Writing Update: September 2024

Looks like it's another month and since I'm exhausted still (I slept 8 hours and am still sleepy), I figured I'd write up the update which requires significantly less brain power. Especially since I have a cold (yes, I'll test for Covid in a bit, but there was yellow phlegm coming out so probably just a bacterial cold). Anyway, updates!

System Apocalypse

The System Apocalypse: Relentless Omnibus is out! Books 1-3 combined which means if you are an audiobook reader, there's over 35+ hours of listening to do with one credit. Craig is working on book 4 right now, we're expecting to release that next year. He got sidetracked and found (and completed) a publishing side quest so, you know. Watch out for that!

Otherwise, I have a System Apocalypse short that I'm working on right now. I also sold a Tuckerisation at the Dragoncon event so that means there's at least 2 shorts coming out. I'll probably knuckle down and write one or two more (probably one with Mikito and maybe one with Bolo - no guarantees) and then once the other shorts are out, I'll throw them together into an anthology of my shorts.

No, I haven't gotten around to starting another novel. Sorry. It's not ready yet, too many other projects.

Magic Kingdom at War

Talking of other projects, that one is coming along. We got back the proof for volume 8, so that is done and now with Neil. Volume 7 came back from him, so we're good to release up to 7 simultaneously. We have volume 9 being edited now and I wrote volume 10 already. After that, I have 2-4 more volumes to write and the first arc will be done.

I'll be frank (you can be Susie, if you wish). The series hasn't done as well as I'd hope, we're not seeing an overall increase in readers from volume to volume in the way I'd want. Add how much work doing the system and checking over the math is and I think we'll end the series after the first major arc. I won't leave people hanging, but I do want it finished.

Power, Masks and Capes and Eternal Night (novelettes)

Not much to say here, I really do need to write at least one, if not a couple more, novelettes in these worlds. In the case of PMC, I actually have a great idea from a panel I listened to in Dragoncon, so expect something next year. Eternal Night I have been picking at, forever. It's... slow because all my wording time has been dedicated to MKAW, Climbing the Ranks and ATL.

Climbing the Ranks

As you can see from the photo, I was getting a lot of signing done at Dragoncon for the Climbing the Ranks 2 Kickstarter. Those go out next week when Jen gets back, including all the book 1's. I was told we had over 100+ books to sign that day which was utterly amazing and, once again, a major thank you to all of you fans.

This is a series that is going to continue I think. I had a fan at home that is in love with the Benevolent Durians, so it's going to be something I will continue to produce long into the future. So, feel free to join the subscribers on the website or just read along for fun. And thanks again. 

PS: Book 3 is mostly written, just needs editing which I'm working on. My editor who helps with the Manglish is on maternity leave, so some of that has slowed; but we're good overall. 

Hidden Dishes

As mentioned (maybe?) I finished Thaumaturgic Tapas last month and set it aside because I wanted to do the editing with a clear mind. I'm going to start that very soon, once I'm not feeling crap. That'll be my major editing project for a bit, now that A Thousand Li 12 was all edited.

I'll probably start Hidden Dishes 4 soon after I'm done editing just because it's a world that is living in my head. 

A Thousand Li Universe

Talking of ATL... book 12 is edited, sent off to get proofed. We're waiting for the proof that should be back towards the end of the month at which point I'll have to go over it again and then it'll (finally) be sent out to Travis for recording. We'll still have a lot of time for the series so I am not concerned about releasing it on time for the pre-order release date on Amazon. 

The eagle-eyed might note I said universe... because I am writing more in the universe. I'm about 20k into the next project in the universe, and it's coming along well when I have time to dedicate to it. Look out for more details if you're a Patreon (read the Author's Note!).

For everyone else... you'll just have to be patient. ;)

Secret Projects

Finally, working on one final secret project. No, I won't say what but that's the other major project I'm working on beside the next ATL Universe work. It's 50k plus along, I just need to find the time to get it the rest of the way down. It won't be a super long project, sitting around 90k I hope so I'm hoping I can finish this, this month.

Conventions

This is convention season. I have 3 more events to do - Word on the Street (Toronto) which is a book festival to sell books. That'll be fun and we'll be standing around in the heat, pitching our books as best we can. Hopefully, if you're around, you swing by and say hi! World Fantasy is in October and I'll be there to learn more about the craft side of the game, hoping to improve and acquire tiny tidbits of information. And finally, there's Can-Con in Ottawa in November.

No NinC or Author Nation this year. I do have a giant list of conventions that I want to do next year, I'll have to pare them down. Be fascinating (to me) to see which ones I do.

And that's all folks

Seriously, I think that's all my writing and life updates. I have a cold, I'm going to rest. Con crud sucks, and school is back in session so I have a lot to do. Thanks everyone and feel free to ask if there's something that's not clear.  Obviously, outside of the obvious questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

- Tao