2018 was the longest year that ever was a year. That was the repeated description from one of the handful of Youtube personalities I follow and I can’t help but agree.
I have to actually look at the spreadsheets to see what the first book we launched in 2018 was (ONSET: Stay of Execution, apparently. Wow.)
Seems like we wrapped up ONSET longer ago than that.
2018 was a year of missteps for us. We ended up shifting our mix more towards Urban Fantasy than we meant to, which hurt our overall sales, and we spent a lot of our own capacity on trying to break into more traditional print sales.
Most of that effort culminated in Book Expo America, where we received a rather thorough if painful education in just how even successful independent publishers are regarded by the mainstream publishing and distributing world. Distributors insisted on handling our electronic distribution as well as print distribution and, well, that wasn’t happening.
Then we came home from Book Expo America and I had a heart attack. Stress and pneumonia induced, primarily, but still a horrid wakeup call that I was burning myself out. Fortunately, our plan had been to use 2018 to build a lead time in our publishing schedule. That lead time ended up being used to allow me to take most of the summer of 2018 off without us falling behind on the release schedule.
I’m better now, I promise 😉 WorldCon 2018 was better than BEA, with a lot more positive moments and 100% less critical health issues! We’re going back to WorldCon in 2019—we are most definitely NOT going back to Book Expo America.
We learned a lot of lessons in 2018. My urban fantasy doesn’t sell as well as my space opera, so we’re moving away from that for the immediate future. Noble’s Honor will wrap up the Changeling’s Blood trilogy and that will be my last urban fantasy release for a while. Future new novellas will be launched along the Ashen Stars model, not the Spaceships and Spellcasters model.
And I’m going to try and breathe a bit more. We have six books definitely planned for this coming year. Scheduling is still tentative, but they are as follows:
Noble’s Honor (Changeling Blood Book 3)
Shield of Terra (Light of Terra Book 2)
Sword of Mars (Starship’s Mage Book 7)
Refuge (Exile Book 2)
Imperium Defiant (Light of Terra Book 3)
Raven’s Peace (Peacekeepers of Sol Book 1)
Terry and I will also finish up the third Bound / fifth Vigilante novel, Bound By Blood. That will launch sometime in 2019. I have a couple of side projects on the go that I don’t expect to be huge commercial gangbusters as well, so we will probably have eight launches this year.
We have set a primary goal for everyone at Faolan’s Pen Publishing of “don’t die.”
It seems like a low bar, but it’s also a good place to start!
Happy reading everyone,
-Glynn Stewart
Yes, I wholeheartedly concur. DON’T DIE. I have been enjoying your Starship’s mage series immensely, and look forward to the release of “Sword of Mars”.
“don’t die” is a great goal for all! I appreciate the update for 2019 and eagerly look forward to your new books. I bought Starship Mage when it first came out in an episodic format and have read all of your work since then. I read a lot of both SciFi and fantasy. For whatever reason, ONSET is my least favorite but still pretty good. Years ago I went to bookstores several times a week (and spent a small fortune). Since I got a kindle app, it’s been almost all ebooks. I miss paper books sometimes but my wallet doesn’t. Best wishes for a healthy, low stress and productive 2019!
I can’t stress enough how much I concur with the “DON’T DIE” recommendation by a fellow reader. I love your books and you are far too young to go. 🙂
The time for traditional publishing is passed. You should focus on independently publishing your books and growing their reader base. You have great series and there are plenty of people out there that haven’t yet been exposed to them.
Have a great 2019!
Sad to hear your urban fantasy series wasn’t selling as well, but glad to hear we’re getting the 3rd one this year at least!
Also, don’t die. 😀
But I LIKE your Changeling series. Good to know you are doing better, try not to burn yourself out and wear yourself down again. There is a dearth of good authors in both science fiction and urban fantasy. We readers kind of like it if the good ones stick around
So glad you’ve had a full recovery! I’m a fan of all your work, but obviously you have to make sense to you! (Please have fun along the way, though. That’s so important!) All that being said, I could read Hand Montgomery books (and all the supporting characters if that universe) for a very long time. Hope you’re having a great 2019 so far!
agree with your change back 100%. cant wait more tera or avalon? 🙂 city in the sky was good too. :)))
Be Well and Healthy in 2019 and beyond. I second the notion of nigh infinity Hand Montegomery and Make-King Universe novels. Sadly it appears my second favorite; The Stellar Fox, has passed into a well earned retirement. Glad to get a peek at the 2019 release schedule.
Agree with don’t die! Enjoy the Starship Mage and Onset series. Keep them coming! Hope your 2019 is filled with great success, lot of fun, and good health!
Is a successor series to Castle Federation in the cards any time soon? The ending of Operation Medusa was a hell of a whammy, and I really want to see how the setting shifts as a result.
Hi there,
It really depends on sales for the Castle Federation series now that it is widely available on all ebook platforms. If the books preform well, there is a chance for a more stories in that setting.
