It is fair to say I have not been active here for… (looks up, winces) yeah, lets go with a while. Okay, time is short and I need to cover the points so this is going to be at least in part in bullet points for speed.

Para Bellum was launched in August 2020 – aka, the before times. Where’s the sequel? I have finished writing it. It is currently with the Editor and the Cover Artist. Projected release, early summer. Unless something goes sideways.

Super, so why has it taken you three years and a pandemic to write this thing? Surely you had plenty of time Edmond?

You’d think, but no.

My partner and I had a child during this period, making me a dad for the first time. Kids and babies in particular take up a lot of time. Who knew. Also in the same time period my day job changed into the first job I’m ever had that I actually enjoy but it does burn time and mental bandwidth. Finally because Covid19, I didn’t get on a train for most of two years and guess where I used to do 90% percent of my writing?

Okay, book two is coming? Two down, one to go.

Yeahhhh…. about that. Here’s the new cover of the Para Bellum.

Wait, new cover?

The eagle-eyed might notice that the word ‘Trilogy’ has been replaced by ‘Series’. The trilogy is dead, long live the series.

Joking aside when you are writing a multi-book story, breakpoints are important. A book has to have a conclusion that feels logical and satisfying for the story so far. Bonus points if it feels like the story could end right there satisfactorily but has enough to launch off again without feeling forced.

As I was writing Book Two, I realised that where I originally thought it would end wasn’t going to work. Either it would end up grossly long or a lot of ideas would have to be cut down or cut out. It would also leave book three having to cover a stupid amount of ground. Of course no one would have known that if I had put ‘series’ on the cover instead of stupidly putting ‘trilogy’ there instead – live and learn.

So two more books. I am hoping to get better over the next year, get back into the rhythm of writing on the way in and out of work on the train. But that said the writing is not and can not be anywhere near the top of my priority list in the way it could back in say 2011.

The sad truth is that the self publishing thing is not what it was a decade ago. Frankly, this writing thing, does not pay its way, it is a cost to me, not a revenue stream. This is a labour of love for me, a story that I’ve had in my head for twenty odd years and I will get it out but it will take a while. Obviously if someone drove a dump truck full of money up to my door that would change the mathematics, but I’m not counting on that.

In the meantime, keep an eye on this blog, I will soon be announcing a title and release date.