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March 2022 Newsletter

by Mar 1, 2022Wonderings17 comments

Hey everyone,

It’s been a minute since I updated the blog, so fair warning on what’s going to be a long post.
First, A Necessary Heresy was released on January 7th, and as always, I’m thrilled and gobsmacked (good word there) when people read something I wrote and loved it. That reaction never grows old, and I’m so grateful I get to do what I do. However, I also know that for some people the book was a bit of a letdown. I feel what you’ve said, and while what happened to Cinder and Anya made for a more powerful and interesting read for some, it made it less enjoyable for others. But the fact that the book inspired passion also means I did my job. And in the end I’m more excited than ever about what paths Cinder and Anya will have to take in order to become who they’ve always been for one another.

There’s other news as well. For example, what about the audiobook?  Well, speaking of it, here is the cover for it right below, so it’s no longer a figment of my imagination.

We also have a publication date, which is May 31st. Unfortunately, I don’t have a preorder link yet, but it’s not much longer before it’s out in the world!

Now comes the next question, which is always, “What about book 4?” Well, there’s a story there. It’s best to say that book 4 is percolating along. The truth is, A Necessary Heresy took a lot out of me emotionally. I struggled with writing the necessary (see what I did there?) scenes for months on end; rewriting, deleting, adding, editing with rinse and repeat… There was a lot to it, and for the first time, the process wasn’t fun. It took its toll to get through it all, and after I finished, I just didn’t have it in me to jump straight into book 4. I needed room to feel, hear, and process what needs to happen next, especially for Cinder and Anya’s sake.

Then I had a strange dream. It woke me in the middle of the night at 2:00 AM, and it started with a simple question: what is God? Not surprisingly, I never learned the answer, but the dream insisted on pestering me for the next four hours. I tried to ignore it by rolling over, thinking of something, anything else… anything to turn it off and just go back to sleep. But the dream wouldn’t die down. In the end, there was something important from the dream that I had to write down. And that something is going to be a slight break from Instrument of Omens.

The break is a new series, one that’s a progression/epic fantasy titled The Eternal Ephemera. It’s about a young man, who through tragic circumstances, fails himself and his community and chooses then to drown his sorrows in alcohol. His redemption is the arc of the story. There’s a lot more to it than that, such as the fact that it’s part of the Anchored Worlds, mentions Rukh and Jessira (of course it does and for those paying attention, you’ll even know what happens to them after the end of Instrument of Omens), features a talking panda and has Travis Baldree as the narrator…

Did I forget to mention that last part?

Funny story about Travis. I had a chance to talk to him in the late spring of 2021 and even convinced him to come to DragonCon 2021 (I’m taking credit for that). During that talk, I mentioned I might have a series I’d love for him to narrate at some point in the future (this was before I had the dream, and what I had for Travis then was a sci-fi series). Travis said, “Sure. Let me know, and I’ll make it happen.” It was all just a handshake agreement of the “Get to it when you can, like even if it’s years from now,” sorta thing.

But then I had the dream.

Anyway, I mentioned this project to Podium-my audiobook publisher-along with the handshake agreement with Travis, and suddenly, I’ve got a formal contract to have Travis Baldree narrate a five book series for me. Weird how these things work out, but I’ll take it!

Also, for those who want to start reading that new story sooner rather than later, I’ll be posting it on my Patreon account before it hits Amazon or Audible. Guess that’s another thing I should have mentioned, eh? I’m going to start a Patreon, and Blood of a Novice, book 1 of The Eternal Ephemera will be the first novel shared on it, starting in April. I’ll link to the Patreon once I actually have something loaded into it for people to read.

And I’m sure there are some (many) people who are very much in the camp of “But where the frag is book 4! I want Instrument of Omens, not some new series!” For you, I’ve got good news. Working on The Eternal Ephemera has been such a blessing. It’s cleared my mind and gotten me in the right headspace to approach book 4 in the way it needs and deserves. Lots of great ideas are bubbling to the forefront, and I’m excited to get back to working on it. That should be in the summer. It’ll also go up on Patreon first before releasing on Amazon or Audible.

Davis

17 Comments

  1. Joanne Glass

    I love the series so far. Upset me that you doing another book… Finish the series 1st……

    Reply
    • Davis

      I’m glad you’re loving the series so far. I also appreciate the frustration of wanting to see it completed, but I really did need a break to get my mind and heart right for the next book. And Instruments will be completed, and it won’t be paused for long. I am guessing summer is when I get back to it. In the meantime, that dream really meant something deep to me, and I couldn’t ignore it.

