Michael J. Sullivan's Blog, page 28

Voting for 2018 BookNest Fantasy Award

[image error]
I'm pleased to announce that Age of War has made the long list for the 2018 BookNest Fantasy Award. Voting to create the shortlist will continue from now until Sunday 14th October. Nine popular Fantasy Blogs (Bookworm Blues, Fantasy Book Critic, Fantasy Book Review, Fantasy-Faction, Grimdark Magazine, The Fantasy Hive, The Fantasy Inn, The Grim Tidings Podcast & The Weatherwax Report), three big Fantasy Imprints (Gollancz, Harper Voyager & Orbit), and two well-respected Agents (John Jarrold & Joshua Bilmes of JABberwocky Literary Agency) helped to create the nominees.

All told, there are 4 categories for you to vote on including:
Best Traditionally Published NovelBest Self-Published NovelBest Debut NovelBest Imprint (Publisher) You don't need to vote for my book, but please do go and vote for your favorites.  The full list of nominees in the Best Tradtiionally Publihsed Novel Category is presented here along with some data from Groodreads regarding how many books have been shelved, what people have rated the books, and how many ratings have come in. Any book on Goodreads with a rating higher than 4.3 is truly exceptional, so I highlighted some of those.

Title Author  Rating  # Ratings   # shelved  A War in Crimson Embers Alex Marshall 4.14 341 1,007 Age of War Michael J. Sullivan 4.48 3,507 18,163 A Time of Dread John Gwynne 4.47 992 5,666 Aru Shah and the End of Time Roshani Chokshi 4.15 4,384 22,944 Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance Ruth Emmie Lang 4.23 6,428 29,821 Blood and Tempest Jon Skovron 4.11 329 900 Blood of Assassins RJ Barker 4.20 451 1,183 Bloody Rose Nicholas Eames 4.41 1,386 8,181 Charmcaster Sebastien de Castell 4.34 705 2,448 Children of Blood and Bone Tomi Adeyemi 4.28 43,536 178,630 Circe Madeline Miller 4.36 42,200 162,103 City of Lies Sam Hawke 3.94 528 6,848 Darksoul Anna Stephens 3.81 895 2,285 Fire Dance Ilana C. Myer 3.47 1,115 1,392 Foundryside  Robert Jackson Bennett  4.39 1,843 19,432 Furyborn Claire Legrand 3.89 6,490 59,536 Grey Sister Mark Lawrence 4.47 7,183 19,112 Iron Gold Pierce Brown 4.26 20,597 71,528 Jade City Fonda Lee 4.01 2,355 14,248 King of Assassins RJ Barker 4.56 194 815 Magic Triumphs Ilona Andrews 4.63 7,920 27,301 Master Assassins Robert V.S. Redick 4.19 634 4,411 Oathbringer Brandon Sanderson 4.64 58,330 140,180 Port of Shadows Glen Cook 4.21 354 3,751 Quillifer Walter Jon Williams 3.90 288 1,064 Ravencry Ed McDonald 4.33 516 1,521 Seventh Decimate Stephen Donaldson 3.21 614 2,657 Shadowblack Sebastien de Castell 4.16 1,593 4,237 Spinning Silver Naomi Novik 4.33 13,882 67,472 Starless Jacqueline Carey 4.12 1,383 8,901 Tempests and Slaughter Tamora Pierce 4.12 7,452 39,075 The Bitter Twins Jen Williams 4.36 228 693 The Deathless Peter Newman 3.91 131 2,018 The Ember Blade Chris Wooding 4.18 61 1,812 The Empire of Ashes Anthony Ryan 4.19 1,122 4,198 The Fall of Dragons Miles Cameron 4.33 1,652 4,525 The Fall of Gondolin J.R.R. Tolkien 4.11 413 7,247 The Forbidden City Deborah Wolf 4.39 18 165 The Girl In The Tower Katherine Arden 4.44 16,749 51,409 The Infernal Battalion Django Wexler 4.33 1,869 5,658 The Land You Never Leave Angus Watson 4.44 25 262 The Last Namsara Kristen Ciccarelli 4.17 6874 26,818 The Mere Wife Maria Dahvana Headley 4.15 620 5,365 The Outcast Taran Matharu 4.24 924 7,515 The Poppy War R. F. Kuang 4.12 6,483 41,804 The Skaar Invasion Terry Brooks 4.16 779 2,536 The Tower of Living and Dying Anna Smith Spark 4.35 82 553 Trail of Lightning Rebecca Roanhorse 4.17 2,878 18,157 Witchsign Den Patrick 3.78 94 2,448 Wrath of Empire Brian McClellan 4.56 2,723 8,459

