Ask the Author: Elliott Kay
Answered Questions (58)
Elliott Kay
I haven't heard any such interest in PMF in a LONG time. One agent emailed me after book two to ask who held the rights, but I never heard anything back after I answered.
A few years ago, I had an initial phone call with a studio scout about my Good Intentions series. (I checked him out to make sure he was legitimate.) It didn't go anywhere, but the interesting thing I heard from him was that the calcification in Hollywood is all about money and risk. It's not any lack of creativity or quality. He said, "Nobody [at the top] wants to do a deal they haven't done before." That's why everything has been all big franchises and reboots for so long.
A few years ago, I had an initial phone call with a studio scout about my Good Intentions series. (I checked him out to make sure he was legitimate.) It didn't go anywhere, but the interesting thing I heard from him was that the calcification in Hollywood is all about money and risk. It's not any lack of creativity or quality. He said, "Nobody [at the top] wants to do a deal they haven't done before." That's why everything has been all big franchises and reboots for so long.
Elliott Kay
Gosh, I can relate to a "forgetful reader" when I forget to check Goodreads for years. :) Sorry about that.
I've caught this suggestion about synopses for series books recently, and I'm going to try to include one in next/future books. It's good to know the demand is real.
I've caught this suggestion about synopses for series books recently, and I'm going to try to include one in next/future books. It's good to know the demand is real.
Elliott Kay
Hi Deborah. I'm *so* sorry I didn't see this question for literally years. Turns out I don't come to Goodreads much, but also the notification email got by me. I wanted to let you know this comment was really appreciated once it hit. :)
My most recent/current inspiration in sci-fi is Martha Wells. Murderbot really is wonderful. Going back farther, Douglas Adams is the easy answer in terms of sci-fi inspirations. Along with his humor, he taught me a lot about what to focus on & what to just not worry about. I also took a lot of structural and practical cues from David Weber's Honor Harrington books, especially when it comes to battle scenes. That said, I very often go left where Weber turns right; his work was influential, but not in the sense that I wanted to copy or follow closely. (Admittedly, I've only read the first three novels.)
My biggest influence is easily comics: Chris Claremont, Ann Nocenti, G Willow Wilson, and especially Larry Hama. This might sound silly, but Hama's GI Joe comic books made a big, early impact on my sense of story. They're not like the cartoons at all. And later in life I've found out my creative process is apparently pretty similar to his. :)
My most recent/current inspiration in sci-fi is Martha Wells. Murderbot really is wonderful. Going back farther, Douglas Adams is the easy answer in terms of sci-fi inspirations. Along with his humor, he taught me a lot about what to focus on & what to just not worry about. I also took a lot of structural and practical cues from David Weber's Honor Harrington books, especially when it comes to battle scenes. That said, I very often go left where Weber turns right; his work was influential, but not in the sense that I wanted to copy or follow closely. (Admittedly, I've only read the first three novels.)
My biggest influence is easily comics: Chris Claremont, Ann Nocenti, G Willow Wilson, and especially Larry Hama. This might sound silly, but Hama's GI Joe comic books made a big, early impact on my sense of story. They're not like the cartoons at all. And later in life I've found out my creative process is apparently pretty similar to his. :)
Elliott Kay
Hi! Sorry I missed your earlier question.
The rough on PMF 7 is about 2/3rds finished, and I'm generally pretty quick on revisions. I should be finished by summer. From there, it's mostly a question of whether I can afford to wait for the audiobook to record & do a simultaneous release, or if I need to publish the ebook & paperback first and let the audio follow later. Should be out this year one way or another!
The rough on PMF 7 is about 2/3rds finished, and I'm generally pretty quick on revisions. I should be finished by summer. From there, it's mostly a question of whether I can afford to wait for the audiobook to record & do a simultaneous release, or if I need to publish the ebook & paperback first and let the audio follow later. Should be out this year one way or another!
Elliott Kay
Do you mean Drew? Jason doesn't interact with Lilith.
Drew doesn't know Lilith at all before that meeting. Lorelei told him who they were going to meet. That was what I intended to imply, anyway.
A 5th novel in the series is on my to-do list. I don't know if it's my next project, but it's close. I also have several chapters of a Good Intentions spinoff on my Patreon, with more in the works.
Drew doesn't know Lilith at all before that meeting. Lorelei told him who they were going to meet. That was what I intended to imply, anyway.
A 5th novel in the series is on my to-do list. I don't know if it's my next project, but it's close. I also have several chapters of a Good Intentions spinoff on my Patreon, with more in the works.
Elliott Kay
Absolutely! It may be some time, but I'm not done with them. However, if you're missing the characters, I have released three short story compilations with a lot of Good Intentions content! Small Victories, Habitual Heroes, and Low-Key Calamities each have a bunch of Good Intentions stories.
Elliott Kay
Poor Man's Fight will continue! The next book I have out will be something new, but after that I plan the next in the PMF series.
Also I just released Habitual Heroes, which is an ebook short story collection including several PMF stories.
Also I just released Habitual Heroes, which is an ebook short story collection including several PMF stories.
Elliott Kay
Thank you so much!
I have another book planned, and basically half outlined, but it's not my front-burner project right now so I don't have a target date. I'm currently working on something new that maybe fits a space opera middle ground between Poor Man's Fight and Good Intentions. But I WILL write more of Tanner & company.
