first omnibus is done and I know it will introduce new readers into the tales of the Solar Clipper and other happenings in the deep dark.
I’m waiting patiently as my boys grow a little older ( 11 & 8 ), so they can be introduced to the story of a man who doesn’t need a blaster or sabre to change the lives of those around him for the better by simply being decent.
Grant
The muse is fickle and capricious for sure. Keep digging. Thank you for your work.
You might want to see about getting you both in paper print for us that dislike Kindle ebooks…it’s been over two years. If it is too much trouble, hire an agent, rather than lose your fan base…yes, I’m very annoyed with
You.
I’m really sorry you’re annoyed, Doug. My father-in-law is, too. He won’t read ebooks either. Christmas is coming and he’ll be knocking on my wife’s door for his next fix soon.
So, while the economics of paperbacks indicates that I should stop publishing them altogether (they cost too much to make and contribute too little to the bottom line), the truth is that I’m going to need to get at least one more paperback out before December.
You bought your copy of South Coast, right? I know ten people bought a copy since I released it in April.
Any chance you could update your catalog with the 3 missing books?
Done.
Thanks for the nudge.
I hope you can take a moment to reflect. Make one more spreadsheet to figure out the economics of print books — include whatever amount you want for goodwill and then just decide it once and for all (or until much later if the situation changes). As an ebook lover I groan when I hear out the time you’re spending on print formatting and publishing. It’s especially hard that you might be losing money doing it. Both the time spent not writing more books and potential economic loss are not good. If the spreadsheet says keep doing it, well I understand, but I think you should settle the issue with analysis.
“Provide print books or lose your fanbase?” That’s pretty hyperbolic don’t you think?
Nathan’s stories are rare in a world that, almost exclusively, chases mass-marketable stories. If it weren’t for electronic media, they probably would never have seen the light of day. Now you’re claiming that he can only survive if he supports paper?
Your position is comparable to saying to a indy musician: “Sell CDs or lose your audience”.
Your tones and tales have helped me through many years of long journeys and I await the final instalment of Cpt. Wang’s tale with great excitement… the great shame of it is you could not voice these last tales yourself… you really bought the characters alive and the pronunciation of some of the character and place names has changed from your original… something that detracted from the first 6 books narrated by yourself… Dubai for example… would you ever voice them in the future?
Unlikely. The books have a 7yr contract with Podium so they’re going to be there a while yet.
New titles? Have to wait until the kids leave the nest and my wife gets tired of putting up with me. Right now, there’s never enough quiet in the house for me to record. I’m trying to focus on getting new stories out more frequently.
LOL I remember listening to Double Share, Captain Share, and Owners Share for a couple years on pod cast before you finally got the e books out. You really did bring the stories to life, still hear your voice when I re-read them. Funny how life cycles and changes. Hopefully you’ll find creative traction and stop wheel spinning, maybe a stop in Cape Grace could be grist for that.
Best of luck with whatever method you’re trying. My professor told us write, just get words on the page good or bad doesn’t matter, you can always change them.
Best wishes and luck,
I was introduce to the Solar Clipper universe via Podiobooks as well.
About 6 months after reading “Ashes” on ebook, I started searching my computer for the audiobook so I could hear it again. When I couldn’t find the audiobook anywhere I realized that I had read the book in Nathan’s voice and only *thought* I had heard it on audiobook.
So I read it again in Nathan’s voice 🙂
If you originally listened to them on apple podcast, you still can. I’m not sure if they even show up on a search if you haven’t.
When will your next books be published by audible? Jeffrey Kaffer does a great job bringing the series to life.
The last Seeker’s Tale has to wait until I’ve finished writing it.
The Tanyth Fairport books are in production now.
The Smuggler’s Tales (Natalya and Zoya’s stories) are pending audio development.
Hi Nathan,
I’ve been enjoying your books since the first couple of Podiobooks releases in the Trader’s Tales series. I talked a friend of mine into giving your books a try. He doesn’t do ebooks, but I’m going to order the 11 paperbacks that are available for him and am glad to hear that there is likely to be at least one more this year.
I look forward to your next books as well, whenever they reach the finish line.
I’m sorry about your friend, but glad he has a friend like you to help him deal with his anxiety. 😉
Hi! I just want to thank you for all the books. Several I have read twice and sadly just finished Home Run. It was wonderful and I tried to make it last. You are brilliant! Your characters feel like old friends and I am glad they are all doing well. Though I am wondering what Pip and the Carstairs are up to… Thanks for ever word!
Mr. Lowell, I am relatively new to the solar clipper universe, I read the first 6 while deployed overseas. Now I’ve just reread them along with the smugglers tales and the seeker tales. I have to say you can create one hell of a story. I normally read pew pew scifi. But this is better than most of the stuff i read. I would but this series up with ender’s game series and would make it mandatory reading as an american classic. Your series has a very high re-readable aspect and I almost never read a book twice. Kudos on the fine work. Cant wait for by darkness forged to come out.
Mr Lowell,
Thanks you for the wonderful stories.
When will the next books be out on audio?
As an old-fashioned pen and paper gamer, your stories have a lot of appeal. Have you thought about RPG supplements?
The Solar Clipper universe you have established would make a wonderful game setting.
Podium has the contract for the nine Ishmael books. I have to write the last one before they can record it. The others are all on Audible.
Tanyth Fairport is being developed in audio now.
The Smuggler’s Tales (Natalya and Zoya) are waiting in the wings for me to see which way the wind’s blowing.
I use to be paperback only but moved to ebooks due to not having the time or patience to go out to a book store or pay for shipping. It took a while to get use to my Kindle but in no way is switching over a bad thing. I never would have found traders tales in my local book store or so many other new authors that are using Kindle to start out on. I’m on the go fully electronic side but as long as I get a new book or two every year I’m just happy to get that (though if you can do more writing if your fully Kindle… Kinda cheering that on).
I love your books n have reread them at least 10 times (Ishmael gets my most rereads) tho my favorite is Shaman’s Tale and I really want a book two.