Jayden Stark
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
So keeping it short, we need more after the Riyria Revelations. Even if it's not Hadrian and Royce and more on their heirs and new world, it's not finished for me personally..please? :D
Michael J. Sullivan
So, back in 2012 (oh my god, has it already been more than a decade!), I swore I would do no post-Riyria Revelations tales. Why? Because I worked so hard to make the ending truly outstanding, and I feel that I did exactly that. I just couldn't imagine there would be a way to top what I had accomplished in Heir of Novron, and I saw no reason to try.
Well, 10+ years later, I've been able to show my entire vision for ALL the books in Elan. This was accomplished by going back 3,000 years to the origins of the First Empire and showing you all the lies that became taken as truth by those in the Riyria timeframe (through the six books in the Legends of the First Empire books). And I've also given the full accounting of how that First Empire rose and fell, which is completed with the release of Esrahaddon in just a few months.
With those stories fully told, I realize that I could top Revelations, and there are so many dangling threads that could be tied up in a bow if I WERE to go further down the timeline. The problem. Well, there are three. First, It would be an incredibly difficult undertaking. Second, I wouldn't want to promise anything until it was finished to my satisfaction. And third, it really would have to top anything that I've done before.
Since finishing Drumindor (the 5th Chronicle) a few months ago, I've been seriously looking into what it would take. And there have been some huge obstacles/plot problems that needed to be addressed. And I've pretty much solved all the "big ones" of those. I'm starting to sketch things out, and I do have a possible direction. Now let me make this clear that it's only the first step on a very long road, and I probably won't know until a few years from now whether it looks like I'll reach the end of the journey (I'm just as likely to toss it all out if it seems to be impossible), but yesterday my wife asked me about it, and I did give her the odds as greater than 50/50 which is a long way from the 10/90 that I gave her when I started working on this.
So I'm closer than what I was, but still no promises. But you can feel good that I'm at least entertaining an idea that was 100% off the table for more than a decade.
Well, 10+ years later, I've been able to show my entire vision for ALL the books in Elan. This was accomplished by going back 3,000 years to the origins of the First Empire and showing you all the lies that became taken as truth by those in the Riyria timeframe (through the six books in the Legends of the First Empire books). And I've also given the full accounting of how that First Empire rose and fell, which is completed with the release of Esrahaddon in just a few months.
With those stories fully told, I realize that I could top Revelations, and there are so many dangling threads that could be tied up in a bow if I WERE to go further down the timeline. The problem. Well, there are three. First, It would be an incredibly difficult undertaking. Second, I wouldn't want to promise anything until it was finished to my satisfaction. And third, it really would have to top anything that I've done before.
Since finishing Drumindor (the 5th Chronicle) a few months ago, I've been seriously looking into what it would take. And there have been some huge obstacles/plot problems that needed to be addressed. And I've pretty much solved all the "big ones" of those. I'm starting to sketch things out, and I do have a possible direction. Now let me make this clear that it's only the first step on a very long road, and I probably won't know until a few years from now whether it looks like I'll reach the end of the journey (I'm just as likely to toss it all out if it seems to be impossible), but yesterday my wife asked me about it, and I did give her the odds as greater than 50/50 which is a long way from the 10/90 that I gave her when I started working on this.
So I'm closer than what I was, but still no promises. But you can feel good that I'm at least entertaining an idea that was 100% off the table for more than a decade.
More Answered Questions
Phil
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Michael. Just a quick question. I've gotten a lot of your books through your own store. Was curious about the plans for Nolan's release. Will you do a kickstarter? Or will you use a vendor like Grim Oak for signed first editions? I know some retailers have the trade hardcover for preorder but was curious about any limited or signed editions. Thanks!
Steven Ede
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Michael, I was just wondering how the First Empire series is going and if there is an estimate release date yet? I'm really excited about this new series and finding it difficult to be patient! I have just read in another post that there is a third book in the Riyria Chronicles! Oh ... you have no idea how happy i am on that score ... when can i get it!?!? lol Keep up the good work. Thanks Steven.
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