Ask the Author: James L. Nelson
Answered Questions (20)
James L. Nelson
John, thanks for the kind words. I'm working on #2 of the Buccaneer books now. Hope to have it out in six or eight months. I've been distracted by various projects over the past year or so, but I hope to focus now on the Vikings and the Buccaneers.
James L. Nelson
Thanks for the question! You must have old editions of the books. When we started the series the publisher contracted for three books, and they put "Trilogy" on the cover to signal to readers there would definitely be at least three books in the series. After that they contracted for two more, and it became a "saga". We just published #6, The Falmouth Frigate, with a new publisher, and now I think they're just "The Isaac Biddlecomb Novels".
James L. Nelson
Erica, thanks for that. I'm definitely not as good at keeping up with all this stuff as I should be (or as my kids keep bugging me to be). I'll update the Goodreads page.
James L. Nelson
Sandra, thanks for the question. I'm delighted you're enjoying the books. I certainly would not leave Thorgrim and company hanging in midair, as it were. I will be doing Book XI soon, but I’m starting a new series now, based on the buccaneers of the Caribbean, called The Buccaneer Coast. I’m most of the way finished with writing that one, and when it’s out I’ll get right on the next Viking book. I hope you’ll give The Buccaneer Coast a try – it will have all the action and twists of the Viking books, but with muskets and cannons. Should be out in a few months. If you want a heads up you can sign up for my e-mail list on my web site, www.jameslnelson.com.
James L. Nelson
Mark, thanks for asking. You're right that All the Brave Fellows was not intended to be the last in the series. Unfortunately the publisher didn't want to do any more books, but they would not give me the rights back so I could take the series elsewhere. Well, finally, after 24 years, I got them back! Another publisher, McBooks, will be republishing the first five books starting next year and we intend to keep the series going after that. Hopefully the first new one will be out in 2022 (though if there's one thing we've learned recently it's that you never know what strange twist life might take) If you go to my web site, www.jameslnelson.com, you can sign up for my e-mail list and I'll keep you updated as to when the books are coming out. Sorry #6 isn't coming sooner!
James L. Nelson
Lindy,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm very happy you like the books, I've always liked them as well, but I might be a bit biased. Not to hit the self-promotion button (but I will) have you by any chance seen my book The Only Life that Mattered, a novel about Anne Bonny and Mary Read? Might be right up your alley.
Of course I had to check out your web site. Looks like an interesting thing you're doing and I love the piratical theme. I don't write anything along the lines of what you'll publish but my son is an up and coming writer and he's focusing on the paranormal and horror genre (he's trying to be like that other writer from Maine, not me). Perhaps he can submit a manuscript to you when you're ready for submissions.
Anyway, thanks again for the kind words and please keep in touch.
Best,
Jim
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm very happy you like the books, I've always liked them as well, but I might be a bit biased. Not to hit the self-promotion button (but I will) have you by any chance seen my book The Only Life that Mattered, a novel about Anne Bonny and Mary Read? Might be right up your alley.
Of course I had to check out your web site. Looks like an interesting thing you're doing and I love the piratical theme. I don't write anything along the lines of what you'll publish but my son is an up and coming writer and he's focusing on the paranormal and horror genre (he's trying to be like that other writer from Maine, not me). Perhaps he can submit a manuscript to you when you're ready for submissions.
Anyway, thanks again for the kind words and please keep in touch.
Best,
Jim
James L. Nelson
Craig, thanks for the nice comment. You made my day. The new Thorgrim novel, Loch Garman, should be out in a month or so. If you want (and haven't yet), you can go to my web site, www.jameslnelson.com and sign up for my newsletter, and then you'll get a notice when the new books come out, plus some other stuff. As to Caleb Hayes, I would very much like to write more in that series, but I'm not sure when that's going to happen. Right now people seem to want Vikings.
James L. Nelson
Pete,
Thanks for the nice note. Here's the link: http://www.jameslnelson.com/the-wolve...
Looks like it didn't copy as a link so you'll have to cut and paste into the browser. If you have a problem feel free to e-mail me at jlnelson76@comcast.net.
The new book, Loch Garman, should be out in a few months!
Best,
Jim
Thanks for the nice note. Here's the link: http://www.jameslnelson.com/the-wolve...
Looks like it didn't copy as a link so you'll have to cut and paste into the browser. If you have a problem feel free to e-mail me at jlnelson76@comcast.net.
The new book, Loch Garman, should be out in a few months!
Best,
Jim
James L. Nelson
Thanks for the question and I envy your trip to Ireland. I think there are some great exhibits of Viking finds in Dublin, but I'm not sure where in Dublin. I missed them on my last trip, so you should research that. As to your question, yes, I do have a lot of nonfiction sources. I've compiled a (mostly) compete bibliography of the books I've referenced. I've been meaning to put it up on my website but it is languishing on the long list of stuff to do. I don't think I can attach a file here, but if you want to e-mail me at jlnelson76@comcast.net I'd be happy to send the bibliography along.
