Hi, everyone
Good news first – The Zero Equation has been uploaded to Amazon and should be available for purchase within 48 hours. I’ll put up another blog post and update the site when I get the notification from KDP, but it may be available earlier.
Bad news – I’m not sure what my schedule will look like over the next few months.
I’m currently writing Invincible in February, with the intention of following up with The Princess in the Tower in March. After that … it gets a little confused. I want to write a self-published book between Princess and Embers of War (Kat 6), but I’m not sure which one yet.
I’ve got several options. First, there’s the homeschooled magic kids idea, which grew out of a discussion about the relative lack of such stories. It’ll be urban fantasy – basically, a father took his twin children away from the magical community after his wife died in childbirth and his kids appeared to have no magic of their own. However, he was wrong about that, forcing him to teach them himself (as he doesn’t want to go back home.) And there’s a long shadow cast over their lives from the past …
It will be set in its own universe, which does offer the prospect of breaking into trad-publishing (for what it’s worth, these days.)
Second, there’s The Alchemist’s Apprentice, which is basically a stand-alone set in the Zero Universe.
Third, there’s The Pen and the Sword, which is Book 15 of The Empire’s Corps. It’s another stand-alone, but it’s also meant as a lead-in to the storyline following the Slaughterhouse Marines, who remained in the core worlds as the empire started its final collapse.
I may also do Learning Experience 5, provisionally entitled The Long-Range War.
What do you want to see?
Chris
The Chrishanger 
Chris I would like another Learning Experience first and foremost. After that the next Empire ‘s Corps, Angel in the Whirlwind and Ark Royal in any order.
Thanks
The Long Range War first and foremost
All of the above, but i would like to see the slaughterhouse marines more
I like the sound of the Alchemist’s apprentice. I hope there isn’t going to be a big gap between the Princess in the Tower and Long Live the Queen as I’m guessing their two parts of a whole like Infinite Regress/Past Tense and Gordian Knot/Graduation Day
Pen and sword or Learning experience please. I’ve suffered withdrawal as I don’t do fantasy. I need my fix. Something sci-fi.
Learning experience 5 is the one from you I really want to see. Though I like the idea of the home schooled as a second. And I love the empire Corp but feel that could use a little longer rest
SIM is my first choice for stories – always (waiting impatiently for ‘Princess’ – and more…). But of the choices you gave, I would like to see (1st) the The Alchemist’s Apprentice in the Zero world (since I am already invested in that world), and (2nd) the ‘homeschooled magic kids’ story – that one sounds promising!
Learning Experience 5!
Although I enjoy your other series, I still like the ‘Schooled’ series the best. There is still so much more to explore in that world.
That being said: I completely understand that you need variety and different projects to stay inspired and creative. I think no one wants you to just grunt out an endless series of uninspired stories.
So, speaking for myself, I would say: write whatever motivates you, and I will buy and read most of it :)….. And secretly hope a lot of it will be ‘Schooled’
One skill you have and is often underestimated is that you can write long series without each books plot having to be bigger and badder than the last. Many writer’s main characters end up with godlike powers and a world apocalypse within 3 books after which they get stuck. (Emily might end up there eventually, but I am guessing that will take a good long time)
This is something I saw while watching a TV series – OZ I think it was
(Not sure on the name- It was The Wizard of OZ – a recent remake that only had one season – then canceled)
Something I saw in the next to the last episode – which I thought would have been great in the Schooled in magic series.
Dorthy was walking (Coming to a battle) and walking behind her was a huge stone giant.
(It was not carrying her)
It was walking behind her as backup, making earthquake noses with every step.
I saw that and I was thinking that would have been a great scene with Emily.
(of course the stone giant was destroyed by a young witch – but, it was a good scene while it lasted)
The homeschool book sounds Like a nice change.
I like the sound of the homeschooling scenario. There really aren’t that many in the fantasy genre.
I would like to see The Long Range War or home schooled. Empire War would be last
ALE 5, for sure, but TEC 15 also sounds intriguing.
Any chance that ALE 4 will ever be released on audiobook?
Looking forward to all of the books.
SIM, SIM, and more SIM. Also SIM.
How serious was your comment about breaking into traditional publishing? Do you see that they have anything to offer you?
Write what you want, I’ll read it happily.
One thing I seem to see a lack of is a story set in a world that has a magical community and schools but the protagonist, while inherently capable but is some kind of outcast or pariah and becomes a powerful self-taught mage.
My answer is “YES! I wanna read them all!” I know… not super helpful.
Although, for most of the Empire Corps series I’ve REALLY been hoping for a story line covering what happened to the Slaughterhouse Marines. So if I had those choices in a stack right in front of me (well, virtual stack in my kindle anyway), that’s the one I would read first.
Learning experience please.
Thanks.
It’s been far too long since we had something new in the Empire Corps series. Please finish that first.
I love Emily’s story. That said Alassa’s Tale made me wish to read Jade’s story. Any chance of seeing his side?
I agree. Jade’s story would be interesting.
I would like to see the next Learning Experience book please.
Royal sorceress!
so does that mean “Allyssa in the Tower” will be out in march?
The Long-Range War.
royal sorceress, SIM, ALE5, SAT2.
Learning experience followed by more in the Zero universe please
More SIM or more Zero!