Chris McGrath asked Michael J. Sullivan:

With The First Empire series being basically written already, and some sold, is there a plan to release them in relatively quick succession or will they be spread out like normal sequels, one a year or so? I ask mainly because as much as I am looking forward to that series, it would be a shame to have to wait 3-5 years for more Royce & Hadrian.

Michael J. Sullivan Hey Gunner, the answer is...I just don't know. At this time the only book that has a release date is book #1 Age of Myth. Until Del Rey gets their hands on "officially submitted" versions they really can't schedule the other books. My plan is to have all five edited to the state where I could submit them by The end of April or May. Here is my working scheduled:

* Age of Swords - Edit During November - I'm a few days late on this, but getting close to being done.

* Age of War - Editing in January 2016

* Age of Legends - Editing Feb - Mar 2016

* Age of Empire - Editing Apr - May 2016

Now, Del Rey has 4 books from me...Three in the First Empire and one that is "a book set in Elan" that "other book" could be a new Royce and Hadrian adventure (assuming people still want more), or it could be Esrahaddon's backstory (The Fall of Percepliquis) or it could be another story (set post Revelations) that I outlined but haven't written yet. My hope would be that the would put out that "other book" positioned somewhere between releases of The First Empire books. Again, it's kind of a moot point until that book is written - and as you can see I can't even start it until May.

Here's my best guess. When I get done editing all of First Empire in May, there will be enough feedback in to determine whether people want more Royce and Hadrian - assuming they do, I'll start "noodling" on a story for them while I write one of the following: Fall of Percepliquis, New post-revelations story, or Hollow World Sequel. Once I get that book done (will generally take 3 - 4 months to write a novel) then I'll start a Royce/Hadrian book - and probably have it finished around the end of 2016. Technically speaking, I'm not supposed to self-publish any "non-Elan books until the Del Rey contract is done - and again I'm not sure of the spacing at this time. But...let's say it is ready by early 2017...I could make that the "other book in Elan" submission for them and they could probably get it out by late 2017 or early 2018. If they "reject" the book then I bet I could convince them to let me self-publish it just as long as I keep it away from the release dates of theirs. It may be that they'll let me to a Kickstarter for it but not "publish" it to the world at large. In any case...there is still too much up in the air, and until I get books to a releasable state - no one can really do much planning. Will certainly keep people updated as things progress.

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