I updated the What I’m Working On page. I did not realise it was so out of date!
I just decided to drop the second book I’ve started recently and then decided not to finish. This is annoying, but… The first one was a sci-fi, but I started to realise it was too like Etiquette of Sin. So, I tried again, but I’m not liking where the new one is going. The concept is there, so I’m putting this one (I’ve never figured out a title, maybe that was a clue) aside and going back to retool it later.
So…
The good news (I hope it’s good news) is that I’ve decided that I will be doing the ninth Death’s Handmaiden book now. The bad news is that there will be a bit of a delay before it gets out for sale since I have to write it and all that. Hopefully, the wait won’t be too long.
Witches and Ray-Guns 
I really liked the plot in Etiquette of Sin I wouldn’t mind a book with a similar plotline with sci-fi setting. I think EoS is one my favourite releases of your standalone/series starter books from the recent years.
Yeah… It wasn’t the plot that was the same.
I was kind of trying to do a ‘new Aneka’ series, but it went through a couple of iterations and just ended up being a mess.
I WILL be doing a new sci-fi book in the near future, and it WILL be good (in my eyes) before I let it out into the world.
COOL! I liked deaths Handmaiden a lot. I think you could do a lot with that Clan world, very Japanese honor feel conflict between families vibe. Also, please don’t overlook the porn, I know you were going through shit but the three way relationship between upper class, lower class and clan-less girls was a pretty engaging way to express the tension between a prim lower Clan family and a oversexed, over rich upper clan.
It was hot, it was Japanese honor school politics with some bloodshed, and a OP hero riding in to save the day…
The opportunities for porn in those books are dropping off really. I mean, Nava and Suki got married in Gods and Monsters. I do try to get a few sex scenes in there, but it’s getting difficult.
On the other hand, The Etiquette of Sin is loaded with princesses being deflowered by demons. If you haven’t read that one, give it a go.
Don’t try too force the sex scenes into the book. It’s better not to have any than to have ones that are forced into the story.
Agreed.
Nice to see another Death’s Handmaiden book… perhaps we could see how Suki’s sister and the others are dealing with events? Granted, Suki and Nava would still be in school even after marriage (I think they would be entering their 4th year?), so they’d still be around as support if not the primary characters.
They were married in the middle of their 5th year. The school year on Shinden runs alongside the actual year, not like we have (never understood that). Michiko has her 15th birthday not long after, so she’ll be joining the school to coincide with Nava, Suki, and Mel’s 6th year.
At this point in the writing, I am not totally sure whether this book will see Michiko starting at school. It depends on how much time I need to develop things before then (in universe, not ou of it).
Looking forward to whatever you come with next.
I really enjoyed your Thaumatology series that blended so many subgenres so well, but I get that it came to a good stopping point and it was time to move on. Aneka and Ella were a treat and I’d love to read more Tatsu stories …
Heck, don’t worry about trying new things. I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve penned to date and always tap “buy now” when I see your next book come out.
Thanks.
New stuff tends to keep my brain going.
Would you consider a broader view of the Clan Worlds for this book? Nava and Suki tends to be the center of attention wherever they go, it would be nice to see them in a setting where they are not the main characters or moving great events. Michiko starting school would be interesting. What traditions, expectations, group activities, challenges and trials would she go through? Who else might stand out in the new class? Would her Clan be presenting her, would there be challenges and duels, scared young people puffing themselves up…
Also the Clans seem to have a real loyalty problem. If the clans have seen betrayals and backstabbing like in the last book, are they all still willing to sacrifice their best and brightest for the sake of an potentially reacherous alliance?
I like these books. I like the idea of a society based on rules of honorable behavior instead of naked capitalism. I hope you write more of them.
Turns out, Michiko will be starting school in this book, but we have seen people start there before (book 1), so we know what to expect really.
I think I’ve been hinting at instability in the Alliance for a few books. Something will happen in the last part of this one which will upset the entire political balance across both the Alliance and the neighbouring states. Not quite sure yet where I’m taking that. I’ll probably know by the end of the book, but these worlds have a habit of running off and doing things I didn’t expect, so…
I think for some of the things you mentioned, I’d need to spin off another series without Nava as the protagonist. My history with that kind of thing is poor. Don’t hold your breath.
I am glad to see you are working on another book. From the reports of the UK weather buildings and people were disappearing, melting and flowing into the sewers.
The Alliance and clans sound like the early American goverment before the constitution was hammered out. Despite the United in U.S. people thought of themselves as the state they were born in not Americans. My home state of NY almost went to war over a chunk of Vermont in the Bennington area. So long as the population identifies by their clan rather than the Alliance, it will be shaky.
The weather has been cooler for the last week or two. It’s supposed to get warmer this week however, and we did have torrential rain instead of boiling heat.
Yeah, most people in the Alliance identify as members of their clan rather than members of the Alliance. Most clans are based off of one particular world, though you’ll find them on other worlds too (even the Bishops, who are about as insular as you can get). If you remember the House clan from way back when, they were based on one world and didn’t have a lot to do with the rest of the Alliance. Then you get people like the Avorns (Melissa’s clan) who are more Alliance oriented, but have little influence because they aren’t viewed as ‘strong’ whatever that really means.
And then you have the Sonkei clan who are basically the District of Columbia. No representation in the Assembly because they own the planet the Assembly meets on. Lots of influence TECHNICALLY, but they lack it in important ways resulting in them being highly self-sufficient (read, they have the Greylings) and they sometimes have to use heavy-handed tactics to get their point across.
So I would think the other clans would try to keep the Sonkei clan in line by a lot of behind the scene fuckery. Now that the Greylings have Nava as very big force multiplier it can only get worse.
One of two things could happen. Either a very well backed warlord will try to whip the other clans into line or the clans will have to unite under a strong central government. I suppose a third option is a bunch of houses throw their hands up and say “I’m done” and walk away.
Good luck with the weather. We got back from Laughlin where the temps are going to get to 115F. The wind was out of the SW desert and felt like a blow dryer on high.
I’ve spent time in Phoenix. I know that wind.
Historically (can you say that about a fictional world?), the Sonkeis haven’t needed to be kept in line. If it was good for the Alliance, it was good for the clan. The other clans haven’t needed to do anything about the Sonkeis and don’t have the infrastructure in place. So, yes, they are going to try behind the scenes stuff, but they are kind of playing catch-up; the Greylings have been doing it for a lot longer.