Children of Vale

Writing and publishing Children of Vale was, by far, both the most work-intensive and gratifying creative project I've ever completed. Hearing people's reactions to the novel is a joy. It's special to watch something you've worked on and cared about for years find its way into other people's hands and give them a similar sense of joy and wonder.

It was, above all, fun—the most fun I've had doing something creative. I loved not just the characters and the story, but the process of writing itself. Even nitty gritty things, like formatting EPUBs or navigating the choppy waters of the self-publishing industry, gave me a special pleasure, because it was in service to a work I cared about. I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss that creative process, especially the writing process, now that it's all over and life has returned to "normal".

Given that… I have a special announcement.

Anyone whose read the novel can tell you that it's a slice out of a larger universe. Like the main character, Tyana, we're dropped into a world we don't know and didn't expect, and our journey of discovering that world and its history is her journey. Like standing on an iceberg, we get the sense that there is a whole new set of depths to plumb, even when we turn the last page.

I've heard back from readers who've taken that journey of discovery, and they all tell me the same thing when they close the back cover:

"I want more."

So, today, I can confess: you won't be disappointed. You will get more. Because I am working on a second novel.

I can't divulge the new work's title or release date—though I will make sure it does not take another decade! All I can say is that it, like Children of Vale, will be another slice from that universe, but from a different angle. There are more places to visit, more secrets to uncover, more characters to meet, and more wrongs to be righted.

So if you had the sneaking suspicion that Tyana's story didn't end here… you were right. We will see her again. Maybe not for awhile, but we will.

I am developing this new work in three stages… one part research, another part composition, and another part re-writing. I won't make any promises regarding the time to completion of those phases, but to be fully frank, the research portion began as soon as the ink was dry on Children of Vale.

I've been waiting to go public with this news, ensuring that I was personally committed before I got my readers' hopes up. Given that I miss the process itself, and the world, and the characters… I frankly can't imagine myself not writing another book.

So, if you have sci-fi or fantasy loving friends, tell them about this book. It's not a one-off, and I'm not a big fan of cliffhangers. It may take awhile before you hear anything detailed about the next book. I want to make sure it is at least as good as Children of Vale, if not even better. It won't be a simple re-hashed sequel, either.

But today, I can at least confirm for you that the rumors are true.

With that… I'm going to spill some ink.