Book 5 release date is December 15th

Well, that’s a wrap folks. Origins: A Greater Good, the series finale, is in the books. The release date is now set for December 15th. Actually it still has one more round with the line editors, but the story is set and it’s going to be a fun ride for all of you to the finish line with Hastelloy and his crew.

I’m actually really anxious to see how the book is received. This edition is a major divergence from the first four novels by not featuring a prominent historical time period. It is just straight up fiction pulled from my imagination. Will it still appeal to the same readers? Will most readers appreciate how everything ends up? I sure hope so, but only time and Amazon reviews and ratings will tell right?

This is a very bittersweet moment for me. On the one hand I have reached the finish line of a seven year long journey that at times consumed my every waking thought. It feels like I just pulled down the winning touchdown, threw down the game-winning dunk, and jacked a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to win the World Series; all in the same day. It’s going to be a party in the Henrikson household this weekend, I can guarantee you that!

On the other hand, all of the excitement of creating something from nothing will be gone, at least for the next year anyway. It feels a lot like high school graduation when I gave all of the friends I made over the previous 5 or 10 years one last hug before we all moved on. Sure we promised to keep in touch, but that never really happened. Will I still spend time with Hastelloy and the gang in future writings or will I move on to others in the same universe or will I find something completely new to explore?

I wish I knew for sure, but I have a year of Ironman Triathlon training ahead of me to figure it all out. Either way, it was a heck of a good time getting to this point and meeting WAY more fans of my writing than I ever could have imagined.

Thanks everyone for sticking with me, you only have a couple more weeks to wait.

Sincerely,

Mark
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Published on November 19, 2014 11:35
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message 1: by Donna (new)

Donna I can't wait! That was really quick. And I look forward to hopefully many more series from you Mark. You are truly a talented writer.


message 2: by Mark (new)

Mark Henrikson Donna wrote: "I can't wait! That was really quick. And I look forward to hopefully many more series from you Mark. You are truly a talented writer."

Thanks Donna, I appreciate the compliment very much. The turnaround on this one felt quick because I wrote most of it while the editors were turning around book 4 rather than taking those two months off.

Mark


message 3: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Taylor I really look forward to December 15, Christmas comes early with your Origins Finale.
Please keep writing novels. I love your writing style and imagination.


message 4: by Shelia (new)

Shelia Roy I'm looking forward to the last book. You have an amazing gift.Hope to see more from you in the future. I normally am not a huge sci-fi fan, you changed that. Good luck.


message 5: by Robin (new)

Robin I'm so glad December 15th is only a couple of weeks away! I sure will miss Hastelloy and the boys and hope you are inspired to re-visit them in the future. I am being totally honest when I tell you that this has been my most favorite series that I have ever read - and I'm a 53 year old reader! I feel like Hastelloy and I are old friends. Of course, as you know, I AM in love with him ;) You have created something truly marvelous with this series and I look forward to the next ride you take us all on! Good luck doing the Ironman Triathlon - if you do it like you write, you are sure to be a winner!! Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us!!!


message 6: by Chris (new)

Chris Romans Congrats Mark! I'm sure you have poured in your heart and soul just like your previous works. Watch out authors everywhere:-)


message 7: by Mark (new)

Mark Henrikson Robin wrote: "I'm so glad December 15th is only a couple of weeks away! I sure will miss Hastelloy and the boys and hope you are inspired to re-visit them in the future. I am being totally honest when I tell y..."

Let me know when you're done with book 5 there Robin. I'm real curious to see your thoughts in particular ono how everything was resolved in the end.


message 8: by Robin (new)

Robin Sorry to wait so long to post, Mark - I have been in mourning :( As usual, you did an excellent job with book 5 and tying everything up nice and neatly. I liked the way you left the ending kind of open so one day, should your imagination lead you that way, the crew can entertain us with more adventures. I haven't been ignoring you - just wondering how I can comment without "spoilers"! And I kind of feel like Annie Wilkes from Misery - lol!! I have read and re-read the ending to try and find a loophole - I'm sure you know what I mean. This is still my most favorite series I've ever read. The character development in the series was superb and I was so emotionally "bought in" that Hastelloy and all of the crew actually do feel like old friends. I sincerely hope you do re-visit them and create more stories about their times on Earth! My 3 all-time favorite characters from literature, film, movies, etc. are (in no particular order because I find that impossible for me - lol!): Hastelloy, Hannibal Lecter and Raymond "Red" Reddington - these are deep, deep men. Now what does that say about me???? Hope your Ironman Triathlon training is going well and all is right in your world! I look forward to more wonderful works by you!!!! Take care!


message 9: by Mark (new)

Mark Henrikson Robin wrote: "Sorry to wait so long to post, Mark - I have been in mourning :( As usual, you did an excellent job with book 5 and tying everything up nice and neatly. I liked the way you left the ending kind o..."

I was afraid you might be wearing black for a few days when you got to the ending ;). My wife actually threw one of the dog’s chew toys at me when she read the end because he was her favorite character as well.

I feared that I had over foreshadowed it a bit in prior books by referencing his affinity toward the queen sacrifice gambits in chess and his plans. Sounds like the ending caught most everyone by surprise still. Fortunately there is still a lot of Earth’s history for him and the rest of the crew to play with so he will be back. I actually have the first book in the new series already outlined out for the most part. Guess who’s back…

The Ironman training is coming right along, haven’t drowned myself or eaten pavement doing 35 on my bike yet. The St. Louis Marathon is in April which I’m running. That should let me know where I am with things. Good times!


message 10: by Robin (new)

Robin LOL! I hope she scored a hit with the chew toy ;) Although I dreaded it, I kind of figured it would happen - after all, it was for the greater good. Such a noble character! I also thought it was excellent that he kept his human body - I just can't picture him as a little, big-headed alien! He just spoke so eloquently to that innate sense of fairness and doing the right thing that I have running through me.

Fantastic news that the first book in the new series is outlined and I have a reunion to look forward to! I think it would also be great to see future adventures of the captain and crew and what they get into in our big ole universe. That's what you get for creating such endearing characters - lol! You know who has some mighty big shoes to fill!

Good luck with the marathon - let us know how you do! Take care!!


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