Short Question - Short Answer

Today's short question for which I will provide a short answer is . . . "I've been wondering for a while now how it was that Eanrin came to be blind. Will we be told of his story soon or sometime in the far future?"

Oh, Lumé. This question is so difficult for me to answer.

The story of how Eanrin loses his eyes is one of the most important, central themes in the series simply because it so profoundly affects one of the most important and beloved characters. It is a storyline that has been carefully in the works since before Heartless was published. There have been hints about it dropped in Moonblood and so much foreshadowing for it in all of the other stories. It's a plot point I promise I have not forgotten and will not skip! You, dear readers, will get this tale and all its gory tragedy in full one day.

But will it be sooner or later? That is the difficulty.

You see, following the release of Poison Crown, I plan to take a short break from writing the Goldstone Wood series. (And I will tell you right now, don't count on getting the story of how Eanrin loses his eyes in Poison Crown. There are a dozen or more revelations and connections happening in this book, but that's not likely to be one of them.)

What do I mean by a short break? I mean I am tentatively planning to let the series rest for a few years (no more than three or four) while I work on other, simpler projects. Such as the Super Secret Project. And another project that has been brewing over this last year that I really want a chance to write.

This is partly for my own health. Each of the Goldstone Wood novels is an incredible creative effort, and as the series gets bigger and more complex, the books themselves get bigger and more complex. I need to be careful I don't burn out, and that means slowing down a little bit. And taking a break. Not a break from writing--I don't think I could do that anymore than I could take a break from breathing--but a break from this enormous series that has been consuming my creative life for the last eight years and more.

Anyway, I hope this isn't a depressing answer to all of you! A break from Goldstone Wood will be nothing more than a break. I cannot imagine ever being truly done writing this series and fully intend to tell every single one of the stories in my head. Just maybe not at the same crazy pace that I've been these last few years.

And I really think you guys are going to like the Super Secret Project and its connected series. And this new project I plan to tackle in the next year . . . Oh my! It's so much fun, I can't wait to share more about it! (Want a hint about this new one? It may or may not involve good dragons . . . .)