      Davis

      Reply
    • Davis

      I do know the feeling about having authors skip around in different series, but once you learn how this other series came about, you’ll likely understand why I had to start writing it. But the break for Instrument of Omens won’t last long. I’ll be back in the groove by summer.

      Davis

      Reply
    • Jenni

      Like Joanne l am so, so, so sorry that you are leaving Instruments of Omens unfinished to start another project. I started this series because of your narrator Nick Podehl, he always narrates great books and have l enjoy his narration since listing to him narrate Kings Dark Tidings in 2015 which started out as a trilogy with publications in Sept 2015, Oct 2016, Dec 2017 then a fourth book in Nov 2018 and it’s still not finished and now l am still waiting for the final? book four years later.
      I started your books with the Castes and the Outcasts, then The Chronicles of Wilbur Wild now l am on book 3 of the Instruments of Omens series. I have listened to many more of Nick Podel narratives from other authors.
      Sorry if this sounds harsh but this is happening with more and more authors (starting for me with George R Martins, Game of Thrones) and as invested a lot of time and money into that series as each book was sold in two parts and there’s more l can name as l have a audio library of 900+ books and too many series not completed.

      Reply
      • Davis

        Hi Jenni,

        I appreciate the passion, and you’re not being harsh. But I think there’s a miscommunication going on. Instrument of Omens will NOT be left unfinished. In fact, in a couple of weeks, I will be starting my read through of the other books in preparation of my planned start date on the writing of book 4 of Instrument of Omens in July 2022. And it won’t take me 5-10 years to write it. I’ve spent the last few months working on another project but in the back of my head, ideas and themes for book 4 have been percolating along.

        Davis

        Reply
  2. JIm B.

    I love all the series so far. Keep them coming.

    Reply
    • Davis

      Writing is something I absolutely love, so no worries on that front! I’ll definitely keep them coming!

      Davis

      Reply
      • Ben

        Hey just some feedback on the audio book for a necessary heresy. For quite a few chapters the narrator has a very noticeable cold and it gets quite annoying.
        The clicks and slow, deep voices for the baddies is a bit much too. Hope you dont mind the feedback.

        Reply
        • Davis

          No worries. Thanks for the feedback.

          Davis

          Reply
  3. Craig

    I love the series so far (I read I think all that you have written so far), only other authors I have read all of the works is JR Tolkien, Brooks. Others were early Stephen King, etc. Not found must over the last couple of years that held my interest. Begin to think that nothing after the third book was worth reading. However, you have raised my hopes. I look forward to the new series and the 4th book.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Davis

      Hi Craig,

      That is amazing company in which to be listed, especially Tolkien for whom I have a special place in my heart. And I’ll always love Terry Brooks, especially for Elfstones of Shannara. As for Stephen King-he’s a legend.

      Sincerely,

      Davis

      Reply
  4. Sean de Vosjoli

    Sir, I found you bwcause of my love of all book narrated by Nick P.
    You have made a world that I have lives in now for months, everyday driving and at home. Thank you! You are now one of my cherished authors.

    I surely will nail bite the months/years it will take you to write book 4 but i cant wait to listen to your new book and start a new adventure!!

    Thank you again!

    Reply
    • Davis

      You are more than welcome, Sean! And safe driving!

      Davis

      Reply
  5. Chris

    I am loving the series so far, even with the early events of book 3 being uncomfortable. Reading your reasoning for taking a short break from it, I fully support the decision.
    Brandon Sanderson is a monster when it comes to publishing frequency, but he attributes it to the same practice. After finishing a serious book that drains him, he writes something that will instead invigorated him. The downtime between releases remains pretty constant, but we get additional books to read instead of just silence while the author recuperates.
    If writing Instrument of Omens drains your Jivatma, and writing something else between husbands your Jivatma, then it’s a good thing. Balance is everything.

    Reply
    • Davis

      Thank you for those kind words of support, Chris. I really did need a break from Instrument of Omens. I’ve been relieved by how understanding people have been about the whole situation. And, yes, Sanderson truly is on another level when it comes to the speed of his writing.

      Reply
  6. Vince

    Loving the books and keep up the great work… Omens is my first exposure so looking forward to reading your first series and the new one. I have been popping back and forth between Terry Mancour /Spellmonger … Omens and Garon Whited /Nightlord… Youbare doing amazing work man.. keep them coming!

    Reply
    • Davis

      Thank you, Vince. One of these days, I’m going to have to make time to read again. And Spellmonger is recommended to me all the time. I actually got a chance to meet Terry last year, and I had no idea how long he’s actually been writing. He even has a Star Trek novel under his belt.
      And Garon Whited needs to go on the list as well.

      Davis

      Reply

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