Ten Years & a Lifetime Ago

Ten years ago on this day, October 1st, 2008, my first novel was released by a small press (Aspirations Media Incorporated) to the thunderous applause of crickets. Well that's not entirely true, the crickets didn't applaud, and if they had, even their scant numbers couldn't produce anything thunderous. Like almost everyone else, they didn’t take notice either. My release “event” was held at the Arlington Barnes & Noble. I expected a crowd, and there were twenty people, but I knew every one of them. Nearly all were from my writer’s group that met in the same bookstore, on that same night, on the same floor, in the same place. And yes, we planned it that way because if we hadn’t, I’d have been alone with my wife wondering if we could smuggle liquor into a bookstore.



The Arlington Writer’s Group, better known as AWG, were quite gracious. They didn’t complain that I had hijacked their space, and they sat quietly listening to my very first public talk, which I can’t remember (such things are often erased from long-term memory for sanity’s sake). More important, nearly everyone bought a book and wanted me to sign their copies. I sat at a rickety folding table, sharpie in hand, as a line formed. I felt absolutely ridiculous. I was pretending to be an author. What got me through the event was that everyone else pretended, too.

That was the first and last line I'd encounter for my signature during the next four years.  The second time, my new publisher literally gave the books away to ensure a crowd. As it turns out, people line up for free stuff.
For years, I considered myself "The Little Engine That Might." I had persistence, some decent stories (at least I thought they were), and most important of all a loving wife that made it her mission to see that I would succeed. Why? Well, it wasn't for money or fame that she worked so hard. It was so I could live a dream I'd had since I was a 13-year-old boy: To be able to write the stories I wanted to tell and hopefully have a few people read and enjoy them as well. It's taken a decade since that first released book (and thirty years and thirteen books prior to that), to get to where I am now, and I think it's safe to say I should upgrade from "That Might" to "Who Did." I've sold more than 1.5M books in the English language (and I have no idea how many in the foreign markets), but I do have dozens and dozens of contracts in so many languages I've lost track. I'm also proud to say that I'm now officially a New York Times Bestselling author. And last week, I had two books on the Washington Post’s Bestseller’s List. 


What a difference a decade makes! And of course, I can't end this post without thanking the most important people to my success. No, it's not my agents, or my editors, or the publishers who have picked me up and expanded my readership (although I am grateful to them as well). But who I'm speaking about is you, dear readers. It's because you took a chance on one of my books, then went back for more, and most important of all, the fact that you recommended them to others. I've always said that it's word of mouth that makes or breaks a book, and in many ways, it's your contributions that have gotten me where I am now (even more so than anything I or Robin have done). So I hope that you, too, share in this 10th anniversary celebration, after all, it's you who have truly made it such a success.

Just a few days until the retail release of Winter's Daughter

As some may know, the only way to get The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter has been via Audible.com or my own website. The reason has to do with a non-compete clause in my Legends of the First Empire contract, which prevented any books based in Elan to be published until a few months after the last book of that contract. Well, Age of War came out July 3rd, so we can now OFFICIALLY release the fourth Riyria Chronicle through the retail chains. So it's up for pre-order and books will start shipping on October 2nd.

