Books 6, 7, & 8

Yes, yes, there are more books, and now I have to write two for the series a year through 2014.

It all started when book five (Oblivion) at last began to crystallize in my head. Writers probably know what I mean when I say a book has to simmer in the brain for awhile as we do things that don't look like writing--jogging/walking, doing the dishes, staring blankly out the window--so the story can shape. Sort of like working with dough. The ingredients are there but they're a bit of a mess, mushed together, and even if you've tried to shape it, you don't really know how big it will be, if it'll collapse when it's cooked, what the consistency will be, etc. I'd always been a big fuzzy on Oblivion except that I knew it was The Book Wherein I Deliver On Plot Threads Introduced Earlier and it initially did a lot of simmering when I was hacking and slashing on my old Xbox years ago.

Then I realized how it was going to end.

And more books took shape.

So I did what anyone would do...I pitched them to the boss man. He accepted. I'll answer some FAQs below.

How many? What are they called? Is there Nate? When can I read them?

Titles/narrators are as follows, subject to change in case my plans are altered by untimely character death. Of course, I could set one of them elsewhere in the timeline, so narration does not equal survival in Oblivion...

- Solace (Book 6): Narrated by Zara. After the conclusion of her last book, trust me you're going to want this one. Tentatively late 2013 release.

- Broken (Book 7): Narrated by Ryann. Also, Ellie is in it, because we love him. Tentatively mid 2014 release.

- Viral (Book 8): Narrated by...Nate and Zara. Tentatively late 2014 release.

Will there be more?

Possibly. 1-5 had a big plot arc. There's another starting in 6 and I have vague ideas for 9 - 10 or 11, but I should probably write these first.

Speaking of, aren't you only on book three?

Jeez, stalk me much? Yes, and I'm almost done. In January I write book four (Exhumed). I can comfortably write three new books a year while working full time. This is only committing me to two a year, so I can still play.

I thought you weren't subbing anything else to the company you work for.

Nothing outside of a series with books they'd already contracted, and Bloodlines was contracted in 2006 (when I subbed Hunter a year+ later, they signed me for 3 - 5 as well, and I wasn't in the acquisitions department yet). I have four non-Bloodlines related series in progress that aren't going anywhere near Mundania because I have no wish to abuse my position in acquisitions. And even with these books, I did a proper pitch to the boss and everything. Considering Hunter/Lineage/Exhumed/Oblivion were contracted nearly four years ago and they're just releasing now, it's safe to say I'm not cutting in line.

So these books WILL come out? For real and for true?

Well, probably. Unless by the time we get to book five and the series is tanking with no one buying them and/or they're being illegally downloaded more than they're being purchased. In that case, I will kindly ask that my contracts be terminated, and the boss will agree because no sane person throws money at something not showing a profit..

Contracts do not equal a publication guarantee, to be honest. If a series isn't selling well enough to justify the money and time invested, it will be canceled. This is not a bad thing: publishing is a business, and it relies on making money, because the rent fairy doesn't come and pay our bills. If you, a reader, enjoy a series (by anyone--if you hate mine, that's cool, just apply this advice elsewhere), buy the books! Tell your friends to buy the books! Ask your library to order a copy! Good reviews and fan mail are wonderful (and the former can help with sales--which is why posting reviews multiple places is nice, plus fan mail can help us through writing slogs, so these ARE both good, don't get me wrong) but at the end of the day, we have to look at numbers. Small press, every sale counts.

And for the love of all that is good and holy, STOP ILLEGALLY DOWNLOADING/ATTEMPTING TO ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD MY MOTHERFUCKING BOOKS. When weighing factors to continue writing/publishing them, how many fuckwads stole them does not go in the "let's publish more" side of the scale. If you don't want to get a book through a legal channel, it's better to not read it at all. I WILL TURN THIS CAR AROUND and work on something else that readers might support, so don't illegally download my shit and then bitch about no more books later.

(Stolen from Katee Robert. Isn't it awesome?)

I think that's it. Sincerest thanks for those who have followed the first two books and are eagerly awaiting the third + fourth, and special thanks to those who have bought/reviewed/blogged/tweeted/sent fan mail. You keep writers going--keep me going. I hope I can deliver a series truly worthy of your time and enjoyment.

In other news, still finishing Lineage and doing NaNo at the same time, averaging about 2K a day per project. I'm very, very tired. If you want to buddy me at NaNoWriMo, here's me and my book: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/skyla-dawn-cameron/novels/godless1