Production work has come to an end, finally, and I’ve moved into full creation mode again. Here’s where we stand.
Status
School Days (Marva Collins Book 1) is out in ebook and paper. The typo update is on Amazon finally. You should be able to find the new crop of typos in Managing Content and Devices. Podium says the Audible edition should be available Sep 15.
Working Class (Marva Collins Book 2) is out on ebook and paper has been out for a month and the first typo run has been posted. Podium has the manuscript. No word on availability yet.
Hard Knocks (Marva Collins Book 3) is out on ebook and paper as of today. It’s been a long time coming but I think it does what I needed it to do. Your mileage may, of course, vary.
The Wizard’s Cat is on the word processor. It’s also in Manuskript (a native Linux Scrivener replacement) as I work on trying to quilt this thing into place. I know the story, but I’m having a difficult time getting all the pieces written down and in the right sequence. That’s where I’m hoping Manuskript will help.
What Am I Reading?
I gave up on the “Classic a Month” quest. I didn’t like what it did to my reading habit. Every time I took on a book I “should” read, my reading time dropped by about 20-30%. I wasn’t enjoying the experience and saw it as a chore. I’m too old to have reading be a chore.
The pick of the pack this month is Jenny Schwartz’s new series – The Delphic Dame. She picks up where her Adventures of a Xeno-Archeologist series ends with Cherry Pendit, Nora Devi’s half-sister, taking to the Rivers in space in search of a stranger hiding on an abandoned space station.
It was great fun, lovely characters – especially the crabby ones. (heh)
But, as always, don’t take my word for it. Maybe grab a sample and see what you think about this new chapter in Jenny’s new space opera series.
Notes in the Margins:
My BookWyrm account at The Unseen City has languished by the wayside, but it’s still there.
Looking Ahead
I’ve taken a step back on the Cat, giving it a hard look. I’ve notified Podium that it won’t be available until mid-October. I’ve reserved a slot with my editor, but that was for last month. I’ll have to take what I can get from her when the time comes. My hope is that I’ll have a solid draft by the end of the month, but my more pessimistic – perhaps, realistic – side says, “Believe it when you see it, Bucko.”
I’m still writing my daily haiku. Following my word of the year – Juggle. Still baking bread about 5x a week because everybody in the house likes it and it’s something I can eat, even with my mouth still trying to recover from the radiation and chemo.
I also got back into Eve Online. They’ve made some significant changes since the last time I played. My experience with playing Ark Survival and Horizon Zero Dawn on my own terms have helped me relate to Eve better. I’m really pleased that it runs on Linux, even if not as well as it used to on native Windows. Not like I’m going to be taking out a six-ship mining convoy again anytime soon, but it’s good enough to play for a little bit and let my mind tell me stories about the characters.
Until next month, safe voyage.
Thanks for the new Solar Clipper book. – I purchased it directly after reading in your blog that it is available. I’m from germany and english ist not my first language, so please have patience with me.
BUT in the second chapter from “Hard Knocks” an incorrect naming is used, which makes the course of the action difficult to understand. (Natalya -> “Ms Usuko”). I hope that is all i find and i thank you for the universe you showed me with the Solar Clippers.
You all have a nice month and fun with the book. I’ll enjoy it after my day at work and probably read into the night.
Thanks!
I can hardly wait for you to continue Ishmael‘s life story. He is such a thoughtful laid-back kind of individual that everybody hopes to have as a friend or Boss. I’m not sure what you’re thinking in continuing the series but you must continue! I don’t know if you’ve thought of it but I would love to see how his children turn out. With a father like Ishmael and a mother like Zoya, he should have some very remarkable children. I can see with everything Ishmael touches turning to gold how his adventures expand in the toehold and rejuvenate/Upheave/invigorate the High Line. I am hoping to see you making Ishmael a historical legend in the Western Annex for expansion and new innovations. I may not be saying that right but I think you understand where I’m getting at. Please continue Ishmail’s journeys and thank you for what you have already given us!
Not to gang up on you Skipper, but I hit that speed bump too. Also, while at navigation stations (Location 900/6052), just before the Zero Error jump is first mentioned, Usoko polls the bridge crew before making the jump and asks “Carstairs” if Systems are ready when Cartwright should be polled. There are several minor typos referring to CPCJT rather than CPJCT. Just some things to keep in mind when you wish to make an update.
Now is the time to let me know. Even the editor can’t catch all of these.
