Hi!
I hope the days are treating you well…or at least as well as can be expected. I’m writing this post to discuss my series, Cole & Srexx. Specifically, Book 4 of that series: The Fires of Aurelius.
Here, have a cover:
So, let’s recap where things stand. Right around five months ago (plus or minus), I announced I would be cancelling the pre-order, and I explained my reasoning for that. I received all kinds of support from my readers and (newsletter) subscribers, and it suddenly occurs to me that I’m not sure if I ever said ‘thank you.’ Allow me to digress a moment.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to send a message to me regarding the cancellation announcement of “The Fires of Aurelius.” Your kindness and understanding meant so much to me.
During the intervening months, I kept trying to fix “Fires,” but no matter what I tried–whether plot twist, change pieces of the story arc, etc.–I could not get excited about writing that story. It reached the point that I decided the series would be a trilogy. I wasn’t going to put any more time or effort into the series. I would take what I learned and start working up another Science Fiction series I was actually excited about. Workable plan, right?
Raise your hand if you’re familiar with the saying, “No plan survives contact with the enemy.”
In this case, the enemy was apparently my subconscious or my creative mind or something. For the past week or so, I have not been able to get “Fires” out of my mind. It has occupied so much of my mental bandwidth that I’m behind schedule for “Home Sweet Home,” and let’s not even discuss how I was supposed to be proofing the audio for “Archmagister.” (Sorry, Tia!)
At around 2:15am today (17 May 2020, for anyone who reads this in the future), it reached critical mass. It had been swirling around in my mind so much that everything just came together and pretty much forced me to work through why it’s been on my mind.
I now have a rough story for “Fires” (or better yet, bird’s eye view of a rough story) that I’m excited to write. That I’ll be exited to put my name on in public.
This is the official announcement that “The Fires of Aurelius” will be my third novel this year. I’ll begin story prep as soon as I deliver “Home Sweet Home” to the editor on June 1st.
Yay! While I love everything you write, I have to admit that Cole and Srexx are my favorites. So excited to see this bit of news. Thank you so much!
Glad to hear „something “ got you going on Srexx and Cole again. Looking very much forward
Being a writer and one of the first indie publishers back in the 1980s, I will tell you this is your subconscious talking. What you originally planned was not to come to pass. I’m glad you’re changing it to a trilogy. No problem about sending back preorders. You are ONLY making the story BETTER!! I’ll be glad to wait for a far better story. Story is EVERYTHING!! Deadlines suck and should be eliminated in the heads of all writers. Deadlines mean nothing if only to quash whatever creative processes you have. No story is printed before its time is something I strongly believe in. I’m proud you’re finally listening.
I love the first 3 books in this story and have re-read them a couple of times so I am really looking forward to this new one.
This is outstanding news!! It’s going to be worth the wait!
I have liked all of your books and will continue to read them as the come out. I am looking forward to both ‘sweat home’ and the fires of Aureltus
OK, It’s June 1st, when can we expect #4? I just finished reading #2 & #3 last night & I’m craving more! Cole’s gotta save the galaxy & defeat the Coalition marry Sasha & start making little Cole Jr.s to continue the Coleson line!
Seriously, I greatly enjoyed the 1st 3 books, keep the story coming.
!
Thanks!
Bob
Hi, Bob,
Cole & Srexx #4, “The Fires of Aurelius,” is my next project once I get “Home Sweet Home” finalized. Life has been sufficiently crazy for me between driving family to doctor appointments and such that I haven’t had the time “in the office” that I’d prefer.
I’ll update everyone as I know more.
-Rob
4 volumes, hell! I love the series. I want a decology!! I bet you have tons of fans who’d be happy to point out possibilities if you’re open to it.
Good news! 🙂
I read a LOT, but I’m still happy to hear that a good series is continued. Yeah, I do understand that if the “spark” is missing the author can’t and probably shouldn’t continue, but on the other hand I like to have some kind of closure on the story.
So hopefully you write a book you feel is ok to publish. And hopefully it’s a conclusion to the series. Not that the series is bad or anything but series with 5+ books are rarely very good at the end. At least for a serie with an overarching story – episodic is another ball game.
Also I wanna be clear: I wasn’t happy that the book got cancelled, but it’s better than getting a bad book.
I really enjoy this series. The good guys keep ahead of the bad guys and do it with class. None or little swearing, no graphic sex, and no unnecessary violence. Just a good story. Thank you for writing number four.
Thank you for your kind words, Tracy.
-Rob