Steve Naylor
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
I loved your new book Age of Myth. Do you have a timeline for how long between the release of each book? Every year/couple of years?
Michael J. Sullivan
UPDATE: Everything below the line was my original answer to Stevevn's question but I have more data now, so I'm going to add some clarifying remarks.
We've narrowed down the publishing schedule for the next few books and it goes like this:
* June 2017: Age of Swords (Legends #2)
* Oct/Nov 2017: Untitled Riyria Chronicle #4
* Jan/Feb 2018: Age of War (Legends #3)
* June/July 2018: Some book set in Elan - possibly Age of Legends (Legends #4)
That last one needs a bit of an explanation. Del Rey's contract was for four books. And because I had the Riyria Chronicles (that might have another book) and a new series (Fall of the Empire) that I would like to start rolling I wanted to provide a "hole" for a non-Legends book to be released.
Speed ahead a bit and the Legends series expanded from 5 books to 6 and it breaks nicely along three-book lines. Books 1 -3 form a cohesive group as does 4 - 6. So I want to keep 4, 5, and 6 with a single publisher. So, I've told Del Rey they can make that "4th book based in Elan" the 4th book of Legends - but ONLY if they are willing to offer a contract for 4, 5, and 6. If not, then I'll give them something else to fulfill that contract requirement. Anyway...it's too early yet for them to make a huge additional financial commitment. Age of Swords has sold well, but it's only been out a few months. So we are going to wait until more sales come in to make that decision. But, let's say they don't pick up the last three books, no worries - I'll put them out on my own as I have the resources to do that - both monetarily and because I have access to the same cover designer and copy editors that my publisher uses.
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Hey Steven, thanks for asking. It will be 1 year or less between books. I have the entire series written but there is a big difference between "written" and "done." And the publisher has only signed 3 (or 4) of them at this point.
The reason why I say 3 or 4 is because I have a 4 book contract that says the first three books of the Legends of the First Empire and 1 untitled book set in Elan. And it could very well be that the "book set in Elan" could be that 4th book.
Recently I finished major edits on the end of the series - books #4 - #6. And no one but myself have seen those yet. So it's really hard to predict their release date until Robin (my alpha reader), my agent, my editor, and the beta readers have read them.
Speaking of beta readers. Book #2 just went into beta about a week ago. And that was the first time anyone but Robin has seen the book (in other words the first time my agent and publisher got their eyes on it. Assuming that it is in "good shape" (which I suspect it is and early beta reading seems to prove that out), then there will only be minor tweaks here and there. If the book can be ready for copy editing in December then we can hit a June 20th release date for it (which is what it is tentatively set for. With book #1 and #2 out of the way I think #3 - #6 can go more quickly through the editing process as there was almost a year that I spent editing the end of the series and I don't have to do that again.
So, we don't know anything for 100% sure. But based on the fact that my heavy lifting is done, and now it's up to others to do their parts, things should move in short order for the rest of the series.
Last thing I should mention, a lot will depend on whether Del Rey picks up the last few books (2 or 3 depending on how we count that "fourth" book). If they don't pick them up, then we'll self-publish and we would likely return to a book every six months (as that is the schedule I did with the original Riyria novels). If they will be released by my publisher, then we have to see what their schedule looks like for others books and where they can be scheduled. Sorry that I'm not able to be precise, but it's a serial rather than parallel process and we are working our way through it as fast as we can while still ensuring a quality product.
We've narrowed down the publishing schedule for the next few books and it goes like this:
* June 2017: Age of Swords (Legends #2)
* Oct/Nov 2017: Untitled Riyria Chronicle #4
* Jan/Feb 2018: Age of War (Legends #3)
* June/July 2018: Some book set in Elan - possibly Age of Legends (Legends #4)
That last one needs a bit of an explanation. Del Rey's contract was for four books. And because I had the Riyria Chronicles (that might have another book) and a new series (Fall of the Empire) that I would like to start rolling I wanted to provide a "hole" for a non-Legends book to be released.
Speed ahead a bit and the Legends series expanded from 5 books to 6 and it breaks nicely along three-book lines. Books 1 -3 form a cohesive group as does 4 - 6. So I want to keep 4, 5, and 6 with a single publisher. So, I've told Del Rey they can make that "4th book based in Elan" the 4th book of Legends - but ONLY if they are willing to offer a contract for 4, 5, and 6. If not, then I'll give them something else to fulfill that contract requirement. Anyway...it's too early yet for them to make a huge additional financial commitment. Age of Swords has sold well, but it's only been out a few months. So we are going to wait until more sales come in to make that decision. But, let's say they don't pick up the last three books, no worries - I'll put them out on my own as I have the resources to do that - both monetarily and because I have access to the same cover designer and copy editors that my publisher uses.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Steven, thanks for asking. It will be 1 year or less between books. I have the entire series written but there is a big difference between "written" and "done." And the publisher has only signed 3 (or 4) of them at this point.
The reason why I say 3 or 4 is because I have a 4 book contract that says the first three books of the Legends of the First Empire and 1 untitled book set in Elan. And it could very well be that the "book set in Elan" could be that 4th book.
Recently I finished major edits on the end of the series - books #4 - #6. And no one but myself have seen those yet. So it's really hard to predict their release date until Robin (my alpha reader), my agent, my editor, and the beta readers have read them.
Speaking of beta readers. Book #2 just went into beta about a week ago. And that was the first time anyone but Robin has seen the book (in other words the first time my agent and publisher got their eyes on it. Assuming that it is in "good shape" (which I suspect it is and early beta reading seems to prove that out), then there will only be minor tweaks here and there. If the book can be ready for copy editing in December then we can hit a June 20th release date for it (which is what it is tentatively set for. With book #1 and #2 out of the way I think #3 - #6 can go more quickly through the editing process as there was almost a year that I spent editing the end of the series and I don't have to do that again.
So, we don't know anything for 100% sure. But based on the fact that my heavy lifting is done, and now it's up to others to do their parts, things should move in short order for the rest of the series.
Last thing I should mention, a lot will depend on whether Del Rey picks up the last few books (2 or 3 depending on how we count that "fourth" book). If they don't pick them up, then we'll self-publish and we would likely return to a book every six months (as that is the schedule I did with the original Riyria novels). If they will be released by my publisher, then we have to see what their schedule looks like for others books and where they can be scheduled. Sorry that I'm not able to be precise, but it's a serial rather than parallel process and we are working our way through it as fast as we can while still ensuring a quality product.
More Answered Questions
Trine Lise
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Michael :) As a mythology-buff, I wanted to ask a few questions about the gods of Elan. Were you inspired by any mythologies when you made the creation story and deities, did you simply develop it to fit the story or was it primarily based on the redemption theme the Riyria books have? And, if it’s not considered some sort of spoiler, did Erebus ever manage to collect all the feathers and be forgiven by Muriel?
A Goodreads user
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
In regards to Kickstarter and the Disappearance of Winter's Daughter. I absolutely love having your previous books in hardcover and your Death of Dulgath kickstarter was handled so well. You've been updating the writing progress side of things over on the book page [and thanks for that!] but am wondering about how a Kickstarter and hence a hardcover, is looking? Thank you.
Pete Vagiakos
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hey Michael, so I am one of those that actually "discovered" you and your work with Age of Myth (and can't wait to get my hands on Age of War, it's my next-in-line to read at the moment). So my question is; for someone like me who's not exposed (yet) to your Riyria novels, what would you recommend? Chronicles and then Revelations, or vice versa? Thanks!
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