-Kate
Don’t Die excellent new years resolution. Pretty much read everything you have published. Its all good. Whatever way you take it. Ill be happy. As a side note; I haven’t really read much from the “Big Publishers” since that price fixing mess. In fact if you would not have published on amazon I may not have found your books. That goes for a bunch of other newer authors. Enjoy your writing the way you want to so the rest of us can enjoy it too.
was wondering if you had any plans to expand further on the castle federation series?
Hi there,
It really depends on sales for the Castle Federation series now that it is widely available on all ebook platforms. If the books preform well, there is a chance for a more stories in that setting.
-Kate
I started with your Starship’s Mage series, reluctantly checked out Red Falcon, then moved on to your Changeling series. I was happily surprised at how much I loved them all! I shouldn’t have been surprised, your writing and storytelling is so great. Hopefully sometime in the future you’ll write more than just the three you have planned for the Changeling series, I’m very interested to see where that is going. Thank you for bringing such great entertainment to Kindle, and feeding my brain with something great to read!
Also, as others have said…don’t die!
I love your changeling series!! Glad to see you’re better. You are one of my top five favorite authors. You are interesting to read, prolific, and imaginative. Keep up the excellent work!! My only pet peeve is that City in sky book is a stand alone.
Thanks for sharing your 2018 retrospective as well as your plans for 2019. Clearly, the publishing business is going through the throes of disruption (not gracefully). It reminds me of the early days of mobile apps (before Apple/Google et al). And, while we are often impatient for our next Glynn Stewart fix, I know everyone wishes you a happy and healthy year. Best of luck!
So…
1. Don’t Die
2. Yyour Urban fantasy’s were great but if they don’t sell I’ll probably read whatever you write instead
3. Did I miss a notification? What pray tell is Peace Keepers of Sol?
Peacekeepers of Sol is a new series planned to come out this year.
^Kate
I started with your Castle Federation series, then Starship’s Mage, and then Changeling. ALL have been outstanding and leaving me wanting more. The quality is top-notch across the board, a breadth of work that doesn’t always work out so well, even with much older and more well known writers. Bottom line, I will be looking forward to reading WHATEVER you produce in 2019. All the best to you and your family, and above all, please make taking care of yourself, your top priority. We fans may be hungry for what you produce, but surviving the experience needs to be Job #1!
Very much agree on the not dying. Do pace yourself and have fun in the process.
I’m looking forward to Sword of Mars and beyond. The questions I have about what exactly the Republic is doing, how they are doing it, and what information they obtained from the Keepers just keep piling up, and they’re driving me a bit crazy. If you decide to write more in the Castle Federation series, I’d also read that with enthusiasm. I’m especially interested to know just what ended up happening in the Commonwealth after the war, but other things too. I really love the way that setting using bits and pieces of esoteric theoretical physics as bases for its technologies, including mention of some of the difficulties that might be present in Attempting to use an Alcubierre based drive. I also love the magic in the Starship’s Mage series, as it seems an unusually honest way of dealing with the speed of light barrier compared to black boxes or dilithium crystals.
Hi Glynn,
Except for the urban fantasy, I have read everything you’ve written. I buy your new books as soon as they are released. You are a terrific storyteller and many of us out here love you a lot. I think I can speak for others as well as myself in saying that not only do we want you alive but we want you healthy and well and relaxed and nourished and able to receive the admiration we have for you and your craft. I have to admit that part of me is panting for the next book but much more of me wants to say take your time, all the time you need. We’ll still be here.
For goodness sakes, read the Changing Blood series! I’m not a big fan of Urban Fantasy, but that series has everything I love about Starship Mage. Great characters, action and story.
I am really sorry to hear you’ve been ill and hope you are fully recovered. I was introduced to your writing with the first Space Mage book and have followed you every since. It’s a beautiful thing to be both an excellent and prolific writer but as you now know, physical and/or mental burn out awaits those who don’t pace themselves. Be well; have a great 2019.
Hope you are doing well. You are one of my favorite authors – I have only read your Science Fiction. Your Duchy of Terra / Light of Terra are simply fantastic. Bought the first couple in e-book then bought them all in the expensive paper back editions along with Exile and the Castle Federation. I have also recommended you to quite a few other readers.
Stay healthy and keep up the good work. I am excited to see your 2019 schedule!
Stay healthy! That’s the most important. But to echo another commenter, I’m sad to see you leaving the urban fantasy genre for a while. I think the Changeling Blood series is among the best of your work (for me) and I loved ONSET. Although the first introduction to your work was Starship Mage and that series will always be special for me. Thank you for what you do.
I’ve run into few writers I have enjoyed as much as your writings. Please take good care of yourself. Pneumonia sucks as I just got over a bought of it.
