Any of you that follow the Ancients on Facebook likely know
that my life on a personal front has been more than chaotic – for reasons I
have cited (career, kids, selling home, moving) and for reasons I have not.
There has been much lost sleep, an inordinate amount of stress and very little
time spent in the Realm. That created more stress, because the Realm and its
crazy females are therapy for me - a
soothing escape where I can check out and pretty much ram a sword through
anything or anyone that I find particularly problematic.
Were I endowed with Kat’s magic during the last few months,
the old Scurvy Palace would likely have gone “poof” into another dimension. On a good day. On a few of the worse days, I would likely
have chanted Bibbity, Bobbity, BOOM
and imploded that place… and my work laptop… probably a few contrary people…
the dog that ate my sofa...
I lost almost three months worth of editing time this
spring. It was a disaster. Fallen should have been on your kindle in the next
two weeks if I’d been able to follow the very detailed editing plan I’d set out
for myself back in February.
By the 5th book, you would have think I might
have figured out this truth - I am not super-human and if I try to be, I make
myself insane.
NOTE TO SELF: I have
no superpowers. Kat does. Leave all
amazing feats to Kat and crew.
My editing time evaporated. My process is that I write the
book, and then I rewrite/edit the book, and then I rewrite/edit the book again,
and then I send it to Kathy and let her polish it sparkly. I am finishing up Round 1 rewrite/edits. I
could publish a poorly written story (by skipping Round 2) and be done with it,
but I won’t. Maeve deserves the story
that you have all been waiting for all these months. That is what she will get, and that is what I
will publish. I have conferred with my
amazing editor to nail down a timeline. I can tell you today that Fallen will be released on September 30,
2015.
I apologize for the
delay. Sincerely. Barring any major catastrophes, my life is
pretty settled now. We are in the new
Scurvy Palace (Scurvy Palace 2.0), we should finalize the sale of the old house
within the next month, the family is happy, healthy, and settled, and life is
once again manageable.
The good news is that Marcus and Elyssa are chattering up a
storm (yes, you get Marcus and a female that is entirely new to you and the Realm in Book #6. If I can get the
editing done quickly enough on Fallen, you might get a preview of them at the
end of it). I also have a good
foundation already written for Book #6 and it will probably not be the 600 or
700 page endeavor that Mistaken and Fallen both have been. That means I’ll should be back to a normal
publication schedule – I expect to publish #6 within 8 to 10 months after Fallen
is released (if not earlier).
Thanks again for sticking with me and I apologize again for the disappointment. I am hoping you will find Maeve worth the wait. You can let me know in September. If you have questions in the meantime, always feel free to drop me a note through the website or on the Ancients Facebook page. I am always happy to chat about the Realm.
Thanks again for sticking with me and I apologize again for the disappointment. I am hoping you will find Maeve worth the wait. You can let me know in September. If you have questions in the meantime, always feel free to drop me a note through the website or on the Ancients Facebook page. I am always happy to chat about the Realm.
XOXO <3
Heather
I actually can't wait to finally read this book!! Hate the thought of having to wait some more until all of the books in the series comes out :(
ReplyDeleteI love your books and can't wait for the 5th installment. Once all of them are published I plan on rereading the whole series in order, that way it won't be confused with other series that are enjoyable
ReplyDeleteWhen can we expect Book 5 to be released? I waited for 9/30/15 to order but cant find it. help I want the 5th book!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere is book 5 I can't find it. The wait is killing me slowly...cruel and unusual punishment lol
ReplyDeleteDear Ms Fleener,
ReplyDeleteWhy is there no update on the book, when it's clearly past the 09.30.2015 release date you had set for yourself? Please let your fans know how the book is going and a new estimated release date. It's just simple courtesy to the fans who have been faithfully following your series.
This series is awesome! The depth of the story and characters are captivating. You, Miss Fleener, are a literary genius:-) although I await each new book in the series with simmering anticipation, I also understand that it takes time to write the complex stories you weave with your magic pen. Don't rush and don't settle for less than your best, this series will forever have a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteThis series is awesome! The depth of the story and characters are captivating. You, Miss Fleener, are a literary genius:-) although I await each new book in the series with simmering anticipation, I also understand that it takes time to write the complex stories you weave with your magic pen. Don't rush and don't settle for less than your best, this series will forever have a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteAny idea when the sixth book will be released?
ReplyDelete