James L. Nelson
Philip,
Thanks much for ordering the book. Folks seem to enjoy this series, and I am certainly enjoying writing it, so I have every intention of continuing on. Right now I'm about 100 pages into Book 7, called Loch Garman (you're the first one outside my family to know that!) I had a poll in my last newsletter asking readers if they would like Thorgrim et al to finally get out of Ireland and start doing some raiding in England, and the majority seem to be in favor of that, so the action may shift across the water in a few books.
Thanks again for the question and the support.
Thanks much for ordering the book. Folks seem to enjoy this series, and I am certainly enjoying writing it, so I have every intention of continuing on. Right now I'm about 100 pages into Book 7, called Loch Garman (you're the first one outside my family to know that!) I had a poll in my last newsletter asking readers if they would like Thorgrim et al to finally get out of Ireland and start doing some raiding in England, and the majority seem to be in favor of that, so the action may shift across the water in a few books.
Thanks again for the question and the support.
James L. Nelson
Interesting question. I've always liked Horatio Hornblower and Lady Barbara. I think they are very well drawn, with their great love for one another and the minor chaffing that goes on between them. And I have to say, though it's probably cheating to do so, I very much like Caleb Hayes and Katie Brennan in my new book Full Fathom Five.
James L. Nelson
Fabian, thanks for the query. Funny, a number of people have thought Night Wolf might be the last in the series. Maybe because of the title, I'm not sure. Anyway there will certainly be another. I'm in the middle of writing it now. It will be called Raider's Wake and I hope to have it out in a few months. Hopefully there will be more after that.
I have another book coming out this month, something quite different for me but something I've wanted to try for a long time. It's called Full Fathom Five, a modern-day thriller set on the Coast of Maine. The main character is a lobsterman. Hope you'll give it a try.
If you'd like to receive notices of upcoming books and have not done so yet you can sign up for my newsletter at www.jameslnelson.com. I usually only send one out when a new book is coming out.
Thanks again for being in touch.
I have another book coming out this month, something quite different for me but something I've wanted to try for a long time. It's called Full Fathom Five, a modern-day thriller set on the Coast of Maine. The main character is a lobsterman. Hope you'll give it a try.
If you'd like to receive notices of upcoming books and have not done so yet you can sign up for my newsletter at www.jameslnelson.com. I usually only send one out when a new book is coming out.
Thanks again for being in touch.
James L. Nelson
Dan...sorry I don't think I ever saw your question. I didn't mean to ignore it. Right now, as you may know, I'm writing about Vikings in Ireland circa 850. The series seems to be popular so I'll be sticking with that for a while. I'm also writing a contemporary thriller set on the Coast of Maine. I guess that's a long winded way of saying I have no immediate plans to write about the Age of Sail (if we're defining that as being around 1600 - 1900).
James L. Nelson
Susan, I think you have the right author, though to be honest the Gaspee only gets something of a mention. The book is By Force of Arms about a merchant captain from Bristol, RI who gets pressed into the British navy. There ended up being five books in the series. Thanks for asking!
James L. Nelson
Hey, Dan. One of the top writers (who you probably know about) is Bernard Cornwell who writes in all different time periods. I'm still a huge fan of C.S. Forester's Hornblower books. I think they stand up well. Patrick O'Brian as well, though some people find him dull. Dewey Lambdin writes a fun series about an officer in the British Navy during the Napolionic Wars. The Flashman books by George McDonald Frasier are great, edgy and funny. Also Alexander Kent for more British age of sail books.
I don't know if I ever answered your question about me writing more Age of Sail books. Right now I'm focused on the Viking novels, so I don't see any more of a later time period in the immediate future, but who knows? There's lots of stuff that happens in my life that I don't see coming. Thanks for asking!
I don't know if I ever answered your question about me writing more Age of Sail books. Right now I'm focused on the Viking novels, so I don't see any more of a later time period in the immediate future, but who knows? There's lots of stuff that happens in my life that I don't see coming. Thanks for asking!
James L. Nelson
Dan,
Thanks for asking. The French Prize was published by McMillan and they've decided not to move ahead with the series. Very disappointing. This is one of the reason I'm on the verge of abandoning publishers completely and doing everything on my own, like my Viking series. I would like to do more Age of Sail books, that's really what I love most, but at the moment the Viking novels seem to be quite popular, so I'll be sticking with those for the foreseeable future.
Jim
Thanks for asking. The French Prize was published by McMillan and they've decided not to move ahead with the series. Very disappointing. This is one of the reason I'm on the verge of abandoning publishers completely and doing everything on my own, like my Viking series. I would like to do more Age of Sail books, that's really what I love most, but at the moment the Viking novels seem to be quite popular, so I'll be sticking with those for the foreseeable future.
