Howdy, everyone!
Happy March! Wow, it’s March!
It seems like time finally did indeed pass. I’ve had one operation and I’m well on the mend from it, straggling into March with a little less energy than usual. My friends have come in clutch to keep me laughing and healing. The revisions I was waiting for? They have all arrived or have been promised imminently. The great cogs of publishing continue to grind at their simultaneously glacial and yet somehow blistering pace. Hopefully I finish March out with a bit more of a roar.
Status Checks:
Monster Slayer #1
- It has an official title! It’s called Fortune’s Wake!
- Have had some exciting cover conversations and I’m very looking forward to seeing drafts
- Cover copy (the back cover blurb part) has been finalized
- It’s gone through a second draft
- Word count: Currently ~36k
- Publication: August 2026
Tordotcom Novella #2, aka #FellRunner
- It does NOT have an official title yet
- It has technically gone through two drafts solo, but I’ve recently gotten my notes from the editor and had a little talk so I’ll start on those soon
- Word count: Currently a very sleek 25k (we will see how long that lasts, but I am not inclined to add more just to pad it out)
- Publication: Unknown, probably 2027
Warmongers
- Should be receiving notes soon, then I will commence the great read-through and get to work on the second draft. I anticipate spending much of the next year on this project primarily.
- Have drafted up some cover copy for the back, but there will undoubtedly be some deliberation
- Cover talks have commenced!!! And I am so excited about my idea, but it must first go through…The Gauntlet
- Word count: Currently ~180k, but personally, I think this will grow with revision. There are some things I think will need fleshing out.
- Publication: Unknown, probably 2027 or 2028
What’s Next?
In addition to the above, I’ve started noodling along on what my next story options might be. Some of you might know that I’ve hinted at doing a newsletter-based serial some time in the future, but the story that I wanted to use for that…well, it got a bit out of hand. The idea got bigger than I was expecting and I think it could be a bomb trilogy. So in snatched moments here and there, I’m working on the proposal for that. I won’t submit it, though, until I have a stronger sense for how I want the whole series to go. It’s a complicated thing. I love a good outline but I’m not someone who can say with certainty how something will turn out so far in advance. If I’ve learned anything from writing the Magic of the Lost trilogy, it’s that you have to be open to wild changes you discover in the writing itself.
I’m also at the stage in my career—in my life—where I can see things for the commitments that they are. At the pace I prefer, working on a new trilogy is a 6 year commitment, at least. And I have so many ideas! So saying yes to one means saying no to others, possibly forever.
That said, I am so excited about this idea and fell in love with the characters when I first started writing their chapters for the newsletter serial. I’m loving them even more as I let them expand past the bounds I was holding them to.
Only time will tell.
Etc.
- I wrote a post compiling an inexhaustive list of butches in books.
- I ranted about writing good sentences and some books you can read if that’s something that interests you.
- I shared a little snippet from Coach Bennett that (intentionally or unintentionally) is one of the best ways I’ve heard someone describe the flaw in using AI or any other short cut to your goals.
- I’ve been keeping up with Critical Role 4 and enjoying that greatly. (“Fuck castle.” IYKYK.)
- During my convalescence, I started investigating the TTRPG Daggerheart and made a muskox firbolg ice sorcerer who is big and muscley and furry and hot (obviously).
- The Story Engine dropped their latest expansion set, a trio of character building add-ons, including a romance one. If you pre-order, you get a pdf of the alpha decks right now, which is a great perk.
- I emerged from the house one time to celebrate the launch of Saara El-Arifi’s latest book, Cleopatra.
I hope you all are well. For those of you who wrote me about the things you were patiently/impatiently waiting for, I hope they are on their way to you. I hope you are fighting the good fights, wherever you are. There are so many fights to fight. I hope you are accepting the kindness the world has to offer, too.
Go do something fun and revel in it.
Stay sharp,
C. L.