Woohoo. Perfect timing since I just started a week off from work.
Just “one-cliked” it!
Thanks and fly safe
Val
So enjoyed the new trilogy and looking forward to where you take Ismael next. Also eagerly looking forward to The Wizards Cat as I loved the first book. I also recommend you look at two series that are both fascinating invert different ways.
The Tuyo series by Rachel Neumeier which is a true epic
The Teapot Princess by Casey Blair this is more a warm, cosy series but fun
Continue on your journey to health!
About 2/3s of the way through Hard Knocks and you’ve hit another home run! I hope you consider continuing the adventures in Ishmael’s universe.
Well, there goes my productivity for the rest of the day. 🙂
FYI – It’s really hard to find Hard Knocks. I went you your author page this morning and saw it at the top of the list “By Publish Date” but now it doesn’t show up at all. I had to go directly to the Marva Collins Series link and find it there.
It takes a bit for it to fully establish itself in the Amazon ecosystem.
That’s why I put a link directly to it on this post.
Really enjoyed this series. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop in this series and you didn’t disappoint. If you continue Ishmael’s story I’ll continue to buy them. Thanks for this wonderful galaxy you’ve built that is about trade and love and not war and hate. So different…so refreshing.
When I first started writing, in my twenties, I decided I had best read the classics. I made it through a few of them, but boy. Some of them are just dead weight (Wuthering Heights, I’m not looking at you ever again), some of Hemingway’s essays…and I had already read Poe. Depressed man, him. Anyway, it didn’t take long to realize that I liked a few (Much of Twain was quite readable for me) and the rest were just dragging me into a state where I didn’t want to read. I picked my own classics (Elizabeth Peters, Tolkien and more) and continued on. Life is too short for books you don’t enjoy.
Love fresh bread. I have a simple recipe that works for pizza dough and also for dipping bread, breadsticks, and the like. We grill it outside on the grill because of summer heat and find that it “bakes” much better that way. I make a potato bread now and then, but that requires the oven so it does not get made in the summer.
Thank you for the update. Always a pleasure to read what you are up to and what you write.
Edits:
Chapter 2
“He looked at Natalya. “Ms Usoko? Take the test or quit?…” There are several other references to Usoko in the conversation but Zoya isn’t in the room.
Yeah. I got 5 or 6 of them in that one conversation. Thanks!
The entire chapter 2 has this issue.
Sorry, Boss, found another: Location 890 of the web based kindle. Instead of Mr. Cartwright, the 3rd mate, we have Mr. Carstairs reporting green to jump.
Yup. Thanks. It’s in the queue for Second Printing
Great story! Errors I caught have already been noted by other commenters. I’ll always enjoy more Solar Clipper novels, but if this is the last, you’ve ended it well. Thank you!
Please Sar, don’t let this be the end of Ishmael’s story. It is yet another great story!
Thank you do much.
I think there’s more to Ishmael’s story out there.
At the moment, I don’t know what it might be. Perhaps after the Cat and Iron, I’ll find something else for him to do. 😉
Oh please! I enjoy the Ishmael universe immensely. I’ve followed him and Pip since Quarter Share. The possibilities with Natalya and Zola included are so exciting. I suppose as an author a series could get old, but as a reader I’m in it until my age catches up with me (I’m 78).
Oh please! I enjoy the Ishmael universe immensely. I’ve followed him and Pip since Quarter Share. The possibilities with Natalya and Zola included are so exciting. I suppose as an author a series could get old, but as a reader I’m in it until my age catches up with me (I’m 78).
That is great news. Thank you Sar.
Please, pretty please! Would love more stories about Ishmael!
Ishmael still has several whelkies that need to find their owners.
Ok have to add one small issue just to prove I read the book in one setting. In the scene where they meet at the hotel when Boys gets back, Mats s eating her sandwich before the food is delivered.
Great story and I hope you find more adventures for the group. You left enough “breadcrumbs” that could let to another excellent series. Best wishes.
Oh, pox upon my house.
I thought I’d fixed all those.
Just goes to show, 8 revisions and a comprehensive editorial pass isn’t as effective as 200 people reading the book with fresh eyes. 😀
Looking at my post, errors popped up in the very short writing I did. You are still way ahead in quality and entertainment.
By the way, please thank Sarah for her great instructions for making biscuits during Half Share. Really helped my biscuits.
