Blade of Empire Update

[merlinscribe]

As of last week, BLADE OF EMPIRE has gone through *two* editorial revisions and is now in production at Tor! This puts it on schedule for a Fall 2017 release.

I will almost certainly be turning in SCOURGE OF FATE by the end of this year, though what Tor does with it after that, and when, is anybody's guess.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Wait so we won't see the end of the First Endarkened War at the end of Scourge?

:((((

Or will you publish stories from the First Endarkened War later on?

[(Anonymous)]

From what I understand he has said, both here and in previous post, is that both Blade of Empire and Scourge of Fate are basically one book. He wanted more of the second book to be published and not have a repeat on what happened to Crown of Vengeance, where a lot of it was cut. In another old post he made, he said that Tor has only contracted them for three books. When I fully process what those couple of old posts said (I admit it took me a bit), I started to get worried that this series would not get finished. In theory if both Blade and Scourge are one book, Tor only contracted them for three books, and then my mind started saying only 2/3 of the series would get published.

I will admit I can worry about anything. Once I start worrying, that feeling will stay with me. So I decided to ask Mr. Mallory about it, so I can stop worrying. I was almost in tears thinking that my all-time favorite series would never see an ending.

Mr. Mallory just said that if Tor is not interested in buying/contracting them for more in this series then he may go into self-publishing. So in the end all the series will get out there for us to enjoy. The end of the First Endarkened War should be in either the book that comes after Scourge or the book after that (if he cuts the next book in two again). I know a part of this would depend on Tor. They may allow them to do more (hopefully).

Please Mr. Mallory correct me if I understand this wrong.

Hope that helped,
Bridgette

PS I was just wandering if Runcar and Vieliessar meet up in Scourge? You mentioned a while ago that they do not meet up in Blade. That the closest they were would be 3,000 miles (not sure if I remember that right).

[merlinscribe]

Oh, Rune and Vielle DEFINITELY meet up in Scourge: irresistible force, meet unmovable object.

While they are almost literally at the opposite ends of the world during Blade, I think you'll find that isn't enough to keep them from being in each others' thoughts. Though maybe not in the best way.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes! I Can't wait for them to meet. That has to be a memorable scene.

Bridgette

[merlinscribe]

::laughing::

Indeed!

[merlinscribe]

My contract requires me to turn in a book of roughly 150,000 words or 600 pages, if my math skills have not failed me. I really doubt I can finish the story of the First Endarkened War in so small a space, let alone resolve the sub-plots I have in play. It is, after all, a war that takes over 100 years to resolve. We'll see what happens.

[(Anonymous)]

Uh, I had no idea how long the First Endarkened War last. A century would be hard to put in a single book, or even a few books.

[(Anonymous)]

You did however do a good job of that in the first book.

Bridgette

PS I accidentally hit post too early for the previous reply.

[merlinscribe]

Thank you! Doing a "short" book (under 150K), it's hard to get in the character moments that bring the characters you're following to life and *also* be true and evocative about the sweep of decades and sometimes centuries. Trying to cover that much time while spending time with characters, many of whom have lives that are measured in decades, is a balancing act that I'm not sure anybody can perform to the satisfaction of readers.