Quick update: I’m about to put this on pre-release. Waiting on confirmation of dates for promotions to kick things off.
It’s been one hell of a ride since I put the finishing touches on book 3 and released it to the world. I expected things to roll right into book 4 — that’s how vivid the characters and world were to me at that moment — and that it would be ready to roll out Spring of 2015.
Then life happened, a series of events that culminated with the house fire — a year after we moved in — that displaced us for several months.
I love this series…
…It is a passion of mine…
…I’ve got tons of ideas how to build on the Affliction world.
But my Noble books pay the bills, and writing is my sole source of income. With everything that was going on, the time I was able to focus and write was mainly spent on the Noble series.
I managed four releases in those three years, which is very low for me.
Book 4 was on my mind during this time. There were starts and stops. But, well, remember how I called it a passion a few sentences ago?
It was clear to me I was forcing the story.
It just wasn’t there, at least, not the way I wanted it to be. There was no… flow or excitement. And it wouldn’t be fair to any of us for me to put out a soulless story, because, whether you realize it or not, every single one of these books has a piece of me in it.
Anyhoo, I’m happy to say those days are behind me. I’ve released two books in the past six weeks, and am closing in on a third. It is this one you might be most interested in…
See, I deleted everything I had for book 4 and started over, and the story is pouring from somewhere deep within, or, perhaps, from somewhere else, and I’m just the conduit.
Wherever it is coming from Sean and Turk and Addy and Emma and everyone else are vivid and real and working their way through a world dominated by not only the afflicted, but those survivors who prey on the weak.
This book, Affliction Z: Fractured, is going to editing soon. And as long as the issues returned to me are of the normal variety and I didn’t muss anything up too badly…
…book 4 is releasing in March, 2018.
It is hard to believe so much time has passed since Affliction Z: Descended in Blood (book 3) was released. At the time, I thought it would only be a matter of six months until book 4 would be ready.
Then we decided to move. A decision which took away more time away from writing than I care to admit. I’ve been used to having a book ready every couple of months.
Once we bought our house and moved to a new state, I spent a few more months in the fixing things up state. There was always a project. Still is, matter of fact.
When I’d finally reduced the list to only a few items, I returned to work. But, suddenly, I found the task of writing a bit more arduous than it had been before. Not that it’s ever been easy, but usually, once I have an idea in mind, the words just kind of…flow.
That wasn’t happening.
At all.
It took a while to get back to form, and required the help of a few writing friends. But I got it together and am full-bore once again.
I’m two-thirds of the way through the 11th Noble book and the 2nd Tanner book.
For Affliction Z, I have my story lines plotted and part of the story written. Once the Noble and Tanner books are wrapped up (by end of June), I’ll return full-time to book 4. My goal is to have this book out before the end of summer.
Thank you for all the emails and comments. Keep ’em coming!