You’re my favorite author, definitely don’t die, you’ve replaced Weber, Ringo, and Flint as must read author. I have read everyone of your books except the 1st two stand alone novels. All are fantastic, I’ll read them in whatever sequence you release them. I’m completely devoted to digital books now, I haven’t bought a paper book in 5 years. Thank god for Kindle Unlimited.
I too started reading your Castle series before moving on to all your other books. I understand that at the end of the day writing is how you take care of your family, however I do enjoy your urban fantasy novellas well and hope that sales where good enough for you to at least work on them when you need a break from your other series. Plus I believe that taking new paths can open new ideas for the old paths. Hope your health recovers and you continue to create such amazing worlds.
Glynn,
I will add my very hearty and heart felt “Don’t Die” to everyone else’s. Entirely too many authors (professional, semi-professional and non-professional) died in 2018. You owe it to yourself, your wife, your children, friends and family and lastly your readers to take care of yourself. Get some exercise, you’ll think better, day dream on the treadmill if you will. I see pictures such authors as David Weber and I wince, I love his writing, but he desperately needs to lose some serious weight, so please take care of yourself and reduce your stress. I personally agree with your findings about what books sell and don’t sell well. I read your mage series using Kindle Unlimited, but your Duchy of Terra I stab that pre-order button the instant I see it! I have enjoyed the two books of the Changeling Blood trilogy, but passed on Spaceships and Spellcaster’s book. Here is wishing you a happy, healthy and productive 2019!
Best wishes.
E.
Sorry to hear of your 2018 year from hell. Most of us has had them and the only thing to do, is re-evaluate then move forward. Is the Onset series a dead issue? I enjoyed the series and was hoping for more.
I discovered your writing with the Hand of Mars series and loved it. I didn’t read a lot of your other series but waited patiently or not lol for more Hand of Mars until the Changeling series came along. I bought it and loved it!, you don’t read much about Fae and found it very refreshing . I still love your space magic series. Why can’t there be both? I’m currently chevk8ng amazon everyday awaiting Nobles Honor that is due out this month . Any hint as to toward the end of the month or any day now? It was well reviewed on amazon also.
Noble’s Honor is now available! http://mybook.to/CBNH
^Kate
I agree!! I love Starship’s Mage and don’t usually like urban fantasy but my lord Changeling blood was a good series!! I finished last book last night and am very sad it’s over. I really wish we could read more
Very sorry to hear about your 2018. Prayers for a better 2019! Like many others here I am sad to hear that your urban fantasy hasn’t sold as well. Your Starship Mage series which I read first was a beautiful and imaginative mix of the fantasy sci-fi genres and more than a hint that you would be able to write both well. I love your writing in both genres and hope that there will be a return to the urban fantasy at some point. Hopefully with an uptake in sales to help you!
Health, wealth happiness and a long productive life to you. Loved almost all your books. The Exile series, I will have to give it another go, later. Mage series I collected both Kindle and audible, wonderful. Sad hear about the urban fantasy fate. Hay, I am a fan so please keep writing.
I just FOUND you! Do whatever you can to get and stay healthy. Don’t Die is a good mantra. Your Urban Fantasy is one of the best written I’ve found. I have become an instant fan! Be well and just breathe.
LOL! One of my favourite authors is an accountant. So, of course, he tracks things like a business. Damn. My reading tastes wander all over the place but I have liked everything you’ve written. I liked Onset but I agree, it’s probably panned out. I kind of hoped you’d get around to a sequel to City in the Sky, but not as much as some.
I have an old cut from Joni Mitchell that was live. At the end of the song there are many voices from the audience saying ‘Play this’ and ‘Play that’ but when that dies down a but some lady pops out with ‘Play what you want!’ I liked that approach and apply it to artists of all stripe. I appreciate what you write and will keep buying ’em and reading ’em, so Write what you want!
I’ll chime in as well that I really enjoyed the Changeling blood series. Urban fantasy is a great genre (see Dresden files, iron Druid etc). Also love the onset series and pretty much everything you write – I’ve read your entire catalogue at this point!
Here’s to a less stressful 2019 for you!
I hope you are well… and also to hear more from David White
My husband and I commute and listened to the entire Onset series together. I’m quite saddened to learn that it won’t be continuing. Hopefully you’ll get some more Joe Ledger converts and additional sales for the Onset series. I’d love to hear where the story goes.
I’m putting in my two cents again on a couple things. Re: moving away from urban fantasy. I thought Changeling’s Blood was excellent, much better than ONSET, and hope you will revisit it one day. Also I am a fan of Terry Mixon and while I do want to see the conclusion of Vigilante I like both of your individual efforts better. Just saying…
Be well, Doug
I weep that your ONSET series did not sell as well as Starship Mage or Avalon did. I am a big fan of all three. You wrapped up ONSET satisfyingly so I will hold my tears till next we read White’s further adventures. Do take care of yourself as we need more imaginative and courageous writers like you.