Jim
James L. Nelson
Paul,
Thanks for the question. Sure, I think most authors would love to see a movie made of their books. Alas, movies have a much greater reach than books, so a movie is an almost sure bet as far as getting top exposure for your book (not to mention the truck-loads of cash they dump on your lawn). If a producer is interested in developing a book into a movie, he or she will "option" the work, meaning they pay a certain amount of money for the exclusive right to try and get production going. Usually an option lasts for about eighteen months and then its up. A lot of books get optioned, and a number of mine have been, but its never gone much beyond that (again, a common experience). My most-optioned book is The Only Life that Mattered, which doesn't surprise me because I think it would make a great movie. Best bite I got with that was when the producer who optioned it told me Scarlett Johansson was very interested in the part of Anne Bonny (she would be great!) and would take it if the producer could get a top director attached to the project. Which didn't happen. Oh, well. So we continue to hope. I've had a few inquiries about my new Viking series, though no takers yet. But the options at least are nice - free money!
Thanks for the question. Sure, I think most authors would love to see a movie made of their books. Alas, movies have a much greater reach than books, so a movie is an almost sure bet as far as getting top exposure for your book (not to mention the truck-loads of cash they dump on your lawn). If a producer is interested in developing a book into a movie, he or she will "option" the work, meaning they pay a certain amount of money for the exclusive right to try and get production going. Usually an option lasts for about eighteen months and then its up. A lot of books get optioned, and a number of mine have been, but its never gone much beyond that (again, a common experience). My most-optioned book is The Only Life that Mattered, which doesn't surprise me because I think it would make a great movie. Best bite I got with that was when the producer who optioned it told me Scarlett Johansson was very interested in the part of Anne Bonny (she would be great!) and would take it if the producer could get a top director attached to the project. Which didn't happen. Oh, well. So we continue to hope. I've had a few inquiries about my new Viking series, though no takers yet. But the options at least are nice - free money!
James L. Nelson
Benjamin,
A lot of this seems to happen with little planning on my part. The editor I worked with on my Bunker Hill book, With Fire and Sword, also edits maritime fiction authors (Dewey Lambdin among them) and he suggested doing a novel, which I thought was a fine idea. That book, The French Prize, focusing on Isaac Biddlecomb's son, will be out in June, 2015. At the same time, hearing more and more about established authors who were getting into independent publishing, I decided to publish this Viking novel, Fin Gall, that I had written a few years back but never sold to a publisher. That actually worked out very well, and I have since done a second Viking book, Dubh-linn and am working on a third.
As I mentioned, the independent publishing thing is working out well, sales-wise. How successful The French Prize, the book from St. Martin's Press is remains to be seen. I do think nonfiction can be an easier sell; I think it appeals to a broader audience, but from a practical standpoint it takes a lot longer to write nonfiction, so trying to make a living doing it becomes more of an issue. For that reason primarily I see myself sticking with fiction for the foreseeable future. I don't think I have a preference between fiction and nonfiction, I love them both, though the process of writing is very different between them.
A lot of this seems to happen with little planning on my part. The editor I worked with on my Bunker Hill book, With Fire and Sword, also edits maritime fiction authors (Dewey Lambdin among them) and he suggested doing a novel, which I thought was a fine idea. That book, The French Prize, focusing on Isaac Biddlecomb's son, will be out in June, 2015. At the same time, hearing more and more about established authors who were getting into independent publishing, I decided to publish this Viking novel, Fin Gall, that I had written a few years back but never sold to a publisher. That actually worked out very well, and I have since done a second Viking book, Dubh-linn and am working on a third.
As I mentioned, the independent publishing thing is working out well, sales-wise. How successful The French Prize, the book from St. Martin's Press is remains to be seen. I do think nonfiction can be an easier sell; I think it appeals to a broader audience, but from a practical standpoint it takes a lot longer to write nonfiction, so trying to make a living doing it becomes more of an issue. For that reason primarily I see myself sticking with fiction for the foreseeable future. I don't think I have a preference between fiction and nonfiction, I love them both, though the process of writing is very different between them.
James L. Nelson
Going to work in my pajamas.
James L. Nelson
Currently working on Book 3 of The Norsemen Saga. Thorgrim Night Wolf and company are still trying to get back to Norway but the gods seem to have other plans. The book is called Vík-ló, a place name that developed into the Irish town of Wicklow (as tempting as it is to think that the "Vík" is from Viking, but it's not. "Vik" means bay, and "lo" means meadow, thus "Meadow by the bay.") Vík-ló should be out in in early 2015.
I'm also doing the final editing on a new series that focuses on the exploits of Jack Biddlecomb, the son of Isaac Biddlecomb, the protagonist of my first series. The book is set in 1797 at the start of the Quasi War with France. Jack is a young merchant captain with his first command and he gets tangled up in politics and sea fighting that he hardly understands. The book is called The French Prize and will be out in June, 2015.
I'm also doing the final editing on a new series that focuses on the exploits of Jack Biddlecomb, the son of Isaac Biddlecomb, the protagonist of my first series. The book is set in 1797 at the start of the Quasi War with France. Jack is a young merchant captain with his first command and he gets tangled up in politics and sea fighting that he hardly understands. The book is called The French Prize and will be out in June, 2015.
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