I have another book planned, and basically half outlined, but it's not my front-burner project right now so I don't have a target date. I'm currently working on something new that maybe fits a space opera middle ground between Poor Man's Fight and Good Intentions. But I WILL write more of Tanner & company.
Elliott Kay
Possibly! It's not my first thought for the next book, and I'm not really working on that one yet. But it could always be a thing.
Elliott Kay
It's more like they don't have a solid plan yet so they're looking for options.
Elliott Kay
That's the plan.
Elliott Kay
Already written, audiobook recorded and in production. It should be out by the beginning of June.
Please shoot me an email at elliottkaybooks at gmail if you'd like to be on the notifications list!
Please shoot me an email at elliottkaybooks at gmail if you'd like to be on the notifications list!
Elliott Kay
Hi! Happy to answer--in fact I only got a push email from Goodreads on this just now. I don't check the site often, sorry.
I don't think of fanfic or fan art as something an author can allow or disallow. While I side-eye the whole "the fans own this now!" stuff I see from some corners, that's not to say a creator gets to decide how fans react or what they do with something.
On a more personal note, I absolutely LOVE fanfic--but am unlikely to read fanfic of my own stuff for reasons other writers have delved into before. You run the risk of cross-pollinating ideas and questions of credit due if things are similar and that gets messy. Best if I don't get involved. But I wholly support fanfic in general.
AND I LOVE FAN ART SO MUCH AND ZOMG I WOULD BE THRILLED IF I EVER SAW FAN ART FROM MY BOOKS.
I don't think of fanfic or fan art as something an author can allow or disallow. While I side-eye the whole "the fans own this now!" stuff I see from some corners, that's not to say a creator gets to decide how fans react or what they do with something.
On a more personal note, I absolutely LOVE fanfic--but am unlikely to read fanfic of my own stuff for reasons other writers have delved into before. You run the risk of cross-pollinating ideas and questions of credit due if things are similar and that gets messy. Best if I don't get involved. But I wholly support fanfic in general.
AND I LOVE FAN ART SO MUCH AND ZOMG I WOULD BE THRILLED IF I EVER SAW FAN ART FROM MY BOOKS.
Elliott Kay
Hey there!
The proof for the paperback for Wandering Monsters 2 will allegedly be in my hands tomorrow (May 30). If it looks good, I'll hit publish right then, and it'll only be up to Amazon to cycle it through. It's possible we'll have a delay for color balancing or whatever, but I'm hoping we'll see it out this week!
Thank you for asking!
The proof for the paperback for Wandering Monsters 2 will allegedly be in my hands tomorrow (May 30). If it looks good, I'll hit publish right then, and it'll only be up to Amazon to cycle it through. It's possible we'll have a delay for color balancing or whatever, but I'm hoping we'll see it out this week!
Thank you for asking!
Elliott Kay
Thank you! Book four is in the works.
I hate to give you a gimmicky "anything's possible" answer, but that's kind of also the honest answer. I don't have one in mind yet but I certainly might. As it happens, I just started up a Patreon for sneak peeks and short stories, the latter primarily being Good Intentions stuff. It's entirely possible I'll have stories focusing on different cast members there before long. They'll definitely show up, regardless.
https://www.patreon.com/elliottkay
I hate to give you a gimmicky "anything's possible" answer, but that's kind of also the honest answer. I don't have one in mind yet but I certainly might. As it happens, I just started up a Patreon for sneak peeks and short stories, the latter primarily being Good Intentions stuff. It's entirely possible I'll have stories focusing on different cast members there before long. They'll definitely show up, regardless.
https://www.patreon.com/elliottkay
Elliott Kay
Hi!
Wandering Monsters 2 is in the works now.
I don't have any plans for another Days, but if inspiration strikes I won't ignore it.
Wandering Monsters 2 is in the works now.
I don't have any plans for another Days, but if inspiration strikes I won't ignore it.
Elliott Kay
I'm gonna keep writing Tanner stories for a while yet. :)
Elliott Kay
Working on it! Today, in fact!
I'll likely alternate a little bit between GI 4 and the second Wandering Monsters book if one slows down and the other doesn't. Kinda juggling priorities there. I've got a good chunk of both done. No projections yet on when either of them will release.
I'll likely alternate a little bit between GI 4 and the second Wandering Monsters book if one slows down and the other doesn't. Kinda juggling priorities there. I've got a good chunk of both done. No projections yet on when either of them will release.
Elliott Kay
Hi John, and thanks!
There are more stories coming. I'm currently working on the next novel in my sci-fi series, so the next Good Intentions book won't be out right away. But I absolutely plan to do more. I'm not done with these characters.
Thanks again!
There are more stories coming. I'm currently working on the next novel in my sci-fi series, so the next Good Intentions book won't be out right away. But I absolutely plan to do more. I'm not done with these characters.
Thanks again!
Elliott Kay
I'm not sure if Wade will follow that pattern or not. Offhand, I'd say my plans for the next book have less of the full ensemble than the previous three, if only for a break from that norm. But I'm only in the stage of ideas rolling around in my head, so nothing is firm yet.
As for Michelle finding out? I don't really know. Seems inevitable, but again, not really something I'm planning for the immediate future.
As for Michelle finding out? I don't really know. Seems inevitable, but again, not really something I'm planning for the immediate future.
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