Ishmael could have as many as six whelkies at the bottom of his grav trunk. I was happy to see mentions of them in the SC Marva Collins books, and to know that Ishmael still carries the shearwater in his pocket.
Mentions of St. Cloud by Zoya and Pip were intriguing, especially Pip’s talk of going there to listen. That’s not a little bit of foreshadowing is it? Ishmael has often been a kind of shipboard shaman. Perhaps Pip, as skeptical as he was in Half Share, is coming into his own gift if he is thinking of listening. He is desirous of helping people, if only with a commercial motivation so far.
I don’t recall any mention of a tourism industry on St. Cloud in the Shaman books. It being a corporate planet tourism might not be encouraged. But as we’ve seen change does happen on St. Cloud, and apparently documentary film makers have visited.
Not to make too many demands of you, is there any chance of seeing a fourth South Coast shaman book? I did enjoy that trilogy and would be happy to see a reunion of Otto and Sarah. Would Sarah recognize any of Ishmael’s remaining whelkies as her own work?
It’s possible.
If it happens, there will not be any kind of reunion. Having escaped once, Sarah will never go back to St. Cloud.
What a great update! All good wishes to you, Nathan, and happy juggling.
I could see Sarah never wanting to step foot on the planet again because of the trauma and memories, but I could see her meeting up with her father on the orbital, or have I always misread her feelings about him? After escaping St. Cloud, I would imagine that she found herself and her inner strength, and wouldn’t fear a return, just wouldn’t necessarily seek it out.
I know you tend to dislike anthologies, but I’d love to see one that at least touches on some of the people’s lives that have crossed Ish’s path over the years.
It also feels like Vagrant just disappeared off the face of the universe. I was really expecting him to pop up at some point in this trilogy, and was surprised when he didn’t.
Anyways, Hard Knocks was definitely a top notch read. I know that because I kept looking at how many pages were left as I was reading, lol.
I’d just like to express my appreciation of your writing.
My Kindle gets worked hard, I read a lot. Space, magic, all manner of fantasy – escapism I guess. I tend to find an author and follow for better or for worse. Sadly fantasy is dominated by violence, mostly unnecessary, adding nothing but filling page after page with moment by moment slow motion action. Boring in the extreme, poorly written and boorish drivel. Whole chapters skipped over unread, leaving as much as 50% senseless meaningless verbiage.
Then I stumble on your work quite by accident. Your stories unfold, page after page, its a joyful unfolding, pleasurable and intensely satisfying.
Thank you so much.
Nathan, I popped in to see how you were going and if MC3 was out and was just getting excited that it was (reading it now, loving it) when I saw my book! Fell over in happy surprise 🙂 Glad you enjoyed my crabby character. He’s stolen my heart, and I had to be careful he didn’t steal the trilogy.
I’m hoping wherever you take Ishmael next – and Zoya now – we’ll get to see Maggie Steven’s return. It’d be a kick to see him working as an Engineering Second under Maggie.
Yes!
AnnieA, I concur and as Nathan appears to be throwing ingredients into his “creative stew” I kind of went down the same path you did (what will Maggie do next?). I must confess that I went a bit farther and thought that it would be fascinating to see Ishmael and Zoya pulled into the “core worlds” universe – no doubt Maggie would play a major role. Getting insight into how the core worlds (earth ++) evolved, how they differ from the universe we’ve been introduced to would be an amazing, open ended but also logical evolution. Might be links to Vagrant or Usoko mining plus almost endless creative opportunities for an author with Nathan’s imagination to explore. Here’s hoping their story continues …
Congrats on your 20th Golden Age story. Quite a milestone! Can’t wait to start reading it tonight.
Oh-ho! Book 3 purchased, dead tree and electrons. I will be very busy reading on the plane!
Hard knocks is brilliant. Parts reminded me of Ish saving the Lois back in Full share. I enjoyed how Zoya and Ish caught up on lost time.
Yes there is more stories. The senior ratings have been more than a walk on. There is a matter of crewing the tractor. Such rich relationships need more exploration.
Natalya and Pip at the Academy will allow more development of Natalya without Zoya.
Hopefully the Second and Third Officer of Marva Gollins will be on the same tractor in the RUTS fleet.
Take a good rest. I look forward to the next Chapter.
Thank you for continuing these favorite characters. It was wonderful to see what Ishmael, Zoya, Pip and Nat are doing in the immediate next. I hope there are more adventures as I’d like to read what happened to other crew. “Yes, Mr Bentley?” Also Ishmael still has whelkies to give away.
