Wow, it's been a while since I've done one of these. Heck, it's even been a while since I've done my weekly-ish updates online. So in this update, I will apprise you of what I'm currently working on and what I've got planned for the year 2026. Hopefully it will excite you. Or at least not enrage or depress you.
First up, PAST LIES: The Girl in the Box 62 is locked in for release on February 2nd. It is the official kickoff of the trilogy that wraps up the last story arc of the series. So the story will flow very tightly from 62 to 63 (OUT OF TIME) and finally 64 (RAGNAROK). The series ends with 65 (THE LAST ENEMY), which stands alone as a sort of coda/epilogue, with its own internal plot that works independently of the 59-64 arc, to wrap up the series.
Those last three books will make their way out over the next year, with 63 due toward summer and 64 sneaking out before the end 2026, if everything goes well. Book 65 is planned for early in 2027 but, to misquote the song, a plan is a wish my heart makes, and thus does not always come true.
Given that I've wrapped up three series in the last three years (Sanctuary, Southern Watch, Liars and Vampires), and that I only have two currently running (Girl in the Box, Girl Who Ran Away), you may have noticed that I've got to get some new stuff going. To that end, I have wrapped up a first draft of the first book in a new series set in the Sanctuary world.
I am presently working on the second book in the series (sitting at about 10% on the first draft as of this morning), and am hoping to release these around late summer of this year, one book after another in short order, with the third to follow either late this year or early next. I'll give more details closer to release. Forgive me for keeping this close to the vest, but I have an interesting paranoia about this related to AI. Which maybe I'll talk about further down the page for anyone interested.* But needless to say, I am very excited about this new addition to my epic fantasy world. It will take place about 50 years after the Sanctuary Series, in the land just south of Arkaria, Suijnara, and will feature minimal crossover, if any. (none planned as of book 2, though I *think* a minor Sanctuary character will show up in book 3). Still, I hope Sanctuary fans will find much to like about it.
I also have a brand new mystery/thriller that I am working very intently on. It's currently at 50%, and likely to be released before summer (it's shorter, fantasy fans, and thus easier to write, edit, and release), with book 2, 3, and maybe 4 to follow before year's end. More details on this closer to release, too, for the same reasons that will be explained down the page. No fantasy elements in this one, and it's closest in style and tone to Michael Connelly's Bosch series, but with a few twists. Fans of the Girl in the Box who also enjoy mystery/thriller books will enjoy this one, and I can't wait to share more about it with you closer to release.
AGAINST THE WORLD: The Girl Who Ran Away, Book 5 will come out later this year. I'm not exactly sure when, yet, just that it'll have to be out by August 2nd (because that's when the pre-order is set for). So that's coming. It will likely be the only release in that series this year, but expect the intensity of releases in that series to jump up next year as we move toward wrapping it up late 2027 or in 2028 with either book 8 or 10. Probably 8, but I have some flexibility in both my timeline and plotting.
AUDIOBOOKS. Some of you might have seen a Facebook post last year where I indicated I am planning to record my own audiobooks going forward, especially for the new thriller and epic fantasy series. Those are very much still in the works and part of the reason why I've pushed those series release dates so far out, to allow time for all the work associated with audiobook for them. I will be narrating them myself.
In addition, after years of requests, I have decided to continue the Sanctuary Series by narrating it myself as well. Some of you might be displeased with this. Maybe some of you will be thrilled. Don't know. Guess we'll see after CHAMPION releases, which will hopefully be in the next couple of months.
Why double back to the Sanctuary Series and record them myself? Several reasons. Fans have requested them for years, but sales of books 1-2 were generally low, a fraction of the ebook numbers, and my narrator (rightly) wanted to be paid a reasonable amount for his efforts.
Unfortunately, a reasonable amount (and I wholly agree his request was reasonable) would have made it impossible to recoup my investment on the books, especially from CRUSADER on (that book is 300,000 words/1,000 pages/probably 45 hours of narration) for a period of years, if ever.
However...if I record it myself and split the editing between myself and one of my unpaid slaves (my children, I mean), suddenly the calculation changes on profitability.
Also, recent advertising efforts have actually raised sales of these books, including the audiobooks. Not to the point where it'd make financial sense yet to have my narrator do them, but where it makes sense for me to at least try and see if fans like it. So expect CHAMPION out sometime in the next few months, with more to follow. Hopefully I can get the entire Sanctuary Series (mainline books, at least, to book 8) out in the next year. We'll see where we go from there, but truthfully...the sky is the limit if things go well. The side books, Southern Watch, even Ashes of Luukessia - they're all on the table if fans prove receptive to my self-narrated efforts.
So that's my current plan for 2026: two new series, bringing one old one close to its end, and moving the last along the path to its conclusion. Plus audiobooks. Hopefully lots and lots of audiobooks.
And hopefully slightly more frequent updates, because man, this was a lot to write. Yikes. Kinda need a nap after all that.
To conclude, a rough schedule on what I'm working on in 2026 (main project only, and this can change):
January - New thriller
Feb - OUT OF TIME (Girl in the Box 63)
Mar - AGAINST THE WORLD (Girl Who Ran Away 5)
April/May - New epic fantasy series, book 2
Jun/Jul - New Thriller Series, book 2
Aug/Sep - RAGNAROK (Girl in the Box 64)
Oct - New Thriller 3
Nov/Dec - New epic fantasy 3
January 2027 - THE LAST ENEMY (Girl in the Box 65)
Schedule subject to change at my slightest whim. Audiobook work scattered throughout.
*Once upon a time, if an author announced something, even a few months or a year out, you could be safely assured that no one would be able to copy it or scoop you or front-run your Intellectual Property. Or if they could, it'd be kind of difficult, at least, and would be absolute trash. Now, with the advent of AI, if I release the skeletal details of something, someone can just churn out a shitty AI version of it before I can get it out, and thus wrecking me and setting me up for a long battle of copyright claims and lawsuits.
Is this a valid fear? Sort of, yes I mean, it's possible, if unlikely. But that's why you won't get me to say much about what's coming until it's actually up for preorder on Amazon. It's not like I need to build a ton of hype pre-release anyway; most of the flogging of this stuff comes after it's already, at least, up for pre-order, if not already available for sale.
