Alright, been a while since I posted a Blog but, honestly? I haven’t felt that I had much to say recently. In fact, things have been getting harder and harder for a while now and I’ll tell you why. Having landed the contract for E-Rail I was immensely excited, and also terrified. One book written, a three-book series signed and a (soft) deadline, I was energised and raring to go but, that was nearly two years ago now and, while we have commenced editing on book one I don’t have a release date yet and, while I’ve had no new titles out, showing my face at event after event with the same catalogue of work has gotten harder.
When I started releasing books I said I wanted to release at least a title per year. Looking around at some of the more prolific authors out there and measuring my own output over the course of Camelot 2050 it didn’t seem like an unrealistic goal. For me, I thrive just after an event, meeting people, talking about writing, projects and things ennervates me but, after a while, I really want to be able to produce the results of those discussions, those ambitions. I feel like an hourglass and most of the sand is in the bottom bulb. I need a release to flip me over and start the sand moving again.
It doesn’t help that it’s been the holiday season and (for personal reasons) I won’t be back on the con scene until May time but I’m champing at the bit to show you all E-Rail and the product of over three years of work. Nothing against my publisher, they are busy. Vulpine is a small-team, fast-growing label pushing new releases seemingly every week and, while I’m impatient for you all to read E-Rail. I want you to get the very best out of the experience and that demands a thorough and thoughtful editing process.
So that’s the patience, where’s the progress?
I’ve mentioned the projects I’m currently working on, also my plans for the con scene later this year. I’ve applied for MCM London and I’m appearing at Worldcon Glasgow. Portsmouth Comic Con and a slew of other Litcons are also on the cards. I’ve made some good progress on the new projects I’m working an and, since I’m not currently working to contract, I can bounce about and see which one stirrs my imagination (whoever that’s a double-edged sword too, I feel somewhat directionless at the moment).
Currently I’m actively working on a prequel to Rendered Flesh, my Guy Ritchie inspired urban fantasy, Ruin-Nation a collaboration with S.G. Mulholland, and the first book of the next Camelot 2050 trilogy (cunningly titled Camelot 2052).
I know that, once I get E-Rail book one out there and maybe do an event I’ll feel much better but, for now, the phrase ‘It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon‘ never seemed so apt.
David Cart-Writer 