Here are some places you can buy the ebook editions:


Here are some places you can buy the hardcover editions:

           
The trade paperback will hit the retail chain in about 6 - 9 months, but until then you can still get a signed copy directly from me at my online store:

       

#1 Key to Success - Persistence, #2 - Agility

Joe Solari, who runs the podcast "The Business of Writing" was nice enough to have Robin and I on his show to talk about what we do with regards to my career. As the podcast went on, the theme seemed to be that our persistence and agility made it so we  at least "Fall with Style" when things don't go exactly go "our way."

* When your small press publisher doesn't have the money for the press run of book #2...revert the rights and self-publish.

* Orbit won't make hardcovers of the Riyria novles...buy permission from them to make them yourself.

* When Del Rey puts the hardcover edition of Age of Swords out of print and price-gougers are charging readers $90 - $190 to get a copy...buy up all the stock with the help of an Indiegogo campaign and get the books back on sale at $22 - $28.

* A non-compete prevents any new Riyria books from being released for 3 years...produce them yourself and sell the books directly to readers (and earn better because you keep the high cut that retailers charge).

There's plenty more, but instead of talking about it, why don't I just share the video?  So here you go. I hope you enjoy.

Going to try an experiment

Robin and I have been having a little disagreement. Don't worry, it's nothing serious, but Robin is the consummate champion for the readers, and as such, she is always advocating for signed copies and other perks like custom bookmarks (and having those signed as well). Personally, I can't imagine that anyone cares if I sign a book or not, but, hey, that might just be me.

As some may know, we took an extraordinary step and got the remaining copies of the Age of Swords hardcovers from Del Rey's warehouse when they put that title out of print. Over the course of two trips, I've signed more than 1,200 books (500 of which were Age of Swords), but there are still 2,700+ to go. Robin wants me to add my John Hancock to all of them, and I'm certainly willing to do so, but it does take time away from writing, and as I said, I'm just not sure whether people care.
That's where "the experiment" comes in. Below you'll find an order form for Age of Swords at the unprecedented price of $15 (which includes FREE US shipping). These will come straight from our fulfillment center without Robin or I touching them, so no signature, no bookmark, just the book and only the book - but it'll be nearly 50% off and since we are picking up the bill for shipping and handling, you'll get it for a fraction of the $33.99 this book usually sells for  when buying directly from us.

The hope is that many of you will take advantage of this incredible offer, providing a win-win for both of us. You'll get the book at a low, low price. They will leave the warehouse, so we don't have to pay for storage. We'll earn more money than when these books were bought from the bookstores, and  I won't have to sign as many of them.

Maybe Robin is right, and people really want signed copies, but I also think there are those who just like hardcovers, period. And if they can get a quality one at a great price, this will be a great opportunity. In any case, we'll see. If nothing else, Christmas will be here soon, and this would be a great chance to get a book for someone who loved Age of Myth but hasn't yet jumped into Age of Swords. I'm sure there are some people out there that fit that category, right? 

Here is a link where you can get your copy


For those who are curious, I'll post the results of this little experiment in the future. Oh, and anyone who DOES want signed copies and bookmarks and what not, you can get a signed copy at 20% off until the end of the month as part of our Fantasy Fall Sale. You can buy Age of Swords (and all my other hardcover books) from here.

And one last note. For those who are curious as to why this is only for the US...well, shipping overseas costs more than we are selling the book for, and our out-of-pocket costs for this would be $31.06. So, we'd be losing $16.06 for each overseas order. We are assuming that if people are going to pay the high cost of overseas shipping, they'll want a signed copy with the other bells and whistles. Like I said, this is an experiment, and if enough overseas people write us and want unsigned books, we'll run something similar for you as well.

So, that's it. I hope some people take advantage of this offer, it'll mean I have less books to sign, but if it turns out that Robin is right, I'll be more than happy to keep signing away. Either way, we, as always, thank you for your support.