Hi
In chapter 3 you have ‘what was it Ernst Panko used to day? – think the last word should be ‘say’. Apologies if this has been mentioned before.
Regards
Thanks. Got it
Brevity is the soul of wit; “Pip colored and hid behind his coffee cup.”
Nathan–
Like many others, I find your books to be a reliable comfort, and I return to them often. I’ve read the “Share” series at least six times since first discovering them (via Instapundit, I believe), and have re-read the further novels about the “Fearsome Foursome” quite a few times as well.
As you consider where and how to continue Ishmael’s story, I have one thought I wanted to share with you–as I was waiting for the Marva Collins series to be released, I found myself hoping that it would NOT be written solely from Ishmael’s first-person POV, if at all. I have a real desire to see Ishmael as others see him, not just from his inside POV. He’s such an interesting character, for whom I feel real affection, and I would love to know more about him.
I’ve noticed that you occasionally have to write Ishmael as an “unreliable” or at least “close-to-the-vest” narrator, particularly when it comes to his affection/attraction to others, so I start to wonder what other things do we not know about him that other characters are seeing?
Anyway, I am truly grateful for you, Nathan, and I dearly love all of your books and the peace, comfort and enjoyment they have brought to me over the years. You are deeply appreciated, and if I had a whelkie, the first person I’d give it to would be you.
Charles
The temptation was there to take the Marva into alternate perspectives – much like we saw with Natalya and Zoya in Home Run – but Ishmael is always going to be the voice for his own story.
I don’t know what the future will bring, so Ishmael being a character in somebody else’s story is certainly a possibility.
Thanks Nathan . . . and whatever you do, I’m here for it. 🙂
Let me just start with “I’m a reader, not a writer”…… I love a good story line, a good series and good characters. Your books bring it all together. A friend turned me onto Quarter Share (Kindle) a year ago. As soon as I was about halfway done, I had to get the rest of the series….I’ve now read them 3 times. For Christmas, he gave me the book versions……I was sooo happy. I love a good “book”. Ishmael is a character I’d want as a friend…..and I’ve noticed that I need to go visit him (and his universe) and see what he is up to (even though I know). I heard you were not well and read your blog to find you went through a big trauma…..God Bless you dear Nathan. Stay healthy. I love your spirit, yoiur joy and your continued story telling. I just ordered the SC Marva Collins books and can’t wait to dive in. As long as you write them, I’ll read them. Lots of hugs to you.
Thoughts on a new solar clipper design, new ship based on a tractor that can carry any mix of tractor cans and multi-freight cans. Perfect for the toe-holds, able to haul a mix of large and small cargos with minimal crew.
Based on the current storyline you are probably already working towards it.
I have really enjoyed this whole series
Loved the final book, as I have all your tales. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read and now re-listened to them all. Dollar per hour of entertainment, I think you have everything beat.
The one overall plot line I feel could have used a boost is the overall feeling that Ishmael didn’t think the students were getting enough out of it, and by the end I guess that (apart from the boat sinking) is why it wasn’t really thought an option to continue in some way.
I absolutely love that Ishmael recognised the boat he wants though, and is back at it.
Now comes the part where we beg you for just a little more?
Have you read The House Witch by Delemhach? It was on Royal Road but is now published through Podium, and I keep seeing it compared to your Wizard’s Butler – I think mostly because they spend a lot of time in the day-to-day homey tasks. I like it very much.
Mr. Lowell – I just wanted to thank you for your incredibly captivating stories. I love the world that you have created and characters that populate it. I found you years ago in the Stars & Empires collection. After reading Quartershare I immediately bought the rest of that series. I will admit, I was apprehensive about A Seekers Tale and A Smugglers Tale, but the universe creation won out. Then I saw the Origins series and Shaman’s Tales and really enjoyed them. With the Toe Holds playing such a larger roll in the universe it would be really neat to get a Mel’s Place, Junkyard, and the like origins stories as well.
Please take a well earned break, but not too long, and come back with some fresh and entertaining Tales from the Deep Dark
I found your books though a recommendation of The Wizard’s Butler, which I loved. Ishmael’s books have become all time favorites. I am an Instructional Technologist, and I adore your use of an Instructional Designer in the Marva Collins books! I will add my request of more books about Ishmael and company to the queue. Good luck with next month’s appointments.