James P. Mallory (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
merlinscribe) wrote2017-03-16 02:13 pm
merlinscribe) wrote2017-03-16 02:13 pm
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Blade of Empire Update
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.
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.
Re: So to clarify....
1. I am contracted to Tor for the book that was released today and for one other.
1a. Tor has no interest in World of Obsidian novellas so far as I know.
2. I do not yet know whether or not Tor will want any more Obsidian books, and may not know until the beginning of 2019. Regardless of their decision, I will continue the story. Kickstarter and Patreon are both possible ways.
3. Amazon has BLADE being released on 10/24/17, and so far as I know, it has been.
4. I am expecting to turn in SCOURGE by the end of this year. Fingers crossed, everyone.
Questions:
1. In the course of the writing of the last eight books, Ms. Lackey and I have collaborated in every possible way, including plotting the books in GChat. We bounce the short outline back and forth until it's settled, then I do the first draft of the long outline, she amends it, I emend her emendations, and eventually we both agree that we have detailed all the events to occur. Since each scene now has a number, we often write scenes out of order. Once there is a full manuscript, I do the first and third polishes, she does the second.
2. It's hard to kill people, and even when the course of the story is shaping in that direction, I try to talk the story out of it (with limited success). To have everyone survive everything would be unrealistic (especially since this storyline covers a century-long war), but at the same time I don't want so many characters to die that the heroes give up all hope and/or don't win. If Tor had published the original draft of CROWN, you would have seen the deaths of a lot more major characters. As it was, I had to cut both the characters and their deaths.
3. Tor wanted the Phoenix books to be very short. About two-thirds of the first one and half of the second were cut. I don't remember how much of the third one was cut: somewhere between a quarter and a half, to the best of my recollection.
Re: So to clarify....
-Unfortunately I have little time to read so audiobooks between classes and when eating is a life saver for the book lover in me! I downloaded BLADE this morning and am already so happy to be immersed in the universe once more.
-You've brought it up, I know I have brought it up before, but I would pay good (teetering on far too much) money on an author's preferred edition (a directors cut if you will) if/when Tor may let you (or the rights revert back to you), so don't lose those original uncut copies!
-As much as I do love the Phoenix books, I always felt like they were horribly mutilated in the way only a publisher can manage (being cut far too much). Truthfully though, it did feel like a lot was missing, I know there is only so much you can do when a publisher wants to cut so much but it always felt like they were the weakest story-wise.
Re: So to clarify....
Edit: after briefly looking to satisfy my own curiosity it appears you can publish your books physically through amazon too and even make audiobooks
Re: So to clarify....
Re: So to clarify....