2018 Fall Hardcover Sale

Fall is upon us, the Riyria hardcovers are in the works, and it's time to clear out some excess stock. So let's have a sale, shall we? From now until the end of September all of my regular hardcover books will be on sale for 20% off. And by buying direct there is a win-win for all parties involved including:

* Reader: your books will be signed by the author.
* Reader:  you'll receive free specially designed bookmarks.
* Reader: you'll receive 20% off the cover price
* Author: I earn more by keeping the retailer/distribution chain's cut.
* Publisher: receives same income they would if bought through a retailer.
* Local Laborers: get jobs from a fulfillment center in a rural, low-income area. 

Sale ends September 30, 2018, and you can shop it from here.

Hardcover crowdfunding launches today at noon EDT

Today at noon, this IndieGoGo campaign will go live.


















No, it's not the project for making the hardcover copies of the Riyria books (although that project will be launching early next year), but something came up out of the blue and we need to act fast. You see, Del Rey has put the hardcover edition of Age of Swords out of print, and we have a small window to do something about it.

I discovered the out-of-print status when I tried to order copies to replenish our online store, and I wasn't able to get any. After a little digging, I found that the only way to get copies were through Amazon Marketplace resellers and they had jacked up the prices to $89 - $191 for both new and used copies. That's an outrage!

To make matters worse, I won't earn a dime from any sales of the hardcovers from here on out. But, honestly, that doesn't upset me as much as the fact that people will either have to "do without" or pay outrageous prices to have hardcovers on their bookshelves.

So, here's the deal, Robin found out how much it would cost for us to buy up the remaining copies, send them to a warehouse, and hire a logistics company to ship them out. It's not cheap, but it is doable if we can raise $11,360. 














So, we're doing what we've done in the past...turn to crowdfunding. We started out by making a Kickstarter project, but as it turns out, you can't use that platform for an existing product. So this campaign will be run on IndieGoGo.  It's pretty straightforward; you'll be able to get signed hardcovers and bonus perks like a short story, screensavers, and public acknowledgment for helping to make this project successful. You'll be able to receive one, two, or all three of the hardcovers that are currently released in the Legends of the First Empire series, and because we'll be getting the books cheaper than we normally do,  we'll pass some savings on to you and give 20% off the list price.  (I'm essentially extending the "early-bird" discount that I've used in the past to apply to everyone.)

So, if you haven't picked up hardcovers yet (or are looking for a gift for a friend or relative...Christmas and Hanukkah will be here before we know it), now would be a great time to get copies. And we'll also keep these books out of the reseller channel, and without the ability to buy new stock, they won't be able to rip off more people with their price-gouging techniques.

Oh, another thing I should mention...there is a limited number of special perks which will be for a one-night stay with Robin and I in our cabin in Luray (maybe you saw a bit about it in our recent post).

Okay last thing, unlike Kickstarters, we get funding from IndieGoGo even if we don't hit our goal, so we'll be able to buy a subset of books if necessary, which means you will get your copies no matter what funding level we reach. But buying a fraction of the remaining stock will mean that the resellers will be able to get more, and I'd hate to facilitate their bad behavior.

Anyway, check out the campaign starting at noon, and if you like what you see, please consider backing the project.

Goodreads Best Fantasy of 2018 (so far)

It's Science Fiction and Fantasy Week at Goodreads, and there is a lot going on for fans of the genre. I'm honored that Age of War has made their Best-Fantasy-of-2018 (so far) list. Here's all 12 titles:



































Here's some information for each title, along with links to add them to your shelves:

Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | rating: 4.36 | # ratings: 8,564 | release date: 07/10/18 | books shelved: 56,737

Circe | Madeline Miller | rating: 4.37 | # ratings: 33,832 | release date: 04/10/18 | books shelved : 142,949

Wrath of Empire | Brian McClellan | rating: 4.57 | # ratings: 2,251 | release date: 05/15/18 | books shelved: 7,292

The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | rating: 4.16 | # reviews: 4,929 | release date: 05/01/18 | books shelved: 35,577

Grey Sister | Mark Lawrence | rating: 4.47 | # ratings: 6,255 | release date: 04/03/18 | books shelved: 17,066

Senlin Ascends | Josiah Bancroft | rating: 4.27 | # ratings: 5,101 | release date: 01/16/18 | books shelved: 26,536

