Joe Yesselman
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Michael, I just read every book currently out in Riyria. Although I read them in possibly the unintended way of: Age of Myth -> Riyria Chronicles -> Riyria Revelations First would just wanted to say you are an amazing writer and really enjoyed the world. My question is do you have plans to write stories taking place after the events of Riyria Revelations? Thanks, Joe
Michael J. Sullivan
Hey Joe,
Thanks for writing..and for the amazing support! And your order...while unconventional, is actually more common than you might think. I'm actually seeing a lot of people do it the way you have and also Age of Myth > Riyria Revelations > Riyria Chronicles, which is good because it's showing that the new series is (a) helping people to find me and (b) indicating they like what they found and are looking for more.
Okay, so there's not a short answer to your question. I have to take a minute to explain the past, because it will help to understand the future.
When I wrote The Riyria Revelations, I wrote all six books before publishing the first and when I was done with them I thought that is all I would be writing in this world and with these characters. Mainly because I didn't think they would ever be published (and if by some chance they did get published, they wouldn't be very popular), and secondly because I had a lot of other stories to tell.
But my wife, and more than a few readers, were depressed after finishing The Riyria Revelations because they felt like they had lost some dear friends. So I decided to write the Chronicle tales (which went "back in time" to show how Riyria was formed) so everyone could get a "little more" of their R&H fix.
But the few years of the Riyria tales is just a small part of the history of my world of Elan, and I also wanted to explore other times. This includes:
* The founding of the First Empire -- which is what is currently being rolled out in the six books of the Legends of the First Empire. Those books will/are being released from 2016 - 2019.
* The Fall of the First Empire -- basically the story of Esrahaddon, Jerish and Nevrik (names the will be familiar to Riyria readers). I've started scoping this out and I have at least 3 books and they will start coming out in 2020.
With those three series (Riyria, Legends, Fall) out - I pretty much will tell the parts about the world that I wanted to. Now, that said, even with all that done, there will be a few things that I would like to delve into...and all of those things would require going forward in time -- past the Riyria Revelations.
What I'm not sure at this point is what the time period for those books should be. Will they pick up right after Revelations? Will they pick up with the children of some notable characters? Will it pick up centuries in the future when many of the Riryia exploits are now myth and legend? I don't know. And to be honest I can't really think on it quite now (other than in the background).
I'll be busy the rest of this year getting the 4th Riyria Chronicle out and finishing edits on Age of War for a Spring 2018 release. Then I want to do the finishing edits on all the rest of the Legends books. I anticipate I'll be starting the "Fall of the First Empire books come the fall and that could keep me busy for 2018 and 2019. I also want to sneak in a Hollow World sequel sometime soonish, and there is a possibility of a 5th Chronicle if #4 is well received. So....I'm probably pretty busy with "already planned" work through 2020. Will I start on a "post Riyria in 2021"? The odds are pretty good but given that is so far in the future I can't make any promises. The truth is I have more stories in my head than I'll have time to write before I croak off. But my mind is always churning on such notions and the more it does, the more likely it is to come to fruition.
As I said, it's not an easy answer...but it's at least a complete one ;-)
Thanks for writing..and for the amazing support! And your order...while unconventional, is actually more common than you might think. I'm actually seeing a lot of people do it the way you have and also Age of Myth > Riyria Revelations > Riyria Chronicles, which is good because it's showing that the new series is (a) helping people to find me and (b) indicating they like what they found and are looking for more.
Okay, so there's not a short answer to your question. I have to take a minute to explain the past, because it will help to understand the future.
When I wrote The Riyria Revelations, I wrote all six books before publishing the first and when I was done with them I thought that is all I would be writing in this world and with these characters. Mainly because I didn't think they would ever be published (and if by some chance they did get published, they wouldn't be very popular), and secondly because I had a lot of other stories to tell.
But my wife, and more than a few readers, were depressed after finishing The Riyria Revelations because they felt like they had lost some dear friends. So I decided to write the Chronicle tales (which went "back in time" to show how Riyria was formed) so everyone could get a "little more" of their R&H fix.
But the few years of the Riyria tales is just a small part of the history of my world of Elan, and I also wanted to explore other times. This includes:
* The founding of the First Empire -- which is what is currently being rolled out in the six books of the Legends of the First Empire. Those books will/are being released from 2016 - 2019.
* The Fall of the First Empire -- basically the story of Esrahaddon, Jerish and Nevrik (names the will be familiar to Riyria readers). I've started scoping this out and I have at least 3 books and they will start coming out in 2020.
With those three series (Riyria, Legends, Fall) out - I pretty much will tell the parts about the world that I wanted to. Now, that said, even with all that done, there will be a few things that I would like to delve into...and all of those things would require going forward in time -- past the Riyria Revelations.
What I'm not sure at this point is what the time period for those books should be. Will they pick up right after Revelations? Will they pick up with the children of some notable characters? Will it pick up centuries in the future when many of the Riryia exploits are now myth and legend? I don't know. And to be honest I can't really think on it quite now (other than in the background).
I'll be busy the rest of this year getting the 4th Riyria Chronicle out and finishing edits on Age of War for a Spring 2018 release. Then I want to do the finishing edits on all the rest of the Legends books. I anticipate I'll be starting the "Fall of the First Empire books come the fall and that could keep me busy for 2018 and 2019. I also want to sneak in a Hollow World sequel sometime soonish, and there is a possibility of a 5th Chronicle if #4 is well received. So....I'm probably pretty busy with "already planned" work through 2020. Will I start on a "post Riyria in 2021"? The odds are pretty good but given that is so far in the future I can't make any promises. The truth is I have more stories in my head than I'll have time to write before I croak off. But my mind is always churning on such notions and the more it does, the more likely it is to come to fruition.
As I said, it's not an easy answer...but it's at least a complete one ;-)
More Answered Questions
Amber
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Whenever you do put out more Riyria Chronicles I was wondering if Tim Gerard Reynolds will also be narrating again? It would be hard to read the book without his voice at this point. He brings so much life to your stories. I think he should narrate all of your books, if that was at all possible :)
Abhisek Dash
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hey. I just wanted to ask if you've heard of GraphicAudio? I'd love it if you'd let your books be re-imagined in the GraphicAudio format. Question was too long to fit in. Here's the rest of it: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s299/sh/23216de9-886d-4aa9-b2fa-6a979e25e400/34ba15d4f2b0acfb05dfa0017ad850ae
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