Brief Cases | Jim Butcher | rating: 4.43 | # ratings: 4,922 | release date: 06/05/18 | books shelved: 13,279

WitchMark | C. L. Polk | rating: 4.03 | # ratings: 842 | release date: 06/19/18 | books shelved: 6,785

Beneath the Sugar Sky | Seanan McGuire | rating: 4.11 | # ratings: 7,986 | release date: 01/09/18 | books shelved: 22,750

Burn Bright | Patricia Briggs | rating: 4.28 | # ratings: 10,913 | release date: 03/06/18 | books shelved: 24,867

Age of War | Michael J. Sullivan | rating: 4.5 | # ratings: 12,531 | release date: 07/03/18 | books shelved: 16,728

Cast in Deception | Michelle Sagara | rating: 4.19 | # ratings: 1,600 | release date: 01/23/18 | books shelved: 5,204

What you always like to see.

One of the reasons I write all the books before publishing the first is I want to know where the series is heading, and making each book better than the one that came before seems to be a "thing" with me.  Still, you never know if you accomplish what you set out for until you read something like this:

"Age of War is a phenomenal third installment and this series has only gotten stronger with each progression."

You can read the full review at Powder And Page. 

Views for the Valley

About a year and a half ago Robin built me a "writers retreat." Initially, I thought we would use it on weekends, and for a few months in the summer, but we moved there about a year and a half ago and we've never looked back. Here are some pictures of the amazing place Robin has created.
Amenities at "the land" (as we call it) include: swimming, archery, darts, bocce ball, lawn chess, giant Jenga, drinks and grilling in the outdoor kitchen, bird watching, butterfly watching, relaxing by the pool, relaxing in the pool house, relaxing on the carriage house porch, relaxing on the main house porch, well, relaxing just about anywhere, really.

She added a few extra bedrooms and we've been enjoying hosting writers, readers, friends and relatives out in Luray. "The season" is pretty much wrapped up now, but maybe in the future, we'll open up visits for more people.

























Front view of the cabin with the "carriage house" (aka the garage, workshop, and Robin's office) to the left.

























An open plan first floor with kitchen, dining room and living room taking up the first half of the house. Through the "secret door" (bookcase) is access to the two guest bedrooms.























The covered side porch sitting area is great for mornings and gets a fabulous view of the sunrise.

























The dining table is from "Antique Tables Made Daily." While the construction is brand new the material was cut over a hundred years ago. Formerly the beams in a barn in Pennsylvania, this American chestnut is now extinct. The 1907 blight killed all the trees and even to this day none will live to older than 7-years. Botanists are trying to cross-breed the species, but the original is gone forever.

























The front porch sitting area is perfect for the evening with cool breezes and an excellent spot to watch the clouds over the mountains. Late afternoon produces spectacular cumulus creations.


























My office, where the "magic happens." Is currently on the second floor, although plans are underway to build me a separate smaller cabin hopefully next year.


























The upper floor of the carriage house doubles as a guest quarter and Robin's office. This three-room suite includes the "shipping closet (as seen peaking through the open door. Where packages are assembled and mailed when people buy directly from us. Individual mini-splits contain Marc Simonetti's artwork and allow each room to be individually temperature controlled.

























New this spring, the pool area! It consists of a pool house, an outdoor kitchen, a sitting area under the back porch of the carriage house and some places for fun and games.

























The bocce ball court is sandwiched neatly between the pool and the back-porch sitting area.

























The outdoor kitchen is nestled under the pavilion and has granite countertops and weather resistant cabinets. It features a huge grill, refrigerator, and ice maker for mixed drinks.

























The back of the carriage house provides excellent shade when it's too hot to sit next to the pool.

























A side view of the main cabin.

























The pool house is a great place for playing games, changing clothing, or just sitting and relaxing.

























A giant lawn chess board provides a little intellectual stimulation while cooling off at the pool.

<























Early morning looking over the two outdoor sitting areas of the main cabin.